Reflexive Arcade discontinuation: Difference between revisions
Add categories |
m Fix spelling of developer program |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Reflexive Entertainment, Inc. was a studio developing casual games for desktop computers and mobile phones. It was founded in Irvine, California in 1997. In 2004, they launched the ''Reflexive Arcade'' online download store<ref>{{Cite web |title=Game List for Reflexive Entertainment - PC Games |url=http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?CAT=Search&SEARCH=dev:Reflexive+Entertainment&PAGE=GameList |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813193458/http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?CAT=Search&SEARCH=dev:Reflexive+Entertainment&PAGE=GameList |archive-date=2009-08-13 |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Reflexive Arcade}}</ref>. In addition to Reflexive's own games, the website also sold games from other studios through an affiliate developer program named '' | Reflexive Entertainment, Inc. was a studio developing casual games for desktop computers and mobile phones. It was founded in Irvine, California in 1997. In 2004, they launched the ''Reflexive Arcade'' online download store<ref>{{Cite web |title=Game List for Reflexive Entertainment - PC Games |url=http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?CAT=Search&SEARCH=dev:Reflexive+Entertainment&PAGE=GameList |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813193458/http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?CAT=Search&SEARCH=dev:Reflexive+Entertainment&PAGE=GameList |archive-date=2009-08-13 |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Reflexive Arcade}}</ref>. In addition to Reflexive's own games, the website also sold games from other studios through an affiliate developer program named ''GameCenterSolution''<ref name=":0" />. By early 2010, Reflexive Arcade offered over over 1,450 downloadable Windows games and over 402 downloadable Mac games for sale<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The Best Games Recommended for You |url=http://www.reflexive.com/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330044546/http://www.reflexive.com/index.php |archive-date=2010-03-30 |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Reflexive Arcade}}</ref>. | ||
Games distributed through Reflexive Arcade were wrapped in a proprietary DRM system. All game installers were freely downloadable and offered a time-limited trial version. In order to unlock the full version of a game, players could purchase an activation code on the Reflexive Arcade store which was then verified with an online service<ref name=":1" />. In addition, an offline activation procedure was provided. Each game displayed a product ID which depended on the system configuration. This product key could be entered on the Reflexive Arcade website in order to generate an offline activation key which would work only for that system<ref>{{Cite web |title=My computer is not connected to the Internet, how do I activate my game? |url=http://support.gamecentersolution.com:80/index.php?page=Help/Support/SupportFAQ&channel=0&faq=18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222000342/http://support.gamecentersolution.com:80/index.php?page=Help/Support/SupportFAQ&channel=0&faq=18 |archive-date=2008-12- | Games distributed through Reflexive Arcade were wrapped in a proprietary DRM system. All game installers were freely downloadable and offered a time-limited trial version. In order to unlock the full version of a game, players could purchase an activation code on the Reflexive Arcade store which was then verified with an online service<ref name=":1" />. In addition, an offline activation procedure was provided. Each game displayed a product ID which depended on the system configuration. This product key could be entered on the Reflexive Arcade website in order to generate an offline activation key which would work only for that system<ref>{{Cite web |title=My computer is not connected to the Internet, how do I activate my game? |url=http://support.gamecentersolution.com:80/index.php?page=Help/Support/SupportFAQ&channel=0&faq=18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222000342/http://support.gamecentersolution.com:80/index.php?page=Help/Support/SupportFAQ&channel=0&faq=18 |archive-date=2008-12-22 |access-date=2006-05-26 |website=GameCenterSolution™}}</ref>. | ||
On the Reflexive Arcade storefront, game purchases were advertised as offering "[u]nlimited game installations on any computer you own, forever!"<ref name=":2" /> | On the Reflexive Arcade storefront, game purchases were advertised as offering "[u]nlimited game installations on any computer you own, forever!"<ref name=":2" /> | ||
==Amazon takeover and service discontinuation== | ==Amazon takeover and service discontinuation== | ||
In October 2008, Reflexive co-founder Lars Brubaker announced that the company was to be acquired by Amazon<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-21 |title=Amazon Snaps Up Video Game Provider Reflexive |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/21/amazon-snaps-up-video-game-provider-reflexive/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>. In a blog post on the Reflexive website, he assured affiliate developers that the Arcade distribution channel and store would be kept operational.<blockquote>What this means for all you developers is that it's time to get excited about your future with Reflexive. […] All of the features that you know and love about GameCenterSolution will still be available to you now and in the future, and you can continue to submit games through the Reflexive site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Lars |date=2008-10-20 |title=Reflexive is acquired by Amazon.com |url=http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?PAGE=Blog&BID=169 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331212635/http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?PAGE=Blog&BID=169 |archive-date=2010-03-31 |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Reflexive Arcade - Blog}}</ref></blockquote>At the end of March 2010, Brubaker sent a communication to affiliate developers that the | In October 2008, Reflexive co-founder Lars Brubaker announced that the company was to be acquired by Amazon<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-21 |title=Amazon Snaps Up Video Game Provider Reflexive |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/21/amazon-snaps-up-video-game-provider-reflexive/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>. In a blog post on the Reflexive website, he assured affiliate developers that the Arcade distribution channel and store would be kept operational.<blockquote>What this means for all you developers is that it's time to get excited about your future with Reflexive. […] All of the features that you know and love about GameCenterSolution will still be available to you now and in the future, and you can continue to submit games through the Reflexive site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Lars |date=2008-10-20 |title=Reflexive is acquired by Amazon.com |url=http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?PAGE=Blog&BID=169 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331212635/http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?PAGE=Blog&BID=169 |archive-date=2010-03-31 |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Reflexive Arcade - Blog}}</ref></blockquote>At the end of March 2010, Brubaker sent a communication to affiliate developers that the GameCenterSolution program and the Reflexive Arcade storefront would shut down effective June 31st, 2010. Amazon confirmed that Reflexive would return to focus exclusively on game development, and that game purchases would no longer be possible through Reflexive Arcade<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Erin |date=2010-04-01 |title=Reflexive Shuts Down Its Affiliate Program |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/news/reflexive-shuts-down-its-affiliate-program/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Gamezebo}}</ref>. | ||
The Reflexive Arcade storefront was updated to display a notice that games would stop being available for purchase after June 30th, 2010. Existing customers were informed that July 31st, 2010, would be the last day on which it would be possible to install and activate previously purchased games.<blockquote>'''Important Message''' | The Reflexive Arcade storefront was updated to display a notice that games would stop being available for purchase after June 30th, 2010. Existing customers were informed that July 31st, 2010, would be the last day on which it would be possible to install and activate previously purchased games.<blockquote>'''Important Message''' | ||