An open letter to Alyssa Faden of Torn Armor.

Alyssa,

Did you really have to take so little responsibility and say that WE failed? After a nice paragraph in which you say you should take the blame, you write a long text blaming us. Wrong.

Basically, your figures were not produced because the digital files you provided do not work. Yet you try to shift responsibility for that to Defiance. Defiance DID NOT create the digital files. It was never our responsibility to do that. You should admit that, but you do not.

This is your project -- the only person responsible for the fact that Defiance never received workable files is ultimately you, Alyssa. The buck stops with you when it comes to Torn.

After the original files proved unworkable, the vendor you hired to fix them did not provide results which could be manufactured (Did you really want us to try and make a 20 mm resin figure in 5 parts???). Nothing that happened at Defiance, the 'changing of the guard' or the 'turbulent times' changes that.

You claim to have patience. Well, you are now choosing (it is a choice on your part) to close your project. Ultimately, this might still be a fixable problem. We have suggested possible solutions. You have decided not to do that. That is your decision and your responsibility. Do not blame anyone else for it.

I am really disappointed in you.

John Morse

We apologize for the lack of updates! As you know we've been dealing with quite a bit in the background as we push this project forward.

As we mentioned last time, Kickstarter fulfillment is the complete focus of the company at this time. These new products will be the foundation on which we build out and launch more new products in the future.

We also made a decision with the Hardsuits and the German Mech that is changing the timeline. Originally we were just going to spin cast these in the same way as the Bugs, Chinese infantry, etc. But we realized the demand for these would be such - not just for the Kickstarter fulfillment but for long term as well - that it would make a lot of sense to have them injection molded.

The hard suits will be a restic style plastic - the material is very similar to what we are doing with the spin cast. The mechs - knock on wood if all goes well - will be high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and can be put together with plastic glue.

We did an extensive search and vetting of potential outsource manufacturing partners and chose a factory in China to work with. They have done quite a bit of work in the games industry and we've been impressed with their capabilities. Chinese New Year messed with our schedule a bit - that's a 3-4 week hiatus in China - but we are now back on track with them. We don't have a final date for the hard suits yet but we're working on that with them.

There are a lot of balls in the air and a lot is going on. We are taking it all slow and steady and day by day. We want to make sure we make the best product we possibly can. We will do our best to keep everyone up to speed as we go along. Thanks again for your support!

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
I just hope the Chinese deliver on the kickstarter. Nah... on second thought, I don't really care, it's 25$.

 legoburner wrote:
I heard a rumour this week from an anonymous source that defiance is dead and Tony is filing for bankruptcy. Not something I have time to investigate, but if anyone wants to look into it to see if there is any truth there, it would be appreciated.

 RiTides wrote:

richred_uk wrote:
Heeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack (apologies for threadromancy)

And this time he's offering a settlement before going insolvent (bankrupt?)

Defiance Kickstarter Offer

What prompted this? Did one of the backers pursue legal action in Massachusetts, or is that just where Defiance is located?

Transcribed for folks:

Mazonson Law Office, P.C.
R.OUNRU.ORS AT LAW'
November 12, 2014
Via Fax to 617-727-3265 & First Class Mail
Nicholas Synowiec
Deputy Director - PIAC
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Office of the Attorney General
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108

Re: Defiance Games, LLC Consumer Complaints

Dear Mr. Synowiec;
As you are aware, my office represents Anthony M. Reidy and Defiance Games,
LLC with respect to ongoing insolvency proceedings as regards Anthony M. Reidy,
personally, soon to be filed insolvency proceedings as regards Defiance Games, LLC,
and the winding down of the affairs of such corporate entity.

Pursuant to our various discussions as regards consumer complaints lodged with
your office. Defiance Games, LLC would like to take this opportunity to accept your
invitation to engage in mediation, insofar as it makes the offer of restitution found below.
As we have discussed, neither Bankruptcy should yield assets for distribution to
unsecured creditors as the entirety of any corporate assets consist mainly of a small
quantity of raw materials and a spin casting machine valued at less than $5,000.00. As
such, the company and Mr. Reidy make the offer found below as an effort at resolving
this matter amicably, while hoping to communicate the understanding that this is, indeed,
the entirety of what is available to be offered.

Defiance Games, LLC, by and through its principal, Anthony M. Reidy, hereby
offers to any "kickstarter" sponsor who did not receive the products associated with their
pledge as follows;

Defiance Games will provide 3D print-ready files to sponsors meeting the
eligibility criteria above. These files will be made available both via
Shapeways.com and also through direct download, allowing sponsors the option
to print with an alternative service or other home-based printing option of their
choice. For Shapeways printing, the files will be offered at Shapeways cost - i.e.
with no additional charges or profit margin added to the pricing. If backers
choose to print via other options they will have full control over the files to print
for personal use. Files and prints may not be resold or made available to the
general public outside of the "kickstarter" sponsor group.
Defiance Games, LLC will further make available to sponsors meeting the
eligibility criteria above the STL files for the "UAMC Hardsuits" set along with
the "German Mech" set. Finally, the STL files for the "UAMC JRAB" vehicle
and "Hudson's Bugs" will also be made available for production. These items
were not part of the "kickstarter," but are being offered as a good-faith offer of
additional restitutiGn. Defiance Games, LLC regrets that it cannot do more, but
hopes this olive branch will be well-received by its customer base to which the
Company is eternally grateful.

Please transmit the foregoing offer to any aggrieved parties and feel free to
contact me with any questions or concerns.

I appreciate your time and attention to this matter.

Very truly yours,
Evan P. Lowney, Esq.
(508) 689-4753 (direct)

Cc: Anthony M. Reidy

That's insane but completely unsurprising, of course, given everything that was known about Defiance before, during, and after the Kickstarter.