I know this won't be seen by anyone but please please be careful when using a VPN to play online, VPNs can cause dropped packets or weird behavior that can get you banned from some games. Minecraft is oddly an example of this where multiplayer has weird issues under some cases, hell the game even can have issues authenticating you
@@superpowers04 Not only that but connecting to Steam using a VPN is technically against the terms of service. I say technically because I haven't heard about anyone getting banned for it however that doesn't mean that it didn't happen to people I'm not aware of. The best theory I saw is that this rule is mostly about people abusing the local pricing in poor countries.
@@electricindigoball1244 Same for YT ad-block, but unless YT or STEAM pay for my internet connection, I will decide how I connect to the internet regardless of their "policy". 😹
just with the fact the studio doesn't show as listed in the government registry is enough to say do not get this game. this is a non existent company trying to sell a product. its smoke and mirrors.
After you mentioned the connection between Titov and his associates selling cheats, it added significantly more credibility to the idea cheaters were encouraged in War Z to convince players to pay to bypass the egregiously long respawn timer.
@@SidAlpha Even for the Ridge Shadow Wallet? I still use mine, honestly. And as you often say: your work depends on your credibility, so any sponsor deals you take are trusted to be vetted and legitimate services that deliver a product you're satisfied with. So if Nord turns scummy I'll be popping over here to check out and compare VPNs that have sponsored trusted sources and creators
This feels and sounds like a money laundering operation. Mixed with backer money, who's to know? Unless someone goes digging in their financials... A company taking in money without an owner to the account the cash goes to? Yeah, that's a launder pit.
My mother just texted me asking if I knew any way around the waiting queue for a phone call because she has been on hold with our wonderful government for over five hours
This video was clear and in-depth. I’m glad u went into finding out what going on behind the scene even u couldn’t make a full conclusion. Honestly you could’ve said this company was sketch and gave little explanation with a few screenshots. I’m glad ur putting out quality content especially considering you just did a video on this. So I’m in awe of ur work flow. Much love from New Mexico
The fact that their emails are sent from Arktos's exchange online and ergo over Arktos's Azure/Entra tenant as mentioned in the first video had me rolling. It really doesn't take that much effort to spin up a new Azure tenant or Google Workspace environment.
… but it costs time that can be better used to scam people or launder money or to whatever they do, nobody is going to need Holm-anything once the job is done, so why even do the paperwork?
It makes one wonder why not go the extra mile for obfuscation's sake and pay the added fee to Microsoft? It would make the scam less apparent. Why so sloppy?
@@oliver_twistor I'd bet it never occurred to them. Keep in mind that they've been operating like this for years, and the fact that they thought a false DMCA strike & vague, poorly worded legal threats would work in 2024 tells me they've just been bumbling along in their little bubble of hubris. I get the impression that they have gotten lucky in flying under the radar over the years, but mistake luck for their own skill & business acumen. Masterminds, they are not.
As odd as this sounds, I'm glad to see the sponsorship spot. You do a lot of work, and aren't fully compensated for that work. So that is the least that should be done to support you and your family. Keep up the great work!
There's shady people in every field. When I did flash games I would take on clients looking for a custom game or clones (clones mostly) I got asked to fix multiple games from previous devs. 95% of those games were decompile swfs. I always told them "sorry but this a game stolen from another dev and I don't feel comfortable" 25% of the time it was the helicopter game which is basically the original flappy bird. I offered to make a clone instead with original features using all my own code and assets. Scammers be scamming
I haven't put anything out since 2012 (life got turned upside down) but I do occasionally start work on something and then get sidetracked. Was nearly finished with a game using unity and then that whole mess happened. Playing with Godot at the moment
As soon as I heard Titov from "those" games was apart of "this disaster" I started calling shots, I did some digging on the game's subreddit and even the mods are waving red flags the size of earth. Selling the game via Xsolla is another red flag. I almost got hit by this "Wild West Online disaster" (should cover this at some point) from years ago who (guess who) made his name known when that game was in development... (Hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink, first name: Sergey, last name : Titov). One post in the subreddit claims that if you want a refund, you have to get one by May 1st 2024 or that's that and if you do one before such date it could be 5 days before they respond to "grant or refuse" such refund, giving off the vibes that you paid money, it's ours now. I wouldn't be surprised if this turd comes out of the "butthole" like "The Day Before" and "Dead Matter". I'm to "invested" into VTuber dramas to worry about getting scammed from nonsense like this but it's the whole lipstick on a pig and "trying" to call it something else when it's still a stupid pig. The writings on the wall folks, let it crash and burn.
