I think PWE is underestimating how much gamers hate DRM and spyware programs. If you are an enlightened gamer, you don't even touch Ubisoft or EA games because of the horrendous DRM software that requires a constant internet connection. EA is arguably worse because origin is slow, requires constant internet, and requires an internet browser window to be open (at least with BF3). And considering EA's less than stellar treatment of gamers and gaming companies, I wouldn't put it past them that they're spying on gamer's through origin.
Now, let's go back to the main topic. Both Pando and ARC sound very similar to me. Pando, as others have stated, sounds like a bit torrent program. In theory, it sounds like a great idea because it somewhat offloads the demand on the patch servers to users and their internet connections. However in practice, it's not the greatest idea once gamers find out you're using their internet bandwidth without their consent. Yes, you made us sign a legal agreement, but its standard operating procedure for American companies to use long and wordy legal agreements to confuse consumers into agreeing to them. So please don't retort "you agreed to it" because it will make you sound patronizing and arrogant.
Now, let's talk about ARC. ARC, if the descriptions of others in this thread are accurate, is essentially an online retail store that is in no way relevant to Star Trek Online. It will not make our connections faster, nor will we derive any direct STO benefits from it. It is categorically inessential and intrusive for STO gamers. Intrusive because for steam users it would mean having to load up all of the following: first steam, then arc, and then STO. For people that hate steam, it would mean having to load up arch and then STO even though they already load up STO without needing any other programs.
In a nutshell, ARC smacks heavily of originesque EA spyware and DRM that isn't meant to improve gameplay experience. I'm just waiting for somebody to find out that it does more than just what's overtly stated about what it does and for it to blow up in PWE's face.
It also smacks heavily of advertising spam that is meant to goad gamers into buying PWE nonsense as well as bring them to PWE's other crappy games. NEWSFLASH: Americans don't like telemarketing and we most certainly don't like pop-ups showing up on our screen while browsing the internet. ARC will essentially be a massive advertisement that we have no choice but to look at while loading up STO. We already have to deal with the aggravating lock box winner flybys, which cannot be turned off even if we deactivate it through the settings (thanks Cryptic), and on top of that, you want us to deal with PWE advertisements in ARC when we load up STO?
You know what I say? I'm done with STO if this ARC launcher becomes a requirement. And I'm not kidding. I loved BF3, but I dumped it because of origin. I loved splinter cell pc games but I dumped them because of Ubisoft's DRM software. As much as I love Star Trek and Star Trek Online, I'm through with you if you shove this down my throat because I'm not going to be spied on by PWE, nor am I going to put up with PWE advertising. I paid for this game 60 times over with how much I've invested into it. I think I've earned the right not to have to deal with out-of-game and in-game advertisements.
1. I see nothing ARC offers that I need, want, or cannot obtain elsewhere easier. I can launch the game fine, most days when the servers are behaving, without downloading another program to do it for me.
2. If it comes down between Steam and ARC. I will choose Steam. They have a lot more to offer and are more transparent.
3. If it comes down to ARC only, I will not continue to play STO. Enjoy it, but there's a lot of other games that I can and do fill my time with. They'll just get more attention. No need to play one that forces an unneeded program upon me.
I would imagine that the forum users tend to be a more savvy group then the general player base, so we might be more vocal about this. ARC should be a choice. Keep the big STO with ARC download button if that's what PWE demands, but leave a smaller print link to download and run STO without ARC. It is always the right answer to give players multiple ways to access and pay you to play the game. Choice is good.
Well, for some reason, on a machine using ARC, the game will NOT recognize all of the mouse buttons on a WOW Cataclysm mouse. On another machine, without ARC, it seems to work fine.
Thank you for continuing to post your feedback, ideas, questions and concerns. It's great to see that you all are passionate in ensuring they are addressed. The Arc team sincerely appreciates them, too, and is reading them closely.
I'd like to share that we are working on a blog-type post that will answer many of your questions and concerns, so look out for that over the next couple weeks -- I'll be sure to update this thread when it's live and provide a link to where you can read it.
In the meantime, continue posting the aforementioned subjects so we can be sure to include them in the upcoming post.
Does Arc feature special profile functionality and achievements?
