PlaneShift

Support => Complaint Department => Topic started by: Rabalder on July 10, 2007, 12:44:39 pm

Title: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Rabalder on July 10, 2007, 12:44:39 pm
As long as you don't have paying customers, you're not required to give support.  ...yes but it doesn't hurt to do so, does it?

At http://www.planeshift.it/ there's no information about what's going on!
At http://laanx.fragnetics.com/ there's no information about what's going on!
At http://www.hydlaa.com/smf/ (current page) we have to dig and read between the lines to get an idea of what's going on.
At http://www.hydlaa.com/ (which i found, by removing "smf/" from the URL of this forum) there's no information about what's going on LATELY!

This is totally unprofessional! ..is this unprofessional behavior a part of Planet Shift's branding or a part of the the medieval theme?
..sorry for being so rude, but I seriously believe that one little chunk of information like:
Server's down for maintenance. We hope to be back on-line in 24 hours. yyyy.MM.DD

...at  http://www.planeshift.it would answer almost all of our questions.

I believe that all the pages mentioned above, should or could have this information as the first information in the page, or atleast a very visual shortcut to the web page that shows the server status, called; "server status".


My questions:
- Is this a server update, client update or both?
If this is a server and client update-attempt, and nobody knows for sure if it's going to be this or that result. I believe you should tell us so. I don't believe you can lose more or less of our trust in the team by leaving us alone in the dark.

- How long do we have to wait?
At the in-game warning/s about 45 sec, before permanent darkness we got told that it could take a day. ..is this just a maybe, hopefully but we don't know thing?

- Where do we find information about changes, updates, new patch or client?


Sorry for the negative angle to this post, but at least 20 posts in this forum so far is about what's going on, and I believe that's totally unnecessary.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Jekkar on July 10, 2007, 12:47:56 pm
"Welcome to Planeshift, take a seat in the waiting room."

*soft dentist music plays in the background*

"Please, have something to read."
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 01:05:21 pm
i found the following, posted by Quantus, in the german forums, 09.07.2007:

Quote
(12:32:11) >Server Admin: SERVER WILL REMAIN DOWN FOR ALL TODAY
(12:32:22) >Server Admin: WE NEED AT LEAST 1 DAY FOR THE UPGRADE
(12:32:33) >Server Admin: PLEASE DISCONNECT TO SAVE YOUR POSITION
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Rabalder on July 10, 2007, 01:33:06 pm
i found the following, posted by Quantus, in the german forums, 09.07.2007:

Quote
(12:32:11) >Server Admin: SERVER WILL REMAIN DOWN FOR ALL TODAY
(12:32:22) >Server Admin: WE NEED AT LEAST 1 DAY FOR THE UPGRADE
(12:32:33) >Server Admin: PLEASE DISCONNECT TO SAVE YOUR POSITION
Yes this is the "in-game warning/s" i mentioned in the first post. You allso find it in this forum, if you read all post's from the the last 24 hours.

Unfortunately I was "standing on" an Ulbernaut when the shutdown warnings came, so I decided to get out of the Ulbernut's reach first and then shut down, to avoid starting my next game session by being attacked by an Ulbernaut.
As i tried to climb up the hill behind the "Ulby" a 4th message came up it was something like, "you have 20 sec to shutdown", and about 10 sec later I got the "connection lost" thing. :P
Pretty un-cool as I seriously wanted to "disconnect to save my position" before shudown.  X-/
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 01:40:38 pm
I dont expect that a reason to worry - worst thing to happen may be that you stand some meters off your last position. Some awareness upon your next login wont be such a bad idea though.. be prepared to run=P
Server usually saves positions in certain intervals (-> /unstick-like).

Anyone feel free to correct me if I should be wrong.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Krann Omins on July 10, 2007, 01:51:04 pm
Re original topic;
the guy makes a fair point... at the least one would hope to see something posted in rules & notifications... but such is the way with server updates... makes me think i should wishlist that the client have some setting at sign on window so when server goes down specificaly for updates something explains, for new players, that it may be a few days & specifically where in forums they could look to see if new version is available.. I know way back when i kept losing new friends as they were just a few days in when an update happened, and they wouldn't return.. can never know for sure but i would guess they just didn't understand & gave up... i suppose it's good for weeding out the let's say less determined or less web-savvy players.. but it seems like something unintentional & easily remedied... hope you guys don't go too crazy waitin for the new ver
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: oningo on July 10, 2007, 02:21:24 pm
Hmm Well.... i totally agree with what the first post says. I fell especially sorry for those who are downloading the client 0.18 as we read these thread and wait for new version. The onus of informing new players who are downloading the game is on the game team. And as far as i can see this hasnt been bothered by them at all. Busy they maybe...however a simple updating of the websites on the state of the game, like server /client update , doesnot take long. especailly for the admin of the websites. If a simple thing as that is a major coordination problem for the team, i can well imagine how the rest gets done. This is common sense i think. If it cant bedone byt he person who has admin privilages to update the website, then get another to join who has the foresight of doing it. We old players can search and find out the reason and wait. But new players need to to see that info easily. Lack of an easy display of crucial info would make new players (if they still have a good impression about the game when client 0.18 they just downloaded does work) think that the game is dead or is so mis managed, some (especially future potential devs) would not bother waiting around or be curious to try later.

