[Gandalf Parker]

The subject of Official Servers was discussed extensively with the CEOs of Shrapnel and Illwinter both joining the thread. The needs, what requirements to fill the need, options, etc. If you search on Brooks official server you can find some of it.

Some points to bring up....
The ability to run games tends to be
tcpip & gui & win: X
tcpip not gui & win: X+X+X
tcpip not gui not win: X+X+X+X+X
pbem not gui not win: X*100
at the time (and maybe still) Shrapnel was on Win servers

Also some of the pros and cons not being mentioned falls under the difference between a fan-run server admining the games vs an official server admining the games. The "official" part is a weight not worth ignoring when debating how simple it would be for a corporation to do a server.

At the time of the discussions it wasnt a mass of small games that the need was felt for but large long-running games. So comparisons with the two main fan-based servers running now is useful info but isnt completely a fair comparison.

Both Illwinter, and Shrapnel, have been willing to declare fan-run creations (servers, wikis, documentation) as official doing everything they can to support them and direct people to them. Kudos there at least.

As for editing piracy comments keep in mind that the people deleting the posts might also agree with you. However, it IS an official corporation server which means that they do not get to just decide whether or not to apparently support the discussion of some subjects. There are fan-run forums and channels for such discussions.

-- DISCLAIMER: I am no longer staff, or moderator, so this is basically an old answer to an old subject.