How do/can servers MAKE money?

[ddmankiller 14]

oh dear, do i have to send people copies of my drivers license and w2 to prove my age lol

I saw my math is off, I was awake for 2 days straight and I wasn't thinking straight :P

Edited February 23, 2014 by ddmankiller

[louist 163]

I want to way in here, in regards to the OP (not the derailment).

In the early 2000s, I was a huge DoD player, as part of a large and active clan. We ran, at our height, 6 servers over three games, paid for entirely through donations.

At first, these were member donations, to cover our server costs. As we grew, we opened up donations from the community itself. We didn't offer VIP perks, we just asked that if people enjoyed our servers, and the communities they fostered, that players consider donating. We ended up "making" a fair bit of money, some months bringing in almost ten times our costs. So in that regard, you CAN make money. But that was never our intent, and we did our best to reinvest the money.

We opened new servers, increased our Teamspeak capacity, expanded to new games, paid for a proper website and host, and even produced a few runs of merchandise.

But had we set out to make money, through exorbitant VIP packages, and such... I doubt we would have made anything. People respected our community and enjoyed playing with us, and that goodwill and reputation was the source of our income. I think we would have built up a very different community and reputation if our goal had been to make money.

I haven't been part of that clan in some time, but now I have a longing to check them out and see how they're doing.

Edit: if memory serves, the only time we used money on unrelated costs was to send some care packages to a clan member in the American armed forces.

Edited February 24, 2014 by louist

[Mos1ey 6301]

That's interesting considering we need to verify our age just to get on the website.

 

It's the law. I don't make the rules...

[Tina Marie Diaz 0]

Most people don’t understand what it takes to run a server.  It’s almost as hard as running a business.  It’s mentally and physically draining.  It’s so difficult to run a successful server and have a job full time.  So unless you have done it your advice is not one based on experience. If you do it just for the love of the game then prepare to be broke and homeless because it will take up all your time trying to make yourself available to everyone and every problem.   Running it alone is not really an option.  Sorry but time is money and if I am starting a server and want it to be successful it’s gonna have to make some sort of profit.   It’s a service, you a catering to the wants and needs of other individuals and that uses your time effort experience and resources. Try it before you judge anyone.