The fastest way they could "silence" critics is to send out a beta or demo to them to let them get hands on gameplay and dare i say...feedback *scary noise and thunder*
i wonder..... can the State of Delaware from your Query alone actually luanch an investigation themselves into Holmguard Games? i know in my corner of the world that "any government office can start their own investigation from a third party "request for information" if something raises red flags
Had to come back and rewatch this, as I had them in the wrong order. Geez Sid, it is like they put the noose on themselves... I think that this is better described as the Streisand effect.
I remember seeing the trailer for this game and thinking "Oh hey, a Tarkov clone but without a developer as sketchy as Battlestate Games, I'm looking forward to this." Turns out they were even MORE sketchy than BSG. Thanks for the heads up, Sid!
Don't worry, Sid. We all know you got a lot on your plate, so wanting to make money is perfectly fine. As long as you work with sponsors whose products you can genuinely recommend (or even use yourself), I don't think anyone will be bothered.
"Here we are with today's sponsor!". Next fram ESRB notice stating "Violence". Thought for a second it was a mock sponsor, but realised it was an ad. The the name of the sponsor translates to "SinkVPN" in portuguese 😄
1:45 As a PIA user, has been working fine for me, only complaint I have, is that sometimes when a VPN address is blocked by a site, it takes a week or two for PIA to update the IP address table and have access to X site like normal using PIA. That aside, it has worked well and has a good price.
Sadly, I can't use it: we've got a legitimate need to be able to access sites in Russia and only ProtonVPN has kept servers in Moscow as at the time of me writing this.
just want to add my two cents about the sponsorship. i don't really care. i'd prefer they be products or services you use personally. that helps with the idea that the brand is actually trustworthy with all the scams and frauds going around lately. but at the end of the day, people should also do their own research on a brand before buying.
@@SidAlphaPlease. I beg you. If you ever actually have the opportunity to do so without RSL having a window to sue you (for presenting them in a bad light in a video they sponsored XD), please do. I am not overstating that it would be the most hilarious video I would have the pleasure to watch on YT. Ever. I don't think it could be beaten :D
When all you can do is make an educated guess, the next step is trying your hardest to see if you're proven right. Also I wonder what the tally for Holmgaard Games drinking game is.
So how likely is that this is a "Doing Business As" situation, where HGG is the name Arktos is chosing to use in stead of the legal name? Arktos Entartainment Doing Business As Holmguard Games?
Ah the Streisand effect. It's been a few weeks. How have you been? We've seen this happen with so many shady/sketchy companies at this point it's like an old friend. We just need the failure of their DMCA abuses, the JPEG apology on Twitter, and the whining about how unfair criticism is, and the whole gang will be back together.
"Tenancy". It's the environment within the cloud ecosystem in which your systems and data reside. If the Microsoft 365 Cloud were an apartment complex then your tenancy would be your apartment.
They should have just kept their mouth shut. And they probably created a new name to distance themselves from their old company. But i could be wrong but just a thought.
I'm coming to suspect that the devs of return to tarkov might be the next on the dirty devs list. false DMCA's against negitive reviews, and they banned thier own esport team for coming forward.
I was disappointed to learn In your last video that "Romero's Aftermath" was a cash grab - although it does explain a few things. Pity, I felt it had some potential but it's essentially abandonware now.
Just another group of disgruntled game devs trying to asset flip and disappear. Dont support these guys if they cant even chose a leader to be the face of the company. Im not surprised though everyone is trying to bank on they hype
"Cheaper prices". FML, you as well? Where has the obligation to deliver proper language gone if you broadcast publicly? TH-cam has become a frigging epidemic of eggspecially, eggcetera, cheap prices and warm temperatures.
