Elemental Audio been swallowed up...

[bobby yarrow]

It's a weird kinda paranoia. I simply don't subscribe to it. Change is constant. Nothing is forever. The elemental plugs are great. The new situation sucks... but I won't update to iLok, and I won't cry over it either for said reasons.

Yeah, I think that's dead on. Nobody should buy software with the idea that their investing in something. All software, absolutely every piece of it we own, will be utterly useless 10 years from now. Most of it won't last 2 years. You can hope for Native Instruments model, where they keep making you buy the same software every year or so, but by the time you're laying down for Reaktor 27 how ripped off is anyone going to feel by EA.

[bduffy]

But I'm pretty hard pressed to think of a situation where a product immediately changes to twice the price plus dongle! This ain't "updates", it's the exact same thing in different clothes.

[uselessmind]

Enough to make even then most hardcore legit user go and try out P2P.

Yeah,that will surely help small devs stay in business.

I didn't buy anything from EA (had my eye on Inspector XL though), but if their plugins do what they are supposed to do, whats the big deal?

The stuff does continue to work, right?

[andyeb]

i hope they crack his plugs and he doesn't get a penny!

So the EA plugins were never cracked? I've never understood companies that suddenly up the level of copy protection used, along with the price, then wonder why nobody buys it.

[andyeb]

Enough to make even then most hardcore legit user go and try out P2P.

Yeah,that will surely help small devs stay in business.

As someone who doesn't use bent software, I completely agree with you. But when one small dev treats customers like this, it makes you think twice about spending money elsewhere.

Personally, I think this iLok disease currently doing the rounds is actually going to kill a lot of small developers that try and jump on the bandwagon. How many cheap plugins have been bought as impulse purchases after an evening of trying out a demo? I'd argue that just won't happen for iLok "protected" (crippled) products, unless it is a really high profile product that gets rave reviews everywhere.

[andyeb]

I guess at least EAs products were unlocked with a simple serial number. Just think if they had used a challenge/response system - they'd now have all of their users over a barrel!

[hvaring]

I mean really guys, haven't you all got some perfectly working plug-ins for your money ?

Indeed. My feeling exactly. I have the whole EA line, the plugs work flawlessly and I'm in no need of updates. I choose to turn elsewhere for new stuff as I won't ever touch anything with a dongle on it. Especially when said dongle leads to a doubling of the product price.

[Urs]

Can I just say Holy Shit.

It may happen that a developer has to move his stuff over to another company (health issues, money, whatever). Then please do it in a reasonable way, like Glaresoft did with Izotope who took over support for existing customers.

The way it's done here is probably the worst thing I've ever come across in that realm. Existing customers are obviously left in the void. Worse, that Roger Nichols stuff IMHO looks totally weird. Several different websites for the same thing (or person?), all filled up with the most unprofessional impression imaginable. Even if that RND company offererd any form of reasonably priced support transition for existing customers, who really wants to shell out bucks to such a company?

It's even more sad that EA tried to harvest some more bucks last week or so by sending out a marketing email although he certainly knew what's going on. IIRC this email did not say anything about EA's future. That's not only weird, it's also something I'd pass over to a lawyer if I had bought anything upon that email.

I feel sorry for those who spent money in good faith, especially if a system transition is due soon that renders the investment useless. And I'm full of anger about the bad light this puts on small developers. I hope we're not generally like this.

Urs

[bduffy]

Thanks for the dev's perspective, Urs. I agree, this is just not right. And those websites! Who would by anything from a site like that?

[polyslax]

It's even more sad that EA tried to harvest some more bucks last week or so by sending out a marketing email although he certainly knew what's going on. IIRC this email did not say anything about EA's future. That's not only weird, it's also something I'd pass over to a lawyer if I had bought anything upon that email.

Ok, I have to admit, reading over their April 12th email has left a rather foul taste in my mouth. Here's a sickening quote:

This is just one more way we are showing you how much we appreciate your support, kind words, and referrals. We will continue to look for ways to express our appreciation and to improve our service to you.

And agreed, RN needs to hire some website help immediately.

[AD80]

I always thought EA had the best EQ interfaces out. I cant think of any better. So many features all clearly layed out. Now everything is brushed aluminum and 80's looking. Horrible. And that website is a catastrophy. You cant even click on the thumbnails to get a full size pic of the plug-ins. This whole cituation is an un-funny joke.

[skOre]

Lets speculate on what he paid them to make them agree into such a deal! 10k? 50k?

[ModuLR]

that's what I was just wondering too... how much money would someone have to flash in front of your face, to convince you to give up your top notch code to a maketing idiot. Can't wait for the grid paper skin.

[bduffy]

Let's just pretend they had to pay for a kidney transplant for their crippled nephew or something...

[dramsenik]

OMG bad news....

Reaallly bad news.
RIP EAS.

I hope EAS plugs will keep a certain compatibility for a long time because i'm not going to spend any money to such complete crazy seller. I have already spoken with aliens but this seller is the best of them He can bundle his plugs with his thermo nuclear device and put it himself very deep.
bad manners! How can he sleep the night?