Temporary Suspension of the Services: Follow-up (3/18/2011)

[Snprphnx]

it would be nice if they added in off site servers. that way when they have to do a version update, they can preload the data and have it all setup on one set of servers, so all we'd need to do is logout, and log back in and update, with no downtime. then they can update the original servers while we play on the backups

[Hyan]

I think it just depends on whether they feel the current situation demands a backup plan or if they think they won't lose that much money from the server downtime. It can be that they're just going to wait till TEPCO gets their shit together.

Maybe they are planning to make a deal with them to provide electricity for S-E 24/7 or something.

[NynJa]

Well, they cant be losing that much money over this downtime since they've been letting people play XIV free for 6 months now?

[Byrthnoth]

Apart from potential lost subscribers, they lose nothing directly by keeping FFXI down until April 13th.

I agree it would be smart of them to do the server merge and apply the update while the servers are still down, so they only have to bring 16 servers back up instead of 24.

Also, I have to imagine that a company the size of SE has some contacts that can get them an industrial allowance for 24/7 electricity or something. I imagine they'll probably prioritize Hospitals -> Industry -> Normal consumers. Even video games will get preference over the average JP fridge.

[Ocara]

it would be nice if they added in off site servers. that way when they have to do a version update, they can preload the data and have it all setup on one set of servers, so all we'd need to do is logout, and log back in and update, with no downtime. then they can update the original servers while we play on the backups

As nice as it would be, it wouldn't make any kind of economic sense to do. They'd have to pay for extra servers and support and the power to them, and the only way they'd ever be possibly making money is in the event of a catastrophe like what happened in Japan, which is so rare as not to necessitate any kind of contingency for. (The chance of it happening is too low to spend money worrying about, they'd lose more in redundant upkeep costs than would gain in the short downtime during crisis, etc.) They don't care about how users are inconvinienced to play during update downtime, they're still getting your 14+ a month either way.

[Hyan]

Well, they cant be losing that much money over this downtime since they've been letting people play XIV free for 6 months now?

I'm sure if there was a way to avoid that they would have done it... they are out of options, unlike here.

Either way, we'll see come next week!

[ronin sparthos]

Apart from potential lost subscribers, they lose nothing directly by keeping FFXI down until April 13th.

I agree it would be smart of them to do the server merge and apply the update while the servers are still down, so they only have to bring 16 servers back up instead of 24.

Also, I have to imagine that a company the size of SE has some contacts that can get them an industrial allowance for 24/7 electricity or something. I imagine they'll probably prioritize Hospitals -> Industry -> Normal consumers. Even video games will get preference over the average JP fridge.

The lost subs would be my biggest concern @SE.

Cutting people off XI (an aged game made up of largely old-school hangons) for a month might do some damage to the playerbase. MMOs run off addictions and the longer you deprive people, the more likely they are to realize they can do without the game altogether. The damage to XIV will be even worse id imagine.

I agree they should probably just merge servers while the game is down for the long-term but is SE actually open for business atm? As in, are people reporting to work but it just so happens the servers are down?

They should probably just keep the servers down till the patch but yeah >.> That seems to be pushed back to mid-May.

[NynJa]

I agree it would be smart of them to do the server merge and apply the update while the servers are still down, so they only have to bring 16 servers back up instead of 24.

And off the top of my head I can think of, well lets see, 8 servers getting dropped, avg 2.5k POLID's per server, presuming a couple extra mules per POLID...I'd say about 10k complaints about shit that was lost because they had stuff on AH and in delivery box because merges were done without warning.

SMRT

[Jememy]

I didn't even get a chance to steal anyones name.

[Byrthnoth]

And off the top of my head I can think of, well lets see, 8 servers getting dropped, avg 2.5k POLID's per server, presuming a couple extra mules per POLID...I'd say about 10k complaints about shit that was lost because they had stuff on AH and in delivery box because merges were done without warning.

SMRT

I know SE has proven themselves incompetent many times, but I have to assume they could figure out how to merge the D-box databases between two servers given 9 days. That they don't do it normally shows their laziness more than "omg its unpossible"

[Jex]

This shit is getting fucking stupid...

[Dimmauk]

This shit is getting fucking stupid...

Better get a real job son. LOL

It might be even longer than the 22nd.

[LinktheDeme]

I wonder if they are going to charge us for this month if it extends past one week. if so that'd be pretty bull wi, but it wouldn't surprise me giving their history of double billing and banning accounts that tried to dispute them. Oh and before people say THINK OF THE JAPANESE PEOPLE YOU GREEDY FUCK, I've donated to the cause, but I refuse to give SE charity or pay for services they did not provide.

[Hyan]

I wonder if they are going to charge us for this month if it extends past one week.

Well, they aren't charging for the next month instead of this one, so they're just being sly. Assuming you can play then, but that's what they seem to imply at least for now.

[NynJa]

FF down for 2 weeks, complain about getting 1 month free...? Does not compute.

I dont get why SE cant give us teaser updates because of whats going on. I highly doubt Sage Sundi, or any one else on SE payroll, is at ground zero helping with the national disaster...sure the FF servers are down, but the forums and what not are still up. I'm pretty sure SE knew what they were going to do with the next patch back on March 8, but obviously dont want to roll it all out at once.

[Spekkio]

Even if they had backup facilities around the globe, they would be lacking the support staff needed to maintaini the game as they're principally japan based. As for my comment earlier about the complainers, that was directed at the reports from the official forums, not the bg response.

[ringthree]

A corporation like them probably has a back-up plan. A week of downtime is alright but I don't know whether they would take too much damage from a month of no service.

Actually, since they have already given us April free, it would be more financially beneficial to keep the servers down until the next pay cycle.

I don't think they will do that of course.

[ringthree]

This shit is getting fucking stupid...

Yes, and it is largely because of your post.

[ringthree]

And off the top of my head I can think of, well lets see, 8 servers getting dropped, avg 2.5k POLID's per server, presuming a couple extra mules per POLID...I'd say about 10k complaints about shit that was lost because they had stuff on AH and in delivery box because merges were done without warning.

SMRT

In much less harsh terms, I agree with this statement. It would be a great time to do the server merge but they just can't do it because of the delivery box issue.

Additionally, as evidenced by pushing back the update date, they are probably doing other things than working in an office programming right now.

[Draylo]

Darn it