ARC Demo
ARC is a great little freeware multiplayer game...
- Category Vehicle
- Size 2.3 MB
- Program by Sierra Studios
ARC Demo
ARC is a great little freeware multiplayer game. There are four factions, many maps, and addicting gameplay! Easy to play, small download, and alot of fun.
Overall Description
ARC stands for Attack, Retrieve, Capture. It is an Internet-based, multi-player action/strategy game. The basic concept is a simple one, simplicity being the ultimate goal and one of most redeeming qualities of ARC. You fly these "hovercraft" type ships (there is no official name for just what the heck they are, although due to the graphics in the earlier versions of ARC, the term "nipple" was often used, and still is today), and the goal of the game depends on what type of map you choose to join. There are two basic types, one being the flag game, where the object is to pick up all of the flags on the map (however many there may be), and return them to the flag holder at your team's base. The second type is the dueling (fragging) game, where the object is to simply kill, kill, kill.
Game Controls
Arrow keys - Movement
Mouse - Aim Target
Left Mouse Button - Fire Primary Weapon *
Right Mouse Button - Fire Secondary Weapon *
Ctrl - Toggle Through Secondary Weapons **
Tab - Drop Flag
F1 - Shows/Hides List of Players and Scores
F2 - Instructions
F3 - Options
F4 - Switch Teams
F5 - Activates Radar
F6 - Activates CD Controls (in radar)
F7 - Activates Player List (in radar)
F8 - Brings up Menu (in radar)
F9 - Selects and Activates Lasers
F10 - Selects and Activates Missiles
F11 - Selects and Activates Mortars
F12 - Selects and Activates Bouncies
Esc / Alt+F4 - Quits Game
* only in 'Newbie Controls' (see Classic Controls).
** IntelliMouse users can also use the wheel.
(Some of these commands are also selectable from the sidebar on the game screen itself. More information on that below.)
Classic Controls vs Newbie Controls
Whether the right mouse button fires or activates the secondary weapon depends on how your options are set in the configuration menu. "Newbie Controls" is default, and is actually preferred by most players, new or experienced. This mode makes your right mouse button actually fire the secondary weapon. If you have "Classic" controls set, the right button will toggle between the primary (laser) and secondary weapon. You can then fire whichever weapon is selected by pressing the left mouse button.
Communication
To send a public message that everyone on the map will see, just type your message and hit ENTER. To send a private message to your team, start your message with a semicolon (;).
Game Mechanics
Holding Pen
When you first enter a map, or when you die, you wind up waiting inside this holding area for a short period of time before you can enter the game. If your ship doesn't automatically enter when the time period is up, just move a little bit, and you'll be in.
Aiming Cursor
The aiming cursor will change form depending on what secondary weapon you have selected. The 3 yellow dots to the right of it indicate how many rounds of that weapon you have left, just as they do on the weapon indicators on the sidebar. The weapon indicators also have a small, green bar at the bottom, to show you how much time is remaining before another round of that weapon is added to your inventory.
The Radar
The dot in the middle is you. The purple brackets show you how much of the map is currently visible on your screen. The other dots are, of course, an enemy players on the teams or same color dots are your team mates. The two upside-down Ts are flag holders. The line across the bottom shows which team the flag post belongs to. The vertical line shows which color of flag is suppose to be placed there. If one of the players on the radar is flashing, that means that the player is carrying a flag. The flash color will vary depending on what color of flag he is carrying.