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Link to URL: http://www.fsxbeyondgamespy.com/news.html

News Category: Community News

News Item: Note to Editor:

 

While this story is similar to the existing story regarding the closure of GameSpy, this story takes that information further by confirming the decision was made by Microsoft and is independent of the Glu Mobile / GameSpy decision to terminate the GameSpy open program. In the interest of accuracy, it may be best to post both articles.

 

The URL listed above contains the same news release.

 

The sections at the bottom of the article are optional additions that provide context.

 

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Glu Mobile Confirms that GameSpy Support for FSX Is Closed Permanently, Decision was Made by Microsoft

 

On Friday, December 7, Glu Mobile, the company that now owns GameSpy, confirmed through a spokesperson that GameSpy would no longer be available to support multiplayer users of Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX). The company has confirmed that the decision to terminate support for FSX was not the result of Glu Mobile's recent acquisition of the GameSpy brand but by a Microsoft decision to discontinue support.

 

"Unfortunately, we're not able to provide our services to the user community directly," said Jason Enriquez, speaking on behalf of the Glu Mobile management team. "We enter into Agreements [with game publishers and] in this case, the publisher of FSX has opted to drop support for the title."

 

While the decision to shutter support for FSX through GameSpy is disappointing, it also provides new opportunities for multiplayer users, says Boston Virtual ATC's Evan Reiter. "While the closure GameSpy support for FSX means users have one less option, the range of choices for connecting to other pilots and simulation enthusiasts remains broad. Anyone who previously relied on GameSpy should look to the future with an open mind, consider the options that are now available, and find the one fits best."

 

Reiter also believes that this is "in no way" the end of FSX. "Many of the users on FS-MP, on Boston Virtual ATC, on VATSIM, on all of these communities are pilots. We're a resilient bunch. We rallied through the end of technical support for FSX, through Flight (no more needs to be said about that one). This is no different."

 

Boston Virtual ATC is sponsoring a website, www.fsxbeyondgamespy.com, to provide GameSpy users with the array of options now available to them and allow users to connect to one another once again.

 

Official Source

Jason Enriquez, Communications Director at Glu Mobile, provided the following quote to Boston Virtual ATC from Glu Mobile's management team:

"GameSpy is a service provider to game developers and publishers. As such we enter into Agreements that provide for not only multiplayer technology itself but a service Agreement to run those services on behalf of a game publisher for as long as the Publisher desires. In this case, the publisher of FSX has opted to drop support for the title. Accordingly we've disabled the online services. Unfortunately we're not able to provide our services to the user community directly."

 

About FSX Beyond GameSpy

FSX Beyond GameSpy is a portal designed to provide a means of connecting users displaced by the discontinuation of GameSpy support for FSX. It provides information about the multiplayer communities that are available to GameSpy users and encourages them to seek out the options that are available to them now that GameSpy is no longer available.

 

FSX Beyond GameSpy is sponsored by Boston Virtual ATC, a previous GameSpy community interested in finding a way to connect as many multiplayer users as possible to help save the hobby and provide a sustainable platform for pilots and aviation enthusiasts to connect for years to come.

 

About Boston Virtual ATC

Boston Virtual ATC (BVA) is a 3500-member community that relied on GameSpy's technology in addition to FSX's Direct Connect functionality. BVA remains committed to Flight Simulator X multiplayer and will continue to provide its professional, realistic, 24/7 server via Direct Connect.