ISXVG Subscription Service FAQ

[Amadeus]

Beginning on April 14, 2007, ISXVG will be moving to a subscription based service. What this means is that, like now, ISXVG will be free to download and install on your computer; however, you will be required to buy an ISXVG Subscription in order to use it.

Please note that most questions are answered in the installation/setup walk-through that I have created. Users are encouraged to follow through and read everything carefully before asking additional questions.

1. How much will an ISXVG subscription cost?
An ISXVG subscription will be $12.00 every three months.

2. Is there a trial period?
Yes, the first 5 days are free and your first month (and first payment) occur after that time. If you cancel your subscription during these first 5 days, you will not be billed the initial $10.00.

If you cancel your subscription within the first five days (the trial period), your subscription ends at the conclusion of the trial period. There will be consequences for those that abuse the trial period.

3. How is money being handled?
Everything related to money is being handled by paypal.com. I will never see your financial information and I'm very happy about that.

4. How do I cancel my subscription?
Subscriptions are easy to cancel. CLICK HERE for a detailed walkthrough.

5. How do I reactivate my account if it goes inactive, or if I cancelled it at some point?
If, for any reason, your ISXVG subscription is not 'active', simply log in at http://auth.isxgames.com/amember/member.php to renew.

6. If a subscription failed, how do I reset my account to 'active'?
First, go to paypal.com and cancel your subscription entirely (so the database is set properly.) Then, fix your financial situation on paypal. Finally, follow the instructions given in #5 above.

7. How many computers can I use with a single subscription?
You can use three different computers with a single ISXVG subscription within a 24 hour period. (IP Addresses are irrelevant.) If you wish to use ISXVG for more that three computers, you can buy a second ISXVG Subscription by clicking here. If you need more than six connections, please email Amadeus directly at amadeusmq@yahoo.com.

8. What does my subscription grant me?
An ISXVG subscription grants you two things and two things only: access to the features available on the current version of ISXVG for up to three different computers within a 24 hour time period, and free downloads of new versions of ISXVG as they become available.

9. Will the cost of having an ISXVG subscription ever increase?
It might; however, as long as your subscription is active, it is locked in price. In other words, if you have an active subscription and the cost of an ISXVG subscription increases, your cost will not change.

10. What if the cost of an ISXVG subscription decreases?
If the cost of an ISXVG subscription decreases, then all you would need to do cancel your current subscription and then resubscribe using the new rate.

11. How do I update and/or change the settings on my ISXVG subscription?
Honestly, the only thing that can be done with an ISXVG subscription would be to change/update the funding source used by paypal when it makes your monthly payment. CLICK HERE for a detailed walk-through and explanation.

12. Can you change/modify my subscription?
The only thing I have control over is the subscription database. That dabase contains your ISXVG Subscription password (encrpyted) and your user name. So, the only things I could do is change your password or simply remove you from the database. I CANNOT modify anything that is occurring with paypal.com, that includes:
- I cannot change how much you pay per month.
- I cannot resubscribe you.
This is the beauty with using paypal. You are 100% safe and I am 100% free from responsibility. I do not have access to any of your personal/financial information, and I'm very happy about that.

13. Why do I have to pay for an ISXVG subscription? I already subscribe to InnerSpace...
Why do you have to pay for Vanguard after you've already paid for Windows? The reasoning is the same in this instance: InnerSpace is the platform (ie, the 'operating system') and ISXVG is the product ('software').

14. I can't afford to pay for a subscription, can I get ISXVG for free?
$3.50 is a pittance in today's economy. It's less than half of a ticket to a new release movie, it's less than a martini at your local bar, hell ...it's even less than most of the McDonald's "value" meals nowadays. If you can't afford it, then you probably shouldn't be playing video games in the first place...

15. I don't have a paypal account, can I use another method to pay?
No. A paypal account is required. I'm sure if you try hard enough, you can get one (or at least, get access to one.)

16. Can I offer services or goods in trade versus the monthly payment?
I suppose you can email me if you want to propose something. However, unless it's something pretty cool I'll probably not be interested. With limited time, I just can't be dealing with a lot of exceptions going on simultaneously. Paypal subscriptions are easy and clean. But, if you feel you have something truly unique to offer, feel free to email and I'll consider it. Just don't be offended if you don't get a response.

17. Now that I'm paying a subscription should I expect more support and faster releases than previously?
Read number 8 above again. It's worded very carefully to indicate exactly what you can expect from your subscription.

18. The popup "tool" that sets my authentication information for ISXVG isn't working, how do I set that information manually?
I have created a walk-through for entering your authentication information manually if the isxGamesUtility application does not function properly (for whatever reason) on your computer. CLICK HERE to access that walk-through.

This should only be used if the primary method fails. The easiest/best way to set your information is to simply load the extension (after April 14) and a window will pop up asking you to enter the information. Then it will save it for you, and you'll never have to worry about it again.

 

[Amadeus]

Please feel free to post questions on this thread. Be concise and professional.

The following are not allowed:
1. "Why" questions
2. Discussion/Comments/Suggestions

If you feel you have commentary that you wish to share, feel free to email it to amadeusmq@yahoo.com. I may or may not respond.