Go to PIAVPN.com/SidAlpha to get 83% off Private Internet Access with 4 months free!
RUST!
I know this won't be seen by anyone but please please be careful when using a VPN to play online, VPNs can cause dropped packets or weird behavior that can get you banned from some games. Minecraft is oddly an example of this where multiplayer has weird issues under some cases, hell the game even can have issues authenticating you
@@superpowers04 Not only that but connecting to Steam using a VPN is technically against the terms of service. I say technically because I haven't heard about anyone getting banned for it however that doesn't mean that it didn't happen to people I'm not aware of. The best theory I saw is that this rule is mostly about people abusing the local pricing in poor countries.
@@electricindigoball1244 I believe using a VPN is actually against the TOS of a lot of applications
@@electricindigoball1244 Same for YT ad-block, but unless YT or STEAM pay for my internet connection, I will decide how I connect to the internet regardless of their "policy". 😹
You're opening statement about "word vomiting" just made me think, "And THATS why in America we have the right to remain silent."
They have the right to, they don't have the capability to.
Donkey, you HAVE the right to remain silent. What you lack, is the capacity.
@@TheSpectreReport I remember that bit from Ron "Tator Salad" White's routine, but definitely not saying he originated it.
@@star20alpha Oh geez. Its been a very long time since I thought of the Blue Collar group... "Here's your sign"
"You have the right to remain silent. What remains to be seen is whether you have the capacity."
The truth does not mind being challenged.
A lie does not like being questioned.
just with the fact the studio doesn't show as listed in the government registry is enough to say do not get this game. this is a non existent company trying to sell a product. its smoke and mirrors.
Dear Dirty Devs...
Don't think Sid won't go above and beyond to expose you...this man called the State of Delaware to confirm your business is legit.
He called, because it isn't legit at all.
He called to fail to confirm their business is legit.
Literally a "task failed successfully" :D
After you mentioned the connection between Titov and his associates selling cheats, it added significantly more credibility to the idea cheaters were encouraged in War Z to convince players to pay to bypass the egregiously long respawn timer.
One simple lawsuit would blow the lid off the entire company. One lawsuit over wrongful use of the DMCA system.
Lawsuits are Expensive even if you win
Sid, we honestly are fine with you having a Sponsor (especially nowadays), also you are doing TB proud with covering Sergey's scummy actions
I know I just dislike playing salesman.
Yeah, as long as the sponsor isn't a shite sponsor like RAID: Shadow Legends, scams like Better Help, or worse, AUTO INSURANCE. Really, MATPAT!?
@@AmyraCarter I heard rumors that auto insurance one paid handsomely in the range of five figures to run their sponsor.
@@SidAlpha Anyways, I finally remembered what TB's video about WarZ was called: The Bored Z(hard to believe it was from 11 years ago)
@@SidAlpha Even for the Ridge Shadow Wallet? I still use mine, honestly. And as you often say: your work depends on your credibility, so any sponsor deals you take are trusted to be vetted and legitimate services that deliver a product you're satisfied with. So if Nord turns scummy I'll be popping over here to check out and compare VPNs that have sponsored trusted sources and creators
I do love me the occasional sweet lady on the phone who can shed some light into a dark corner for our inquisitive mook with a mic 😊
This feels and sounds like a money laundering operation. Mixed with backer money, who's to know? Unless someone goes digging in their financials...
A company taking in money without an owner to the account the cash goes to? Yeah, that's a launder pit.
time to tip off the IRS. the IRS LOVES busting these scams
In my experience, where there's smoke, there's usually fire.
And from what pieces of the puzzle you do have, that's getting pretty smoky to me.
Better put asbestos gloves on!
@@dkevans,
With the mutagenic properties that asbestos has? I don't think so.
@@buckrodgers1162 tsk. Details. 🤷♀️
why am i not surprised that the devs are gaslighting. seems like something they would do.
anyway. great vid as always sid!
