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Disney's Toontown closing on September 19
Disney's Toontown Online is closing up shop on September 19th. As of August 20th, paid member accounts will no longer feature recurring charges, and memberships are no longer available for purchase. Disney says that all Toons may now play as members for free through the game's closing date. The announcement post also hints at "Toontastic activities and kooky celebrations" on tap for the title's final month. [Thanks Master Von SuperJinks!]
Groklaw closing in light of NSA spying revelations
After the closures of Lavabit and Silent Circle's email service, we had wondered which online service would be next to wind down after Edward Snowden's PRISM revelations. Turns out that we're losing Groklaw, the technology and law blog, which is stopping operations from today. In an impassioned sign-off, founder Pamela Jones has said that she cannot keep running the site knowing the extent to which her private communications are subject to public scrutiny. She has also advised others to spend less time on the internet and use Kolab, a Swiss email service, which is apparently safe from the NSA -- at least for now.
Games for Windows Live marketplace closing August 22, client still operational
Microsoft announced that the Games for Windows Live marketplace will close up shop on August 22, permanently ending the ability to purchase featured content. The Games for Windows Live service itself will remain operational, and purchased games will be unaffected by the closure. Microsoft notes that Games for Windows Live users will still be able to access previously-purchased content via the GFWL client. Downloadable content for Games for Windows Live-supported games will remain available for purchase after the closure, though future availability "will vary based on the particular game." "Microsoft continues to support the Games for Windows Live platform," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "You can continue to enjoy previously purchased games and downloadable content in your catalogue by downloading them through the Games for Windows Live client. Although purchase functionality will be discontinued through this marketplace, the Games for Windows Live service will continue to operate as usual." The closure comes as a result of a forthcoming Xbox 360 update that will convert Microsoft points into local currency. Microsoft urges Games for Windows Live customers to spend their Microsoft point balances before the change, as converted cash will only apply to the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Windows Phone Store.
RaiderZ shutting down in Korea, NA version endures
RaiderZ just can't catch a break, it seems. Just a few weeks after the title was shuttered in Europe, Neowiz announced that it will be taking the game offline in South Korea next month. The Korean version will go dark on September 24th, and the publisher said that it will be reimbursing cash purchases through October. The North American version is still alive and kicking, however, and has released a state of the game post to rally players behind the title. Perfect World said that it's preparing new monsters, zones, dungeons, and loot for the near future. The company also took the opportunity to promote its in-game events, such as GM-run hide-and-seek games.
India closes state-run telegram service after 163 years
Sunday night marked closure of India's telegram service after 163 years STOP Service had lost money for several years, only 75 offices had remained open STOP Email and smartphone use had replaced antiquated system STOP End of an era STOP [Image Credit: Indian Stamp Ghar]
PSA: Astrid task management service shuts down on August 5th
When Astrid was acquired by Yahoo in May, it warned us that its task management service would close within 90 days. Today, it has a more specific date: customers have until August 5th to export any data they can't afford to lose. Astrid suggests alternative services like Any.DO, Sandglaz, Wrike and Wunderlist for those who want to import their tasks and pick up where they left off. The firmer schedule won't ease the pain for Astrid loyalists, but it should prevent any rude surprises in the weeks ahead. Check out Astrid's email to users after the break. [Thanks, Alex]
Boxee Cloud DVR to shut down following Samsung deal, goes dark July 10th
If you're like us, you were wondering what impact Samsung's acquisition of Boxee would have on Boxee's Cloud DVR service. Unfortunately, we don't have good news. Boxee is shutting down the service on July 10th, and customers will lose access to their TV recordings at the same time. We're not surprised by the move, but it effectively shuts the company down within the space of a week. When Boxee's apps, the Boxee Box and the Live TV add-on are either gone or on their way out, there aren't really products left to offer -- it's all Samsung from here.
Renesas to shutter the modem business it acquired from Nokia in 2010
Today, Renesas is announcing that it's going to "discontinue" the wireless unit it acquired from Nokia. Finnish state media outlet YLE is reporting that all 808 of Renesas' employees in Finland will be let go, of which more than two-thirds are located in the northern city of Oulu. Three years ago, Nokia decided to focus on designing and manufacturing mobile phones. It sold its wireless modem division to the Japanese semiconductor firm Renesas for roughly $200 million. The idea was, with wireless modem R&D moved out of the way, the company could concentrate on developing blockbuster handsets. Unfortunately, the sale took place half a year before Android phones outsold Symbian devices for the first time and Nokia announced that it was going to switch to Windows Phone -- this put Renesas in the awkward position of being a modem supplier to a company with collapsing sales. Nokia Siemens Networks has large offices in the same city where most of Renesas' employees are located. Though, engineers looking for a change of scenery might want to head south to Espoo where Samsung just opened its own R&D center.
