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Frogwares Games Important Notice #1197661
09/26/19 09:37 AM
09/26/19 09:37 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,270
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline OP
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BrownEyedTigre  Offline OP
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In the Naughty Corner
Deja Vu of so many developers. How sad.

Link to Official Website,

Quote
Official statement on removal of our games from storefronts by Focus Home Interactive
Fate of Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments still unsure

Hello,

This letter is addressed to everyone who is interested in the video game industry, and wants to take a look at what’s happening behind the curtain.

We are Frogwares, the developer of the Sherlock Holmes video games, and The Sinking City. We make detective games because it’s our passion, and because it allows us to live off it.

But today, that is under threat. Some of our games are being removed from Sony’s and Microsoft’s storefronts, and even maybe from Steam. This list includes our titles like Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper and Magrunner: Dark Pulse (see full list below).

Why? Because Focus Home Interactive, the licensee (or “publisher”) that was in charge of commercializing these games on these platforms, refuses to transfer the title IDs to us, the creators and IP owners of those titles, even though our Publishing and Distribution Agreement has expired.

Because, according to their official statement, sent to us only last week, “Focus has put in place a policy in accordance with which they will not transfer any title – the content ID or title ID – belonging to any developer which has removed all of their games from the Focus catalog”.

A policy that is not in any of our previous or existing contracts with Focus and that has never been applied to us in the past.

Because of that policy, our games will be taken down from all storefronts.

As it stands right now, the only game left is Sherlock Holmes Crimes & Punishment which only has until September 29th. It is possible that it will be taken down at this date or earlier if nothing is done. The players will no longer be able to buy and play the game. We will also lose all our wishlists and every other bit of information on those store pages. As the creators and IP owners of all those games, we have no control and no say in this. The decision of Focus Home left us voiceless.

We are in the process of setting up new store profiles, and we are contacting console stores and hope to try and rectify the situation. However, we are unable to confirm if this can be done and already know that it will be impossible for certain games on previous gen, and very costly for others as we will have to update the SDK and that takes months. We are certainly not going to give up, and will pursue this issue through the appropriate channels.

We have always been an independent studio. We worked with many licensees on the grounds of mutual interests and benefits, but it’s the first time in 20 years we have encountered such a situation. We are losing all revenue attached to these games, for some – for an unknown period of time and for other games, forever. This new policy from Focus Home towards former contracted developers will land a serious blow to our studio, threatening our future games and the people who develop them.

Right now, we are in a tough situation. We are preparing ourselves for a significant loss. To those parties that can help us and have influence over the situation – feel free to contact us.

————————————————————–

Full list:

On Steam, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360: Sherlock Holmes Crimes & Punishments availability ends on September 29th.

Already taken down on PS3: The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Magrunner: Dark Pulse

Already taken down on Xbox 360: Sherlock Holmes versus Jack The Ripper, The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes, Magrunner: Dark Pulse

On Steam, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper and Magrunner: Dark Pulse are published by Frogwares and not by Focus Home Interactive.

————————————————————–

The Sinking City, Sergey Oganesyan published on September 26, 2019


Don't feed the Trolls
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197662
09/26/19 10:02 AM
09/26/19 10:02 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,230
near Yosemite
Marian Offline
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"Because, according to their official statement, sent to us only last week, “Focus has put in place a policy in accordance with which they will not transfer any title – the content ID or title ID – belonging to any developer which has removed all of their games from the Focus catalog.

A policy that is not in any of our previous or existing contracts with Focus and that has never been applied to us in the past."

I don't understand how Focus can even do this, being as it was not in any previous or existing contract. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this point. It sounds very arbitrary.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197668
09/26/19 10:40 AM
09/26/19 10:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,707
The Country
Winfrey Offline
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Winfrey  Offline
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The Country
Does this mean if we have games that are already in our library won't run any longer?


Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody
Gibran
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: Winfrey] #1197671
09/26/19 11:09 AM
09/26/19 11:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 212
Yreka, California
Adam Beals Offline
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Adam Beals  Offline
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Originally Posted by Winfrey
Does this mean if we have games that are already in our library won't run any longer?


I hope not! I love the Sherlock game series!


"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

Mohandas Gandhi
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197673
09/26/19 11:13 AM
09/26/19 11:13 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,230
near Yosemite
Marian Offline
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Marian  Offline
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I purchased all of the Sherlock games that I have from GOG.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197678
09/26/19 11:57 AM
09/26/19 11:57 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,999
Chicago
oldbroad Offline
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Most of the games I have on both Steam and GOG except 2 of them and one that I have on GOG and Big Fish (not Steam). I have Crimes & Punishments on disc but it requires Steam. I don't have that on GOG or The Devil's Daughter which I did break down and buy on Steam.

