Getting Started
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Your 3D desktops might be something you enjoy for many years to come, so good luck! And welcome to the AArcade community!
AArcade runs pretty well on old systems if you turn its settings down. Also, AArcade pauses itself while you play your stuff fullscreen, so you don't need an extra powerful system to use it.
The better your system, the better the AArcade world will run.
It's built on Valve's Source engine so you should expect framerates comparable to what you get in games like Team Fortress 2 or Counter-Strike: Source while walking around the AArcade world.
Smaller arcades perform better than larger arcades, plus they are better for organization, so be sure to use lots of different maps.
Anarchy Arcade is available for free on Steam so all you need to do is download, install, & launch it from the Steam Store:
Launch in Visitor Mode
When AArcade asks you if you want to use Desktop Mode or Visitor Mode, you should choose Visitor Mode. (Because you're just learning still.)
Visitor Mode saves to a different folder for you to experiment in. Later on, when you're ready, you can start fresh by using Desktop Mode.
Troubleshooting: Your anti-virus software might cause a crash when AArcade tries to load the main menu. Add exceptions for AArcade and its UI process to resolve this.
Troubleshooting: AArcade's embedded browser might require you to install the standalone version of Flash. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
1. Go to Adobe's Flash download page.
2. Select your operating system.
3. Select the version that says it's for "Firefox - NPAPI".
4. Uncheck all of the "Optional offers" that Adobe tries to give you.
5. Click "Download now" & install Flash.
6. Restart AArcade.
Resolution Settings
AArcade always runs at your desktop resolution in borderless window mode. You should only change this from the Configure menu of AArcade's launcher.
In-Game Tutorial
Click the "Basic Tutorial" icon in the main menu and walk through the maze until you either finish it or get tired of it.
The tutorial teaches you that you can spawn web content by pasting URLs, or local content by using the browse button.
You can also ALT+Tab and do other stuff in Windows while AArcade loads. AArcade is just your 3D desktop wallpaper.
If AArcade's window ever looks like it has crashed, always choose the "Wait for program to respond" option. It's not crashed, it's just thinking really hard.
Each map in AArcade can be loaded as a private singleplayer instance, or a shared multiplayer instance.
If you do not wish to interact with other users at all, you should go into Main Menu > Options and disable online play. (It is the very top option there.)
Private Singleplayer
These are your locally saved instances that you have complete control over. Only you can see the stuff that you spawn in them.
You'll still be able to see other users, walking around their own private instances, but you won't be able to see the stuff in each other's arcades.
Shared Multiplayer
Load any map in metaverse mode to be in a persistent shared instance with the rest of the AArcade community.
Everybody will see the stuff that you spawn. You can watch videos & launch shortcuts together.
Even addon maps can be loaded in metaverse mode. If you're looking for a quite place to hang out with just your friends, I suggest agreeing on a nice addon map to go to.
AArcade is a passive experience. When it works, you'll hardly even realize you're using it. It stays open in the background like your desktop wallpaper.
Load your favorite map, then spawn stuff into it only as you need to. That way, it's only got the good stuff. And don't worry about being organized; that part comes later.
A rookie mistake is trying to put your whole collection into 1 massive map. That makes it hard to find the good stuff.
In a couple days, after you have a good amount of random stuff in your room, you can move stuff around to be better organized.
Areas that have a good consistent theme are the most useful and really help set the mood for what ever they are based around.
If you're the type of person who likes AArcade, you'll probably be using it for many years to come. There's no rush to learn it all in just a few days.
Remember you can ALT+Tab and use Windows just like normal! AArcade is just your 3D desktop wallpaper.