We?re currently in the process of building a new Achievement system and token shop from scratch. As an improvement to our last system, we hope to make the next version even more compelling by adding both fun and challenging achievements.
Are there going to be STO specific achievements? If so, will they be retroactive for current players? If this is still undecided, my feedback would be that I would like them to be retroactive. Mainly because some of us have been around these parts for a long time now and have some seriously built up characters. Going back to do stuff or being unable to go back and do stuff can be a pain.
Nitpicking is a time-honored tradition of science fiction. Asking your readers not to worry about the "little things" is like asking a dog not to sniff at people's crotches. If there's something that appears to violate natural laws, then you can expect someone's going to point it out. That's just the way things are.
So when we are all forced to use this, will there be an option to shut ARC off after the game launches? And Will I still be able to run the game in window mode so I can access my desktop? I run two screens right now because I can have STO in large window.
So far my experience with Arc has only been terrible. It devours waaaay too much RAM and makes the game crash frequently. I sure hope it's never required to run STO.
", we would absolutely love to make Arc a central, exclusive platform that serves update and patching functionality for all our games" (Very last section)
As I was here for the account linking fiasco, I know eventually well be forced to use it. But at least for now they say they arent ready for that.
Key word there is EXCLUSIVE. So when they get to that point. Bye bye to Steam and any other launcher. Thats my prediction.
We'll be keeping it up to date as development progresses and additional questions or concerns arise.
Thank you for continuing to post your feedback, ideas, questions and concerns regarding Arc!
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
Really that is based on our questions? To me it looks like politik speak. Basically making it look like you've answered our "questions" without doing so. To me it looks like nothing more than a generic "What is....." FAQ.
What about the questions concerning the spyware/bloatware, making it optional, etc? You know the ones that don't make it look so rosey tinted that have appeared in this thread and in the one in the news section.
It is a resource hog that I will not be forced put on my PC and even if that means saying bye-bye to the game so be it. Even some of those that have gone through hell and high water with Cryptic and this game are saying the same thing, thus showing their loyalty to Cryptic and this game. This could be the straw that breaks the donkeys back for them.
Really that is based on our questions? To me it looks like politik speak. Basically making it look like you've answered our "questions" without doing so. To me it looks like nothing more than a generic "What is....." FAQ.
What about the questions concerning the spyware/bloatware, making it optional, etc? You know the ones that don't make it look so rosey tinted that have appeared in this thread and in the one in the news section.
It is a resource hog that I will not be forced put on my PC and even if that means saying bye-bye to the game so be it. Even some of those that have gone through hell and high water with Cryptic and this game are saying the same thing, thus showing their loyalty to Cryptic and this game. This could be the straw that breaks the donkeys back for them.
Resource hog? Where are you getting this information from. I use Arc with no problems. It doesn't do any of the bad TRIBBLE that people are whining about, but then again this is the forums and people need to up their post count rate with whining.
Ive had issues before with Pando Media Booster before. Its a bandwidth hog. It sucks the life out of your connection. If this is where PWE is heading, i will join the others and never give PWE another look.
So far my experience with Arc has only been terrible. It devours waaaay too much RAM and makes the game crash frequently. I sure hope it's never required to run STO.
Can you please share exactly how much RAM does it devour, if you measured it? I'm very interested to hear about this!
Ive had issues before with Pando Media Booster before. Its a bandwidth hog. It sucks the life out of your connection. If this is where PWE is heading, i will join the others and never give PWE another look.
There is no PMB in ARC!!! Read the other posts, ARC does not have pando.
Ok, I know I'm not the only one thinking this but, say NO to mandatory ARC. This game is the ONLY PWE/Cryptic game that interests me. I'm fine with ARC but mandatory? thats to far. Planetside 2 is a good game so if it becomes Mandatory, Hi PS2. So who else agrees with me? If a Dev could shed some more light on a mandatory ARC it would be awesome sauce:D
You may now DISCUSS....
Well I'm always for Freedom Of Choice, over anything else. Yet it seems as though we don't have that, while on this particular planet.
And sadly, as the days go on, and the Good whither and die, Freedom of choice is but a thing of the past now with today's businesses, Politics, Rules, and basically Everything.
