The only worry I have with the arc client is the few reports of the overlay disabling a gaming mouse. My current gaming mouse is vary old and I'm in the market for a new one and don't want to get one just to find out I can't use it in the game. The arc and sto teams need to get together to resolve this.
And since ARC itself is nothing but Cryptic/PWE taking cheap shots at a captive audience... :cool:
Give the devs the benefit of the doubt. This entire mess stinks of executive meddling.
Privatejet McRichguy, some PWE higher-up, goes to the devs (who, judging by the number of bugs and their Herculean efforts to fix said bugs, both genuinely care about us and are waaaaaaay overworked) and says: "Cram this adware down the throats of the player base or I cut your already meager salaries to fund my next banquet". The devs don't like it (why else would ARC take so long to make and fix?), but they have to go along, because they have kids to feed and the market is saturated with competent programmers at the moment. Players see that this bull**** software is going to be made mandatory, and for whatever reason it triggers some peoples' spyware filters. Cue fanrage. The devs either did not intend to make ARC so horrible, are actively sabotaging it to stick it to Privatejet McRichguy and the other higher-ups, or are contractually obligated to ignore criticism of ARC itself.
All in all, it looks like the whole mess can be traced back to some overpaid stuffed-shirt corporate raider high up in PWE. I just hope that said higher-up sees sense soon.
Looked closer at the new 'ARC" on the news link....
Wow, what a Steam ripoff. How low can you guys go? It's bad enough players are forced to use ARC made even worse when the UI is a direct rip on Steams..
What the matter? No creativity anymore on your part?
Agreed, if they want to put pictures of their other games in front of my face and offer me deals for them fine. I will ignore such ads accordingly and continue playing sto. If and when they shove ads directly into the game, I will have been pushed too far.
How about the game on the launcher that has the half dressed girl on it?
No I mean the other one.
No the other game with the half dressed girl.
No, the other....
Well, if this is the case, maybe it won't be so bad. But it still won't make me want to play any of their other games. I've looked at them and none appeal except STO. Which makes having Arc unnecessary.
Agreed. This is because most of PWE published games are tailored to fit their unending thirst for money. I even tried Blacklight. Unless you played for a ridiculous amount of time, the only way to upgrade and get better things was to get out the plastic..
STO is one of the rarities in the PWE roster. Could play STO absolutely free and just grind dil>convert to Zen> purchase Unlocks, Costumes, Ships etc without spending a dime. I love anything ST, so I purchased Lifetime and tanked several hundred dollars into getting the best gear, all the lobi and zen store ships etc. I became a tool for them in that respect, but still refuse to play any other PWE published game. No amount of "marketing" will change that.
How about the game on the launcher that has the half dressed girl on it?
No I mean the other one.
No the other game with the half dressed girl.
No, the other....
Because I am 12....
While I agree these games need way more modesty, do you really want to make that argument when you are playing a game that has green girls with nothing but a loncloth and wire bra on?
You know what...The thing that is setting off the most alarm bells in my head through out all these threads is the utter lack of responses from the devs to those who don't want arc.
That more than anything is making me more concerned. Its making you look more and more suspicious as time goes on. You're clearly reading the threads, but are not acknowledging the worries and those who simply don't want it.
I must commend you though, on finding a unique way to save server resources, by alienating most of your player-base.
For the record:
I do not want Arc.
I don't use social media.
I don't have enough time for more than one MMO
I have a crappy computer.
I already have a browser program.
I wasn't a great fan of steam, I still am not entirely comfortable with it. Does your program come with greater credentials than Steam? Because to make me get a Steam account it took several of my mates who are programmers to say it was all fine, and for all of them to be using Steam without issue for many years.
Even then I was extremely wary. I've only allowed steam to open when I play a game I want.
So if the Choice is Arc Or steam, steam wins.
If the choice is Arc or No STO, the No STO wins.
Don't forget: you don't need to run Steam for many games you can get by Steam! And what you miss are all the ppl who'll never install sth like Steam (even though that's the reason they can't play the game they have been waiting for so long)!