"So I was on hold for forty-five minutes..."
Everyone ever trying to get ahold of SSA, DCF, so on: "THAT'S ALL!?!??!!!???" 🤣🤣
My mother just texted me asking if I knew any way around the waiting queue for a phone call because she has been on hold with our wonderful government for over five hours
@@sintanan469 Ehhhh....
In-person is my only advice for such, and good luck. Sorreh.
@@AmyraCarter Took her a little over six and a half hours on hold to finally get an answer. Apparently things were resolved in less than 15 minutes.
@@sintanan469 ...
Good grief.
At least, she managed to get a hold of someone. It's better than nothing.
As a fellow IT professional who has also done a migration. SidAlpha is 100% correct on the IT stuff.
Wait wait wait wait, HOLD on a second, Sid!
Delawar's a state?... I thought it was a city.
This video was clear and in-depth. I’m glad u went into finding out what going on behind the scene even u couldn’t make a full conclusion. Honestly you could’ve said this company was sketch and gave little explanation with a few screenshots. I’m glad ur putting out quality content especially considering you just did a video on this. So I’m in awe of ur work flow. Much love from New Mexico
Keep your liver safe people.
Love when everyone rallies around someone when this kind of scummy thing happens, Thank you Sid.
The fact that their emails are sent from Arktos's exchange online and ergo over Arktos's Azure/Entra tenant as mentioned in the first video had me rolling. It really doesn't take that much effort to spin up a new Azure tenant or Google Workspace environment.
… but it costs time that can be better used to scam people or launder money or to whatever they do, nobody is going to need Holm-anything once the job is done, so why even do the paperwork?
It makes one wonder why not go the extra mile for obfuscation's sake and pay the added fee to Microsoft? It would make the scam less apparent. Why so sloppy?
@@oliver_twistorIt costs money?
Stupidity cannot be healed?
@@oliver_twistor I'd bet it never occurred to them. Keep in mind that they've been operating like this for years, and the fact that they thought a false DMCA strike & vague, poorly worded legal threats would work in 2024 tells me they've just been bumbling along in their little bubble of hubris. I get the impression that they have gotten lucky in flying under the radar over the years, but mistake luck for their own skill & business acumen. Masterminds, they are not.
@@oliver_twistorRussians don't like spending money if they don't need to.
Disclosure: I'm married to a Russian.
12:52
*Uses a Star Trek Deep Space Nine Clip, specifically from House of Quark*
Sage Approves +10
perfect timing !! just finished another video and saw notification.
As odd as this sounds, I'm glad to see the sponsorship spot. You do a lot of work, and aren't fully compensated for that work. So that is the least that should be done to support you and your family. Keep up the great work!
Just in time. Was looking for an informative video to pass the time.
Algorithm food to help Sid alpha's channel
Project Leet is the dumbest name they could have possibly used. It literally screams “I’m a scam!!!”
Honesty in advertising.
And their lawyers will claim that any normal person would have known that must be a prank …
So that's where Wargaming got their shady business-practices from. Can't wait for your video on them, Sid!
There's shady people in every field. When I did flash games I would take on clients looking for a custom game or clones (clones mostly) I got asked to fix multiple games from previous devs. 95% of those games were decompile swfs. I always told them "sorry but this a game stolen from another dev and I don't feel comfortable" 25% of the time it was the helicopter game which is basically the original flappy bird.
I offered to make a clone instead with original features using all my own code and assets.
Scammers be scamming
I haven't put anything out since 2012 (life got turned upside down) but I do occasionally start work on something and then get sidetracked. Was nearly finished with a game using unity and then that whole mess happened.
