by Shad0wsong » Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:30 am
A large number of people want to play legacy servers. No one knows how many would be willing to pay a monthly subscription fee, or how much the ones who are willing to pay, would consider fair.
Blizzard does not currently want to research and develop legacy servers. Perhaps they should consider some form of franchising them to groups who have demonstrated they can host a quality legacy server. Because the profitability of legacy servers is such an unknown, perhaps it could be structured in such a way, that the group setting up the legacy server would be allowed a year or two to get set up and run it without there being an upfront purchase cost for the franchise. During those first couple of years, the legacy server group would provide a portion of their profits to Blizzard. At the end of the "trial" period, an actual purchase price could be determined. In future years, after the purchase of the franchise license, the legacy team(s) would continue to pay a portion of their profits to Blizzard.
Under the current set up - EVERYONE loses.
Players lose the game they love.
the legacy teams, such as the Nostalrius team, lose the beautiful dream they created
Blizzard loses a great deal of reputation, and comes out looking like a very bad guy. This can not help their sales.
Under a franchise set up this could be a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Players get the game they love.
Legacy teams, such as Nos, can continue to create the dream they envision, and possibly even be compensated to the enormous amount of work they have done.
Blizzard gains rep and looks like a good guy, and they might gain increased income.
This has been a crisis. Crisis = Opportunity.
Seize the opportunity.
.