Life on this planet's present Time Era, is , "Do as we say, or do Nothing at all".
Hopefully, this will change someday. Consideration over all else.
Arc running 24 7 in my brouser seams like spy ware plain and simple. People dont want spy wear. Our Fleet is falling apart after surviving for so maney years with this ARC Mess.:mad::mad::mad:
Arc running 24 7 in my brouser seams like spy ware plain and simple. People dont want spy wear. Our Fleet is falling apart after surviving for so maney years with this ARC Mess.:mad::mad::mad:
How is your fleet "falling apart after surviving for so maney(sic) years?"
1) The game has only been out for three years. That's not that many.
2) ARC is only required on new installs. If your fleet has been around for so long, why are they re-installing?
3) It doesn't run in your "brouser(sic)."
4) Why do you think it's spyware? Do you think Origin is spyware? Is Steam?
"Participation in PVP-related activities is so low on an hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly basis that we could in fact just completely take it out of STO and it would not impact the overall number of people [who] log in to the game and play in any significant way." -Gozer, Cryptic PvP Dev
Arc is a dumb peice of software (it can't see any reason why you would want to be logged into arc on 2 different pc)
But cryptic likes sticking us with dumb things so it is here to stay.
Arc is a dumb peice of software (it can't see any reason why you would want to be logged into arc on 2 different pc)
But cryptic likes sticking us with dumb things so it is here to stay.
Arc comes from PWE in general, not the Cryptic branch. I doubt Cryptic had much say in adding Arc.
It greatly slows down computers and the other functions that are provided with it are unnecessary. And finally, its only good for players who like to play multiple PW games, which a majority of STO players do not do.
So they should give players the choice if they want it or not.
all arc seems to be is a way they can advertise their games.
it has no features that seem to do anything for sto. if it had the gateway thing built in it would be cool.. but it doesnt.
you run arc, you then launch sto.. after seeing a whole screen of advertisements
plus when you launch STO arc stays in the background and does eat up resources..
just uninstall it, and launch sto from the folder.
[12:35] Vessel Two of Two Unimatrix 01 deals 225232 (271723) Plasma Damage to you with Plasma Lance.
[12:44] Vessel One of Two Unimatrix 01 deals 1019527 (1157678) Kinetic Damage to you with Plasma Energy Bolt Explosion.
At this point I only want Arc to be officialy declared as 'non-mandatory' for STO and leave it a players' discretion wheather they want to use it or not.
I really don't care about all or for that matter any PWE games and their relation with Arc, that's why I couldn't care less about Arc itself. My only interest is STO.
Leave Cryptic games out of this and leave STO out of this!:mad:
#4 yes and both are awful programs Origin more the steam
It's the exact same thing. Same spyware. Steam is just older, and people is so used to have cheap games with them they simply forget everything bad about it. Like how they were the first to ask for an internet connection to play any games (half life 2). Or how they were the first to use your connection data and gaming habit for their marketing.
Anyway, you can launch STO from the STO launcher instead of arc. Somewhere in your STO folder.
I have been using Arc since it's original launch (in May) It has never slowed my system down. I have never had any problems with it in any shape or form.
Recently I had to reinstall STO and downloaded and installed it via Arc. It downloaded and installed much much much faster than ever before. STO launches faster so I am now ingame much quicker.
If I should need to look at the forum or contact support I can while still ingame by bringing up the overlay.
a few easy things to slow arc down, disable it, or dont let it use youre bandwith:
1, disable arcs auto start when logging in option, simply, just kick it out of the list wth programs your pc boots.
2, inbound outbound rules from youre firewall.
i did this with pando mediabooster, it cant bypass my fire wall, so it doesnt use my bandwith to boost someone's download, just set the outbound rule to disabled, and it should not bypass youre firewall anymore.
3, search to which ip address arc connects, ( not the game one, the other ip) and block those ip's in youre router. no connection should work.