Playing with Godot at the moment
As soon as I heard Titov from "those" games was apart of "this disaster" I started calling shots, I did some digging on the game's subreddit and even the mods are waving red flags the size of earth. Selling the game via Xsolla is another red flag. I almost got hit by this "Wild West Online disaster" (should cover this at some point) from years ago who (guess who) made his name known when that game was in development... (Hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink, first name: Sergey, last name : Titov). One post in the subreddit claims that if you want a refund, you have to get one by May 1st 2024 or that's that and if you do one before such date it could be 5 days before they respond to "grant or refuse" such refund, giving off the vibes that you paid money, it's ours now. I wouldn't be surprised if this turd comes out of the "butthole" like "The Day Before" and "Dead Matter". I'm to "invested" into VTuber dramas to worry about getting scammed from nonsense like this but it's the whole lipstick on a pig and "trying" to call it something else when it's still a stupid pig. The writings on the wall folks, let it crash and burn.
The fastest way they could "silence" critics is to send out a beta or demo to them to let them get hands on gameplay and dare i say...feedback *scary noise and thunder*
i wonder..... can the State of Delaware from your Query alone actually luanch an investigation themselves into Holmguard Games?
i know in my corner of the world that "any government office can start their own investigation from a third party "request for information" if something raises red flags
I HIGHLY doubt they'd bother.
I'm sure tehy COULD, buzt doubt they WOULD... too much paperwork...
@@KhaziirEverflightand companies often register in Delaware due to the tax incentives - I've known this since the mid 1990s.
Had to come back and rewatch this, as I had them in the wrong order. Geez Sid, it is like they put the noose on themselves...
I think that this is better described as the Streisand effect.
Sid Alpha, the "Equaliser" of youtube, exposing scumbaggery!!
I remember seeing the trailer for this game and thinking "Oh hey, a Tarkov clone but without a developer as sketchy as Battlestate Games, I'm looking forward to this."
Turns out they were even MORE sketchy than BSG. Thanks for the heads up, Sid!
The most unbelievable part of all this is you actually got a nice person on the phone to help. =P
Facinating. What a puzzle! I'm just glad I don't have to do anything and can just enjoy others solve it, step by step.
Congrats on pulling a sponsor on board!
If your goal was to sell me a SidAlpha branded tinfoil hat… I’ll take two.
They really do be shiny. :P
SidAlpha never stop :) These dirty devs need to learn.
Don't worry, Sid. We all know you got a lot on your plate, so wanting to make money is perfectly fine. As long as you work with sponsors whose products you can genuinely recommend (or even use yourself), I don't think anyone will be bothered.
This. Don't do a Karl Jobst and f your own integrity by shilling sheit pay-to-win mobile trash.
Underrated aspect of VPNs, checking the interest singles in different countries
Great work, Sid.
"Here we are with today's sponsor!". Next fram ESRB notice stating "Violence".
Thought for a second it was a mock sponsor, but realised it was an ad. The the name of the sponsor translates to "SinkVPN" in portuguese 😄
Good video, sid. love you work.
This reminds me of that game "Abandoned", it had very shady listings as well.
a VPN will rarely if ever reduce your ping.
Nice to see a new dirty devs video, always look forward to watch them, even if it would be better if they were not needed xD
Only thing missing form this video was the visuals you used when referring to Holmgard Games.
1:45 As a PIA user, has been working fine for me, only complaint I have, is that sometimes when a VPN address is blocked by a site, it takes a week or two for PIA to update the IP address table and have access to X site like normal using PIA.
That aside, it has worked well and has a good price.
Sadly, I can't use it: we've got a legitimate need to be able to access sites in Russia and only ProtonVPN has kept servers in Moscow as at the time of me writing this.
Sid something tells me you have done msp work for way to long in one form or another and mu heart bleeds for you❤. Good to have you back
You are 100% correct lol.
Holm | Holm
Gard | Gard
Games | Games
Holmgard Games | Arktos Entertainment!
just want to add my two cents about the sponsorship. i don't really care. i'd prefer they be products or services you use personally. that helps with the idea that the brand is actually trustworthy with all the scams and frauds going around lately. but at the end of the day, people should also do their own research on a brand before buying.
I appreciate that! BUT I'll still one of these days manage to get a Dirty Devs: Raid Shadow Legends Sponsored by Raid Shadow Legends...
@@SidAlpha that would be hilarious.
