I just don't understand it, you can minimize it's use or completely disable it altogether (protip: look at the settings) Why are people complaining about something that is completely optional? It's not like Incarna where the option to not use the CQ took away from the game, the game still seems 100% functional with or without the new launcher so what gives?

Let's see the pros of the launcher

1. You can download and install updates without having to start up the memory hogging client multiple times.
2. There are readily available links to various webpages
3. You can get a quick glimpse of the server status
4. You can view latest updates and events
5. Easily change your language (important for our friends abroad)

Now lets look at the cons

1. You have to take one extra click in order to start up the game (should you enable it)
2. The settings menu for the launcher is a little out of sight.
3. Default settings are funky

That's about all I can think of and all of them can be easily corrected or are a non issue once you get used to it. Are people just complaining for the sake of complaining or are there any legitimate reasons as to why people hate this thing? I had no trouble installing it and running it and I'm using Windows Vista for crying out loud!

So what's really going on here?

1. They didn't make a popup window telling us about the settings screen where the launcher can be disabled except for patches. -- this caused a lot of grief.
2. Many people lost their saved settings -- this is associated with the launcher now.
3. We still have client updates -- separate from the launcher... meh.
4. no love for multiple client folks.
5. This update took a long time. Not sure if the patch was this big or what, but the long download time is going to be associated with the launcher.

what could they have done differently?

1. realized settings were going to be lost and make sure that didn't happen.
2. rolled out the launcher by itself -- short patch -- fast update associated with new launcher.
3. let launcher to client updates too!
4. let launcher update multiple client installations at the same time.
5. Point out the cool feature in the client settings -- so that people who dislike the current default will realize it can be changed.


launcher isn't the problem.

It's the execution and delivery that are -- once again -- the problem.

o7