4
if arc eats to much resoucres,set a cap on how much the program can use.
or, if youre lucky enough to have the old laucnher, delete a few .dll file's in arc map, arc doesnt start anymore.
in youre browser, set the arc plugin on disabled aswell
all i can think off right now
Ps: i havent used arc, but this are a few ways to disable programs who do the same.also, all on youre on risk, this is not easy, so i dont recommend trying it when you only know the on/off button
Comments
Now, let's go back to the main topic. Both Pando and ARC sound very similar to me. Pando, as others have stated, sounds like a bit torrent program. In theory, it sounds like a great idea because it somewhat offloads the demand on the patch servers to users and their internet connections. However in practice, it's not the greatest idea once gamers find out you're using their internet bandwidth without their consent. Yes, you made us sign a legal agreement, but its standard operating procedure for American companies to use long and wordy legal agreements to confuse consumers into agreeing to them. So please don't retort "you agreed to it" because it will make you sound patronizing and arrogant.
Now, let's talk about ARC. ARC, if the descriptions of others in this thread are accurate, is essentially an online retail store that is in no way relevant to Star Trek Online. It will not make our connections faster, nor will we derive any direct STO benefits from it. It is categorically inessential and intrusive for STO gamers. Intrusive because for steam users it would mean having to load up all of the following: first steam, then arc, and then STO. For people that hate steam, it would mean having to load up arch and then STO even though they already load up STO without needing any other programs.
In a nutshell, ARC smacks heavily of originesque EA spyware and DRM that isn't meant to improve gameplay experience. I'm just waiting for somebody to find out that it does more than just what's overtly stated about what it does and for it to blow up in PWE's face.
It also smacks heavily of advertising spam that is meant to goad gamers into buying PWE nonsense as well as bring them to PWE's other crappy games. NEWSFLASH: Americans don't like telemarketing and we most certainly don't like pop-ups showing up on our screen while browsing the internet. ARC will essentially be a massive advertisement that we have no choice but to look at while loading up STO. We already have to deal with the aggravating lock box winner flybys, which cannot be turned off even if we deactivate it through the settings (thanks Cryptic), and on top of that, you want us to deal with PWE advertisements in ARC when we load up STO?
You know what I say? I'm done with STO if this ARC launcher becomes a requirement. And I'm not kidding. I loved BF3, but I dumped it because of origin. I loved splinter cell pc games but I dumped them because of Ubisoft's DRM software. As much as I love Star Trek and Star Trek Online, I'm through with you if you shove this down my throat because I'm not going to be spied on by PWE, nor am I going to put up with PWE advertising. I paid for this game 60 times over with how much I've invested into it. I think I've earned the right not to have to deal with out-of-game and in-game advertisements.
1. I see nothing ARC offers that I need, want, or cannot obtain elsewhere easier. I can launch the game fine, most days when the servers are behaving, without downloading another program to do it for me.
2. If it comes down between Steam and ARC. I will choose Steam. They have a lot more to offer and are more transparent.
3. If it comes down to ARC only, I will not continue to play STO. Enjoy it, but there's a lot of other games that I can and do fill my time with. They'll just get more attention. No need to play one that forces an unneeded program upon me.
I would imagine that the forum users tend to be a more savvy group then the general player base, so we might be more vocal about this. ARC should be a choice. Keep the big STO with ARC download button if that's what PWE demands, but leave a smaller print link to download and run STO without ARC. It is always the right answer to give players multiple ways to access and pay you to play the game. Choice is good.
Does anyone know what the spyware is called and how does one remove it?
I hope STO get's better ...
Hi Captains,
The "blog-type post" that I mentioned above is now live in the form of a FAQ. It is based off your questions and concerns, and can be read here: https://support.perfectworld.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4274
We'll be keeping it up to date as development progresses and additional questions or concerns arise.
Thank you for continuing to post your feedback, ideas, questions and concerns regarding Arc!
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
Are there going to be STO specific achievements? If so, will they be retroactive for current players? If this is still undecided, my feedback would be that I would like them to be retroactive. Mainly because some of us have been around these parts for a long time now and have some seriously built up characters. Going back to do stuff or being unable to go back and do stuff can be a pain.
Mine Trap Supporter
Joined January 2009
", we would absolutely love to make Arc a central, exclusive platform that serves update and patching functionality for all our games" (Very last section)
As I was here for the account linking fiasco, I know eventually well be forced to use it. But at least for now they say they arent ready for that.
Key word there is EXCLUSIVE. So when they get to that point. Bye bye to Steam and any other launcher. Thats my prediction.
