Latest statement from Gamespy.....

[PIC007 82]

 

Pointing the finger directly at Microsoft.. I have emailed both GS and MS and MS has totally ignored my emails....

 

 

Powered by GameSpy

 

 

There have been a number of reports regarding the recent discontinuation of service to several online multiplayer games previously supported by GameSpy Technologies. We recognize that fans of games where the publisher has elected to discontinue GameSpy Technologies support are frustrated. However, reports that GameSpy Technologies “shutdown servers without warning” are simply inaccurate.

 

GameSpy Technologies – a separate entity from GameSpy.com – is a service provider to game publishers. Each publisher contracting with GameSpy Technologies elects at its sole discretion whether or not to maintain support for its titles.

 

A number of our publisher partners elected to allow their contracts for GameSpy Technologies’ services to lapse by not continuing to pay for these services. In some cases this lapsing ranges back as much as four years. GameSpy Technologies has continued to provide months, and in some cases years, of service support for free. H...

owever we cannot be expected to provide a service free of charge to publishers who choose not to renew their service agreements and in some cases remain delinquent in delivering payment for past services.

 

In each case reported in the press where there was a discontinuation of GameSpy Technologies’ services, the applicable publisher was well aware that they had not made the required payments under their agreements with GameSpy Technologies.

 

For the sake of clarity - the situation is identical to fans attributing fault to the hosting company of a popular website for ceasing hosting services, when the website owner refuses to pay its hosting bill.

 

While we would hope and expect our publisher partners to message their user communities on changes in status of their games, often this is not done. The result is user confusion and frustration.

 

It is regrettable that these publishers chose not to inform their users of the impending discontinuation of support. We understand the frustration of fans that until now weren’t clear on why their game has lost some of its functionality, but hope that this clarifies the situation.

 

Thank you.

[yankeegolf3 52]

It is understandable.

 

they could have launched a subscribtion for players, I am sure that for a few bucks a year it could have worked.

[simmerhead 885]

Microsoft has ended support for FSX, so it's not very surprising. Bad, but not surprising.

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/385804-support-for-fsx-has-come-to-an-end/

[airraider9296 0]

For games with Gamespy Open Agreements (games released after 2011), a warning was issued by Glu/Gamespy that service would be discontinued on December 12, 2012 and that publishers wishing to continue the service would have to sign up for a new, more expensive, agreement. Games that were not part of the Gamespy Open Agreement (games prior to 2011) received no warning and service was terminated in the days leading up to the December 12, 2012 deadline for all games. Older games publishers wishing to continue the service would also have to sign up for a new, more expensive, agreement. - http://www.examiner....n-off-the-table

 

In a Facebook statement, "Powered by Gamespy" announced that games that were not supported by their publisher but were still accessing their services would be removed. Microsoft stopped supporting Flight Simulator not too long ago based on Tom's post. This might also explain the sudden termination.

 

Microsoft is not the only company to have been affected by this shut down. Rebellion, maker of Sniper Elite (2005), issued a statement confirming that the multiplayer service was shut off without warning and could only be re-instated if they paid more money. - http://sniperelitev2...?g=posts&t=2062

 

Eurogamer.net confirms that Glu/Gamespy has shut down numerous other games and will only re-instate the service if the publishers pay up. Most publishers are refusing to pay and simply choose to discontinue the multiplayer service, leaving users to find their own ways to stay connected. - http://www.eurogamer...al-old-pc-games

 

For those FSX/FS9 pilots wishing to remain up to date with multiplayer options for online flight I have included a list of alternative mediums below. VA's who have online servers can choose to list their servers on one or more of the mediums below. The end of Gamespy isn't the end of online flight!

 

FSX/FS9 Direct IP - Connect to a friend's IP or VA's server IP directly

FSHost/Chocolate - http://www.chocolate...are.com/fshost/

FSopen Server - http://www.fsopen.co.uk/

VATSIM (FSINN or Squawkbox) - http://www.vatsim.net/

IVAO (in-house client) - http://www.ivao.org/hq/

INVAT (in-house client) - http://www.invat.info/

FS-MP - http://www.fs-mp.com/

FSX Beyond Gamespy - http://www.fsxbeyondgamespy.com/ (combines most listings from above in one location)

 

Cheers!

 

airraider9296