Raw Data Arcade RELOADED Update Now Live

Written ByLauren Irvine Published
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Raw Data Arcade has been RELOADED: the Steam build is updated and LIVE on Springboard, Synthesis, Private Label, and directly through Survios! Featuring the all-new Infinite 4-player game mode, simplified gameplay mechanics, new teleportation-based locomotion and LAN support for PvP, and significant crash reductions, this update was created specifically to address the issues most crucial to our arcade community.

This is your one-stop resource for everything you need to know about Raw Data Arcade in its new RELOADED state. Because of the extensive permanent changes made to the UI and gameplay, we highly recommend that your operators play Raw Data Arcade’s Infinite, Campaign, and PvP modes to familiarize themselves with everything that’s new:

  • Arcade customer-focused UI with limited options and big, friendly buttons
  • All-new, arcade exclusive Infinite mode for 1-4 players
  • Revamped mechanics in cooperative game modes for easier ability activation and more action-packed play
  • Teleport locomotion in PvP for Duel and 5v5 modes (joystick locomotion option removed)
  • LAN connectivity for 5v5 PvP
  • Numerous bug fixes and crash reductions

You can download a PDF of this guide from this Dropbox link to distribute to your arcade operators.

Please note that this update is only for Raw Data Arcade and not for the in-home/retail market version of Raw Data; the gameplay and UI changes outlined here and PvP LAN servers will not work for the at-home/retail market version of Raw Data.

4-Player Infinite Mode

Infinite is a new, endless game mode for 1-4 players in which they must protect the Data Core from phases of randomized enemy bots. A leaderboard displays after each phase so players can track who’s doing the best.

Infinite mode features its own expansive, multi-level map with several enemy spawn points, a dozen-plus ultimate ability pickup spawn points (yellow circles), and strategically placed teleportation beacons (purple circles).

All four heroes are available to play, and multiple players can play as the same hero. Between phases, each player is given the option to change his hero if desired.

  • For the average arcade customer, we recommend playing as Bishop (dual pistols) and Elder (bow and arrows).
  • Players familiar with Raw Data Arcade can challenge themselves with Saija (ninja) and Boss (shotgun and melee).
  • Again, if a hero is too difficult or not what the player was expecting, he can switch to a different hero between phases: on the between-phase leaderboard screen, aim the cursor at the new character and pull Trigger to select.

Enemy phases feature an assortment of randomized enemies, from basic running bots and crawlers to flying drones and incendiary bots. Every fifth wave is a boss wave with much larger, tougher enemy bots.

Infinite Mode is accessible via the following menu paths (please note that only the most hardcore of gun clerics can survive Infinite Mode with only 1-2 players):

  • Solo player: Click Single, then Infinite. Choose your hero and click Continue. Launch the game.
  • 2-4 players: Click Multiplayer, then Infinite. Choose your hero and click Continue. One player will act as the Host and other players can Join the game.

Gameplay Changes

To allow for faster player onboarding and more action-packed gameplay in the cooperative game modes (Campaign and Infinite), ultimate abilities are now activated by ability pickups that spawn in multiple locations around the maps.

  • Yellow circles are spawn points for ultimate ability pickups. When an ability pickup becomes available, it will appear above this space as a floating hexagon shape with the ability icon. Shoot or move over the ability pickup to immediately activate it:
    • Timewarp (all heroes): Upon activation, will globally slow down time for a brief period. Can be activated by any hero.
    • Bulletstorm (Bishop): Bishop’s pistols will glow orange. Press and hold the Triggers to rapidly fire bullets without depleting ammo.
    • Shadow Strike (Saija): Saija’s katanas will glow purple. Every slash you make will send a ranged projectile flying out.
    • Fury (Boss): Boss’s fists will glow red. Press and hold the Triggers to clench your fists, then punch forward with both hands to charge at an enemy.
    • Explosive Arrows (Elder): Elder’s arrow will glow yellow. All arrows fired during this period will explode on impact.

PvP Teleport Locomotion & LAN Connectivity

Due to demand, we have made two big changes to Raw Data Arcade PvP. First, we’ve disabled the old joystick locomotion and replaced it with the same short-distance teleport locomotion as the cooperative game modes. To move around the map, the player presses and holds the trackpad button on the right controller and targets where he wants to go (indicated by the purple line extending from the hero’s hand); release the trackpad to teleport.

