Minecraft Forums

I've updated the entries in the OP for those who entered correctly and meet the necessary requirements.

This is possibly among the least thought out of Suggestions.

Quote from ampedreaper

sorry i changed my post to clear that up...i am aware that the game isn't cross platform.

To amend my previous statement then;

It is incredibly easy to join servers on console. The console servers are hosted from one person. You make a world and simply invite your friend to play.

Quote from ampedreaper

Just got the game a few days ago thinking that I would be playing alone during the times that my friends were all out doing things. Now that a few friends have asked me about the game and have heard that I like it, they are wanting to pick up the game for themselves so we can play together. One other friend picked the game up today and we have been trying for the past 4 hours to set up a multiplayer server with no luck at all. We have watched so many vids on youtube and we have gone to other sites to get this going but nothing works at all. I am playing on pc and does anyone know how hard it is to get a multiplayer session going with your friends on console? This has got me to my breaking point, please help out if you can.

If you're playing the PC version and your friends are playing a console version then you can not play together. It's as simple as that. You have to be playing on the same version and platform to play with one another.

Quote from Princess_Garnet

That they're referred to as "free to play" players shows the unfortunate mentality and mindset some of the server owners have taken over the years towards this game. Minecraft isn't a free to play game but it's multiplayer has seemingly sadly become one.

False. Minecraft is not a Free-To-Play game. Minecraft is a Buy-To-Play which is something different. Or, it should be a Buy-To-Play game, but something interesting has happened - the EULA.

Free-To-Play games are just that - free. You can get them and play with indefinitely without ever having to pay a penny out of pocket; however, these games often come with in-game cash shops that allow the players to purchase items. These range anywhere from cosmetic items, to mounts or upgrade items and boosters.

Buy-To-Play games are games like Guild Wars. These games require you to purchase the game for a set price before you can play it. These game often include cash shops as well; however, they tend to be much less "pay to win" oriented and more just for fun or very, very small benefits.

Pay-To-Play games are games like WoW that require a monthly subscription to be able to play. Once again, these games also often include cash shops for their players to purchase various items.

Minecraft should be a Buy-To-Play game when you look at it; however, the EULA has now forced it into a grey area. The EULA actually permits server owners to require the user to purchase a subscription to be allowed to play. This effectively makes some servers Pay-To-Play while others remain Buy-To-Play. Mineplex has adapted an approach that makes it both Buy-To-Play and Pay-To-Play. Premium users, like myself, have given money to have access to certain features. These features previously included kits but have recently been reduced to a simple name tag, Beta game access, and the premium servers.

What's truly saddening is the viewpoint that you, and countless others such as yourself, have developed. Why should servers be Free-To-Play? Why do we, the community, deserve access to these servers for nothing? The answer: We don't. These servers cost a large amount of money to maintain every month for us to all enjoy. Additionally, some people on the larger networks have had to quit their real life professions to work for these servers full time. It's this level of commitment and dedication that creates the large communities like Mineplex, Hypixel, and so many others that you all enjoy. If these servers don't produce revenue by being Pay-To-Play or having some form of cash shop then they will shut down. These "businesses" don't run off of goodwill and sunshine. And while we would all love to believe in the human spirit coming through and donations (true donations - not buying perks) being enough to sustain these servers, it just won't happen. The reason so many people donate right now is because they are getting a return. The problem isn't that server owners monetize their servers, it's that we, the community, have warped the meaning of a "donation."

Now, like many others, I am fully against "pay2win" type servers that have cash shops with ridiculous benefits. I joined the Chroma Hills server shortly after it's launch, eager to join a new factions community. I was sorely disappointed to discover that I, a non-cash player (the correct term we should be using), wasn't even permitted to place lava buckets without having first donated. This took a way a large gameplay aspect for me and my friends. It was worse only because donors received "god armor" periodically.

Ending my rant there, I'll get back to the OP's topic. I'm not sure whether or not Mineplex's new changes are within the guidelines of the EULA. While some trolls in this thread suggest Mineplex contacting Mojang is a far fetched idea, I believe we can all trust that the larger networks have enough pull to get into contact with Mojang easily enough. I'm sure somehow or another Mineplex has had this "okay'd" through Mojang. I'm sure they had to pull a few strings and find a few loopholes hidden under a rug somewhere, but it is what it is. We will likely see them amend their current guidelines in the near future if they aren't 100% up to par with Mojang's standards. A large network like that can't simply hide from Mojang's gaze. Also, regarding your conversation with a Helper, notice that they said, "almost completely compliant." Helpers are only trial staff members, but assuming they know what goes on behind locked doors, then you can assume that Mineplex will still be seeing some changes in the near future.

Now, to the OP itself:

1. This does not actually affect gameplay. It determines how often a player can play, but does not give anyone an advantage in game.
2. The premium timer exclusion is an interesting one. I'm unsure about this. However, the premium servers can also be accessed by free players who are in a party lead by a premium player. In a way, premium servers aren't restricted to premium players only. In addition, free players can use premium kits while on premium servers. This is a loophole in the EULA, basically.
3. Yes, we can; however, this doesn't actually give us an edge in game. So it is likely in compliance with the EULA.
4. Yes, but not really. Gem count is more related to skill than time anyway. But premium players don't have access to a booster, thus they don't earn anything faster by the EULA's standards. Or, so it seems at least.
5. Yes, but free players have the same access that premium players do. They can use all the same kits. It just takes a wee bit longer to get them. To top it off, the gem kits aren't any better than the free kits to begin with. There isn't a real advantage here. It is, to a degree, but only minimal. I'm not sure how they weaseled it in, to be honest.

TLDR; "Ehhhhhh."

This month's winner, GCSterling, has responded and been given their gift code! I've also updated the OP for next month's giveaway.

Congrats, GC! See the rest of you next month!

Quote from MrWubzy

I'm sure this giveaway will create an army of Minecraft users that will wait on Relyh's every whim

You've discovered my secret plan! Oh no!

On another note, I've notified the winner. They have 1 week to respond. Next month starts now.
Also, noticed that TheSaint entered twice. His second entry was removed prior to the actual drawing, I've just yet to update the OP.

Updated the OP. Entries for this month stop in ~5.5 hours (12am EST) and the winner will be drawn some time after. Good luck, guys!

Only two more days until I draw the winner. The OP will be updated just before I do the drawing.

"Hey Relyh, you've been awful inactive here lately... is the thread cancelled?"

I probably won't be active on MCF as much as I was previously. To be quite honest, I despise the new appearance with a burning passion; however, I will still be doing this giveaway so be sure to keep an eye on it!

Quote from wailwail

again , I will be in this month code raffle . add me , wailwail

Quote from CanaryCasserole

So, do you have to enter again every month?

Quote from MrWubzy

Quick question, since I already entered last month, am I still able to win this month without re-entering?

There is no need to enter again. All entries from last month will carry over.

I have received a confirmation PM and the winner has been given their gift code.

Copy_Ninja was the lucky individual this month. See you guys all next month!

I have PMd this month's winner. I will post the result publicly once they've confirmed their win.

Less than 10 hours until I get a winner! Good luck everyone!
Also, as I said previously, there will be a drawing next month as well on August 1st!

Quote from NotionCommotion

I've never used it before an am a total newbie. Don't think it maters, but it will be running on a Linux client.

The two options are 1.6.4 and 1.7.2.

Recommendations on which one to use?

You should look at what mods you want. If all the mods you want are updated to 1.7.2 then use that, if not then use 1.6.4.