After today's maintenance, my launcher failed to patch for some reason, and repeatedly crashed shortly after start-up. After some tinkering, I finally determined to simply un-install and re-install, as that usually solves these kinds of problems.
Boy, was I surprised when I attempted to install Star Trek Online through the STO website! I was forced to install PWEs new "Arc" program before I could get to STO.
Now...could someone please tell me why I am being forced to install a "parent" application to use a game which I have invested several HUNDRED of my hard earned dollars in? Thus far, all Arc has done is spam me with adds, take up some of my precious PC resources, and waste a good bit of my time. I see no need to have it, I do not want to have it, and I have played STO perfectly fine for the last three years without it.
Cryptic, as someone who has played your game for years now, and invested a pretty solid amount of money in your game, I'm begging you; please, PLEASE get rid of this mandatory Arc install. I'm a huge fan of your games, but I don't want to have to go through a third party application. I'm okay with Steam *only since I play dozens of other games through it*, but I don't want to have to run both Steam AND Arc just to play one game. Please, get rid of this Arc program.
Now...could someone please tell me why I am being forced to install a "parent" application to use a game which I have invested several HUNDRED of my hard earned dollars in? Thus far, all Arc has done is spam me with adds, take up some of my precious PC resources, and waste a good bit of my time. I see no need to have it, I do not want to have it, and I have played STO perfectly fine for the last three years without it.
Cryptic, as someone who has played your game for years now, and invested a pretty solid amount of money in your game, I'm begging you; please, PLEASE get rid of this mandatory Arc install. I'm a huge fan of your games, but I don't want to have to go through a third party application. I'm okay with Steam *only since I play dozens of other games through it*, but I don't want to have to run both Steam AND Arc just to play one game. Please, get rid of this Arc program.
So much this ^^. Arc is just unnecessary and nothing but a hog.
Actually it was 'mandatory' on Monday. A friend of mine wanted to install STO and was forced into arc (breifly). The arc install went bad somehow and upon uninstalling arc, it wiped out his network setting information and locked him into a perma homegroup/public network setting, with nothing (even his own system) discoverable on the network. Now that's just an awesome incentive to install arc isn't it?
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." — Lazarus Long --->Get the Forums Enhancement Extension!
Actually it was 'mandatory' on Monday. A friend of mine wanted to install STO and was forced into arc (breifly). The arc install went bad somehow and upon uninstalling arc, it wiped out his network setting information and locked him into a perma homegroup/public network setting, with nothing (even his own system) discoverable on the network. Now that's just an awesome incentive to install arc isn't it?
Ahh my apologies then I just noticed it today so I didn't realize it was since monday.
As for the others that mentioned that the announcement was placed in the Arc thread, which Arc thread exactly as there have been several. The point is it doesn't matter what Arc thread they put it in, it was NOT made general public knowledge through a separate thread in the appropriate announcements section.
It's going to effect us all, really. Not just new customers. We are all just one major bug or critical error away from having to re-install the game because file verifying doesn't always do the trick. I've been playing a month and I've had to install from scratch twice already.
Pando is banned from my computer, my security system nukes it as soon as it is installed. If Arc will work without it, I will consider playing PWE products ever again after it becomes required. I won't get into how much money I've spent, but I might as well be a shareholder.
Well, what do you know. My my launcher has now been bugged and it can't get past "Patching" now. My only way to play now is to uninstall again. No thanks.
When your game has downloaded fully, PMB is using your PC as a torrent server to upload the game to other people downloading it.
PMB has the ability to download/upload anything the game company desires, including some potentially nasty stuff.
PWE has used PMB as a download method for years.
Having researched PMB after downloading PWE games in the past, this piece of "bandwidth thiefware" is removed down to the last byte from my PC every time I detect it's presence.
PMB uses your bandwidth to distribute the game, saving PWE the trouble and cost. Looks like ARC will do the same.
If I see ARC on my PC, it will get nuked, just like PMB.
PWE can pay their own distribution bills, I'm not doing it for them.
Okay, I'd first like to communicate a little bit of frustration with the moderation of the thread(s). While, as someone who has moderated a game on my own, I understand the need to keep things simple, the way you (the mod) merged multiple threads was sloppy, confusing, and difficult to follow. This isn't a personal insult towards the Mod; this is simple feedback from one Moderator to another.
