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+--- Thread: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. (/showthread.php?tid=9606)
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Mae - 01-11-2015
I wish I could find it also, but I remember reading quite some time back in either a live letter, in known issues notes, or an interview that the server/world jumping from the Duty Finder was part of the "server congestion" issues that affected character creation lockouts and regular login queue times. Whether or not this has been truly fixed or SE just slapped a band-aid on it and called it fixed is up for debate. And if it hasn't been properly fixed... well, I'll leave it to others to make up their own conclusions.
Either way, it's not the amount of people online (people actively engaged in actual gameplay, people idling and chattering, and the people who are AFK), it's again the amount of people attempting to log in, new and existing characters, at any one time. Considering that bots tend to appear in groups of four or more and they're constantly trying to force their way in, that's probably the biggest culprit of character creation restriction.
... I guess in a way, the restriction is the only 'preventative measure' SE can give us and other high-population servers against being totally overrun by bots/gillsellers. Just sucks that actual players get caught in that net.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Ilwe'ran - 01-11-2015
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/73680-Further-Details-on-Access-Restrictions
For some explanation
http://www.junkiesnation.com/2013/09/12/further-server-and-system-improvements-part-2/
For some more.
I believe I can find some others.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - No Longer Exists - 01-11-2015
Thank you, Ilwe'ran. That sums it up nicely.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Verranicus - 01-13-2015
If I have a bunch of stuff to craft you can be damn sure I'll set myself to doing it and then walk away. If people want on our server bad enough they can lurk til 6AM like everyone else. Blame SE for not starting with megaservers or something like any new MMO should in TYOOL 2014.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Cavistus - 01-14-2015
I tried at 2AM, 2:30AM, 3AM, 3:30AM, 4AM, 4:30AM, 5AM, 5:30A, 6AM
It is now almost 7AM EST, and not for a single second was there any window of opportunity.
Well, I'm done for tonight. I fucking give up. But hey, at least it shows me how many days are left on my subscription. I can literally count the days wasted trying to do something as simple as creating a character.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Arrelaine - 01-14-2015
(01-14-2015, 07:44 AM)Cavistus Wrote: I tried at 2AM, 2:30AM, 3AM, 3:30AM, 4AM, 4:30AM, 5AM, 5:30A, 6AMTry tonight, after maintenance or right before. It's usually unlocked for a good bit then. If there is one, that is.
It is now almost 7AM EST, and not for a single second was there any window of opportunity.
Well, I'm done for tonight. I fucking give up. But hey, at least it shows me how many days are left on my subscription. I can literally count the days wasted trying to do something as simple as creating a character.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Steel Wolf - 01-14-2015
(01-14-2015, 08:41 AM)Arrelaine Wrote:(01-14-2015, 07:44 AM)Cavistus Wrote: <understandable rage>Try tonight, after maintenance or right before. It's usually unlocked for a good bit then.
This. Last maintenance period after the servers were opened, Balmung was open for a bafflingly long amount of time.
I really really wish you luck, Cavistus. :c
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Kellach Woods - 01-14-2015
Is there maintenance tonight?
Next week for sure, since they need to patch it to 2.5, but tonight?
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Kage - 01-14-2015
(01-14-2015, 08:59 AM)Kellach Woods Wrote: Is there maintenance tonight?None announced but sometimes they do do it like the afternoon before >.<
Next week for sure, since they need to patch it to 2.5, but tonight?
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Cavistus - 01-15-2015
Unreal.
Completely unreal.
Third day in a row. Balmung's full at 5 o'clock in the morning on a thursday.
why is there such a hassle to do something so simple? i just wanted to CREATE a character. were queues really this bad that they had to shit all over the new players by disabling character creation?
something is terribly, terribly wrong with this server. how many people are actually playing? if this actually is because of bots, then oh my god, damn near a quarter of the entire population is bots.
i'm defeated. i don't even care anymore.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Blue - 01-15-2015
Again, it has little to nothing to do with people already logged in on the game. The server is locked because the log ins are constant. If you really cannot find a good window (I was able to make all my 8 characters during EST mornings in the weekdays, when people go to school/work, but it was a loooong time ago, so things could be worse now), you could always make the character on another server and then transfer to Balmung for a fee.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Cavistus - 01-15-2015
(01-15-2015, 07:19 AM)Blue Wrote: make the character on another server and then transfer to Balmung for a fee.
That's it, I'm out. Nope.
![[Image: 43c9170773.gif]](http://puu.sh/exZkv/43c9170773.gif)
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - No Longer Exists - 01-15-2015
Again, with all due respect, statements of "It has nothing to do with who is already logged onto the game" are simply not true. Each server is in essence, a city worth of traffic and everyone already in the city contributes to its congestion. A previous reply posted the official statements and if one reads those statements about the lock outs and restrictions, it is directly because of the congestion on specific worlds, not simply the lobby itself.
I do not point this out to make anyone feel bad, I point it out because I do not want new players and new arrivals to the RPC to believe misinformation.
