[citation][nom]echondo[/nom]You can easily setup a private Minecraft server for free. I don't really see the point in this...I honestly see no point in this, just setup a private server using Bukkit and do whatever mods you want.Really no point.[/citation]
While I have setup a private server for my family, I can see a point in this.
The service (from what i'm seeing) is for the lazy that dont want to set one up, those that don't have the computing power (although most people should be just fine on computer power if there only running vanilla), or is technologically challenged on configuring such a setup (come on, we've all found those few gamers that can hardly setup anything without some help from a friend and make you question how there a gamer to being with).
[citation][nom]thbrett[/nom]$15 or even $10 a month is way too much for this "service" that should be part of the game to begin with, how can they feel its right to charge half what the game costs for this service?[/citation]
I would disagree on "should be part of the game to begin with" and I can see on how they charge at least $10 ($15 is a bit much IMO).
1. compared to other online games that charge a subscription, that is fairly in line with others (if not cheaper)
2. If there hosting that world, then they have to pay for Hardware, security, Internet, electricity, and the staff to keep all going.
They really cant go much lower as I dont see this being the most popular feature.
Mainly because most people are either single player types or multi-player types that know and have the proper stuff to setup a server if they want to be private.
basically, as one of my points to the other person, this service mainly for those that dont want to setup a server for themselves.
It's kinda like looking at a pre-built desktop and a custom built desktop (that you assemble your self) that have the exact same quality hardware.
Chances are, that desktop you built yourself will be cheaper than the prebuilt because you payed to have someone else set it up for you.
Same concept here. You don't want to foot in your own hardware nor you want to setup some software that's provided to you for free, then expect to pay.
3. for my disagreement, there was no way Mojang would of been able to do such a thing when minecraft started out. Because they were not backed by any other company such as EA, they would not of had the server power nor the money to afford everything do such.
Nor did they have the magical crystal ball that would tell them the Minecraft would be a popular game.
Imaging if minecraft didn't become popular, imaging how they would feel if they somehow bought all those servers and had no one to use them for this very thing.
At least there not forcing you to use this service if you dont want to. You still have single player, you still have your normal multiplayer, and if you are playing on single or a private lan server, You'll never need to have an always online connection DRM to play the darn game.