Secondly, this whole debate has gone off-topic. The primary issue is that PWE has forced us to use a "startup" application just to run out "startup" application. While I *appreciate* what this application offers us, I would really prefer (to the point of it dictating my further investment in this game) that it be made an OPTIONAL offer only, and not a mandatory offer.
Also, for my part of this thread (as I was one of the people who started it), I did not request this vote/petition, I was simply voicing my thoughts on the matter and asking others to do so as well. This is not the place for a formal vote process.
Best regards to all, and thanks to Askray and Branflakes for contributing their input on the matter.
Comments
yeah, you can still use steam.
Boy, was I surprised when I attempted to install Star Trek Online through the STO website! I was forced to install PWEs new "Arc" program before I could get to STO.
Now...could someone please tell me why I am being forced to install a "parent" application to use a game which I have invested several HUNDRED of my hard earned dollars in? Thus far, all Arc has done is spam me with adds, take up some of my precious PC resources, and waste a good bit of my time. I see no need to have it, I do not want to have it, and I have played STO perfectly fine for the last three years without it.
Cryptic, as someone who has played your game for years now, and invested a pretty solid amount of money in your game, I'm begging you; please, PLEASE get rid of this mandatory Arc install. I'm a huge fan of your games, but I don't want to have to go through a third party application. I'm okay with Steam *only since I play dozens of other games through it*, but I don't want to have to run both Steam AND Arc just to play one game. Please, get rid of this Arc program.
YES
They dropped that bomb on us last week, in the ARC thread.
Awoken Dead
Now shaddup about the queues, it's a BUG
In this case, if you go to startrekonline.com you will download arc... then STO.
Star Trek Online, Now with out the Trek....
Easy workaround (for now): Copy your existing STO folder to a external drive, and copy to new PC (just tested it)...
Works like a charm, no arc
They told the forum last week ALL new installs/reinstalls would be with ARC as of today.
ARC is a PWE joint (blantant rip-off of Spike Lee's film autograph)
Awoken Dead
Now shaddup about the queues, it's a BUG
Original Name: -Gen-Alaris
Days Subscribed: 1211 (As of May 26, 2013)
So much this ^^. Arc is just unnecessary and nothing but a hog.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Is that true? If you play through steam (which I do) you won't ever have to install arc?
No ARC.
Edit-if i DID get it on steam(i dont mind arc) would i have to make new characters?
http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=11574191&postcount=42
Boy, I thought that I was being paranoid...
Ahh my apologies then I just noticed it today so I didn't realize it was since monday.
As for the others that mentioned that the announcement was placed in the Arc thread, which Arc thread exactly as there have been several. The point is it doesn't matter what Arc thread they put it in, it was NOT made general public knowledge through a separate thread in the appropriate announcements section.
Why in gods name would you post that? do you not realise that they'll probably go 'oh we didnt think of that' and try to fix it? Great job....
Don't confuse a transient issue or problem with your computer for forced installation.
NO you would still log in to the same account as you use now, the launcher is just steam instead of arc or the current sto one.
Bleed Green and Gold
When your game has downloaded fully, PMB is using your PC as a torrent server to upload the game to other people downloading it.
PMB has the ability to download/upload anything the game company desires, including some potentially nasty stuff.
PWE has used PMB as a download method for years.
Having researched PMB after downloading PWE games in the past, this piece of "bandwidth thiefware" is removed down to the last byte from my PC every time I detect it's presence.
PMB uses your bandwidth to distribute the game, saving PWE the trouble and cost. Looks like ARC will do the same.
If I see ARC on my PC, it will get nuked, just like PMB.
PWE can pay their own distribution bills, I'm not doing it for them.
"Second star on the right, and straight on till morning."
U.S.S. Weatherlight
True, if they make this mandatory I will simply bill Cryptic/PWE for the use of my internet :rolleyes:
Not that it matters, I will gut the program to make sure they get no info from my system.
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
Secondly, this whole debate has gone off-topic. The primary issue is that PWE has forced us to use a "startup" application just to run out "startup" application. While I *appreciate* what this application offers us, I would really prefer (to the point of it dictating my further investment in this game) that it be made an OPTIONAL offer only, and not a mandatory offer.
Also, for my part of this thread (as I was one of the people who started it), I did not request this vote/petition, I was simply voicing my thoughts on the matter and asking others to do so as well. This is not the place for a formal vote process.
Best regards to all, and thanks to Askray and Branflakes for contributing their input on the matter.
- Torvin Echo