# Mineplex: The Underlying Ripoff

A few days ago, Mineplex introduced their "revival", with a new Studio that lets people "make their own games". This will cost 15$ a month, and their new ad tells children to invest in this to make it a reality.

To get early access, you have to pay 10$ at minimum, with 150$ for the maximum tier. (This does not include monthly payment)

We've found a hidden documentation section under `studio.mineplex.com` that has the following to note:

- To get started, you get the "Studio CLI" as well as Github CLI. It then makes a normal Paper plugin for you (with their bloat included, of course, even if your not using it). There is *nothing special* to Mineplex's plugins that you're paying for, except for their API, which is explained below.

### So, their API. What is it?

- Their **own** code is against EULA. They advertise a "purchase module" in their docs which shows a P2W mechanic being sold as an example, as well as **only giving a 35% share of the profit**, with them getting 65% of any money given.
- They are using multiple libraries and advertising it as their own tools. Notably, these.
- RyseInventory, a free Paper plugin, is used for their "unique GUI system".
- Holographic Displays, also free, is used for holographic displays. This may also be **illegal** for them to include due to the licensing used.
- "we've prioritized our internationalization system from the outset" This is I18n, the built in language system built into Minecraft.
- Ignite is included, essentially giving the functionality of Fabric in Mineplex.
- They use Geyser + Cumulus Forms for their "brilliant idea" of Bedrock + Java at once. They literally made none of that.

### The 35% share

Yes, you heard that right. For this ridiculous SDK that they provide; which you already pay $15 a month for; made of open-source code... they take 65% of your profits. We cannot stress this enough, **you** only get, for your product **35%**. In non developer terms, by the way. The mineplex SDK provides **nothing**. All of the things it can do are a bunch of things mixed up from publically available and free (as in freedom) libraries and code.

### With these combined, this makes up most of their "one million dollar" idea, that will make creators be capable of creating their dreams.

This in reality, could not be farther from the truth, as;
- This still requires the creator to be a programmer
- These were already available as open source tools
- It really does not help, in the grand scheme of things for infrastructure, as their API has very poor code by the looks of it.

We find it incredibly misleading that Mineplex is telling people to invest so they can "make their dream come true", reminder that this is going to children, by the way.

Children will suprisingly not magically learn Java with this mixup of random open source tools, now made closed source, behind a paywall, and obfuscated. This is, quite literally, the definition of **extremely** misleading advertising.

Mineplex's move is likely to merely be lampshading that will attract actual, tangible investor capital to the platform. Their goal is to cash out as soon as possible in a clear attempt to push through a superficial platform, which is likely just a repackaged version of their previously existing in-house tools.

## Mineplex's Legal Minefield

There are two apparent problems to anyone who does reasearch into this platform with the basic expectation that it complies with the license agreements of all software associated with it. The first, and most apparent problem, is that Mineplex seems to be encouraging developers to incorporate pay-to-win mechanics into their games. In fact, there is a whole "purchase module" in their documentation advertising developers' ability to include novel microtransactions for useless digital tat, with the example presented being in clear violation of the Minecraft EULA. When you consider that the target audience for the Studio is composed of children and the guillible, Mineplex may very well be guiding uninformed individuals into guetting themselves in legal trouble!

The second problem becomes apparent when we look into the "Third Party Resources" page under the "Studio SDK" section. As if shipping a Frankenstein's Monster of an API whose nails and wires are entirely content **not** developed by Mineplex isn't enough, this proprietary SDK ships GPLed components! Of particular note is HolographicDisplays (Which is GPL-3.0, and the way they are using it is very likely illegal), which provides floating text.

## Credits
- IMS
- eva
- Helena

## Sources
https://studio.mineplex.com
https://public-mineplex-content.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/StudioPressRelease09152023.pdf