@@SidAlphaPlease. I beg you. If you ever actually have the opportunity to do so without RSL having a window to sue you (for presenting them in a bad light in a video they sponsored XD), please do. I am not overstating that it would be the most hilarious video I would have the pleasure to watch on YT. Ever. I don't think it could be beaten :D
Can we get some poggers in the comments for the sweet lady who helped Sid out?
I miss the Ridge Shadow Wallet! 8o)
Me too!
When all you can do is make an educated guess, the next step is trying your hardest to see if you're proven right. Also I wonder what the tally for Holmgaard Games drinking game is.
I will always appreciate a good DS9 reference lol
So how likely is that this is a "Doing Business As" situation, where HGG is the name Arktos is chosing to use in stead of the legal name?
Arktos Entartainment Doing Business As Holmguard Games?
I think it's very likely.
Is "Doing Business As" similar to "Trading As"?
Hey been a while. Your never poping up in my feed.
I'd forgotten about you.
Just caught this upload.
Welcome back!
Ah, Sergei Titov.. the "YOU'RE WINNER" joke dev
Ah the Streisand effect. It's been a few weeks. How have you been? We've seen this happen with so many shady/sketchy companies at this point it's like an old friend.
We just need the failure of their DMCA abuses, the JPEG apology on Twitter, and the whining about how unfair criticism is, and the whole gang will be back together.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks
Love the channel, but can you turn down the bass in your voice? You almost blew out my speakers at medium volume lol
Sorry man, that's just my voice. :(
@@SidAlphanah there’s something with the mix haha. It’s got some dB on it lol
I'm sorry off topic to the whole thing with devs, this bit here 12:52 just made my day lol
Quark is the best.
Thanks for the video, I'm not touching this game.
@16:10 Yes, they would. Nintendo has done this to Censored Gaming for example.
sometimes its smarter to just shut up and move on. Dirty devs never learn.
Another banger, gg
Thank you!
Surprise surprise another Russian Ivan.
whats a tendency? ive never herd that term before
"Tenancy". It's the environment within the cloud ecosystem in which your systems and data reside. If the Microsoft 365 Cloud were an apartment complex then your tenancy would be your apartment.
They should have just kept their mouth shut. And they probably created a new name to distance themselves from their old company. But i could be wrong but just a thought.
Will there be a video on sweet baby ink?
That's the next thing I'll be working on.
@@SidAlpha much appreciated chad
What is it with this type of shooters that get these kind of developers? Is it an Eastern European thing since the shooting of the Archduke?
I'm coming to suspect that the devs of return to tarkov might be the next on the dirty devs list. false DMCA's against negitive reviews, and they banned thier own esport team for coming forward.
These people are runing another new scam. dont buy into anything these guys make or claim to.
Oh you saw this video too?
This dude AGAIN ?!?
I was disappointed to learn In your last video that "Romero's Aftermath" was a cash grab - although it does explain a few things. Pity, I felt it had some potential but it's essentially abandonware now.
oh jeez holmgard is such a dump inferno at this point lol
It really is.
You have said holmgaurd games a bunch of times but you didn't put the pictures up when you say it...... for shame......shame!
Just another group of disgruntled game devs trying to asset flip and disappear. Dont support these guys if they cant even chose a leader to be the face of the company. Im not surprised though everyone is trying to bank on they hype
Okay dude seriously 29 seconds in and no Holme gaurd games overlays... you're slipping Sid... Next thing you know you won't even poke fun at them.
I didn't want any drinking game people to die lol.
Super shady what they are doing to Fry
"Cheaper prices".
FML, you as well?
Where has the obligation to deliver proper language gone if you broadcast publicly?
TH-cam has become a frigging epidemic of eggspecially, eggcetera, cheap prices and warm temperatures.
Lol QUARK!!! DAMN FERENGI 🤗😇😉😆🙃😖😜😝🤓😛
❤❤❤💖💖💖💖amazing 💙🌼
A greeting to ye olde Al Gore Rhythm
from War Inc. Battlezone game to this BS game 😁😁🤣🤣