What is happening now (May 2022)
So I needed to make a post to keep track of everything. On Discord we been spending nearly all day trying to figure this one out.
The TLDR is this:
We think we know where the dev lives. One of the people who worked with him, he is going to send a physical letter asking about the game. We figure this is the best method since he seemed to went away from everything, and we don't know if he still uses his email. And we figure if he says no, or doesn't reply. Then it is likely the game really is dead.
Our goal is to see if he still wants to work on the game. If not, then if he will open source the game.
Please do not contact him or look his info up. Chances are if more than this is done, we won't get anything and if he wants to be unknown. Then let him. We all have the right to that.
Side note: There is some evidence showing he might be still working on the game. It isn't good evidence, but it is odd.
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Long story:
After searching a good bit, it seems the publisher company is dead. From a former employee https://steamcommunity.com/app/366000/discussions/0/3279195573084398291/
(I haven't worked for the publisher for years, and they no longer exist).
Looking at the site and everything, it really does seem they are a dead company.
In that he also said
Michael is gone from FB, email, etc. I have no way to contact him. He's the only one who had the source code.
So for us to be able to make this open source, the dev himself will have to make it so.
The publishing company co founder sent me this
So this is telling me it has the blessing to be open sourced from the publisher.
Someone found this https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0801710331
The dev company voluntarily dissolved 24 August 2020. But someone else found this https://www.ultraengine.com/community/profile/9170-michael_j/content/
It is the dev's profile. What is odd is the site says
But we are seeing
And it seems to be a true date because
But this could be a glitch. So best case, he is still working on this. Worse case this is a glitch.
Again, keep in mind our goal is to see if he will work on this, or to see if he will make it open source. Or maybe sell the source code if that is a legit option.
Anyways, as I mentioned towards the start, a former employee will try to make contact. Best case something happens. Worse case nothing happens or he says no. If he says no, then I think we need to let it die. If however he wants to work on it, or he wants to make it open source. Then great.
Something to note, someone pointed out on discord that even if we did get open source. The game's engine legal might be a problem. So even if he didn't delete the source code, he makes it open source, and so on. That is something that could be a massive holdup.