Game Performance Improvements and Feedback

[Cordovan]

We have been working since moving DDO to a new data center to optimize in-game performance, and have additional work to do. We have heard from too many of you about lag and other issues, so we took steps this week to make some improvements. We expect these improvements to have some impact, but not "solve" lag in-game. We will continue to work in the coming days and weeks to make further adjustments.

THE LATEST: We are currently working on a patch, and expect to announce downtime in the coming days. This patch includes a fix to several stacking enhancement issues along with some other optimizations. We'll keep you updated.

Some answers:

1. What's being done to resolve these issues?

We are implementing new network connections and adjusting our main networking backbone. Additionally, we are troubleshooting server-side configuration changes.

2. Why is it taking so long?

As part of our move to the new data center we updated some architecture to modern operating systems and virtualization technologies. In some cases adjusting the old code to run in this new environment has added additional challenge.

3. What is happening in the next few days?

We will be migrating select networking components, and make additional configuration changes to servers. When these efforts require downtime, we'll let you know.

[Stoner81]

Thanks for the heads up Cordovan hopefully there is some effect from the efforts *crosses fingers*

Stoner81.

[Duana]

Do you all still want the "Lag reports" Kookie requested?

[Cordovan]

Do you all still want the "Lag reports" Kookie requested?

If you are continuing to see poor in-game performance, then any information you can provide is helpful.

[Thunder-Monkey]

Thanks Cordovan, this is good news. I hope to be raiding again soon.... swift and bloody vengeance will be mine!

TM

[Lerincho]

Good show old sport.

Because you know it is coming as there have already been numerous threads asking:

Will player base be compensated? I.E. extended subscription date, TPs or anything?

Personally, do not care if there is "compensation", but there have been some demanding.

[Lerincho]

.... swift and bloody vengeance will be mine!

TM

For a second there thought you might have been Coyle, then I remember he is unconscious on the floor.

[Duana]

Thunder-Monkey

How have I not seen this before? This forum name should be a red-named in Ataraxia's Haven.

[Lerincho]

How have I not seen this before? This forum name should be a red-named in Ataraxia's Haven.

Or when they redo Restless Isles for epic?

[Ghwyn]

Thanks for the reply. Making new systems work with old design can be challenging. I only wish that this was mentioned earlier on. Hope all goes well.

[LevelJ]

Good show old sport.

Because you know it is coming as there have already been numerous threads asking:

Will player base be compensated? I.E. extended subscription date, TPs or anything?

Personally, do not care if there is "compensation", but there have been some demanding.

Honestly, it has gone on so long that I'd just be glad to see it working smoothly again. The only thing I would ask is for an extension on the 10th anniversary dungeon and associated turn-ins (including the djinn). If they could bump that by an extra 2-3 weeks, that would be awesome.


-Jayron

[guzzlr]

Good show old sport.

Because you know it is coming as there have already been numerous threads asking:

Will player base be compensated? I.E. extended subscription date, TPs or anything?

Personally, do not care if there is "compensation", but there have been some demanding.

Not worried so much about compensation, but I would very much appreciate an extension of the anniversary events. I Would like to see it end on a positive note, rather than with all the vitriol being spewed at the moment.

I felt that the data center move was not timed well. Release the update, let people play, let vacations happen, then move. *shrug* Hindsight is 20/20 (I think we need a new set of magic goggles called Hindsight - True Seeing, Search +20, and grants an auto reroll of any failed save, cannot occur more than once each minute).

[mikarddo]

Better late than never, thank you for the update. Do keep us posted please.

[Lerincho]

Honestly, it has gone on so long that I'd just be glad to see it working smoothly again. The only thing I would ask is for an extension on the 10th anniversary dungeon and associated turn-ins (including the djinn). If they could bump that by an extra 2-3 weeks, that would be awesome.


-Jayron

Not worried so much about compensation, but I would very much appreciate an extension of the anniversary events. I Would like to see it end on a positive note, rather than with all the vitriol being spewed at the moment..

Agreed, but between the 3 of us, we also know based of other threads and "demands" those seeking compensation are just around the corner. Happy adventuring gents.

[goldengibblet]

We have been working since moving DDO to a new data center to optimize in-game performance, and have additional work to do.

I'm a little confused. The move was never billed as being done to optimize in-game performance previously, I applaud that being done now but stating the motive for making the move had been assiduously avoided up until now, and it seems a bit disingenuous to bring it out after the fact and in light of all the trouble LOTR had with their move.

Also I am rather gobsmacked that we are having these problems, this is a old and comparatively simple engine compared to the current market yet I can think of and play a dozen other more complex and graphically intense games that how none of these lag problems, none. This combined with the comments by devs that we should play raids with less than a full 12 man crew make me deeply dissatisfied with the job Turbine is doing for my subscription, and deeply distru$tful of the ever changing 'reasons' and causes sited for what could easily be construed ongoing CYA for all the lag and bugs of the last year.

Please get your house in order.

[Lerincho]

Also I am rather gobsmacked that we are having these problems, this is a old and comparatively simple engine compared to the current market yet I can think of and play a dozen other more complex and graphically intense games that how none of these lag problems, none. This combined with the comments by devs that we should play raids with less than a full 12 man crew make me deeply dissatisfied with the job Turbine is doing for my subscription, and deeply distru$tful of the ever changing 'reasons' and causes sited for what could easily be construed ongoing CYA for all the lag and bugs of the last year.

Please get your house in order.

This is how every business in America runs. Cordovan did not have to post this information. Why move data centers if not to optimize performance?

Re-evaluate your expectation and behavior might be in order as well.

[Elsbet]

We have been working since moving DDO to a new data center to optimize in-game performance, and have additional work to do. We have heard from too many of you about lag and other issues, so we took steps this week to make some improvements. We expect these improvements to have some impact, but not "solve" lag in-game. We will continue to work in the coming days and weeks to make further adjustments.

<snip>

We will be migrating select networking components, and make additional configuration changes to servers. When these efforts require downtime, we'll let you know.

OMG! Thank you so much! This is what we've been wanting all along! Okay, maybe it is just me, but some up-front communication is fantastic!

Thank you thank you thank you!

[Thrudh]

Also I am rather gobsmacked that we are having these problems, this is a old and comparatively simple engine compared to the current market yet I can think of and play a dozen other more complex and graphically intense games that how none of these lag problems, none.

Graphics are rendered on your PC. No "graphics" information is being sent across the web. This game works with real-time collision detection, when many other MMOs do not.

Not defending Turbine. They broke some stuff with their move. They need to fix it. But this game isn't "simple", and an older graphic engine doesn't mean the network code must be easier.

[FifthTime]

Thanks for the feedback.

I would also agree with the other posters that it would be good to extend the anniversary event.

It's just a shame that the potential to bump the population in conjunction with the anniversary was missed because of the lag. I wish we could have a mulligan on that one.

[dontmater]

thanks for telling us stuff, it helps to know stuff is being done.