Free for All: Why MMOs should be kept alive forever
We generally avoid the topic of emulator servers here at Massively for various reasons. I have different reasons for not discussing them as well, mainly that I do not agree with the use of art (games are art) without the owner's permission, no matter what. I want to get that out of the way now so we can discuss today's topic without filling the comments with emulator links we'll have to delete. And that topic is this: Should we maintain dead or dying MMOs after closure? I started thinking about this idea because I am currently wrapped up in a project to collect and catalogue every major bookmark of my life until I am "caught up" to about the time I started working at Massively. As part of the project, I am looking to save old pictures, projects and music, especially ones that exist on paper. Paper rots, after all. The project has made me think much more about my long history with MMOs. Should I be concerned that some of the digital versions of myself have or will disappear as games are sunsetted? Should we do something about this? I think we should, but if not emus, then what?
TuneWiki social music player to shut down on June 28th
If you've been interested in social music listening, there's a good chance you've heard of TuneWiki's lyric syncing and discovery services. Unfortunately, you won't be hearing about them for much longer -- the company is shutting down on June 28th. The firm hasn't explained its decision, but we wouldn't count on any content working after the cutoff date. We've reached out for more details; for now, the only certainty is that lyric lovers will have to scramble for alternatives.
Petroglyph to shut down Battle for Graxia just two months after launch
Due in part to the colossal success of League of Legends, the past few years have seen dozens of new MOBAs enter development. The genre that was once a niche inhabited by just a few indie developers has rapidly become one of the most competitive online gaming markets in the world, and small studios are finding it difficult to compete. Independent studio Petroglyph Games found this out the hard way when it launched free-to-play MOBA Rise of Immortals in 2011 to a less-than-stellar reception. The studio attempted to revive the game recently with its Battle For Graxia update, which overhauled the entire game to be more like other competitive PvP-focused MOBAs and added interesting new features like the White Knight system that replaces players who leave in the middle of a game. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have revived the game, as developers announced today that they will be pulling the plug on June 27th. Petroglyph's future now looks uncertain, as the studio has recently lost the development contract for End of Nations and failed to secure funding on Kickstarter for its own RTS game, Victory. [Thanks for the tip, Venova.]
Report: Timegate closes its doors
Timegate, the studio behind Section 8 and Aliens: Colonial Marines, laid off its entire staff today, Kotaku reports. On May 2, Timegate filed for bankruptcy protection, citing a debt of up to $50 million. The filing revealed that Timegate owed large sums to 50 companies, including Epic Games, Agora Games and DJ2 Entertainment. In April, Timegate lost an appeal against publisher SouthPeak Interactive, potentially losing the Section 8 license and adding $7.35 million to its debt. SouthPeak fought for Timegate's closure in arbitration and won, leading to today's layoffs, the report says. Timegate let go 25 employees in March, citing a rough transition to next-gen consoles and a publishing deal that fell through. The studio's most recent project is Minimum, a free-to-play shooter for PC that was supposed to launch on Steam Early Access on April 16. Minimum is currently not listed anywhere on Steam.
Steam deals: Stealth Bastard, Closure, Snapshot, more this week
This week, Steam is discounting a dozen different indie games. Stealth Bastard Deluxe, a fast-paced 2D stealth game from Curve Studios, is a tempting $4.99. Closure, the dark platformer from Eyebrow Interactive, is a mere $3.39 – definitely worth the pittance. Snapshot is also $3.39, a puzzle platformer from Kyle Pulver built upon an inventive photography mechanic. Retrovirus is half-off at $10, a shooter where players guide a ship through a computer system to eradicate a virus. Turret-based strategy game Sol Survivor is next on the list, down to $2.49 for the remainder of the sale. Spark Unlimited's Legendary, a shooter based on the Pandora's Box myth, joins the sale soiree for $1.24; Nikopal: Secrets of the Immortals is also $1.24, a 3D adventure game set in France during the year 2023. BC Kings, also $1.24, is s a strategy game set in the stone age. The final three games rounding out the list are: Puzzle Kingdoms for $3.74, a game from the creators of Puzzle Quest in very much the same vein; 4 Elements, a color-matching game from Playrix Entertainment set in a fantasy world, for $2; and Cave Story+ for $4.99, Nicalis' port of Daisuke Amaya's lauded platform-adventure game. All of these games are on sale until May 6 at 10am PT.