Hmm... well again i am i think wasting my time on a topic that wouldnt be considered impotant by the teams i guess. lol only response i get is more important things to do and few people to do too many things. If updating the websites to inform new players of the update takes the team 30mins-1hr more to finish updates i would think its well worth the effort. Oh well ... its all old stuff being told again by me in a new post. Realy feel sorry for those new players who have downloaded at this time are checking the client very few mins and wondering whats gone wrong. Lucky are those feww who then bothered to get themselves intot he forum to find out whats wrong.

See ya all in game....and i guess ...never see those who give up at this moment cos they think the game is dead as they cant get in and can find no news easily.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 02:41:50 pm
brrr sorry for having missed the essence of the initial post..

i fully agree, and theres not much to add. the main page (www.planeshift.it) shows up news, and adding a sentence there shouldnt be much of a hassle. its not necessary to give a date for when the update to be finished will be, yet the reason for why the server is down at all may show some, in addition to Krann and Oningo, sort of respect as well.
i can understand people complaining/thinking about devs may not give a hey about what people think..

gosh.. yeah Oningo, its old stuff, but as all the new ones over and over again mention it, its still the same, each update.. - i vote for making a change, for also the with PS still unfamiliar ones have some more insight!
cheers
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: mbr1110 on July 10, 2007, 03:26:51 pm
Alright all you children throwing a temper tantrum, this is the Lady's opinion. There is a place on the main screen that states "Donation" which means that the developers and maintainers of this game are doing Planeshift as a very time-consuming hobby. They generously let us play it without charging a monthly fee......... at this time.

In the real world of us adults that have to work to keep the wheels of commerce going so the opportunists can get a free ride as often as possible at our expense, if you want better service than you better make a donation and show your appreciation for the hours the game developers are putting in for your pleasure.

Lady Ananath
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 04:23:08 pm
if you want better service than you better make a donation and show your appreciation for the hours the game developers are putting in for your pleasure.
Thats not the point. The point is, that the developers did  not informe the users. Without us there is no Planeshift and we have the right to be informed. The developer can put 2 banner on the side and earn enough money...
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 04:53:27 pm
we have the right to be informed.

Haha, that's funny...
And who told you this? They (Devs) do not have to tell us anything if they don't want to.  They let us "test" this game for nothing.  They have all the rights... not us.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Anonymous Coward on July 10, 2007, 04:54:37 pm
Thats not the point. The point is, that the developers did  not informe the users. Without us there is no Planeshift and we have the right to be informed. The developer can put 2 banner on the side and earn enough money...

That's where you are mistaken. You are not a user. You are a tester. And the devs are far, far too busy to post a message in Server Status saying "Updating to 3.019 system. Expect downtime for 1 to 5 days." Testers are not worthy of this courtesy.

--< AC >--
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 05:04:13 pm
i agree, we dont have the rights to demand getting crucial information like that.
i do as well agree in we are testers.. ok, users.. depends on point if view and/or definition.

yet this thread is about that it would be kind, if devs would inform the players, in meanings of necessary testers.
me myself i dont have a problem if they dont, as i am informed well enough about some update to come - as many of you also are.
but what about the guys having heard of a decent rpg, eager to go for it and in the end.. leave again because they only see a shutdown server for two days?

and misses mbr1110, do you think talking to people the way you did is a sign of maturity?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 05:09:32 pm
but what about the guys having heard of a decent rpg, eager to go for it and in the end.. leave again because they only see a shutdown server for two days?

Then I say let them move on... this is sometimes considered a way to "filter out" players who would not like PS in its current state anyway.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Akana on July 10, 2007, 05:17:11 pm
Many topics like this, It could be 1-5 days, Maybe today, Hopefully soon , But we all must be patient
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 05:19:33 pm
you judge people you never have seen roleplaying at all? how can you say, the ones not even have tasted the ingame-flavor are "players who would not like PS in its current state anyway" ?

is this some sort of elite-club here? oO
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Rabalder on July 10, 2007, 05:24:05 pm
Alright all you children throwing a temper tantrum, this is the Lady's opinion. There is a place on the main screen that states "Donation" which means that the developers and maintainers of this game are doing Planeshift as a very time-consuming hobby. They generously let us play it without charging a monthly fee......... at this time.