You know what...The thing that is setting off the most alarm bells in my head through out all these threads is the utter lack of responses from the devs to those who don't want arc.
That more than anything is making me more concerned. Its making you look more and more suspicious as time goes on. You're clearly reading the threads, but are not acknowledging the worries and those who simply don't want it.
I must commend you though, on finding a unique way to save server resources, by alienating most of your player-base.
For the record:
I do not want Arc.
I don't use social media.
I don't have enough time for more than one MMO
I have a crappy computer.
I already have a browser program.
I wasn't a great fan of steam, I still am not entirely comfortable with it. Does your program come with greater credentials than Steam? Because to make me get a Steam account it took several of my mates who are programmers to say it was all fine, and for all of them to be using Steam without issue for many years.
Even then I was extremely wary. I've only allowed steam to open when I play a game I want.
So if the Choice is Arc Or steam, steam wins.
If the choice is Arc or No STO, the No STO wins.
That is because, sadly, STO is mainly a cash cow. It's sole purpose to is to milk players for as long as possible. Why else is content so rushed, yet with little to no QA done before release? It's push it live now and let the players report problems later. How the game is handled, maintained and ran suggests I am right.
I hear you about Steam. There are a good many that don't like, use or trust the software. Steam is a saving grace for us PC gamers. Between Steam and Amazon PC gaming still has a purpose. The amount of sick raw deals, sales and promos are bar none to anything else we have at our disposal and make those air headed console gamers look like tools. Wait till the 75-80% sales and then go ape crazy. I picked up a few 50$ games for 7-10 dollars over the holidays alone..
Of course there is still Torrenting. Granted you Encrypt, Tunnel and Proxy your connection for 100% security!
I have another question. When we're forced to use Arc, will it still have a Safe Mode launch? That's the only way I can play STO. Otherwise my video drivers crash, and I haven't yet found a solution to that. I've tried every solution I've been able to dig up and no dice.
Now a LTS and loving it.
Just because you spend money on this game, it does not entitle you to be a jerk if things don't go your way.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a memory like Etch-A-Sketch. I shake my head and forget everything.
When it comes to advertising other products, I think Perfect World is missing the message. Consumers have a 'right' to be left alone. US state and federal governments have an 'opt-out' program, which prevents merchants from harassing consumers. Arch, Origin, and Steam technically violate the 'opt-out' programs.
My web browsers and emails have options that prevent unsolicited advertising. I personally do not want to be harassed by any advertiser.
What many developers do not understand is that consumers (citizens) have a 'right' to be left alone. Once developers and publishers take DRM too far, implementing advertising features, the Consumer Protections and federal government will eventually file class action lawsuits.
I wonder if players can write 'cease & desist' letters.
When it comes to advertising other products, I think Perfect World is missing the message. Consumers have a 'right' to be left alone. US state and federal governments have an 'opt-out' program, which prevents merchants from harassing consumers. Arch, Origin, and Steam technically violate the 'opt-out' programs.
My web browsers and emails have options that prevent unsolicited advertising. I personally do not want to be harassed by any advertiser.
What many developers do not understand is that consumers (citizens) have a 'right' to be left alone. Once developers and publishers take DRM too far, implementing advertising features, the Consumer Protections and federal government will eventually file class action lawsuits.
I wonder if players can write 'cease & desist' letters.
Whoah--ARC violates opt-out? I know there was a big fuss over Origin some time ago, but I didn't know that ARC and Steam violated consumer protection laws.
Whoah--ARC violates opt-out? I know there was a big fuss over Origin some time ago, but I didn't know that ARC and Steam violated consumer protection laws.
Huh. This cannot possibly end well.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the federal and state government passed a digital advertising law. As a result of people getting hit with waves of spam, the government stepped in to bottleneck the flow of advertising. I wonder if it extends to Arch, Origin, and Steam. It would be interesting to find out.
I know I am on three 'opt-out' lists. Phone, mail, and digital.
