Quote Originally Posted by Rhianu View Post
Except that people run private servers for almost every other MMO out there and they run just as well as the real thing. A huge team is needed for developing content, not for hosting anything. All you need for hosting is some decent equipment. A server only needs a few basic things like power, RAM, an internet connection, and so forth in order to function. But once everything is set up, you don't even need to touch it unless something goes wrong. A server does not need to be constantly monitored by a human being in order to work.
The only way that ever works is when the company releases much of the code, or the code itself is "open" (like it is in WoW). The best FFXI private server you can currently find out there is lacking in most of the content that's in the original, and most of the functionality of the entire game doesn't work (like most of the story content, half of the job classes, newer areas, etc.) as it should by far. I just think it'd be a lot of wasted effort. I tried to get into the FFXI Private Servers but the severe lack of... everything made me not care at all.