In the real world of us adults that have to work to keep the wheels of commerce going so the opportunists can get a free ride as often as possible at our expense, if you want better service than you better make a donation and show your appreciation for the hours the game developers are putting in for your pleasure.

Lady Ananath
I agree and disagree.
I believe it's important to stimulate the development of good free products by supporting economically.
But I also believe that supporting them economically when the product is unavailable, is the same thing as telling them that we don't care if they succeed or not.

- I'm going to take the Old Lady's challenge! (She must be Old, because I'm not young and she put me in the category as children).
If the product is up again within reasonable time, I will dig deep into my pocket's and see if I can figure out how this foreign transaction thing is working.
(http://hydlaa.com/smf/Themes/PlaneShift/images/expand.gif) And I'm going to donate from this model:
In my understanding a good product is based on 3 things; 1 - the product, 2 - documentation of how to use and maintain the product, and 3 - support.
For many product's all 3 part's isn't that important, but for a MMORPG I believe that all 3 parts is almost equally important.
1 - I'm satisfied with the main product who is a massive thing, and a splendid idea. 30% of my donation.
2 - I'm satisfied with the documentation of for the product, how to get started, and use it. Good enough, it should not be too god becuse then it totally takes away the reason to interact with other characters. 30% of my donation.
3 - I'm not satisfied with the support and feedback of the product. The fact that they actually don't seem to care about their users at all, and for no god reason just leave them behind "blindfolded" is disgraceful. Minus 30% of my donation.

So I'm going to take the initial amount of money I find suitable for supporting this product and give 6,66 for every 10 ... if they actually get back on-line, within reasonable time.

if you want better service than you better make a donation and show your appreciation for the hours the game developers are putting in for your pleasure.
Thats not the point. The point is, that the developers did  not informe the users. Without us there is no Planeshift and we have the right to be informed. The developer can put 2 banner on the side and earn enough money...
You obviously have great believes in the banner ting.  ...banners don't generate much money, believe me!


we have the right to be informed.

Haha, that's funny...
And who told you this? They (Devs) do not have to tell us anything if they don't want to.  They let us "test" this game for nothing.  They have all the rights... not us.
He's right, we don't have rights. We are the lab-rats. ;)


Thats not the point. The point is, that the developers did  not informe the users. Without us there is no Planeshift and we have the right to be informed. The developer can put 2 banner on the side and earn enough money...

That's where you are mistaken. You are not a user. You are a tester. And the devs are far, far too busy to post a message in Server Status saying "Updating to 3.019 system. Expect downtime for 1 to 5 days." Testers are not worthy of this courtesy.

--< AC >--
Rabalder reads: "That's where you are mistaken. you are not a .. bla, bla, bla...  ..far to busy.." What?! Far to busy??!! Are you kidding me?!
I don't know the server, but I Someone gave me the FTP account and access to http://www.planeshift.it/, it would take me less then 10 minutes to put a little status box up on the webpage. Do they have time to eat, shit and sleep?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 05:27:37 pm
you judge people you never have seen roleplaying at all? how can you say, the ones not even have tasted the ingame-flavor are "players who would not like PS in its current state anyway" ?
This is a general assumption, but if they do not have the time to wait a day or two for an update, then they probably wouldn't be here long anyway.
is this some sort of elite-club here? oO
maybe  ;D
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 05:34:00 pm
Than i dont see, why there is a news side or a topic "server-status". I takes one minute to update the news. It has to do with respect. Letting the "tester" wait has nothing to do with respet. The tester are the people who support the developers. If this would become a comerical game, i would buy it. So the tester will become the user. Its only one minute to update the news... Remember, they are 400000 tester waiting...
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 05:39:25 pm
Than i dont see, why there is a news side or a topic "server-status". I takes one minute to update the news. It has to do with respect. Letting the "tester" wait has nothing to do with respet. The tester are the people who support the developers.
Who said this was about respect? They are probably working hard to get the release out as soon as possible, when they have something more to tell us, they will tell us.