Second, we’ve implemented LAN connectivity for the 5v5 PvP game mode to make it easier for large parties to get in and play together. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. A dedicated server is required for Raw Data Arcade’s 5v5 PVP LAN Mode, and this server can only support one instance at a time. (NOTE: 1-2 player Campaign, 1-4 player Infinite, and 1v1 Duel do not require a dedicated server.)
  2. Download the Server Client from this Dropbox link on the machine you wish to use as a dedicated server. (NOTE: The server should always be run on a separate machine than the Raw Data Arcade clients, i.e., if you have 10 computers running Raw Data Arcade PVP, this server client should be run on an 11th computer).
  3. Extract the package to desired location on the server machine (e.g. C:\Survios).
  4. Open the directory where you extracted the server and go to …\RawData-ArcadeServer\######\Tournament_PVP_Garden.bat
  5. Run Tournament_PVP_Garden.bat. This will launch a PvP Server instance on the Garden Map, the first map in the PvP rotation; the game will automatically cycle through each map after this.
  6. Once the server is running, a window will display a running log. Please allow the server 1-2 minutes to get going before attempting to join! The log should look like this:

7. Right-click on Raw Data Arcade in your Steam Library and select Properties from the dropdown menu.

8. Under the GENERAL tab click on “Set Launch Options…”

9. Add “-tournament” into the text field. Click OK when complete.

Official Update Notes for Raw Data Arcade Reloaded Update (v1.7, updated February 18, 2019)

New and Adjusted Functionality

  • New Game Mode – Infinite: 4-player co-op mode that will challenge even the most experienced veterans. Defend the data core from increasingly difficult waves of enemies in the largest Raw Data Arcade map.
    • Dynamic enemies ensure no two sessions are the same. Players shoot and slash their way through an endless onslaught of randomized attackers.
    • Between-phase leaderboards challege players to rack up the highest kill count each round for bragging rights.
    • Players can also swap freely between heroes after every round.
    • Players will need to work together to clear challenging Boss waves that increase in difficulty each time they occur.
  • New Functionality – Ability Pickups: Activating each hero’s special attacks is even easier now. Scattered throughout every map, Ability Pickups are a simplified method for players to access their most powerful attacks on the move. Simply shoot or teleport to any pickup to activate it.
    • All heroes now have access to Timewarp.
    • Each hero also has access to a single ability type.
      • Bishop: Bulletstorm
      • Saija: Shadow Slash
      • Boss: Fury
      • Elder: Explosive Arrows
    • Some previously-available hero abilities with more complex mechanics have been removed in Raw Data Arcade.
  • Streamlined Arcade UI: The front-end UI has been significantly simplified for Raw Data Arcade to support fast onboarding and reduce the time players need to spend configuring their sessions.
  • PvP Tournament/LAN Mode Support: Raw Data Arcade now supports offline LAN mode in 5v5 PvP for arcades with limited internet access.
    • Raw Data Arcade 5v5 PVP LAN requires a dedicated server to be run on your LAN when running in tournament mode. See instructions and download information above.
  • PvP Teleport Locomotion: Teleshift (short-distance teleport) locomotion is now the default locomotion scheme in Raw Data Arcade PvP.
    • Teleshift in PvP requires users to hold the trackpad down to increase the distance of their teleport. Release the trackpad to move.
    • Different heroes have different teleshift energy pools, allowing some heroes to traverse the map much faster than others. All heroes have a Teleshift cooldown.
    • Teleshift Beacons (purple circles) have been added throughout PvP maps.
  • Extractor Interaction Removed: Players no longer need to interact with the extractor in any way.

Other Changes

  • Leaderboards have been removed as part of our UI streamlining.
  • PvP hero damage and health values have been re-balanced.
  • A number of Helper pop-ups and tips have been removed or reduced to cut down on unnecessary distractions during gameplay.
  • Defenses have been disabled in Infinite Mode.
  • The Pagoda PvP map has been removed from server rotation due to issues exposed by Teleshift locomotion. This map may return in a future update.
  • Nightmare difficulty has been removed due to low user engagement. Players should try Infinite mode for a more challenging experience.

Bug Fixes

  • A large number of crash and stability improvements especially focused on issues encountered in multiplayer.