GamersFirst created an internal force in 2009 meant to legally handle private server issues for its titles around the world, starting with its flagship MMORPG Knight Online. Its titles, which also include War Rock and 9Dragons, are played by over 30 million users in 160 different countries.
The publisher launched campaigns designed to punish both private server owners and hosting sites financially and legally through law enforcement. It says that there are similar private server cases in the U.S. that are "pending compensation forfeit and will continue to be searched and investigated."
GamersFirst advises players against playing online games on private servers, warning that users on non-sanctioned servers run the risk of having their account information lost, their bank/credit card details stolen, or their system taken over as "zombie computers" to commit crimes.
Many online game companies have had to contend with private server owners, which can allow users to play subscription-based MMOs for free or play titles with unauthorized alterations. Two months ago, Blizzard Entertainment won an $88 million judgment against the operator of a pirate World of Warcraft server.
"We are on a global mission to shut down these illegal servers," says GamersFirst's director of operations Joe Rush. "Private servers have diminished the quality and experience of our games; and are a significant security risk for our players."
He adds, "Our primary goal, as a [free-to-play] MMO publisher, is to provide a quality gaming experience for our community. Private servers facilitate hacking and other crimes that we do not want associated with GamersFirst. This is a critical problem throughout all MMO's which needs to be recognized and handled head on."
AMERICA MOVIL AMKOR TECHNOLOGY AMPHENOL ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL
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