When it comes to advertising other products, I think Perfect World is missing the message. Consumers have a 'right' to be left alone. US state and federal governments have an 'opt-out' program, which prevents merchants from harassing consumers. Arch, Origin, and Steam technically violate the 'opt-out' programs.
My web browsers and emails have options that prevent unsolicited advertising. I personally do not want to be harassed by any advertiser.
What many developers do not understand is that consumers (citizens) have a 'right' to be left alone. Once developers and publishers take DRM too far, implementing advertising features, the Consumer Protections and federal government will eventually file class action lawsuits.
I wonder if players can write 'cease & desist' letters.
Good post. Actually now that I think about it, Players can obtain a cease and desist order on it. Granted their claim is strong enough. I may be wrong, but I believe it is the FCC you would file through.
On another funny note: BOTH PWE and Cryptic have "F" ratings with the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Good post. Actually now that I think about it, Players can obtain a cease and desist order on it. Granted their claim is strong enough. I may be wrong, but I believe it is the FCC you would file through.
In order to get Perfect World to stop, you will need to send three certified letters by mail. If Perfect World does not 'cease & desist', you can contact your local (or their local) attorney general.
I bet someone will eventually challenge Arch, Steam, and Origin.
It wold be interesting to find out.
DRM alone is fine.
DRM with advertising? I think its a whole different story.
In order to get Perfect World to stop, you will need to send three certified letters by mail. If Perfect World does not 'cease & desist', you can contact your local (or their local) attorney general.
I bet someone will eventually challenge Arch, Steam, and Origin.
Well just for curiosities sake I installed ARC, to see for myself what it's all about.
Immediately Spybot - Search and Destroys Teatimer blocked 2 Browser Helper object installation attempts and an ArcPlugin showed up in my Firefox.
What in the hell would Firefox have to do with game functionality?
Needless to say, ARC is being removed, all traces purged and and a complete spyware and virus scan run.
If something is not broken, don't fix it, if it is broken, don't leave it broken.
On another funny note: BOTH PWE and Cryptic have "F" ratings with the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
They have for awhile. Customer service is advertisement driven only and there is no forward-reaching customer driven resolution mechanism in place. Add to that the purely one-way money flow with zero refund resolution option.
Friend of mine had his account raided. Lost everything. PWE reverted his account for him as they often do, but refused to reactivate his C-store purchases. Email indicated that this was for his own protection and he was invited to go ahead and repurchase said items.
Another friend made C-store purchases that never completed due to software glitches. The paid-for-by-cash Zen went POOF, the purchased item never unlocked. "We do not keep records of in-game transactions therefore have no way to verify your claim."
And then there is the ongoing and very real risk of infection or identity theft when using the PWE zen-purchase portal. I'm up to three pages of complaints from people who have had their bank account breached within moments of using the various payment processors on the PWE page. PW assures me however they spend most money on latest measures for prevention therefore this is not the case in all situations. THAT is EXACTLY what the response said last time I complained.
In reality though, a BBB rating does very very little to a company. It's more of a lookup/warning for informed consumers. BBB has no enforcement capability.
Well just for curiosities sake I installed ARC, to see for myself what it's all about.
Immediately Spybot - Search and Destroys Teatimer blocked 2 Browser Helper object installation attempts and an ArcPlugin showed up in my Firefox.
What in the hell would Firefox have to do with game functionality?
Needless to say, ARC is being removed, all traces purged and and a complete spyware and virus scan run.
I am unsure about what data Cryptic/Perfect World is gathering.
Is Arch being used to gather information about your hardware and software?
Is Arch tracking your online activities?
What are they doing with the data they gather? Selling it? Using it to make their products better?
I do not know.
Is there a way to monitor Arch's behavior algorithms?
Well just for curiosities sake I installed ARC, to see for myself what it's all about.
Immediately Spybot - Search and Destroys Teatimer blocked 2 Browser Helper object installation attempts and an ArcPlugin showed up in my Firefox.
