In the MMO genre, an emulator is a playable, private version of an MMO run by players independent of a game studio. Both sunsetted and extant games are emulated with varying degrees of moral and technical support from the community and the studios; some develop their games better than the original and even attempt to charge fees or take donations. Despite the claims of emulator runners, private emulators are generally illegal under DMCA laws and violate the terms of service of most online games, but some studios and many players choose to look the other way.
emulator
Star Wars Galaxies’ SWGEmu declares 1.0, plans a scale-down and sunset, and announces SWGRealms
If you're a Star Wars Galaxies rogue server fan, especially of the pre-NGE variety, there's a lot of info coming your way from the...
EverQuest Online Adventures rogue server Sandstorm activates its new Farmers’ Fair celebration
This is your sporadic reminder that, yes, you EverQuest Online Adventure diehards can still pick up and play this special console version of Norrath,...
Perfect Ten: 10 MMOs where you can actually afford to buy eggs
I don't know about you folks, but eggs are a staple protein in my household, and these past months watching egg prices soar upward...
Marvel Heroes’ emulator project has a playable test server in Project T.A.H.I.T.I.
When last we checked in on the Marvel Heroes emulator project, the developers were basically still in the "make code go and upload to...
Free Realms’ legacy lives on with a pair of rogue server projects
Exiles from Free Realms -- including many kids who grew up with it as their first MMO -- have had a hard time finding...
Star Wars Galaxies rogue server SWGEmu begins a three-part video series about its history and development
While much of the attention of the Star Wars Galaxies fanbase arguably aims in the direction of rogue server SWG Legends, there is another...
Star Wars Galaxies Restoration teases new species, a housing deco upgrade, and a combat tree overhaul
Star Wars Galaxies fans always get a little sad every December as it marks the original MMORPG's deathiversary. But we're blessed to have multiple...
Marvel Heroes emulator project gets loot updates and functioning missions in 0.4.0 build
The long and hard work of getting Marvel Heroes back into a functional state for emulator runners pushes forth, as the 0.4.0 version of...
Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising unveils plans for ‘classic’ single-player and testing for multiplayer
The sunsetted cyberpunk MMO Face of Mankind doesn't just have a spiritual successor; it's also getting a rogue server as well. Just in case...
Microsoft is sunsetting multiplayer functionality for Age of Empires 3’s classic version
So we have some good news and some bad news about multiplayer RTS Age of Empires 3. Let's do the bad news first: It's...
Marvel Heroes emulator file project releases a new build with multiple gameplay elements
Last year we reported on the arrival of emulator files for Marvel Heroes appearing on Github, effectively letting fans begin the process of reviving...
The Daily Grind: How long are you willing to wait for an MMORPG from announcement to launch?
Back in July, Kotaku penned a piece on Kien, a game originally announced for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance... in 2002. Apparently, the game...
Almost 3000 characters broke the SWG Legends server this weekend celebrating the SOEclipse
Earlier this afternoon, Star Wars Galaxies rogue server SWG Legends hosted a massive event called SOEclipse, essentially the precise moment when the Legends Omega...
Star Wars Galaxies legends teases Jedi Themepark part 2, the Endor revamp, and a chef overhaul
At the tail end of July, the devs behind rogue server Star Wars Galaxies Legends released a new dev blog discussing development of the...
PSA: Hackers hit World of Warcraft emulator TurtleWoW’s account database
As regular readers know, it's not our policy to report on emulators for MMORPGs that are actively running, and there are few that are...
Ultima Online’s New Legacy and crackdown on third-party clients have vets rioting
Ultima Online is a very old and fairly small MMORPG nowadays, but even so you probably knew that it has a thriving emulator community,...
Fans fill The Crew’s gas tank back up for a ride down Rogue Server Lane
Just because Ubisoft planted an "End of Road" sign for its open world racer The Crew doesn't mean that fans are content to turn...
Star Wars Galaxies Restoration rogue server confirms leak that it’s considering subscription benefits
Uncertainty has enfolded Star Wars Galaxies rogue server SWG Restoration III, as a player senator leaked financial plans from the team that suggest the...
Star Wars Galaxies is 21 years old today as the rogue server community marches onward
Well well well, look who's finally able to go drinking in all the states: Star Wars Galaxies is turning 21 today, having originally launched...
The EverQuest Online Adventures Revival server is pushing onward toward a public release
EverQuest II's Anashti Sul server isn't the only EverQuest - or EverQuest throwback - making waves right now, as an MOP tipster reminded us...