If this would become a comerical game, i would buy it. So the tester will become the user. Its only one minute to update the news... Remember, they are 400000 tester waiting...[/qoute]
This will NEVER become a commercial game, it will always remain free for the public to use.  They tried once to make it commercial back before it became 3d but it didn't get enough support.  There are 400,000 characters, yes.  People, no. At most in-game at a time, you will see is 150-200.  I'd guess around 5-10,000 actually active people.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 05:45:45 pm

Who said this was about respect? They are probably working hard to get the release out as soon as possible, when they have something more to tell us, they will tell us.
[/qoute]
I said it has to do with respect. And yes, i think they have to tell us something more, because the server is offline and nobody knows how long it will take. The main point is: its not kind ot the team letting us without informations. Its only a question of kindness.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 05:47:37 pm
allad, you wouldnt like to have some up-to-date status message on planeshift.it?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 05:51:01 pm
I think they can update the news before they update the game. It will take the same time as updating the news after the server- or client- update. The diffenrence is, that we will know it. After that update we can see it by starting the game and dont need to look in the news.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Rabalder on July 10, 2007, 05:56:52 pm
...
i agree, we dont have the rights to demand getting crucial information like that.
i do as well agree in we are testers.. ok, users.. depends on point if view and/or definition.

yet this thread is about that it would be kind, if devs would inform the players, in meanings of necessary testers.
me myself i dont have a problem if they dont, as i am informed well enough about some update to come - as many of you also are.
but what about the guys having heard of a decent rpg, eager to go for it and in the end.. leave again because they only see a shutdown server for two days?

...
".. yet this thread is about that it would be kind, if devs would inform the players, in meanings of necessary testers.  ..." - That was precisely the main idea behind this thread.


you judge people you never have seen roleplaying at all? how can you say, the ones not even have tasted the ingame-flavor are "players who would not like PS in its current state anyway" ?
This is a general assumption, but if they do not have the time to wait a day or two for an update, then they probably wouldn't be here long anyway.
It's usually no problem for people to wait, as long as they at least know they are waiting!  :@#\


The wepage http://www.planeshift.it/ seems to falsely be presenting a finished product. I didn't understand that I was actually being a Lab-rat until after 3-4 days of playing the game.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 06:08:59 pm
@Velh Krome
Yes, it would be nice, but I can search through the forums just fine and see that Karyuu has admitted at least twice that it is in fact the update and nobody know just how long it will take.

@Rabalder
If you search the forums at all.. you would notice something is going on.There are multiple topics about the update.
"The wepage http://www.planeshift.it/ seems to falsely be presenting a finished product. I didn't understand that I was actually being a Lab-rat until after 3-4 days of playing the game."
I never had this problem, I knew I was going into a game very early in development because I read pretty much everything while I was downloading it. Since I have dial-up, I had plenty of time to look through the forums and all the guides to find that out.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 06:15:53 pm
I just want to know how far the update is. Nothing more. And greetings to you Velh Krome, guild-brother.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Velh Krome on July 10, 2007, 06:25:07 pm
well, how far the update might be atm, no one will/can tell (i would guess because they dont really know themself so far).. i just want to check all the fancy shiny new things asap=D
and.. cheers Sardoan! yet.. guild-brother?=P we unfortunately missed closely though.. *snickers*
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Raleigh on July 10, 2007, 06:26:29 pm
I've seen this "testers first..." blablabla used too many times as a pretext to justify the lack of a better polished information delivery to the community(and strangely this is usually by some community members instead of devs), and believe it or not, this kind of thing(lack of information) actually detracts people from trying a game and supporting it. The fact the game is pre-alpha/alpha/beta/whatever is no excuse for not informing certain important things. The game can be classified as not final , but do we need or have no choice besides mirroring its unfinished nature on its website? Clearness of information is critical for any project, specially for a free volunteer-based one.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 06:41:06 pm
I've seen this "testers first..." blablabla used too many times as a pretext to justify the lack of a better polished information delivery to the community(and strangely this is usually by some community members instead of devs)
You may ask why this is... because they are busy.
If you don't like how the information gets delivered, join the team and help them out.. sitting here complaining about it will do no good.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 06:48:50 pm
Dont speak about time, updating the news before or after the update of the game takes the same time. So they have to invest the time. But why not before updating? Because they have too much to do? After the update they have also much to do...
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Illyria on July 10, 2007, 06:53:22 pm
/me sighs "I really don't see the problem here, if the server is down it's down, when it's up it's up. and when an new update is ready you'll be able to download it when the team thinks it's time"
/me smiles "See, you don't need any support for this matter then just wait and think of what's to come"
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: oningo on July 10, 2007, 06:58:06 pm
Hmm not with standing certain comments on temper tantrums... this tester has tested and found the lack of server/client/game status in the website as a hinderence to attracting new players(testers or potential devs and contributors) and also gives a bad impression of the game to the people who download and cant login. Existing players/testers can wait or not i suppose. But some courtesy should be shown to new players. y not make the download page temporarily say "New Client coming soon. Please check in a few Days. Thank you for your intrest. Please visit the forums _______________ to know more about game play and make new friends to later meet in the game! Hope to see you in game soon!"  

