Attack Retrieve Capture

Hoopy Entertainment
Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	1995
Headquarters	Sacramento, California, United States
Products	Attack Retrieve Capture (ARC)

Attack Retrieve Capture (ARC) was a complimentary multiplayer 2D computer game developed as a college project by John Vechey and Brian Fiete, who later co-founded PopCap Games. It was released in 1995 by Hoopy Entertainment. The gameplay centered around capture the flag (CTF) mechanics, supplemented with various other modes. Participants maneuvered small vessels equipped with lasers, missiles, bouncy lasers, and grenades.

Gameplay

The game supports up to four teams—green, red, blue, and yellow—each controlling ships matching their team color across maps featuring impassable barriers. Each ship is armed with a laser weapon that has limited energy which replenishes gradually, along with a unique special weapon.

In the Capture the Flag mode, victory is achieved by seizing enemy flags and bringing them back to one’s own flagpost. Teams may carry multiple flags simultaneously; neutral white flags also appear on the map. Players transporting flags experience reduced speed and are unable to use teleporters or move against conveyor belts. Flags dropped by teams can be reclaimed by any player after a short delay; if left unattended or touched by the owning team, these flags automatically return to their base. Neutral flags do not self-return.

The Switch or Button Mode requires teams to control all switches scattered on the map to secure a win.

Deathmatch Mode removes team-based objectives entirely, focusing on individual players competing for the highest elimination count.

History

ARC's initial hosting occurred on a server leased by Hoopy at Ulink.net located in Sacramento, California. Multiplayer access was facilitated through HFront (Hoopy Front End). The creators John Vechey and Brian Fiete later introduced ARC to Total Entertainment Network (TEN) for its version 1.0 launch in 1998. Following TEN’s shutdown in 1999, World Opponent Network (WON) took over ARC, conducting beta trials while attempting to generate revenue via in-game advertising. This monetization strategy was unsuccessful, leading to WON’s closure in 2001.

Subsequently, Sierra Entertainment acquired WON and its assets including ARC, continuing operations with minor security patches. In 2002, development responsibilities were assumed by community member Err0r until 2005 when leadership passed to Goose and Sonique. Sierra eventually discontinued ARC’s service.

In recent years, dedicated fan communities have restored ARC by reconstructing its engine and releasing refreshed versions under titles such as "Spark" and "Armor Critical."

Termination

On July 16, 2007, Sierra Entertainment declared that multiplayer support for several Sierra Heritage games—including ARC—would cease as of August 16, 2007.

Reception

Christ Centered Gamer assigned ARC an overall rating of B.

External links