MetaCreations, developers of MetaSquares, a tic-tac-toe-like strategy game on AOL, angrily denounced the online service after it abruptly canceled the game last week. In a statement issued by MetaCreations, the company said that AOL made the decision to terminate the game "unilaterally without any contact or consultation with MetaCreationofficials."

　　When contacted Tuesday, an AOL spokesperson said that the contract between MetaCreations and AOL had recently expired and that while the two "were involved in business discussions" that might have seen the title remain on AOL, an agreement to renew the contract was not reached.

　　AOL had reportedly tried to talk MetaCreations into moving the game to the Premium games area, which currently charges members US$1.99 per hour over the $19.95 monthly membership fee to play. MetaSquares will not be available on AOL after September 1.

　　MetaCreations apologized to its players for the "thoughtless way" in which the players, numbering close to 80,000, were notified of the decision.

　　MetaCreations is the result of a merger earlier this year between MetaTools and Fractal Designs, makers of Kai's Power Tools. MetaCreations has decided to move all its customer support forums currently on AOL to its web site.