Worlds Unavailable: Thursday, September 22nd

[liosliante]

Another mistake, not again!!!

[Edwardt]

What we want, what's possible, what we get and how we deal with it could be much more constructive. That needs just a little bit more conversation from both ends and less complaining when things go a way we didn't expect, or want.

On changes like the bank system I would have liked an evaluation of needs and the priority of each single point from as many players as possible before diving into that project.

Just asking for more space leads to unexpected results. Some are happy, some not so much. It's just shifting the content to a different group.
Imagine the would be a way to make both groups happy, at least the majority of them.
That would need conversation. A moderated conversation between the customers and the developers over a given time period.

[Mordrid123]

This time, to forgive you, i demand a couple of Otto's boxes per character

[Heikenmoore]

Just roll the server back to yesterday. we are not beta testers. i lost a few items after Tr today.

Seems that simplest thing to do at this point is to roll back the game to just before the update. That gives you plenty of time to fix what is broke but get people back into the game right away. Just a thought. God bless!

[KoobTheProud]

Seems that simplest thing to do at this point is to roll back the game to just before the update. That gives you plenty of time to fix what is broke but get people back into the game right away. Just a thought. God bless!

Rollbacks are never simple unless they're simple.

Wayfinder lost nearly 3 weeks one rollback when the first backup was corrupt.

The last thing SSG wants is a repeat of that process and rolling back 8 or 9 servers ups the odds dramatically.

[Stimulus]

Remember everyone, this game is a toy. Only kindness will allow us to stay playing together. So, be kind to the management, yourself, each other, all equally so. And to be honest, "Thank you Lord for our game."

And eat your Brussel sprouts.

[mistress_minx]

As someone who actually does coding, let me explain the error in your logic:

1. plan update.
2. analyze plan and attempt to fix any logic problems with the throughline.
3. write code
4. run check for errors in code, and correct.
5. repeat steps 3 and 4 until all apparent errors are fixed.
6. apply update on test server (which is often lower traffic than a normal server)
7. correct any visible bugs, and retest.
8. repeat steps 3 and 4 until all apparent errors are fixed.
9. maintain update on test server for an extended duration to confirm stability.
10. publish update on live server.
11. detect errors in coding on live servers brought about by
a) older coding hiding in the live version
b) conflicts between the dozens of databases and programs running every aspect of the game
c) exploits, either older ones, existing ones not yet patched, or new ones discovered by players.
d) unforeseen interference from Chthuloid demons we have failed to make the appropriate sacrifices to.
12: attempt a coding patch to correct the issue, keeping in mind the dozens of databases and programs running every aspect of the game that can be affected by said patch

because MMO gaming coding is a form of digital ecosystem, and upsetting the current ecosystem, even when it's beneficial, still causes an imbalance and needs work to stabilize it.

Thank you for a crash course in Programming 101.

Now push the little round button on your computer with the symbol that looks like a circle with a letter l on top.

Thank you for being one of those chosen magicians who makes my phone and computer and gaming system do what I tell them to do for me, without me having to take the time to explain them what I want, and how they can achieve it for me, lol. I dont even remember HOW we got to the DOS screen of our Commodore-64, which is where I slowly typed letter by letter, agonizing hour by hour, exactly what the manuals / books said to type so I could hopefully play a game 2 days after starting, lol

[Margona]

Rollbacks are never simple unless they're simple.

Wayfinder lost nearly 3 weeks one rollback when the first backup was corrupt.

The last thing SSG wants is a repeat of that process and rolling back 8 or 9 servers ups the odds dramatically.

If you have to rollback 3 weeks because 1 backup is corrupt, then your backup plan and backup policy are corrupt and faulty.

[mjbowker99]

I don't recall having experienced this bug - but then I'm obsessive about trying to see how high I can jump onto a ladder vs. starting the climb at the bottom...

Err, that doesn't prevent you from hitting the ladder bug. It will still rubberband you.

[liosliante]

Is this going to be all day??

[rainey1999]

Is this going to be all day??

Probably and tomorrow too.

[KoobTheProud]

If you have to rollback 3 weeks because 1 backup is corrupt, then your backup plan and backup policy are corrupt and faulty.

That doesn't change the fact that once burned makes twice shy.

[Volarr]

You may as well rollback all of U56. This entire update has been one cascading series of dumpster fires and character regression since it began.

Ranged, healers, Sonic, the entire Archetype plan, more bank errors than we can count... It's impossible to get THAT off-base by sheer accident.

You forgot all the crystal cove errors, but these problems all stem from the bank system change........