What in the hell would Firefox have to do with game functionality?
Needless to say, ARC is being removed, all traces purged and and a complete spyware and virus scan run.
I did mention this a few pages ago. It fully integrates into your system and you cannot get rid of it.
Mention was made of anti-cheating and anti-fraud measures. Apparently PWE feels that many of it's players engage in profit-damaging cheating and fraud and therefore they need to monitor. In real time. Across all aspects of a player's existence. Including browser and social media integration. Don't know if this is true about the "cheating/monitoring" but the way the software interacts with my system I have to wonder.
In order to get Perfect World to stop, you will need to send three certified letters by mail. If Perfect World does not 'cease & desist', you can contact your local (or their local) attorney general.
I bet someone will eventually challenge Arch, Steam, and Origin.
It wold be interesting to find out.
DRM alone is fine.
DRM with advertising? I think its a whole different story.
I did mention this a few pages ago. It fully integrates into your system and you cannot get rid of it.
Mention was made of anti-cheating and anti-fraud measures. Apparently PWE feels that many of it's players engage in profit-damaging cheating and fraud and therefore they need to monitor. In real time. Across all aspects of a player's existence. Including browser and social media integration. Don't know if this is true about the "cheating/monitoring" but the way the software interacts with my system I have to wonder.
The software has already been removed. Anti-fraud/cheating measures is pure BS, what it is typical corporate raider datamining for marketing analysis and it won't be coming from my machine, seeing those browser pluggin attempts have confirmed one thing with certainty in my eyes, statements that ARC contains no spyware is a bald faced untruth.
If something is not broken, don't fix it, if it is broken, don't leave it broken.
They asked for our feeback, and we're giving them what they deserved:P
But you're using the real-world definition of "feedback." They were asking using the PWE definition of the word. See, in PWE-speak "give us feedback" is like Stephen Colbert asking about George W. Bush: "Great president, or the greatest president?" When PWE says "Give us feedback about ARC," they mean "Tell us whether ARC is a great game launcher, or the greatest game launcher!"
WHY THE ****ING HELL SHOULD I NEED TO DOWNLOAD A CLIENT TO RUN THE STO CLIENT? Don't you learn anything from the only mistake Valve ever made, binding Half Life 2 to Steam(Which was in my Opinion not a mistake, but I should not deny the word of Gabe Newell)? Do we really need to download a program that sells our data to obscure buyers, uses our HDD for unknown things and is ****ing useless? Why i there need to make such a work of evil anyway? One can see on big Game Publishers, namely Ubi and EA, making their own client and failing(Especially Ubi. Trying to be serious but making a client obviously made for little kids) hardly? Are you aware of nothing around you? People are using Steam because it's great, Origin because they are forced to(Not that any of EA's recent titles would be any good anyway) and Arc...Not. Because Arc is not needed, especially when, luckily, the game is still avaible on Steam without any spyware to be installed and with quite a majority of microtransaction being made there.
Or short: Arc the SpyTool sucks and should be avoided at all costs.
Comments
NO, we don't want your proprietary garbage launcher. Yes, we go out of our way to still use the old launcher. If all else fails.. Steam.
Give the devs the benefit of the doubt. This entire mess stinks of executive meddling.
Privatejet McRichguy, some PWE higher-up, goes to the devs (who, judging by the number of bugs and their Herculean efforts to fix said bugs, both genuinely care about us and are waaaaaaay overworked) and says: "Cram this adware down the throats of the player base or I cut your already meager salaries to fund my next banquet". The devs don't like it (why else would ARC take so long to make and fix?), but they have to go along, because they have kids to feed and the market is saturated with competent programmers at the moment. Players see that this bull**** software is going to be made mandatory, and for whatever reason it triggers some peoples' spyware filters. Cue fanrage. The devs either did not intend to make ARC so horrible, are actively sabotaging it to stick it to Privatejet McRichguy and the other higher-ups, or are contractually obligated to ignore criticism of ARC itself.
