We might still be able to download the vanilla Microsoft Flight from Steam, but without any DLC and without multiplayer.

 

Actually there is a thread of people claiming that the Steam version no longer starts up. Have a read:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/203850/discussions/2/864976837955469422/

 

I had bought a second copy of all the DLC a month ago and it is still in steam gift form. I have written support hoping for a refund as it was never redeemed.

 

I can't see how Microsoft can take your money and not let you use the product you paid for; without incredible backlash and potential lawsuits. It doesn't matter if it is stated in the EULA. The game was released internationally and they would have to abide by various countries consumer protection laws. You will probably see some justified circumvention tools if our pleas go unheard. After all, I did pay for it.

According to Polygon http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4637694/microsoft-games-for-windows-live-service-ending-july-2014, MS is planning to shut down Games for Windows Live in 2014.  What would this mean for MS Flight? Would multiplayer or DLC still work?

Everything is up in the air with a new CEO due to come on board within 6 months. So it may not be shut down at all. There is no way to know. Guesses are 50/50.

Yeah, I don't think there's been an official word yet. We'll just have to wait and see.

I very much doubt games will stop working. I'm sure they'll host the DRM server for some years to come even if some features go offline.

I've got games as old as the mid 90's I could still use them if I wanted to, still have proper machines to run them. The idea that I might not be able to install again a game I bought, because it requires validation on an internet based service that might not exist anymore, or is only available through internet download that may or will not be available sooner or later, I think it's rather frustrating. I think the decent thing to do, when a company shuts down a product like this, is to make this kind of software available for download for safekeeping and internet-validation free installation, at least for their paying customers.

They can't really blame piracy when this kind of service is what they offer when you give them your money.

 

Also, I think it must be pretty frustrating and annoying for all the people involved in the developement of MS Flight to see it shut down so soon and in such a thorough fashion. It really seems like it will be wiped away from the internet. Too bad, it might not be perfect but you can see it's been done with a lot of passion.

Heck, closing GFWL will stop me from re-installing FSX, too.

 

I guess I'll have to [use the obvious but unmentionable on AVSIM method] to keep my legally purchased software working.

 

(sigh)

You not re-installing FSX will teach 'em, that's for sure. (Please note that none of this affects FSX.)

You not re-installing FSX will teach 'em, that's for sure. (Please note that none of this affects FSX.)

Correct... cause MS has had nothing to do with FSX for almost a year.

 

no support.

Wrong... phone support just ended, activation server works just fine, and automated activation reset server works just fine.

If I were to uninstall FSX and Flight completely, it would take more effort than it took to install them. I might as well keep em there till I find no use for them anymore.

To be honest, in my opinion, the retiring Microsoft CEO really only cared about Xbox, and how it would compete against PlayStation. I believe that he completely forgot that a lot of people still play PC games.

 

Anyways... No one knows what the future will hold. Bill Gates could come out of retirement (rumours), or a Flight Sim Enthusiast could become Microsoft's CEO. A former Air Cadet could become the CEO. Who knows?

 

 

"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these?

Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I'm the man who's gonna burn your house down!

With the lemons! I'm gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!"

 

-Cave Johnson

Ballmer's involvement in the game side of things was probably very little if at all. He is the CEO of the largest software company in the world and the games/sim side is miniscule compared to all the business related sides of Microsoft.  If he had any involvement at all it was probably only at the financial end and listening to his bean counters.  His division managers probably made the decisions that affect us now. I doubt his leaving is going to have any impact on the flightsim world at all.  We'll all just have to wait to see what washes out of this whole mess.

I think when FSX shut down it was probably a surprise to Ballmer.  He doesn't get involved at decisions of that low level.

 

I'm still trying to sort out all the side affects of these GFWL changes, but other than the multiplayer not working, I have a work around that will let you guys play Flight past July 1 next year, so I wouldn't worry about your stuff not working.

That is good news Stonelance. Was worried that I was going to have to learn Xplane.

 

Moe

& Stonelance

 

Does it have something to do with "x....less" or is it something you did in the program yourself ?

 

 

Does it have something to do with "x....less" or is it something you did in the program yourself ?

 

Something else.  As far as I know xliveless doesn't enumerate DLC, so it wouldn't work.