Err ..ok that was a bit too friendly lol...but somoething like that...or in the download page removal of all links to 0.18 client and a msg saying "Game is currently being updated. please check back in 3 days" and maybe a bar that shows the server status... -,- not that mysterious failed , wait or number either. Some thing that newbies can understand like "down,testing,up" .

On the matter of information to current testers....hmmm whatever may be the discussion..the testers are part of the game..so may need a bit more info ..also testers may need to wait. My thoughts on this as a tester varies. But new players need a bit more courtesy. It doesnot potray the game in good light to those that download and try to connect and then delete the game for they think its dead or otherwise. Again for certain people who think this is a 'temper tantrum' ...hmm you are indeed lucky to have met chlidren who talk like the way i have in this post. They must be diplomatic for their age i should say. Congragulations :) . I wish i had met such children who throw such tantrums.

PS: I am saying post info on download section for newbies. in case the msg was lost in my long post :)
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 06:58:48 pm
Than delete the news side. I can see, when the new client is online, dont need to check the news. And for news i can ask in the game, dont need to look in this forum.... So you can remove news from tv, i can see how my country develops...
The team has to use the news, for what they are meant for. The server is down =  write it in the news. Or am I worng???
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 07:05:28 pm
/me sighs "I really don't see the problem here, if the server is down it's down, when it's up it's up. and when an new update is ready you'll be able to download it when the team thinks it's time"
/me smiles "See, you don't need any support for this matter then just wait and think of what's to come"

I agree with this..

So you can remove news from tv, i can see how my country develops...
:offtopic:
I got no problem with this.. I could care less most of the time what they say.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 07:07:36 pm
Not Off Topic. Thats the topic, whats going on with the server. And the team tells us nothing.

Tell me why we need a news side? To write something down when everybody knows it allready?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Raleigh on July 10, 2007, 07:09:02 pm
I've seen this "testers first..." blablabla used too many times as a pretext to justify the lack of a better polished information delivery to the community(and strangely this is usually by some community members instead of devs)
You may ask why this is... because they are busy.
If you don't like how the information gets delivered, join the team and help them out.. sitting here complaining about it will do no good.

       So, now we'll have mechanic shops where you get the tools to fix your car instead of other fixing it for you, if a product you buy is defective "help them out". I know PlaneShift isn't commercial, but this is the kind of mentality that makes a project stagnate and blind a few people to some important facts that should be fixed. And is it so hard to add a simple note to a webpage? It requires a fifteen minutes at most.
       By pointing something that needs to be fixed, someone is already helping. This "fix it yourself and help!" attitude implies lack of maturity to face the flaws, in my opinion.

P.S.: I found a very interesting article regarding to that, but unfortunately it isn't in English. I'll translate some of the main points of it(original in Portuguese). It's about Wikipedia PT version mostly, but some points apply to all...

Original: http://www.contraditorium.com/2006/09/14/a-stalinizacao-da-internet-ou-cardoso-deu-na-wikipedia/ (http://www.contraditorium.com/2006/09/14/a-stalinizacao-da-internet-ou-cardoso-deu-na-wikipedia/)

Title: The "Stalinization" of Internet

Quote
The communitive projects, like Wikipedia and Open-Source ones are slowly drifting from excellent socializing tools to become exclusive clubs, not only closed to criticisms but actively attempting to "destroy" everything and everyone who describes their works in less than ufanist ways.

It's not allowed anymore to say you dislike something, as they  created an strategy of rejecting criticisms that would be comic, if not tragic...

From all who took the work of replying against me, most used the typical pretexts used to justify the bad quality of many projects:

If you think the content is faulty, don't complain, go there and fix
Perfect, now in all FIAT service shops instead of mechanics I'll find clerks with toolboxe and when the user complains, he will be silenced and receive the toolbox. It is not this way things work, to improve something I need knowledge, experience and time. Some people want only information, and not to belong to a big project as well

Didn't like it? Do something better then or stay quiet!
It's a common attitude as well, but not accompanied by the other side, which would be: “Liked it? So stay quiet too”. Thus it basically means “we want to hear only praises”.

This attitude impedes the activity of a critic, judge and anybody who have to give a negative opinion about something.
As the Geek #1, Wil Wheathon said, when the wisdom of the crowd becomes the tyranny of the mob, this reflects badly in everybody.

