Tebex Creator Spotlight: Loverfella

Welcome to the very first edition of the Creator Spotlight articles! Our new blog series showcases the journey and success stories of key game developers and game server owners who partner with Tebex.

To kick things off, we’re featuring LoverFella, the brilliant mind behind one of Minecraft’s most engaging servers. From earning pennies online as a teenager to running a thriving gaming empire, his journey is a true testament to persistence, innovation, and community-first thinking.

Read on to discover, in his own words, how he turned his childhood passion into a full-fledged business👇

First up, can you tell us a bit about your career/life background that led you to start LoverFella?

Around the age of 13, I discovered I could make money online by clicking ads. I was earning maybe 4 cents an hour, but coming from a lower-middle-class family, this was my only way to afford the coveted RuneScape membership. I would spend months clicking ads just to earn the $5 needed. Since money limited how often I could play RuneScape, I turned to Minecraft instead.

At 15, I wanted a Minecraft server exclusively for my friends, so I started creating servers on my parents' desktop. These servers required a command prompt window to run in the background, which my parents would not allow. To solve this, I taught myself how to code a custom, invisible launcher. Looking back, this likely slowed their computer considerably, probably explaining why they discarded it a year after I moved away for college.

For years, I dedicated myself to developing this server for my friends, dreaming of one day expanding it into one of the largest servers in the world. Unfortunately, that dream ended abruptly when the computer and world it hosted were wiped clean.

Years later, I found myself in a position to revive my childhood dream. Today, I strive to build a one-of-a-kind server and consistently work to deliver the best possible experience for my community. Many of the features in my server today are inspired from that first server I made when I was 13.

What inspired you to start LoverFella? Was there a specific gap in the market, or did you have a unique vision from the start?

I believe many businesses become stale because they fail to innovate effectively. I'm always focused on innovation, constantly thinking outside the box. My approach involves reconnecting with the imagination I had as a child, rather than accepting constraints that others might impose.

By adopting this perspective, we continue to innovate year after year. So, I guess we organically built this over years. I do have a vision now though, one we’re excited to bring to our community.

How long have you been running LoverFella, and how long did it take from development to launch?

The server initially launched without any intention of becoming a business—it was simply a way for me to record videos with my fans. After a few weeks, we noticed people continued playing despite having minimal features, so we began adding more content and improvements.

Having a few million subscribers on YouTube certainly helped our growth, which wouldn't have been possible for everyone. Now, about five years later, we continue updating and enhancing the server every single day.

How did you decide on the specific features, content, or monetization options available for LoverFella?

We choose new features based on specific goals. Currently, we’re focused on improving player retention, especially among newcomers who might be unfamiliar with servers, commands, and basic gameplay mechanics.

To address this, we've introduced in-game change logs to clearly communicate updates and created a command compass to help new players navigate the server easily. Several additional major improvements are already planned. My strategy involves identifying our biggest challenges, then creating a targeted plan to resolve.

How did you build a strong player base for LoverFella? (e.g., Discord, SEO, influencers, in-game events, social media, PPC, etc.)

The only influencers we primarily utilize are myself and my brothers, along with community engagement through Discord and occasional in-game events. My approach to building a strong player base centers on making the server the best it can possibly be. We actively engage with our community through Discord, maintaining regular communication and hosting events.

My team frequently updates the server based on direct player feedback—often implementing suggestions or fixing issues within hours if warranted. Everyone who plays on our server should feel valued like a VIP, regardless of whether they spend money. Our focus has always been on fulfilling community needs rather than maximizing profits.

What have been some of the most effective tactics to drive traffic, engagement, and purchases for your server so far?

Because I naturally promote the server within my videos, we don't need to rely on expensive advertising, allowing us to maintain higher margins. This organic approach helps us invest more in enhancing the player experience, something I’ve envisioned since the very beginning.

What are you most proud of in terms of the success of LoverFella so far? Any major highlights or milestones?

Over time, we've built a robust behind-the-scenes system—from standard operating procedures (SOPs) and onboarding to training and content scheduling—that allows us to deliver consistently engaging content on a regular schedule.

The structure and efficiency we've developed behind the scenes are what I'm truly proud of. It’s not what most people will see, but I’ve been able to leverage my engineering background and create a very powerful content machine that keeps things organized, on track, and sustainable. Most businesses fail in just a few years, and I think a lack of systems is why.

What advice do you have for new and existing server owners or game developers that you wish you knew before you started?

The advice here is the same as it would be for any business: your library determines your net worth. I genuinely believe nothing I've accomplished would have been possible without the right books.

As a business owner, the most critical skill you can develop is decision-making, as each decision has the power to either propel or hinder your company's growth. That’s why continuous self-education is essential. I've seen many entrepreneurs remain unchanged over a decade, which simply won’t lead to success.

What do you like best about being a part of Tebex’s network of premium game studios/game server owners?

Tebex has great support teams, and I’ve worked with them for a long time. Even during the early years they were a wonderful company to work with, and my management really enjoys it. It’s a great business model that I wish I would have thought of myself!

What’s next for LoverFella?

Moving forward, we'll continue to refine our processes, systems, and mindset. We've planned numerous significant updates for the server, but by consistently focusing on core principles and continuous improvement, we'll achieve increasingly better results. Minecraft today is different from when we first launched, but as long as we remain dedicated to growth and innovation, our outcomes will keep getting better.

A big thank you to LoverFella. Stay tuned for the next edition of Creator Spotlight, where we’ll continue to feature one of the 30,000+ standout creators in the Tebex network, diving deep into their unique success stories and insights.

Tebex is a leading gaming payments solution enabling game developers and creators worldwide to keep more of their revenue while removing the billing and taxes operations headache for every transaction. To learn more, contact Tebex here.