Idea: Pay-to-Play servers?

[Martno]

I'm not planning to create a server (now), although I have some sub-game ideas, which could be suitable for multiplayer online gaming, but it takes a lot of time to finish them (if I ever finish them at all).
I just got an idea, I don't know if it came up in the forums (I didn't find any similar forum topics).

This could be (among other things) an another method to prevent griefing, misbehaving, braking server rules. I don't know how effective would it be, it's just an idea.

Area protection and asking for interact and/or giving permission to interact after reading server rules are good ways to prevent griefing (maybe the best possible methods), but these are not protecting against players, who make the unprotected lands very ugly by placing random blocks pointlessly.

Probably my idea isn't perfect either, but (if it's possible to do) it can be a better method.

My idea is a paying server with the interact mod. (if I'm not wrong, this idea isn't incompatible with the game's license. But I'm not sure.)
Players must ask for interact and after they give a donation or pay a fee to the server creator(s), players get the interact permission. So probably only committed players will pay (who follow the rules), so the grievers stay out.

Advantages:
- Could prevent griefing, misbehaving, and maybe there will be less half-built pointless buildings
on the map.
- Donations/fees would make it possible to the administrators/creators to maintain a quality server.

Risk:
- If there are players who stupid enough to still grief (or brake the server rules) even if they paid, well... that would be very bad, because they may ruin the game for other players, who paid for it.

Conditions:
- The map/sub-game should be available to download for free, and/or a free version of the server could be created (perhaps with a little less feature?).
- Very important: It's necessary that the servers contain the highest possible quality of content and should give a unique and overwhelming game experience what's worth paying for.

I'm curious what others think about this.

[Calinou]

Well, you'll have an hard time getting any players on your server, since they can just play on other servers for free.

[Martno]

Well, you'll have an hard time getting any players on your server, since they can just play on other servers for free.

Good point. And I'm not sure if it's possible to make such a fantastic server that is worth paying for. Surely I can't make one now. It's just an idea.

[benrob0329]

I think that having people donate to help keep that server up and running would be a good idea..

[Calinou]

I think that having people donate to help keep that server up and running would be a good idea..

A server doesn't need donations in order to run; it just needs a host with spare money. :)

Generally, you shouldn't invest money you need in game servers.

[Minetestforfun]

I don't thing a pay-to-interact server is a great idea... If players pay and don't like your server ? they grief like CowBoys ?! and the deception... imagine...

It just works well with players donations :) If many players like your server, they will give you donations.

And we are in a free game, in a free community...

[benrob0329]

@Minetestforfun my thoughts exactly

[y.st.]

Your topic title scared me! I thought you were sugesting the server be made nonfree, as in that the source code be locked down.

You are right, paid servers are completely compatible with Minetest's license.

I'm not sure how many people are going to be willing to pay when there are so many other servers available through an easy to use in-game list, but there's no harm in trying.

[Krock]

If you actually want a pay-to-play server, then you will need a great management that's worth to spend the money.

Host free servers and hope for some donations.

[Martno]

Actually this was just an idea, I usually think too much. :) I kinda thought that this kind of idea probably will never work, or it has very low chance.
I agree that the best way to get some money is by donations.

[4aiman]

Donations alone won't suffice...

Actually, I'm not against paying for /interact on a server.
I can login and see if server meets my expectations prior to paying anything, after all. :)

If someone would be kind enough to make a subgame I'd like to play (smth like finished Magichet subgame) - I'd be glad to pay 2-3 UDS per month to be able to play it.

However, there's no such subgame ATM...

[Martno]

If you actually want a pay-to-play server, then you will need a great management that's worth to spend the money.

Host free servers and hope for some donations.

Pay-to-Play: that is better title name (non confusing), so I edited that.

Actually, I'm not against paying for /interact on a server.
I can login and see if server meets my expectations prior to paying anything, after all. :)

I think that if somebody makes a server like this, there should be a testing phase first (free-to-play), and then every player gets the opportunity for a couple of weeks (or months) to play without paying, to see if they like it. If they don't, they won't pay, and loose the interact priv., no problem.

But grievers, cheaters and misbehaving players could be a very big problem (if this pay-for-interact thing still doesn't prevent bad behavior).

[4aiman]

There's no way to stop bad ppl doing bad things.
But those can be punished.
Create some EULA where describe the penalties for misbehaviour during testing period and during payed period.

I'd suggest adding a rule of no-attendance there too:
Once I login to the server, the time begins to go.
If (for any reason) I haven't been to the server for 3-4 days, the pre-paid time stops ticking.
This way one will be paying for what he/she actually gets.

[Clouds]

Paying to play on a server to gain funds sounds like a good idea and all but one thing that draws people to this game is its free alternative to minecraft. ultimately servers requiring paying to play on will shutdown do to very few or none players on said servers.

Another issue with this is minetest does not support locked names and passwords so there is no way to tell the difference from one person to the next using that name. It doesn't seem this will change any time in the near future.

[4aiman]

Well, there are a lot of Minecraft servers where you need to pay2play.
There are a lot of servers where you can donate.

But how often are those being updated?
Payed MT servers may not only help to run those servers but also to pay a developer who would make changes players are waiting for.

PS: "Locked names" is something that may be added to an alternative client. It's not a rare thing to download a modified MC client to play on a server.

[y.st.]

PS: "Locked names" is something that may be added to an alternative client. It's not a rare thing to download a modified MC client to play on a server.

What are "locked names"?

[4aiman]

Well... while answering I've suggested that it's when someone named 4aiman is guaranteed to be 4aiman on any server. If not, then my post scriptum has no sense...

[Minetestforfun]

Locked names won't be a bad idea... I see many administrators login in many servers, and the player isn't, of course, the administrator...

but, locked names include also a more "locked" names/accounts system...

So, i can't decided me...

[Samson1]

Very good idea