I am also curious about being able to play the games now.

I love all things Jack the Ripper but for some reason I never played this game. It's mostly the only one I care about.

Oh, and thanks Ana!

Last edited by oldbroad; 09/26/19 11:58 AM.
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197679
09/26/19 12:07 PM
09/26/19 12:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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Draclvr  Offline
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I don't have any of these games, but I would be more concerned with the precedent Focus is setting if they can get by with this. I agree with Marian... this seems quite arbitrary.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: Draclvr] #1197681
09/26/19 12:41 PM
09/26/19 12:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,999
Chicago
oldbroad Offline
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Originally Posted by Draclvr
I don't have any of these games, but I would be more concerned with the precedent Focus is setting if they can get by with this. I agree with Marian... this seems quite arbitrary.


I'm sure you are right but since I won't pretend I understand it or the implications, I'm just worrying about the games I paid for. Call me selfish. Many others have wink

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197683
09/26/19 01:24 PM
09/26/19 01:24 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20,011
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr Offline
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Oh, no! I'm sorry if I gave that impression! If I had any of the games, I would be just as concerned as you are about them.


Gardens put to bed for the winter. Time for some gaming!
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: oldbroad] #1197684
09/26/19 02:30 PM
09/26/19 02:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
GB Reviewer Glitches Moderator
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Originally Posted by oldbroad
Most of the games I have on both Steam and GOG except 2 of them and one that I have on GOG and Big Fish (not Steam). I have Crimes & Punishments on disc but it requires Steam. I don't have that on GOG or The Devil's Daughter which I did break down and buy on Steam.

I am also curious about being able to play the games now.

The Windows versions of the above listed games are published by Frogwares, not FOCUS.
So these games are not affected by the problems described in this announcement.
Originally Posted by Frogwares
On Steam, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper and Magrunner: Dark Pulse are published by Frogwares and not by Focus Home Interactive.

But even with Crimes & Punishments, as long as you already have the game in your Steam library, chances are it won't affect your ability to play it, even if Steam no longer lists it for sale. That's how it's been with other games formerly sold at Steam but no longer sold there.

+_+_+_+_+_+

I'm confused by this statement, and wonder if it's simply poorly written as opposed to being a threat to steal developer IP's.
Quote
Because, according to their official statement, sent to us only last week, “Focus has put in place a policy in accordance with which they will not transfer any title – the content ID or title ID – belonging to any developer which has removed all of their games from the Focus catalog”.

Is that simply saying they won't sell games to gamers that aren't in their catalog any more?
Or is it saying they won't revert the IP to the developer that created the IP after the contract has expired?
Because those two things aren't the same at all.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197685
09/26/19 02:44 PM
09/26/19 02:44 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,999
Chicago
oldbroad Offline
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I think it sounds like that second thing Jenny: " Or is it saying they won't revert the IP to the developer that created the IP after the contract has expired?"

And even I can see how THAT doesn't seem right.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: oldbroad] #1197687
09/26/19 03:15 PM
09/26/19 03:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Jenny100  Offline
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Originally Posted by oldbroad
I think it sounds like that second thing Jenny: " Or is it saying they won't revert the IP to the developer that created the IP after the contract has expired?"

Yes, I see Jim Sterling has reported on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU4EzXbjiio

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197692
09/26/19 05:39 PM
09/26/19 05:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,940
Lincoln, NE
GuybrushThreepwood Offline
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Sound like a lawsuit needs to be filed.


Currently Playing:
Adventure Game: Broken Age
Darkside: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: GuybrushThreepwood] #1197743
09/27/19 01:08 PM
09/27/19 01:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,316
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
Sonic Boomer
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United Kingdom
What Bad News frown

[I stopped buying their Sherlock games once they only became available via Steam. So I only have disk versions.]


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197784
09/27/19 09:06 PM
09/27/19 09:06 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,004
Sweden
Mikael Offline
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Mikael  Offline
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I'm a lawyer, but I still don't understand Focus Home's line of reasoning.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197862
09/29/19 03:46 AM
09/29/19 03:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 212
Yreka, California
Adam Beals Offline
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Adam Beals  Offline
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Anyone hear if 'A Plague Tale: Innocence' is one if the games slated for removal? I know it's not a Frogwares title. It is however a Focus product. It's been on my gaming bucket list and was waiting till it went on sale. Now I may not get to play it if goes. This thing with Focus is sad. Hopefully Frogwares can find a way through this.


