2024 | MapleStory Private Servers Multi-Million Dollar Profits ? Piracy ?

A globally-distributed classic Korean game, MapleStory, has raised its level cap to 300. An international player, who has been diligently leveling up for three years, is about to reach this milestone, and his live broadcast attracted 20,000 simultaneous viewers!

However, Taiwan’s Dawn Technology Company has been reported for operating a private server, offering an unauthorized version of the new MapleStory. They manipulated the core code, such as enhancing monster strength and increasing the chances of obtaining treasures, making the game more engaging. Investigations have discovered illegal gains amounting to 200 million NT dollars. Despite this, the company announced after the incident that they are in negotiations with the rights holders regarding copyright disputes and emphasized that they will continue to operate.

The international player, having steadily leveled up for three years, is about to become the world’s first level 300 player. His live broadcast attracted 20,000 simultaneous viewers, and within two weeks, the views skyrocketed to over 200,000! MapleStory, a classic MMORPG developed by a Korean company for nearly two decades, is released in multiple countries worldwide. Players can interact in real time, buy character outfits, and enhance their gear.

In contrast, Taiwan’s Dawn Technology Company set up the private server 87MS, operated by a local team. Official records show that they started seven years ago, with monthly revenues of around 200,000 to 300,000 NT dollars, growing to 5 million NT dollars per month. In the first year of the pandemic, their monthly revenue skyrocketed to 7 to 8 million NT dollars. One of the responsible persons, Mr. Tseng, having dropped out of high school, owned two houses before he was thirty and is suspected of profiting illegally by up to 200 million NT dollars!

It is true that operating your private server for a popular game such as MapleStory can be very profitable, but you must also know the serious legal and ethical risks included.

Most private servers offer a similar or enhanced experience compared to the official server, with increased drop rates and fewer restrictions on players interacting in dynamic ways like not being able to do content together. It leads to a significant number of dedicated supporters and players, which in the future could financially lead to monthly revenue thanks donations/purchases support.

Private servers for MapleStory can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions depending on the individual server (as seen with a private server run out Singapore known as DaemonsMS that grossed roughly $3,449.58 USD daily . A notable example is one private server operator who has made about 200 million USD according to reports.

That said, it should be clarified that playing on a private server is illegal in itself as under no circumstances may you run the same code without their permissions. It is against copyright and its intellectual privacy, bringing big legal liabilities such as fines along with damages to potential lawbreaker. Moreover, operations like this can suddenly end and operators may receive lawsuits from the game developers.

Obtaining the source code for a MapleStory private server can be challenging and fraught with legal and ethical concerns. Here’s a detailed look at the situation:

Legal and Ethical Concerns

• Copyright Infringement – MapleStory is a proprietary game developed by Nexon. Operating or distributing a private server involves using copyrighted materials without permission, which can lead to legal action.
• Terms of Service Violations – Running a private server usually breaches the terms of service of the original game, putting you at risk of account bans and other penalties.

Sources and Challenges

• Community Forums – Websites like RaGEZONE and other similar forums sometimes discuss MapleStory private servers. Users occasionally share source code on these platforms:
  • Pros – These communities can provide insights, code snippets, and support.
  • Cons -The legality is questionable, and the quality of shared code can be inconsistent and potentially outdated.
• GitHub and Other Repositories**: Occasionally, you might find repositories claiming to have MapleStory private server codes:
  • Pros – Easily accessible and might have active contributors.
  • Cons – These repositories can be taken down due to DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown requests.
• Paid Sources – Some individuals or organizations sell private server source code:
  • Pros – May offer better support and more features.
  • Cons – Paying for such code does not mitigate the legal risks. Additionally, there’s a chance of scams or poor-quality code.

Technical Challenges

• Outdated Code – Available source code is often outdated, which means you would need substantial knowledge in programming (C++, Java) and server management to update and maintain it.
• Complex Setup – Configuring and running a private server requires a deep understanding of server architecture, database management (typically MySQL), and networking.
• Security Risks – Poorly maintained code can have security vulnerabilities. Running a private server might expose you to hacks and exploits.

Developing Your Own Server

• Some developers choose to write their own private server source code as a learning exercise:
  • Pros – Legal as long as you don’t distribute or run the server for public use.
  • Cons – Requires significant time, effort, and expertise in game development, networking, and reverse engineering.

Reference disp.cc

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