All in all, it looks like the whole mess can be traced back to some overpaid stuffed-shirt corporate raider high up in PWE. I just hope that said higher-up sees sense soon.
Wow, what a Steam ripoff. How low can you guys go? It's bad enough players are forced to use ARC made even worse when the UI is a direct rip on Steams..
What the matter? No creativity anymore on your part?
How about the game on the launcher that has the half dressed girl on it?
No I mean the other one.
No the other game with the half dressed girl.
No, the other....
Because I am 12....
Agreed. This is because most of PWE published games are tailored to fit their unending thirst for money. I even tried Blacklight. Unless you played for a ridiculous amount of time, the only way to upgrade and get better things was to get out the plastic..
STO is one of the rarities in the PWE roster. Could play STO absolutely free and just grind dil>convert to Zen> purchase Unlocks, Costumes, Ships etc without spending a dime. I love anything ST, so I purchased Lifetime and tanked several hundred dollars into getting the best gear, all the lobi and zen store ships etc. I became a tool for them in that respect, but still refuse to play any other PWE published game. No amount of "marketing" will change that.
While I agree these games need way more modesty, do you really want to make that argument when you are playing a game that has green girls with nothing but a loncloth and wire bra on?
That more than anything is making me more concerned. Its making you look more and more suspicious as time goes on. You're clearly reading the threads, but are not acknowledging the worries and those who simply don't want it.
I must commend you though, on finding a unique way to save server resources, by alienating most of your player-base.
For the record:
I do not want Arc.
I don't use social media.
I don't have enough time for more than one MMO
I have a crappy computer.
I already have a browser program.
I wasn't a great fan of steam, I still am not entirely comfortable with it. Does your program come with greater credentials than Steam? Because to make me get a Steam account it took several of my mates who are programmers to say it was all fine, and for all of them to be using Steam without issue for many years.
Even then I was extremely wary. I've only allowed steam to open when I play a game I want.
So if the Choice is Arc Or steam, steam wins.
If the choice is Arc or No STO, the No STO wins.
Don't forget: you don't need to run Steam for many games you can get by Steam! And what you miss are all the ppl who'll never install sth like Steam (even though that's the reason they can't play the game they have been waiting for so long)!
That is because, sadly, STO is mainly a cash cow. It's sole purpose to is to milk players for as long as possible. Why else is content so rushed, yet with little to no QA done before release? It's push it live now and let the players report problems later. How the game is handled, maintained and ran suggests I am right.
I hear you about Steam. There are a good many that don't like, use or trust the software. Steam is a saving grace for us PC gamers. Between Steam and Amazon PC gaming still has a purpose. The amount of sick raw deals, sales and promos are bar none to anything else we have at our disposal and make those air headed console gamers look like tools. Wait till the 75-80% sales and then go ape crazy. I picked up a few 50$ games for 7-10 dollars over the holidays alone..
Of course there is still Torrenting. Granted you Encrypt, Tunnel and Proxy your connection for 100% security!
My web browsers and emails have options that prevent unsolicited advertising. I personally do not want to be harassed by any advertiser.
What many developers do not understand is that consumers (citizens) have a 'right' to be left alone. Once developers and publishers take DRM too far, implementing advertising features, the Consumer Protections and federal government will eventually file class action lawsuits.
I wonder if players can write 'cease & desist' letters.
Whoah--ARC violates opt-out? I know there was a big fuss over Origin some time ago, but I didn't know that ARC and Steam violated consumer protection laws.
Huh. This cannot possibly end well.
I know I am on three 'opt-out' lists. Phone, mail, and digital.
Good post. Actually now that I think about it, Players can obtain a cease and desist order on it. Granted their claim is strong enough. I may be wrong, but I believe it is the FCC you would file through.
On another funny note: BOTH PWE and Cryptic have "F" ratings with the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
I bet someone will eventually challenge Arch, Steam, and Origin.
It wold be interesting to find out.
DRM alone is fine.
DRM with advertising? I think its a whole different story.
I am on-board with this proposal.
