Steam accounts for STO - broken and unrepairable by Arc

[Greyhardt]

So, literally, when i have an account created through steam i can't buy a subscription or redeem any codes whatsoever. All the messages of "manual linking" throughout their support forums are a lie.

Here is the evidence - a reply i got from their support, when i've asked to link accounts (i do have a screenshot as well):

"
Hello,

Thank you for writing in.

I understand that you wish to link your Arc to your Steam account.

Please note that there is no option to manually link exclusive Steam-generated accounts to our Arc platform. While both platforms do feed into the same game server, you won't be able to use Steam-generated accounts on Arc as they are not cross-compatible.

Please also note that the game progress and data for both Arc Games and Steam-generated accounts are separate from each other and cannot be merged or linked into one. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you need assistance with an issue or other concern, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Regards,
GM Mimosa
Game Master
"

no further replies on my follow up questions received.
Practically - avoid at any cost and don't buy anything, because you would never know, which account it will be applied to.

[Running-Target]

That is why you should goto Arcgames dot com to make your account before you start playing the Star Trek Online or other Arcgames games.

[Greyhardt]

Unfortunately too late for that. And there is another problem - you can't even log off with steam account after it. Literally = no button for that. So i can't login with another arc account.

this game maintenance requirements are too much...

[NavFamG]

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

Steam accounts for STO - broken and unrepairable by Arc. So, literally, when i have an account created through steam i can't buy a subscription or redeem any codes whatsoever.

They're really not. Designed poorly? YES.

Does creating a Steam only STO account suck? Yes it does, but .....

They can't be linked because when you create an account via Steam it creates a unique username and password that only the system knows. That's why you can't redeem codes as You have no clue what the steam username and password is that you'd need to log into ARC with to do it, For linking a steam account to ARC it's pretty much the same and to like to an existing account would be the same as merging 2 different accounts in any game, not allowed.

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

All the messages of "manual linking" throughout their support forums are a lie.

They're not. What it sounds like you tried to do was link an existing steam account to an ARC account and NO you can't do it in that direction.

You can find numerous posts on the forums from players recommending they create an ARC account first and during the steam creation process to ensure they answer the 'do you want to link' question correctly.

When done that way NO steam account is created, it just using your ARC info.

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

don't buy anything, because you would never know, which account it will be applied to.

Yeah you do. What ever username and password account you logged into when you buy something, THAT's where the item will show up.

You just have to remember you have TWO STO accounts; a steam one and an ARC one. You won't see the same characters as they're separate accounts.

[NavFamG]

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

there is another problem - you can't even log off with steam account after it. Literally = no button for that. So i can't login with another arc account.

There is. Exit from your steam game. Then go into the STO files and click on the .exe file. It'll bring up the ARC launcher and you can then type in your other username and password to launch that account.

It's the same thing we recommended when steam is messing up and you have an ARC account.

[Greyhardt]

Originally posted by NavFamG:

They're not. What it sounds like you tried to do was link an existing steam account to an ARC account and NO you can't do it in that direction.

that really is the meaning of broken and unusable. As i've mentioned, this game requires too much maintenance for a non AAA title at the top of the charts.

but anyway - there is literally no means of deleting a steam linked account whatsoever. that is the major problem.

[Running-Target]

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

but anyway - there is literally no means of deleting a steam linked account whatsoever. that is the major problem.

Try Uninstalling then Remove from Account in the Manage options of the Steam game list. Maybe also make sure you manually delete STO in your computer folder.

[NavFamG]

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

Originally posted by NavFamG:

They're not. What it sounds like you tried to do was link an existing steam account to an ARC account and NO you can't do it in that direction.

that really is the meaning of broken and unusable.

No it's not. Name me a single game that allows you to merge 2 different accounts into 1.

What's broken is there's no way to find out your steam STO username and password.

[Eggy]

A few years ago, ARC & Co. required all Steam players to link their Steam accounts to ARC. I don't really understand why this is no longer possible.

At the very least, new Steam accounts should require this to be done.

