Donations, the big joke

November 22, 2008

If you make a server just to be rich, that’s good. I know server owners that make over 4000 euro /month. But as every investment, needs to invest money. Nothing appears from nowhere.

What you will need:

• 1-3 months to figure out what you want and what players want and finalize the form of the server. Leave nothing for after server opening.
• About 50-100 euro/ month to rent a dedicated server. I won’t talk about ADSL. We talk about business not fun.
• Advertisements: Banners on Top Lists etc. About 40 euro/ month.

So you need to spend some money to get some back. Also note that server won’t get donations from the first month. So you have to be sure that all these costs, can be covered for about 3 months and more. Most server don’t get many players before the 6th month. Its a long-term investment!

Note that:

• Servers that got 1000 players since month 1, lost them the same fast after a while.
• Anything that comes fast, leaves fast!
• Don’t try to bring players by giving them items and enchants! You will make them bored and those will be the first ones that will leave your server, taking more players with them!
• Do not make changes! Every change you do will make 1/10 of your players leave. 10 changes, all players!

You will need excellent knowledge of the game. I suggest you those 1-3 months you are going to think of what you do, go play on retail a bit. Retail account costs around 13 euro/ month and really worth to help you learn more things.

If you make a server without having any money and you expect to cover the costs by donations, I bet that you will close on the 3rd month, best case.

Filed under: Guides |