A server emulator is the reimplementation of MMORPG game servers, typically as clones of proprietary commercial software by a third party. The term private server is also used while it may not be accurate as often the legitimate server is also privately owned. The private server is not always made by the original company, but usually attempts to mimic it in some way.
Technically, a server emulator does not emulate by the traditional definition. Instead it is the alternative implementation of the proprietary gaming server that communicates with the same gaming client through the same, reverse-engineered proprietary protocols. Server emulators exist for many online games.
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