Report: EA Partners label to close
EA is reportedly shuttering its third-party co-publishing Partners label, responsible for bringing out the likes of the Crysis series, Shadows of the Damned, Alice: Madness Returns, Bulletstorm, Brutal Legend, and the Rock Band series among many others.According to Game Informer, who note "multiple anonymous sources close to the matter," the Partners label will be terminated "soon." Game Informer's sources say the purported closure shouldn't affect Insomniac's Fuse and Respawn Entertainment's unannounced project being released, despite both games being tied to the label.The report follows news of widespread layoffs at EA earlier this month, as well as the apparent retirement of its Playfish line. There are also reports of the EA Mobile Brazil and BioWare Social studios closing, as well as one in based in London, UK.We've reached out to EA for comment.
iPhone 4 antennagate comes to a close: your $15 settlement check's in the mail
Remember when you were holding it wrong? Remember when Apple was supposed to compensate you for holding it wrong? No? Well, if you didn't opt for the free rubber bumper back in the day, apparently that $15 "we're so sorry your iPhone 4's antenna sucked" settlement check alternative's finally being sent out via snail mail. So, case closed iFans. It's time to move on to greener, 5S pastures.
Report: Whore of the Orient faces uncertain future, studio layoffs
Whore of the Orient, the next game from the makers of L.A. Noire, looks to be in jeopardy following multiple reports of its team being laid off by Kennedy Miller Mitchell. MCV Pacific, Kotaku, and Player Attack sources say KMM has shuttered the Whore of the Orient division; KMM absorbed the remnants of L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi in 2011. KMM partner Doug Mitchell didn't comment on the reports when speaking to MCV, but noted the company is still "actively pursuing the right investor to partner with" on Whore of the Orient. Online sleuth supereroregatory dug up a blog post, now deleted, by a purported partner of a KMM staff member which indicated Warner Bros pulled out from the game in December 2012, and that any new deal with a new publisher, expected to happen this month, "would come too late." As Kotaku notes, KMM Interactive, the company's games division, advertised for a Lead Engine Programmer as recently as April 5, raising doubts over the Whore of the Orient team being laid off so soon after. In any case, without a partner to invest in it, the game's future is in doubt. If it does come out, rumors suggest the earliest we'll see it is 2015.
Report: Sega Studios Australia to close later this year
Sega Studios Australia, the team behind 2009's Stormrise and London 2012 Olympics, will close "later this year," Sega tells Kotaku.Sega Studios Australia was originally part of The Creative Assembly Australia, responsible for Medieval 2: Total War, but was renamed to work on the Olympics game. In 2012, Sega laid off 37 of 80 total employees at Studios Australia to better transition work on a "multi-product deal focussing across the digital marketplace." Nothing materialized publicly from this deal.This is the latest in a smattering of studio restructuring, including Disney shutting down LucasArts, Square Enix layoffs in Los Angeles, and Activision's High Moon Studios clearing out the Deadpool team.
Disney halts game development at LucasArts, moves to licensed Star Wars titles
If you're old enough to have played PC games for more than a decade, LucasArts (originally LucasFilm Games) likely has a permanent place in your heart after a string of legendary adventure and flight combat releases. You'll unfortunately have to put the company as you knew it squarely in the past -- Lucasfilm's new owner, Disney, is ending internal development at LucasArts. The software house is shifting to a licensing model for Star Wars games, reportedly "minimizing the company's risk" while expanding the range of games on offer. There's a chance that in-progress titles like Star Wars 1313 will survive with outside help, according to a spokesperson in touch with GameInformer, but talk of layoffs from Kotaku dampens any chances for direct follow-ups to favorites like Grim Fandango. We won't mourn too much when personas like Ron Gilbert, Lawrence Holland and Tim Schafer have long since moved on to other companies -- still, it's unquestionably the end of an era for game and movie fans alike.
Gpotato's Sevencore meets an early demise
Despite recently seeing the first of what players hoped would be a string of new content, gPotato's new title Sevencore announced today that it will be closing its doors. A forum post says that the game "has proved to be less attractive to players than anticipated and thus [it's] become unprofitable for the developer to be continued as a game." The developers hope to transition active players by undertaking the following: Reimbursing all gPotatoes spent between the 1st of February and today as well as between 30% and 75% of purchases prior to this date, Closing the in-game shop with immediate effect while considering making all shop items available for free, Keeping the game open until the end of April, Boosting experience gain and running events during the final period of the game, and Encouraging players to migrate to other gPotato games with special enticement packages. This bad news comes on the heels of the news that Webzen recently purchased gPotato and Gala-Net. Perhaps the purchase will breath new life into the developer after it showed a dip in quarterly sales when compared to the last year.
Priston Tale 2 shutting down on March 25th
It's never easy to say goodbye to a game you enjoy. Priston Tale 2 has enjoyed a decent lifespan for a small free-to-play title, but after three years of operation, the game is shutting down on March 25th. According to the official shutdown announcement, the game simply hasn't attracted enough of an audience, due in no small part to a lack of support from the game's original developer. Players looking for a new home are being directed toward the upcoming title The Aurora World, which is currently in closed beta testing. All unspent cash shop currency from Priston Tale 2 will be transferred over to the new game, and players will be able to receive special benefits for having a high-level character if the same account is used for both games. It's not going to stymie the sense of loss, but hopefully it'll take some of the edge off. [Thanks to Joshua for the tip!]