Sorry for all the off-topicness, but I am getting full of this overprotective behavior.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Duraza on July 10, 2007, 07:13:24 pm
Not Off Topic. Thats the topic, whats going on with the server. And the team tells us nothing.

I'd like to just say one thing. The fact is when the team can they will tell us whats going on with the server. They have to work with the fourms, the game, and the website. Plus they have real lives they have to deal with as well. Its not like the devs are slaves who spend their time 24/7 working on this game. Think of it this way. The fact that the server is down means that they are working to make the game better. Your complaining about why they can't inform you when you can and cannot play when they are trying to make play more intresting.

I admit it can be annoying that you don't know when the server is and isn't working however remember the devs are humans too and when they get the chance to tell us whats going on I'm sure they will.  ;)
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 07:14:52 pm
Aaahhh, i just want to know whats goining on and how long it will take. This is really no problem to tell it the comunity. One minute work, not more. Is this to much for the developers? One minute work? And why you defend this? Its only one minute....
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Xordan on July 10, 2007, 07:19:11 pm
Aaahhh, i just want to know whats goining on and how long it will take. This is really no problem to tell it the comunity. One minute work, not more. Is this to much for the developers? One minute work? And why you defend this? Its only one minute....

Yeah, and when the only person with access to update the website is sitting on a plane somewhere it's a little difficult for us to spend that one minute :P
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 07:19:46 pm
Aaahhh, i just want to know whats goining on and how long it will take. This is really no problem to tell it the comunity. One minute work, not more. Is this to much for the developers? One minute work? And why you defend this? Its only one minute....

Did you ever once think that perhaps the people who have access to editing the website are at their jobs right now or busy IRL?
What is going on: the update to .19
How long? However long it takes to get all the major bugs out of it.  Talad usually won't allow any more details than the infamous "soon (tm)" that you have probably already seen.

Are you happy now?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Akana on July 10, 2007, 07:20:26 pm
Aaahhh, i just want to know whats goining on and how long it will take. This is really no problem to tell it the comunity. One minute work, not more. Is this to much for the developers? One minute work? And why you defend this? Its only one minute....

Yeah, and when the only person with access to update the website is sitting on a plane somewhere it's a little difficult for us to spend that one minute :P

Does this mean when you have finished the 0.19, You wont be able to upload it and give us a link to download it untill the only person with access to the website returns?
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 07:21:03 pm
But now 4 people are working on the game, one of this persons could write a statement.
" We are working on the update, will take mayby 12 hours, more information when we know more"   this were 30 seconds...
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Raleigh on July 10, 2007, 07:21:28 pm
Aaahhh, i just want to know whats goining on and how long it will take. This is really no problem to tell it the comunity. One minute work, not more. Is this to much for the developers? One minute work? And why you defend this? Its only one minute....

Yeah, and when the only person with access to update the website is sitting on a plane somewhere it's a little difficult for us to spend that one minute :P

Then perhaps you or another dev should attempt to convince this person to entrust somebody else with access with the site then or there will always be a large bottleneck.  ;)
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Duraza on July 10, 2007, 07:22:36 pm
The fact is not all the time will they know when they are going to be finished. For example they were going to release the 0.19 before but then canceled the release to fix bug problems. Maybe they can make an assumption of when they will be finished but then if they are wrong you will be very disappointed won't you  :P If they have a date on when they will be finished I'm sure they'll tell us.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 07:25:13 pm
But al little information would be kind
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Duraza on July 10, 2007, 07:27:21 pm
It would but as its been mentioned sometimes there isn't the time and not everyone on the ability to provide the information. Trust in the devs and know when there is valid information they will provide it instead of saying "We will have the new edition tommorow. Wait nevermind give us another month."
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: saschac on July 10, 2007, 07:44:49 pm
Hi,

I just registered today and downloaded the client and wondered why nothing work, so I take a look at the website -> news, no news are bad news.
From my own deved browsergame I know that only about 10% of the users visit a forum on the website, even if something is going wrong.

Normally you just spend a lot of effort in getting people to your site and attract them, making interested ones out of the visitors and finally users/players/testers. If you are not able to attract with your hp/site they are gone or in case of testing and are finally lost. If you are not going to inform the players/testers then they move along. There are enough MMORPGs out there to betatest and/or play.

As a tester I am spending my sparetime in helping the devs improving there games and give feedback... my first advice is "please improve your news politics, especially about server status".