[x1Heavy]

I had to link mine with help of support when transferring to a new computer. The old machine caught fire after 8 years. This was a few years ago.

This nonsense with linking, back and forth and around and around again makes me less inclined to buy new video games now a days. I do buy games occasionally when its already a add on to a existing game that has nothing to do with Arc or a video game that is not from ARC. Stand alone product in retail buying via Steam.

Now we are getting into the realm of AI. Imagine STO Non playable avatars walking around Deep Space 9 able to use AI to pull information about yourself from the net and then interact with you via chat based on that personalization. You will have to spend all night interacting with Bots that know more about you than you do.

Gaming into the future is getting interesting however its going to be beyond my lifespan for reasons. So I dont worry about that nonsense too much.

STO is about 15 years old now almost. Its steam or nothing for me. Its served me well when I have to build or buy new computers and transfer games from one to another over the years which is what it was designed to do.

[ALoreKeeper]

Originally posted by NavFamG:

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

that really is the meaning of broken and unusable.

No it's not. Name me a single game that allows you to merge 2 different accounts into 1.

What's broken is there's no way to find out your steam STO username and password.

for what its worth Warframe let you merge accounts

[[88th] ColPresumptuous]

Originally posted by ALoreKeeper:

Originally posted by NavFamG:

No it's not. Name me a single game that allows you to merge 2 different accounts into 1.

What's broken is there's no way to find out your steam STO username and password.

for what its worth Warframe let you merge accounts

Its taken them a LONG time to get to that point though :P

It also doesnt work 100% like you'd think, and I dont think you can do with a Playstation still (sony being sony).

[-=EDF=- Kouta Seto]

And this children is why we create accounts ON THE FRELLING GAMES WEBSITE AND NOT STEAM!

Not only is it more safe, nooooo, it prevents errors like that from even EXISTING. Also, if ever Valve gets taken down, and trust me would i life in the US i could easily bring doom to valve for actualy false advertising and missinformation about german Law's, thus i can file a lawsuit against them wich would cost them greatly (and no, their NOT as rich as you might think. do you BELIVE they dont pay massive amounts of money to even HAVE the licenses to put games on this here shelf? Might be the sole reason we still have no HL3 realy, they lack the money to do so), you will basicaly LOSE all them games PLUS accounts you have here. Oh and new's for those who missed it: Welcome to modern times, you have a license, not the game anymore. A license can be taken away from the holder of said property (for example our all time favorite company "Kalypso"). Valve caved in on that too btw.

So yea, all games where its posible SHOULD ALWAY'S be made on their site and with their login/creation instead of the easy steam way.

[NavFamG]

Originally posted by -=EDF=- Kouta Seto:

do you BELIVE they dont pay massive amounts of money to even HAVE the licenses to put games on this here shelf?

I don't think they pay at all. I think the game companies pay Steam for the 'right' to display / play their games via steam.

Also I don't think it has anything to do with licensing. Steam just provides a portal to play the game through.

We KNOW steam takes a cut of all transactions done via steam and from the history of Pirates of the Burning Seas we know Steam refuses to let some games be on steam.

[TokusatsuTV]

Originally posted by Greyhardt:

So, literally, when i have an account created through steam i can't buy a subscription or redeem any codes whatsoever. All the messages of "manual linking" throughout their support forums are a lie.

Here is the evidence - a reply i got from their support, when i've asked to link accounts (i do have a screenshot as well):

"
Hello,

Thank you for writing in.

I understand that you wish to link your Arc to your Steam account.

Please note that there is no option to manually link exclusive Steam-generated accounts to our Arc platform. While both platforms do feed into the same game server, you won't be able to use Steam-generated accounts on Arc as they are not cross-compatible.

Please also note that the game progress and data for both Arc Games and Steam-generated accounts are separate from each other and cannot be merged or linked into one. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you need assistance with an issue or other concern, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Regards,
GM Mimosa
Game Master
"

no further replies on my follow up questions received.
Practically - avoid at any cost and don't buy anything, because you would never know, which account it will be applied to.

so whats your problem? did you buy lifetime on the steam one or something, or are you looking to get the arc rewards?