Fleet leader Nova Elite
Fleet Leader House of Nova elite
@ren_larreck
Really that is based on our questions? To me it looks like politik speak. Basically making it look like you've answered our "questions" without doing so. To me it looks like nothing more than a generic "What is....." FAQ.
What about the questions concerning the spyware/bloatware, making it optional, etc? You know the ones that don't make it look so rosey tinted that have appeared in this thread and in the one in the news section.
It is a resource hog that I will not be forced put on my PC and even if that means saying bye-bye to the game so be it. Even some of those that have gone through hell and high water with Cryptic and this game are saying the same thing, thus showing their loyalty to Cryptic and this game. This could be the straw that breaks the donkeys back for them.
Resource hog? Where are you getting this information from. I use Arc with no problems. It doesn't do any of the bad TRIBBLE that people are whining about, but then again this is the forums and people need to up their post count rate with whining.
Can you please share exactly how much RAM does it devour, if you measured it? I'm very interested to hear about this!
There is no PMB in ARC!!! Read the other posts, ARC does not have pando.
Well I'm always for Freedom Of Choice, over anything else. Yet it seems as though we don't have that, while on this particular planet.
And sadly, as the days go on, and the Good whither and die, Freedom of choice is but a thing of the past now with today's businesses, Politics, Rules, and basically Everything.
Life on this planet's present Time Era, is , "Do as we say, or do Nothing at all".
Hopefully, this will change someday. Consideration over all else.
How is your fleet "falling apart after surviving for so maney(sic) years?"
1) The game has only been out for three years. That's not that many.
2) ARC is only required on new installs. If your fleet has been around for so long, why are they re-installing?
3) It doesn't run in your "brouser(sic)."
4) Why do you think it's spyware? Do you think Origin is spyware? Is Steam?
But cryptic likes sticking us with dumb things so it is here to stay.
Arc comes from PWE in general, not the Cryptic branch. I doubt Cryptic had much say in adding Arc.
#3 yes it does for some reson "give's it a spyware feel"
#4 yes and both are awful programs Origin more the steam
now thats outa the way i do use arc just so i dont have to put in my password every time i play
It greatly slows down computers and the other functions that are provided with it are unnecessary. And finally, its only good for players who like to play multiple PW games, which a majority of STO players do not do.
So they should give players the choice if they want it or not.
it has no features that seem to do anything for sto. if it had the gateway thing built in it would be cool.. but it doesnt.
you run arc, you then launch sto.. after seeing a whole screen of advertisements
plus when you launch STO arc stays in the background and does eat up resources..
just uninstall it, and launch sto from the folder.
[12:44] Vessel One of Two Unimatrix 01 deals 1019527 (1157678) Kinetic Damage to you with Plasma Energy Bolt Explosion.
I really don't care about all or for that matter any PWE games and their relation with Arc, that's why I couldn't care less about Arc itself. My only interest is STO.
Leave Cryptic games out of this and leave STO out of this!:mad:
Anyway, you can launch STO from the STO launcher instead of arc. Somewhere in your STO folder.
Recently I had to reinstall STO and downloaded and installed it via Arc. It downloaded and installed much much much faster than ever before. STO launches faster so I am now ingame much quicker.
If I should need to look at the forum or contact support I can while still ingame by bringing up the overlay.
I personally recommend it.
1, disable arcs auto start when logging in option, simply, just kick it out of the list wth programs your pc boots.
2, inbound outbound rules from youre firewall.
i did this with pando mediabooster, it cant bypass my fire wall, so it doesnt use my bandwith to boost someone's download, just set the outbound rule to disabled, and it should not bypass youre firewall anymore.
3, search to which ip address arc connects, ( not the game one, the other ip) and block those ip's in youre router. no connection should work.
4
if arc eats to much resoucres,set a cap on how much the program can use.
or, if youre lucky enough to have the old laucnher, delete a few .dll file's in arc map, arc doesnt start anymore.
in youre browser, set the arc plugin on disabled aswell
all i can think off right now
Ps: i havent used arc, but this are a few ways to disable programs who do the same.also, all on youre on risk, this is not easy, so i dont recommend trying it when you only know the on/off button