Topic: We'll patch out the DRM/authorization if we go under. Honest.

[idolminds]

How many times have we heard that from various companies?

But the following was posted by Skinflint on Jan 20, 2006:
I can tell that there are some strong feelings about this.

Let me assure you. You will not lose any of the games you have purchased for any reason.

IF something bad were to happen to Reflexive (and as tentoes mentioned, that is very unlikely), we have a plan to make sure that the games you have purchased stay yours, in the future, and on different machines that you acquire in the future.

A download would be made available that would make sure your games were yours, and it would not depend on our servers having to be there for additional downloads, or codes, or whatever. We would also not be the only place to acquire this download, so it would not depend on our servers being up either.

However, as mentioned, this backup plan isn't going to have to be carried out. Reflexive is doing great, both as a developer and a game distributor. We're not going anywhere.

James C. Smith posted the following on Jan 22, 2006:
FYI: You can always get a new unlock code for free from Reflexive instantly as long as the Reflexive severs continue to stay online. But in the unlikely event that they are not online, and you don’t have a ‘patch’, your current unlock code (a.k.a registration code) will work as long as you still have your current hard driver and/or your Ethernet card. You don’t need both. Either one will work. In other words, if you reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows your old unlock code should still work. If you buy a new computer and put your old hard drive in your new computer then your old unlock code will still work. Or, if you keep your current computer, but replace the hard drive with a new one, your unlock code will still work (assuming your computer has an Ethernet card that you keep in there.

My point is, you don’t necessarily need a new unlock code each time you reinstall windows or get a new computer. As long as some of your hardware is still the same your old unlock code should still work.

Plus, it is extremely unlikely that the Reflexive servers would ever be unavailable to issue “already paid” unlock codes. The cost to keep the servers on-line is very minimal and pays for itself.

That was 2006. What do we see today?

Valued Customers,

As of June 30th, 2010, games will no longer be available for purchase on Reflexive.com.

Please be sure to install and activate your purchases prior to July 31st, 2010.
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You are able to download, install and activate your games up until July 31, 2010.
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The servers are being shutdown after July 31, 2010. You will not be able to download or obtain a new Activation Code after July 31st.

Reflexive got bought by Amazon and it looks like Amazon is making this call. But that just goes to show you all those people so trusting of these online authorizations and the "promises" companies make about removing them later. Basically anyone that bought anything from Reflexive is going to be left high and dry after July.

[Cobra951]

You need to post that sequence of quotes and commentary somewhere more visible (if it isn't already).

I read through a couple of pages in that thread (the first and the last).  One staffer's post makes it clear that customers will indeed be getting the shaft after July.  I have yet to see a more clear vindication of DRM-cracking efforts.

[idolminds]

Just posted it to Reddit. We'll see what happens.

[Xessive]

That's a total dick move from Reflexive. The least they could do is release unlimited activations unlocks or "crack patches" for their games. It's not like they're going to be making money off them anymore.

The only logical explanation for not liberating their games is that Amazon is going to inherit them and plans to continue selling them; Amazon may even offer to resell them to people who already bought them.

[idolminds]

I think that the plan. Reflexive isn't going away, they are just stopping the use of their online store (probably since Amazon has their own). Reflexive will still be making games.

Which sort of makes the whole thing worse.

[scottws]

Yeah, this whole "We'll open it up later if something forces us to shut down authentication" is bogus.  Think about a situation like this one.

Company A is bought by Company B and Company B orders authentication servers formerly run by Company A to be shut off.  Even if some do-gooder coder there decides the right thing to do is to develop something on his or her own time that takes away the tether on their previous games and releases it on behalf of Company A then leaves the company, I would think Company B would probably end up suing him or her to kingdom come.

[gpw11]

Yeah, that's bullshit and I can certainly see companies closing their servers without unchaining their games when it does happen. The good news is that it doesn't really matter, you know where to get cracks and you're only really accountable to yourself anyways.

[iPPi]

I'm not the least bit surprised by this.  You can't expect a company to devote resources to making a patch for their older software releases when the company is in a crunch like that.  It just doesn't happen in the corporate environment.  They'll look at their finances and any promises made will be ignored.

[sirean_syan]

That's sort of the point. No one should be surprised by it, but people were buying it when this stuff started to really hit the fan a couple years ago.

[MysterD]

And people wonder why we need hacking, cracking, and modding on the PC...
B/c companies try to bend us over and screw us any possible way.

[Cobra951]

I'm not the least bit surprised by this.  You can't expect a company to devote resources to making a patch for their older software releases when the company is in a crunch like that.  It just doesn't happen in the corporate environment.  They'll look at their finances and any promises made will be ignored.

The point is that it's actually even worse than this.  The old properties represent a revenue stream for whoever takes them over after the original devs go away.  The incentive is to keep them locked up and squeeze more money out of them.  New company would not even allow old company to free them up, let alone finance new patches.  And when old company goes away, so do old company promises.