Is GG killing MMOKit?

#1 The last thread about this (here) was less than 30 threads below this one, Seemingly the reason is you need a special licensing deal from GG to sell an engine made from TGE/TGEA, and Dream Games wanted to move on with their new product.

#2 It seems to me that this is a business arrangement between two companies, and it's really not our place to butt in uninvited, point fingers at GG, and start accusing them of conspiracies.

The community has received the only explanation it's entitled to: the official announcement from Dream Games. Bottom line: it's none of our expletive deleted business, and nobody needs rabble-rousing from uninformed and uninvolved parties.

Sorry if this seems a little uptight, but it really gets my skivvies in a knot when folks decide that it's their God-given right to know every detail of a private business, and if that information isn't provided, it must be a sinister plot to destroy our freedoms. It's especially galling that the target of this ire is GarageGames, a company that has shown incredible dedication to indie developers.

If Dream Games needs our services as a defender of free enterprise, I'm sure they'll contact us privately in email. Til then, let's butt out.

#3 It's been talked to death, but as President of Dream Games I don't mind offering assurance.

We are huge fans of Prairie Games and what they do and have planned, and needless to say GG has always been extremely good to us. It is a carefully cultivated relationship which allows things to happen. Nothing is dead except the ability to purchase the Gryphon and Titas software after a certain date (April 6th), development is FLYING on Gryphon (aka MMOKIT) as it moves towards becoming a game, and likewise for Titas. Updates for both products are tied to the games' development. We have never been more excited about our future or what's in store for these projects.

This is going to be an extremely good year! John is absolutely right in that GG has shown their dedication to the Indie community many times over. As we are a part of that community both individually and as a company, I can echo that statement in a gleeful chorus.

#4 Dave, I think if you just come up with a generic-but-respectful answer and copy/paste it every time you see a thread, you'll save both you and your customers a lot of heartache. ;)

#5 Just to clarify,
as a consumer of thier products, it is definately your business, and there is nothing wrong with asking questions.
even if some people think that those questions should not have to be answered.

if products that initially had thier support no longer have thier support, there is no reason why you cannot ask why.

clearly any company that told me the product's they have offered have been discontinued, and then stated it's none of my business, I would terminate any relationship I had with them, as well any relationship I had with Any of thier other products.

Business has to be nice to the consumer, Period.

there are other people selling the same stuff, really no need to bend over backwards for ignorance.

#6 Discontinued is one thing, pulling support is another, and we are not pulling support for the products: that would be unbelievably wrong to do. We are committed to delivering and improving the goods... As a matter of fact there is a major update coming out next week for Gryphon actually. If you guys have questions, come over to our forums and ask, and see wat else is going on!

#7 Perhaps I phrased that poorly.

Yes, if Dream Games yanked their product and discontinued all support for it, folks would have cause to be alarmed. However, that's clearly not the case. They're not kicking current users to the curb; they're just discontinuing new sales of those products.

Despite the fact that it was clearly stated that the two companies have a good working relationship, a few folks came to the immediate assumption that GG has done something evil and sinister to pressure Dream Games out of business. That offends me, even though I don't work for either company. =)

Yes, folks have a right to ask questions. But to DEMAND information about a business deal between two privately owned companies, and then accuse one of them of wrongdoing because the confidential details of the transaction weren't made public... that's just obnoxious.

[sarcasm]
"Why hasn't GarageGames published its quarterly tax returns?! Are they trying to hide how much money they've made off us poor indies? I bet it's all going to Ben Garney's jacuzzi fund! The community has a right to know how much money GG is extorting from them!"
[/sarcasm]

#8 Well, I purchased MMOKit last night so I could get it before the deadline. It has alot of source material for features that easily justify the 99 bucks - support or not in the future. I'd recommend anyone who is working on a game of this nature to buy it in the next two days. Within an hour I had their code up and running and the demo working. My intent wasn't to flame or point a finger - But, regardless of what is being said in official public statements, discontinued products are exactly that. It's unfortunate because I think MMOKit has alot of potential. Regardless of what happens it's worth the 99 bucks.

ack, sorry i didn't notice the billion-and-one other threads already on this subject