[Volarr]

But reincarnation is a one-off process. Disabling it simply means the gamer can;t use their reincarnation token until all issues are fixed

Reincarnation is just part of the bank system they would have to disable the whole bank system to stop the problems and then how long could you play with out your bank

[Volarr]

DDO is not perfect. The devs are keeping it together with band-aids and bailing wire. After 15 years, the platform is showing its vulnerabilities. Many of the complaints are familiar to someone who has been playing off and on for 13 years. Your complaints are totally valid. But I think most people on this forum, even those complaining the loudest, will agree:
DDO is the Best. Game. Ever. I have not been able to find anything even close that offers the richness, depth, customization, storytelling, and ability to chart your own path.

-Some games have better graphics, but not much story
-Some games have great stories, but you have to follow a single pre-defined path
-Some games have great gameplay, but not much customization

I for one am willing to spend money on DDO to keep it going. I honestly don’t know what other game will have the great story, flexible path, almost infinite customization, and a great, engaged community. So we should definitely keep the DDO stewards accountable, but also support them if we love the game. When they turn off the DDO servers permanently, and that day will come, I will be sad, but maybe the lawn will get mowed. Until then, THANK YOU to the devs for keeping me entertained the 98% of the time the servers are up.

you got this head on I am 63 I waited my whole life for this game I will play it till i die or it totally crumbles away into nothingness

[metalclanger]

Hey guys, out of curiosity: Is this game notoriously known for this insanely downtime?

I just started playing this past week and ended up buying a 3 month subscription and now the game has been down for 24 hours?!

If it was this last update breaking stuff, why didn't they just revert back to the patch before this one until they actually figured out what the problem was?

I surely hope they give me another day (or more if they're down longer) on my subscription. I would not have bought one if I'd known this game was down like this.

Yes, updates usually break stuff and require patching. With hotfixes for the patches and subsequent updates to sort the hot fixes. This most recent update is the biggest mess since the update which lost the players on one server over a month's progression. I used to say "the game is temporarily available while updates are planned" but the sad fact is the updates do not appear to have any quality or release planning.
I'm sure someone will pipe up and say I don't know what I'm talking about; a large part of my job involves system, functional and user testing, things which should have picked up all of the issues update 666 has brought in.

Once the game's bandaged up and playable (not going to say fixed, not that optimistic), you should have fun, especially if you tell people you're a new player, groups often slow down and help you learn if you tell them at the start. Or they'll tell you to "feck off noob", in which case you've avoided hours in the company of cockwombles.

[Buddha5440]

This is going to be unpopular, but I can't help it....

The players who are flaming SSG for the travesty that has become of updating this game is DESERVED! Seriously, when is the last time we remember an update going off without a hitch (hotfix, extended downtime)? Well, don't rack your brains too much because it's been quite a while.

This game uses old engines, old coding, and bad planning.....

I agree with the first paragraph, but you stated the main reason for that in the second. OLD CODING. Imagine trying to rework coding done by someone twice removed from you, who changed the original coding (without being able to consult the original coder(s)) and then having to work on that twice singularized code. Coding is not a UNIVERSAL language (that's kinda how hackers get caught...they all have signatures (ie. they have their own unique coding language that other coders may or may not understand). It's like asking a stenographer to read what another stenographer wrote/typed; It's all gibberish to the person who didn't write/type it. Coding is the same, working on old code, that you had nothing to do with, is like trying to learn a new language in a week.

...Players want continuity and reliability over "new gadgets". Fix the lag before making a new class. Make existing systems WORK instead of being a hassle (TR cache, crafting). I know it's unpopular to critisize these days, but SSG needs to know that players like myself who have been here since the beginning, are what is keeping this game alive. LISTEN to us and let's make this game that we all love and pay for a worthwhile and rewarding place to play again. ...

"Players", yes. "Forumites", NO. Forumites want to complain that their exploit got the nerf hammer or that they NEED this 'new gadget' rather than admit that some thing are OP'd. Unfortunately, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. That is what is causing these issues.

...
Oh, and as always....THANKS DDO.....

This part I agree with; but I sense some sarcasm in that.

Also, I can't believe this downtime caused 18 (so far) pages of mostly RANTS. It's just a FREAKIN GAME. Have fun!!!

[Volarr]

This has no explanation for why this update was released and all feedback ignored completely. There is zero excuse for the premature, buggy release of u56, other than to meet a deadline.

this patch was because of all the feedback they received. Your having growing pains yes, but when you are playing at lvl 40 your gonna love it

[Frostthorn]

Remember everyone, this game is a toy. Only kindness will allow us to stay playing together. So, be kind to the management, yourself, each other, all equally so. And to be honest, "Thank you Lord for our game."

Amen!

[bellakins]

While the worlds are being fixed, some of ya'll need to touch some grass, or get fresh air put yourself in SSG shoes, they are fixing this problem so ya'll don't end up losing stuff that you will just complain about losing anyway...cut them a bit of slack? If they did not fix this TR cache bug how many would complain about that? Let's be honest now. We can survive without 1 or 2 days of DDO, and if you can't what's the real issue here



(no hate just being honest)