Server emulator
Encyclopedia
Server emulator, a term that is widely used to describe reimplementation of MMORPG
game servers, typically clones proprietary
commercial software by a third party. The term "private server" is also used while it may not be accurate as often the legitimate server is also privately owned
. The private server is not always made by the original company, but usually attempts to mimic it in some way.
Technically, a server emulator does not emulate
by the traditional definition. Instead it is the alternative implementation of the proprietary gaming server that communicates with the same gaming client through the same, reverse-engineered proprietary protocols. Server emulators exist for many online games (see list).
is sometimes called a "server emulator" as it emulates hardware for the server to run.
Unlike in case of phishing
, the emulator usually does not try to steal identity of the legitimate server. Original server software that is stolen, like AEGIS
, is also not a server emulator. Reimplementations of standardized
protocols or server behavior is not considered to be emulation.
and has all issues, typical for reverse engineering
of any kind. The server may try to avoid violations by serving from the country where some intellectual property
laws apply differently or not at all.
Another issue is a possible infringement
of the game creator's copyright. If the complete emulator is a work of its own, copyright violation is not as obvious as EULA violation (see Lotus v. Borland
case). However sometimes the original server software leaks out of the company that created the game, for example AEGIS (Ragnarok Online)
. Use or distribution of leaked code is widely held to be copyright infringement. There are cases where a game creator has effectively shut down private game servers by threatening lawsuit
s due to intellectual property violations, such as offering a modified client (see information on NEXON v OdinMS) for download or offering downloads of modified files from the original game package.
The independent server of the open source MMORPG can be run with less restrictions but must follow terms of the game license (such as GPL, for instance).
In July 2011, Nexon has threatened to take MMORPG development community RaGEZONE to court over users creating and sharing custom emulated servers. Nexon claims to file legal proceedings against all parties involved in the MMORPG development scene. Disney has also fought against custom servers for the online game Club Penguin
, shutting down the most popular server, iCPv3 made by Dr.Syntax/Azzimi (Asib Tayeb) in October 2010, which had over 100,000 users when Disney filed a cease and desist
notice against the game. This left Club Penguin without a custom server for 2 months, when they came back. Another example would be private server made by Flappi282 for xat. The creator got a cease and desist
, but legal issues are ongoing.
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
game servers, typically clones proprietary
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
commercial software by a third party. The term "private server" is also used while it may not be accurate as often the legitimate server is also privately owned
Private property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
. The private server is not always made by the original company, but usually attempts to mimic it in some way.
Technically, a server emulator does not emulate
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
by the traditional definition. Instead it is the alternative implementation of the proprietary gaming server that communicates with the same gaming client through the same, reverse-engineered proprietary protocols. Server emulators exist for many online games (see list).
Disambiguation
The term "server emulator" also has other uses. For instance, VMware ServerVMware Server
VMware Server is a free-of-charge virtualization-software server suite developed and supplied by VMware, Inc....
is sometimes called a "server emulator" as it emulates hardware for the server to run.
Unlike in case of phishing
Phishing
Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT...
, the emulator usually does not try to steal identity of the legitimate server. Original server software that is stolen, like AEGIS
AEGIS (Ragnarok Online)
AEGIS is Windows Server software used along with Microsoft SQL Server by Gravity Corporation to run the official Ragnarok Online game servers. It was originally developed for exclusive use within Gravity and Gravity subsidiaries, but has been leaked within its lifetime, purportedly by several teams...
, is also not a server emulator. Reimplementations of standardized
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
protocols or server behavior is not considered to be emulation.
Legality
Emulating the server of the proprietary commercial game often violates EULA as many commercial MMORPGs require the user to sign a clause not to create or use server emulators. It may also violate DMCADigital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization . It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to...
and has all issues, typical for reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
of any kind. The server may try to avoid violations by serving from the country where some intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
laws apply differently or not at all.
Another issue is a possible infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
of the game creator's copyright. If the complete emulator is a work of its own, copyright violation is not as obvious as EULA violation (see Lotus v. Borland
Lotus v. Borland
Lotus Development Corporation v. Borland International, Inc., 516 U.S. 233 , is a United States Supreme Court case that tested the extent of software copyright...
case). However sometimes the original server software leaks out of the company that created the game, for example AEGIS (Ragnarok Online)
AEGIS (Ragnarok Online)
AEGIS is Windows Server software used along with Microsoft SQL Server by Gravity Corporation to run the official Ragnarok Online game servers. It was originally developed for exclusive use within Gravity and Gravity subsidiaries, but has been leaked within its lifetime, purportedly by several teams...
. Use or distribution of leaked code is widely held to be copyright infringement. There are cases where a game creator has effectively shut down private game servers by threatening lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s due to intellectual property violations, such as offering a modified client (see information on NEXON v OdinMS) for download or offering downloads of modified files from the original game package.
The independent server of the open source MMORPG can be run with less restrictions but must follow terms of the game license (such as GPL, for instance).
In July 2011, Nexon has threatened to take MMORPG development community RaGEZONE to court over users creating and sharing custom emulated servers. Nexon claims to file legal proceedings against all parties involved in the MMORPG development scene. Disney has also fought against custom servers for the online game Club Penguin
Club Penguin
Club Penguin is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game involving a virtual world containing a range of online games and activities, by Club Penguin Entertainment . Players use cartoon penguin-avatars and play in a winter-set virtual world...
, shutting down the most popular server, iCPv3 made by Dr.Syntax/Azzimi (Asib Tayeb) in October 2010, which had over 100,000 users when Disney filed a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
notice against the game. This left Club Penguin without a custom server for 2 months, when they came back. Another example would be private server made by Flappi282 for xat. The creator got a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
, but legal issues are ongoing.
Game Server Emulator List
- Emulator (Ragnarok Online)Emulator (Ragnarok Online)An emulator for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Ragnarok Online is a server emulation software which mimics the functionality of the official Ragnarok Online server software Aegis and is used to create private servers. Examples of these software projects include Athena ,...
- Ultima Online shard emulation -- Legal issues
- Anarchy Online Server Emulator (Cell AO)
External links
- http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/26/1850213&from=rss - Announcement of a Star Wars GalaxiesStar Wars GalaxiesStar Wars Galaxies is a Star Wars themed MMORPG for Microsoft Windows developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts.-History:...
server emulator on slashdot. - http://forum.ragezone.com/f425/ill-fill-ragezone-nexon-ft-763917/ - RaGEZONE announcement on Nexon and legal proceedings.