"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

Mohandas Gandhi
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: Adam Beals] #1197875
09/29/19 10:27 AM
09/29/19 10:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,270
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline OP
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BrownEyedTigre  Offline OP
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In the Naughty Corner
Originally Posted by Adam Beals
Anyone hear if 'A Plague Tale: Innocence' is one if the games slated for removal? I know it's not a Frogwares title. It is however a Focus product. It's been on my gaming bucket list and was waiting till it went on sale. Now I may not get to play it if goes. This thing with Focus is sad. Hopefully Frogwares can find a way through this.


This is because Frogwares contract was ending on these dates. A Plague Tale of Innocence is not even a year old so I'm sure their contract gives Focus a longer time frame of rights to the game, I wouldn't worry about it. However, I wouldn't trust Focus with any release if this is how they do business!


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Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1197984
09/30/19 05:22 PM
09/30/19 05:22 PM
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Posts: 1,103
Port Orange,Fla.
Beerhead Offline
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Port Orange,Fla.
Hi,I couldn't download Crimes and punishments from steam,although I've played it before (graphic card issue) Then I downloaded Testament Of Sherlock Holmes from GOG and it's fine,I can play it.Just thought i would let you know

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: Beerhead] #1197998
09/30/19 07:08 PM
09/30/19 07:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Originally Posted by Beerhead
Hi,I couldn't download Crimes and Punishments from Steam, although I've played it before (graphic card issue)

It would be interesting to know if anyone else who already bought Crimes & Punishments is not able to download and play it.
The takedown date was September 29 and Crimes & Punishments is still listed for sale on Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/241260/Sherlock_Holmes_Crimes_and_Punishments/

If the game doesn't work any more, does that mean Steam will refund peoples' money?

Originally Posted by Beerhead
Then I downloaded Testament Of Sherlock Holmes from GOG and it's fine, I can play it.

The PC version of Testament wasn't one of the games affected.
Now if you had Testament on PS3 or XBox 360, it would be interesting to know if it still worked.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1198003
09/30/19 08:05 PM
09/30/19 08:05 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 14
Bremerton,Wa,USA
T
Timotek Offline
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Timotek  Offline
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Bremerton,Wa,USA
I got Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper from the Adventure Shop which folded a few years ago. It is tarnished by Tages copy protection so it can no longer be set up and run. Twenty bucks down the toilet. On a similar note, the games I have on Direct2Drive have similar problems with copy protection. D2D said a few months ago that they were working on it but there has been no progress. When TellTale sadly went under, at least they maintained their customers' games after removing the verification nonsense.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1198148
10/02/19 12:19 PM
10/02/19 12:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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It looks like the Steam page for Crimes & Punishments now lists Frogwares as the publisher instead of FOCUS. Hopefully this means Frogwares now has full control of ALL their PC games that used to have FOCUS as publisher -- and that Crimes & Punishments will eventually appear at GOG like their other games do.

Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1198223
10/02/19 10:00 PM
10/02/19 10:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 83,270
In the Naughty Corner
BrownEyedTigre Offline OP
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BrownEyedTigre  Offline OP
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In the Naughty Corner
That would be awesome Jenny! Hoping we hear something official soon!


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Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: Jenny100] #1198264
10/03/19 07:53 AM
10/03/19 07:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 34,316
United Kingdom
Mad Offline
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Posts: 34,316
United Kingdom
Originally Posted by Jenny100
It looks like the Steam page for Crimes & Punishments now lists Frogwares as the publisher instead of FOCUS. Hopefully this means Frogwares now has full control of ALL their PC games that used to have FOCUS as publisher -- and that Crimes & Punishments will eventually appear at GOG like their other games do.


I hope GOG does get the game.
Since I removed Steam from my computer I obviously lost the very few games I had with them and Crimes & Punishments was one of them yes


Time : The Most Precious Commodity
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1198293
10/03/19 04:32 PM
10/03/19 04:32 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,833
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
judith Offline
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I already had Crimes & Punishment downloaded on my computer. I just clicked on the game icon & there was no problem. So hopefully I won't have to worry about losing it in the future.


A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Re: Frogwares Games Important Notice [Re: BrownEyedTigre] #1198328
10/04/19 08:15 AM
10/04/19 08:15 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48,230
near Yosemite
Marian Offline
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Marian  Offline
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Well, this is timely.

Crimes and Punishments has shown up on GOG today along with a Frogwares special sale.

In addition to Crimes and Punishments, their casual games Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles and Dracula: Love Kills have been added to the GOG catalogue, as well as the full-on adventure game Dracula: Origin.

If you buy Crimes and Punishments in the next week, you get Hound of the Baskervilles thrown in for free.

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