Best Regards,
Sascha

Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 08:27:59 pm
"We are uploading a new version" would be more kind than nothing.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 08:43:52 pm
Again, when the right person who has access to do this gets back from whatever they are doing, they will do this most likely, until then you just have to rely on the forums and wait patiently.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 08:52:30 pm
Again, when the right person who has access to do this gets back from whatever they are doing, they will do this most likely, until then you just have to rely on the forums and wait patiently.
You mean the persons who are updating the server now are now able to update the news? The 4 persons who do this at the moment have not the option to update the news? And they are doing this since yesterday, so please tell not such bull. They have the time to do this... And the right person is every person of the team, who has acccess to this forum...

[ Language warning! --Karyuu ]
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 08:58:26 pm
You don't understand.. they are capable of shutting down the server. But not all of them have the access to the website to add a news post.

Listen to Xordan, please, he knows what he is talking about.
"Yeah, and when the only person with access to update the website is sitting on a plane somewhere it's a little difficult for us to spend that one minute "
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 09:02:07 pm
Xordan can post something here, and the other 4 member of the team which are online now too, why dont they do this???? They are online and not on a plane. Register in this forum is not that difficult... You understand? An offical statement ot the team is enough, even in this forum... A topic "server status" on the offical ps forum and the admins are not able to write something in 24hours, cause they are on a plane...  A forum with 25000 user and only one person has access, bad joke i thing.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: allad on July 10, 2007, 09:19:19 pm
They have, throughout the posts, you just need to look a bit harder.  Sure, they didn't make a new topic and sticky it so everyone can see it, but with how many of this type of topics that have been made, it's hard to keep track of them.  I know I have seen Karyuu post at least twice saying that this is in fact the update and it should take 1-2 days if no problems come up (i.e. major bugs affecting gameplay)

I have seen updates that have taken over a week with almost no reply from the Devs during it(mostly because they didn't know how long it would take).  We all just found other stuff to do for a while, and waited for them to give us more information, knowing that with the update would bring many new things.

So... take a break from the computer, come back in a day or two and check up.  Or watch the forums refreshing the page every 10 seconds hoping that a dev will reply saying THE UPDATE IS READY.. or something similar.  But please, don't push on them to always post something as soon as you want it.  This isn't their job. It's their hobby.  They do it in their free time not on a set schedule.  In the end, there will be a much better game than if we all push them to give us everything right now.

I'm done rambling for now.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Caarrie on July 10, 2007, 09:21:02 pm
you want a statement just wait and the server will be up when it is ready asking us to post what is going on will not make the release come any sooner. There is an order of how things have to be done and we are working our best to do what we need to.  Take some time and walk around or spend time with your family, we need time to work on the server before it is ready.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 09:27:15 pm
Thats not the problem. I am admin of different sides too. When i make an update I say first, that I make an update and that the side will be down for a while. And I dont understand why this dont happens here. Telling that something will happen. This happens before the changes happen. This is logical for me, not the other way. Telling after a change that a change happend, when everybody know it. Thats my only problem, it doesnt mak sense for me...
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Krann Omins on July 10, 2007, 09:33:11 pm
i'm sure there are ways people could take advantage of knowing in advance.. not sure what ways but there must be.. those unknown reasons are valid enough for me to understand why there is no advance warning...

regarding limited accesses for psa's, i'm in no official capacty at all, i find out there's an update by surges of activity & chaos on forums so i'm certainly not going to be the one doing it, but couldn't anyone who wanted to post a Notification thread in the Rules & Notifications area? sure it wouldn't be immeditely stickied but seems like the most obvious place to start..

(just to reclarify in case you (and it seems it was the case for most) didn't get what i was saying in first reply; i mean just to inform people mainly new people who may not be as quick to understand why the server suddenly went down or that it wil come back, or that when it does they will need a new version... about what's going on in a reasonable fashion-- as opposed to having to make their own posts in technical forum sections, it seems like something that would make sense to spell out in a short momosyllabic way..--nothing at all to do with knowing when it will be available/up.. just that it is down as of **/**/** **:**, & that when its up you'll need new ver.)
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Akana on July 10, 2007, 09:54:49 pm
Don't worry, Should be up very soon:

The server is down at the moment due to an update. A new client, version 0.3.019, will be available very soon - you will need this version to connect to the server once it returns.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Spitfire on July 10, 2007, 10:14:56 pm
Hey.

Someone from Russia contacted me via ICQ a few hours ago, asking me what he did wrong. Well, I don't know why he didn't ask in the forums, but he thought he would have some misconfiguration in his client / PC.

Things went wrong for him:
- he didn't know about any update
- he didn't know about the alpha/beta state of the game

I guess it's not the normal acting of an new user to take the time to get into a forum or ask someone via ICQ.

