January 8th, 2014 
Mark 
We’re pleased to announce that the new Arc website and client are now in Public Beta!
It’s a very exciting moment for us – we’ve been working on the site for the past several months and this will be our first opportunity to share it with everyone.
What types of things can be checked out during the beta?
Almost everything! The game pages, news, media sections, and blogs are all 100% usable. You can also check out and purchase packs for games that currently have them available.
We’re looking forward to seeing your feedback on these updates – check out the instructions below for all the details!
Getting Started
You can check out the new website here: www.arcgames.com
You can download the beta Arc client* here:
*Note: Even though a new Arc client is available for download, all Game Launchers will remain in their current form during the beta.
Installation instructions
For current Arc client users, please follow the instructions below to ensure you are upgraded properly:
1. Quit your current Arc application session (if it’s still running)
2. Launch the Arc Games installer
3. Select the “Upgrade” option within InstallShield
4. Select “Next”
5. Select “Finish”
6. Installation is complete – Arc Beta is now installed!
The website beta is available on any device, and has been upgraded to be mobile-friendly. You can access the provided URL from any browser on any device, and the site will automatically display in the correct format. Let us know how it works for you!
Remember that one of the benefits of the new infrastructure is that content is the same, regardless of how you are accessing it. So, whether you’re checking out the news on your mobile device, desktop browser, or Arc client, you’ll have access to the same information.
New and Updated Website Features
Check out this table for a handy reference of new and interesting things to check out:
|
On the Website or Mobile Device |
In the Arc Client | |
|---|---|---|
|
News |
Navigate to to your game of choice, then click on “News” on the right side of the screen. |
Click on the game of your choice, and the news will populate automatically! |
|
Guides |
The new Arc technology allows each game to have a “Game Guides” section, which includes helpful links and resources.
|
Click on the game of your choice, then click the Guides button. |
|
Media |
Navigate to to your game of choice, then click on “News” on the right side of the screen. From there, click on “Media” at the top of the screen. |
Click on the game of your choice, then click the Media button.
|
|
Codes |
Not available during Beta.
|
Click the <> button in the Beta Arc Client.
|
Game Codes
The existing code systems for each game will continue to exist through this beta, though we will also be testing our new, unified code system during the beta.
During the initial phase of the beta, it will only be only possible to redeem these new codes via the Client by clicking the "Redeem Key" button:
We hope to release website-side redemption in the near future.
What functionality will not be present during the beta?
The beta is only available in English and Portuguese. While the future goal of Arcgames.com will be to support all languages, the beta will only cover these two.
In regards to purchases, it is possible to purchase Game Packs via the beta website, but purchasing Zen is not (yet!) possible.
What type of content is hosted on the the Arcgames.com beta site?
All of the content that you see on the Arcgames.com website is real – the screenshots, game pages, and blogs all represent real games and real content for those games. However, the content is only there as an example and is not guaranteed to to be up to date. Once Arcgames.com replaces the legacy sites, we will be doing a mass update and import to bring everything up to speed. During the beta, we still recommend checking the existing game websites and launchers to find out the latest news for the games you follow.
Will there be incentives for trying out the new website and client?
We definitely promised some incentives a while back, and we haven’t forgotten! We’re currently working out the details, and our hope is to have special prizes for everyone who uses Arc very soon. Our goal is to have unique items for every game hosted on our platform.
Known Issues
We’re still putting the final touches on the new tech, so please keep in mind that the occasional issue may occur. Here are a few items that we are currently working to resolve:
- Not all content will be up to date; new Blogs that go live during beta will not be posted on the Arcgames.com website until the beta concludes
- The Media Galleries occasionally leave blank space between items
- Occasionally, the Video section may load an unrelated video before loading the correct items. This issue should resolve itself automatically if it occurs.
- Mobile formats have been tested on a wide array of devices, though it’s possible that some mobile devices may have unique issues. Please report any mobile display issues to us. It always helps to include the name/model of your device, and whether or not you are using a custom browser.
What is the goal of this Beta?
When we first announced the new website and client, many of our players expressed concerns over a sudden migration to completely new technology. Since this is a very large user experience across the board, we felt that it would be more comfortable to let everyone try it all out and give feedback before it takes the place of our legacy infrastructure. Our primary goal for this beta will be to integrate improvements based on player feedback, and allow our players the chance to test out the new site before it goes live.
How can I send feedback?
Arc has built-in functionality for reporting bugs and feedback. Simply click on the Send Feedback button in the Arc beta client, and you’ll be able to send a report directly to the team. Alternatively, you can send us an email at feedback@arcgames.com.
We’re very excited to check out your feedback!
Sincerely,
Dezstravus and the Arc Team
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