Immediately Spybot - Search and Destroys Teatimer blocked 2 Browser Helper object installation attempts and an ArcPlugin showed up in my Firefox.
What in the hell would Firefox have to do with game functionality?
Needless to say, ARC is being removed, all traces purged and and a complete spyware and virus scan run.
They have for awhile. Customer service is advertisement driven only and there is no forward-reaching customer driven resolution mechanism in place. Add to that the purely one-way money flow with zero refund resolution option.
Friend of mine had his account raided. Lost everything. PWE reverted his account for him as they often do, but refused to reactivate his C-store purchases. Email indicated that this was for his own protection and he was invited to go ahead and repurchase said items.
Another friend made C-store purchases that never completed due to software glitches. The paid-for-by-cash Zen went POOF, the purchased item never unlocked. "We do not keep records of in-game transactions therefore have no way to verify your claim."
And then there is the ongoing and very real risk of infection or identity theft when using the PWE zen-purchase portal. I'm up to three pages of complaints from people who have had their bank account breached within moments of using the various payment processors on the PWE page. PW assures me however they spend most money on latest measures for prevention therefore this is not the case in all situations. THAT is EXACTLY what the response said last time I complained.
In reality though, a BBB rating does very very little to a company. It's more of a lookup/warning for informed consumers. BBB has no enforcement capability.
Is Arch being used to gather information about your hardware and software?
Is Arch tracking your online activities?
What are they doing with the data they gather? Selling it? Using it to make their products better?
I do not know.
Is there a way to monitor Arch's behavior algorithms?
Not a fan of ARC...seems like bloatware destined to sink the whole ship.
I did mention this a few pages ago.
Mention was made of anti-cheating and anti-fraud measures. Apparently PWE feels that many of it's players engage in profit-damaging cheating and fraud and therefore they need to monitor. In real time. Across all aspects of a player's existence. Including browser and social media integration. Don't know if this is true about the "cheating/monitoring" but the way the software interacts with my system I have to wonder.
I'm with you. I'm with you 100%.
Actually, you can get rid of it. You have to practically scrub your hard drive, though. I just set my firewall to block it, just in case.
1. Option to shutdown arc either when I launch a game, or game closes. I dont want Arc running all the time.
2. Vids dont work through it
"The adobe flash player or an HTML5 supported browser is required for video playback."
Looks like you're using Internet Explorer api or junk in Arc - i dont install IE add-ons or even have that browser enabled.
Indeed, when a U.S. company considers allowing a Chinese company's spyware software to be included into it's product.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/47962225
It's stunning, absolutely stunning, that a U.S. company would even consider allowing this.
I'll tell you this, If any of you do download this, don't do so on a computer you use for your business.
But you're using the real-world definition of "feedback." They were asking using the PWE definition of the word. See, in PWE-speak "give us feedback" is like Stephen Colbert asking about George W. Bush: "Great president, or the greatest president?" When PWE says "Give us feedback about ARC," they mean "Tell us whether ARC is a great game launcher, or the greatest game launcher!"
Let's see?
WHY THE ****ING HELL SHOULD I NEED TO DOWNLOAD A CLIENT TO RUN THE STO CLIENT? Don't you learn anything from the only mistake Valve ever made, binding Half Life 2 to Steam(Which was in my Opinion not a mistake, but I should not deny the word of Gabe Newell)? Do we really need to download a program that sells our data to obscure buyers, uses our HDD for unknown things and is ****ing useless? Why i there need to make such a work of evil anyway? One can see on big Game Publishers, namely Ubi and EA, making their own client and failing(Especially Ubi. Trying to be serious but making a client obviously made for little kids) hardly? Are you aware of nothing around you? People are using Steam because it's great, Origin because they are forced to(Not that any of EA's recent titles would be any good anyway) and Arc...Not. Because Arc is not needed, especially when, luckily, the game is still avaible on Steam without any spyware to be installed and with quite a majority of microtransaction being made there.
Or short: Arc the SpyTool sucks and should be avoided at all costs.