 

[Amadeus]

I guess I wasn't clear enough.

NO DISCUSSION.

This is not up for debate.

 

[Xeon]

How is my subscription tracked?
Subscriptions and connection tracking are stored on an sql database on my server. When you attempt to load isxvg, the extension will send a request via http to see if you're subscribed and then either load or refuse to load (after April 14, 2007, of course). The password is sent as an md5 hash and there are other security measures in place to avoid folks trying to spoof the extension into thinking it has permission to load.

That being said, I suppose I should mention that your computer MUST allow for http connections to www.isxgames.com.

Does it use my isxGames board name or my IS subscription name?
It will use your paypal email address and the special "ISXVG Subscription Password" that you created when you subscribed.

I ask because I was never prompted to enter my new secret password on my machine which runs Vanguard + ISXVG
*sigh* ..I said that everyone should read this and the announcement posting before asking questions. I said that none of the authentication stuff goes into affect until April 14. If you subscribe now, you're just getting ahead of the game and making sure there are no kinks in the subscription procedure.

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Edited by Amadeus: Answers in bold

 

[DrmChld]

Question then:

For those who choose not to pay for the ISXVG subscription, who have already paid for an annual IS subscription, will prorated refunds be provided?
No. InnerSpace is its own product and ISXVG is another product. When you paid for InnerSpace you paid for that software -- ISXVG has just been
free up to this point, so you've been using it along with InnerSpace. However, using the Operating System analogy, you don't get Microsoft Office 2007 for free
just because you bought Windows Vista.

I'm glad to know that this is the type of support one would get for paying additional for the service.
I don't understand this question.

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Edited by Amadeus: Answers in bold

 

[Amadeus]

Also, just to preempt issue in the future, I would like to bring everyone's attention especially to #8 in the original posting on this thread.

In particular, the part that reads "... as they become available."

I always release as quickly as possible; however, there are some times when it takes me a day or two (because of having a busy schedule or else because of a very nasty patch) to release a new version. Moreover, there may be times during the year when I'm out-of-town for a couple of days. So, keep this in mind. Your subcription does not grant you 30 days of usage per month. It grants you the updates when they're available and the access to load and run the extension -- that's all.

 

[Amadeus]

5. How do I reactivate my account if it goes inactive, or if I cancelled it at some point?
If, for any reason, your ISXVG subscription is not 'active', all you need to do is follow the exact same procedure that you did when you originally subscribed. Once the subscription goes through, it will simply mark your account as 'active' in the database and you'll be good to go once more!

6. If a subscription failed, how do I reset my account to 'active'?
First, go to paypal.com and cancel your subscription entirely (so the database is set properly.) Then, fix your financial situation on paypal. Finally, follow the instructions given in #5 above.

 

[Amadeus]

If you cancel your subscription within the first five days (the trial period), your subscription ends at the conclusion of the trial period.

There will be consequences for those that abuse the trial period.

 

[Kannkor]

What happens when you attempt to load more than 3 computers within a 24 hour period?
The fourth computer will simply refuse to load isxvg. The other computers will be just fine and it does not affect your subscription at all. My server automatically removes any records in the 'tracking' database that are older than 24 hours. So, if you don't load isxvg on one of the original 3 computers, then one slot will open after 24 hours.

Not using 3 at once is very easy - but depending on what I'm doing is which computer(s) I'm using for VG. If I attempt a 4th - will it simply give me a message telling me? Will it lock my entire account?

Could you considering making it less than 24 hours? Reason I ask - is if I generally play from 6pm to 10pm - I can't switch computers (I play with 2 computers) until the next day at 10:01pm - whereas I'd like to switch at 6pm (again - depending where I am). 12 hours a consideration?


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Edited by Amadeus: Answers in bold

 

[Amadeus]

18. The popup "tool" that sets my authentication information for ISXVG isn't working, how do I set that information manually?
I have created a walk-through for entering your authentication information manually if the isxGamesUtility application does not function properly (for whatever reason) on your computer. CLICK HERE to access that walk-through.

This should only be used if the primary method fails. The easiest/best way to set your information is to simply load the extension (after April 14) and a window will pop up asking you to enter the information. Then it will save it for you, and you'll never have to worry about it again.

 

[dazed0119]

I see that you have to run in windows mode for registration or what not. Does that mean we have to run windowed always now? or jsut the first time to register? Only reason I ask is cause my FPS is crappy enough with this game in full screen let alone in Windowed. ;o)

Answer: No, you only have to run in the windowed mode to enter the actual subscription information. Once you've done that (and the information is then saved on your computer), you can go back to playing in full screen for the rest of time.

 

[diraven]

Innerspace has a referal program that grants a lil extra time to their subscription. Do you plan on offering anything like this?
No. Since I do everything through paypal, I would have to basically send back money in order to give credit, and since they already take a huge percentage when you pay me, it just wouldn't be feasible. But, if you send a LOT of people ..you can feel free to send me an email and I'll see if we can work something out. But, for just a couple or a few, it just woudln't be doable.

You are correct in saying the fee for this is less than a McDonalds value meal, but it never hurts to ask