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Concurrent Connections[/font]
(I apologize for the font mess, doing this on my ipad apparently made it go "BLEARGH")
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']On the night following the announcement of our plans to temporarily limit sales of the download version, A Realm Reborn recorded upwards of 218,000 concurrent connections. This is in spite of the fact that the peak login times for separate regions around the world arrive at differing intervals. We estimate that without time zone differences, the total number of concurrent connections would number anywhere from 300,000 to 350,000.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']As many of you know, this is the second launch for FINAL FANTASY XIV─something unprecedented in the MMORPG market. Considering the outcome of our first launch, our sales estimates for this one were decidedly conservative, as we believed that there would be a more gradual rise in users over the opening weeks and months.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Instead, to our pleasant surprise, we experienced tremendous support from a great number of players who were eager to get into the game from day one. To ensure that these players, once logged in, were able to play in a stable environment, we were required to implement login restrictions which kept server population near maximum capacity without exceeding those numbers.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']The fact that we had to implement these restrictions is a direct result of my inaccurate sales and login estimates, and as producer, I must accept complete responsibility for this misstep. Each and every player who has been affected has my deepest apologies.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']What the above is saying is not "People logging in are causing the lockout", though it can be seen that way. What it is saying is that the tremendous amount of processing required to stabilize the world for both those logged in and those logging in was reaching critical mass. This is why there are multiple gateways. The login screen and the start menu lobby. Obviously, the login lockout was lifted as its never difficult to get on the game itself anymore.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']The Reasoning behind Login Restrictions[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Each FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn World server has been designed to support a maximum of 5,000 concurrent connections. This is not the maximum number of characters which can be created on a World, however, but the maximum number of characters which can be logged into that World simultaneously. When more than 5,000 characters log into a World at once, there is a higher risk of server crashes and login errors. The restoration of crashed servers is usually followed by a rush of players attempting to log back in, which, in turn, puts a strain on our lobby server, and can ultimately have an adverse affect on all of the Worlds.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']To prevent this from happening, we felt that the safest course of action would be to limit logins. However, we would like you to know that the restrictions are under constant surveillance. We are currently monitoring login numbers on all Worlds 24 hours a day, and actively removing/applying restrictions as soon as we detect even the smallest fluctuation in concurrent connection numbers.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Currently, peak login times for each region are occurring from approximately 9:00 p.m. to midnight. During this three-hour window, Worlds are more likely to have login restrictions implemented. These temporary restrictions are expected to continue until the time that we can execute the measures we have planned to alleviate the current situation. Those measures, including the addition of new World servers, are listed, in detail, below.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Now, this right here explains a bit more about how the original login restriction was handled and why. It specifically states that this is not about character creation, but about the flow of information as thousands of people attempt to log in. This section explains why we have the log in queue, which is to ensure the stability of the already overclocked server against crashing from further overflow of log ins.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Character Creation Restrictions[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']As stated above, the maximum number of simultaneous connections each World server can handle is 5,000, while the number of characters which can be created on a World is several times that amount. This estimate of 5,000, however, is based on those characters being somewhat distributed over all the in-game areas (zones).[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']At the game’s start, however, while everyone is still at a low level, the majority of players are concentrated in the three city-states and surrounding areas. This can not only lead to a lack of enemies to slay (preventing quest progression), but also see area servers overloaded, and ultimately lead to crashes.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Fortunately, differences in total individual play time, login times, and character/class progression will eventually lead to players being more spread out within each World. Once this happens, there will be less need for both login and character creation restrictions.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']As is the case with logins, our team is working around the clock, monitoring the current population of each area in each World, as well as the class level of each character, and adjusting new character creation restrictions based on their findings. Unlike login restrictions, we believe that character creation restrictions may take slightly longer to be removed, as there are still great discrepancies in the distribution of characters across Worlds, and we thank players for their patience and understanding in this issue.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Finally, I have underlined two important sections of the character creation restriction so that there are no further misunderstandings. First, the explanation of their projected flow of information on the server. What this means is that the devs were already paying attention to IN GAME congestion. Not log in congestion, as some seem to constantly suggest. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']The second underlined section explains that overload due to in game congestion can and will cause servers to crash. Their concern for the overload of each city state and surrounding starter area is in direct correlation to the character creation restriction during peak hours of use. The already heavy stream of information from congestion cannot hold any more information safely so no new characters can be made at these times.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Now, "at these times" has become "all the time", and it is in direct correlation to the constant congestion on both Balmung and Gilgamesh. The worlds are reaching capacity and as I originally explained in the beginning, they are reaching capacity not just because of the new user logins, but because of the practically 24 hour high volume stream of information processing through them. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']
Even if your character is not doing anything, they are still streaming data and taking up space figuratively and literally.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック']Thank You.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif, 'ï¼ï¼³ Ｐゴシック'](I apologize for the font info, the copy pasta done via my iPad apparently didn't agree with the site. >.<)[/font]
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - Kellach Woods - 01-15-2015
Don't matter much why it happens at this point.
The majority of servers are under lock at primetime. I couldn't believe it - I think maybe... 3 servers had space still.
We've one person that this experience (granted they wanted to get into Balmung but still) has negatively affected enough that they've just straight up quit the game before they started.
SE needs to fix this.
RE: A Brief PSA on the issue of clogged worlds. - No Longer Exists - 01-15-2015
I agree, Kellach. I am looking into something that may not fix the game itself (for I do not work for SE) but might not deterr players at least.