Most of the comments in this thread do not attack anyone. They are just some sort of wish list. And I fully understand nearly all of the statements of users/testers.

Well the only dev who is allowed to update the news on the main-page (guess planeshift.it) is on a plane. How long can someone be on a plane? Does he make a several-times-around-the-world-trip? And what about other suggestions here? One line of text to announce some update, how long it will probably take. (There was one for the last .019 update) Everyone will be happy. And you even took time to get into the game to announce the update ingame. Why not in the forums? I was not online when the announcement happened. I started a thread because I thought the news on the hydlaa.com main page were the actual one.

Sorry, I can't get a clear thought now anymore. (I'm not drunk, just tired)

For me is clear: an update-news would never cause pain and keep things clear. Some status-update would also be kind.
(As Talad was/is still not available someone could take a minute of his time to do some message like: Well we got some troubles, but are working on them. Maybe in 2-3 days the server will be up again.) Making the community/players/testers/everyone happy. (Okay, maybe not those soon(tm) lovers)

I respect the work and time the devs put in this project, and I definitely _don't_ want to make anyone mad. Please don't misunderstand my comment.
Xordan: You gave us the message someone is on plane, so maybe give us some info about how far the update is done?

Kind regards,
Daniel

[edit after Akana's post:]
Okay, but why no official announcement? As suggested in my post above. (I'm very glad about your news, though!)
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Akana on July 10, 2007, 10:18:28 pm
They wont post an official s announcment untill the information is confirmed, They wont give us false information. And Hopefully when he gets off the plane, he will give us an update or soon I hope.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 10:22:48 pm
They wont give us false information.

An information: "we are doing an upload" would be enough. They give us no information!!!!
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Akana on July 10, 2007, 10:24:17 pm
They wont give us false information.

An information: "we are doing an upload" would be enough. They give us no information!!!!

But we already KNOW they are doing an upload, thats my point!  :P
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Socius Rockus on July 10, 2007, 10:30:09 pm
/me rolls his eyes "Why do we go over this again and again with every update, or even with an server crash of long duration?"
I mean, if you're so impatienced that you give up on PS just for a server that is down without a reason, that would be your prob, right?
But what difference does it make if you know that it's because of an update or just a random server failure? I mean either way you can't play  ;)
Sometimes information doesn't equal power or anything else for that matter.
Now that we know it's an update let's all sit down in the Zen holding and hope the update will be prosperous  :flowers:
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Xordan on July 10, 2007, 10:36:45 pm
Xordan: You gave us the message someone is on plane, so maybe give us some info about how far the update is done?

We're waiting for Talad to get back and doing some more testing until then. There is no 'how far' right now.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Sardoan on July 10, 2007, 10:38:57 pm
/me rolls his eyes "Why do we go over this again and again with every update, or even with an server crash of long duration?"

Because we get no information. Thats the point. Not kind... We only see, tjat an update is going on when we can not connect. THERE IS A BETTER WAY!!
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: steuben on July 10, 2007, 10:46:40 pm
good. now that you have made your point let it drop. and that goes for the rest of you too.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Spitfire on July 10, 2007, 10:48:02 pm
Well what about these people: http://laanx.fragnetics.com/index.php?page=stats

There are account registrations, 30/hour. That makes to me 1020 potential developers/testers/whatever within 34 hours (are it 34h downtime?) that failed to get into the game due to lack of information.

It's okay for all people reading this thread, indeed. But don't forget these 1000+ people (until now) that surely didn't have a look into the forums.

[EDIT]
We're waiting for Talad to get back and doing some more testing until then. There is no 'how far' right now.
Thank you, this is a word!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Avlee on July 10, 2007, 11:42:49 pm
Well what about these people: http://laanx.fragnetics.com/index.php?page=stats

There are account registrations, 30/hour. That makes to me 1020 potential developers/testers/whatever within 34 hours (are it 34h downtime?) that failed to get into the game due to lack of information.

It's okay for all people reading this thread, indeed. But don't forget these 1000+ people (until now) that surely didn't have a look into the forums.


That is very true. As a new user, I would appreciate a note on the home page that the game cannot currently be accessed due to x reasons instead of breaking my head of what's wrong with my connection / firewall / router etc. Just a note would suffice, why make it a guess game?
 
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: neko kyouran on July 11, 2007, 12:06:23 am
the server is down for an update.

it will be down until it is up.

when it is up, an announcement will be made.

until then, go read a book.

locking or deleting all other threads about this subject.
Title: Re: Be seriously serious about server status!
Post by: Xordan on July 11, 2007, 12:18:15 am
Announcement has been made on the website.