Chat Log Time Stamps

We've seen requests from players asking about adding time stamps to chat logs. We actually save the the time of each message internally, so it's certainly possible to display it technically speaking.

However, since there would be a heavy load placed on the system if you change the display setting in real time, we have to carefully evaluate this addition for version 2.0.

We'd like to hear your thoughts on it so we can pass them along to the dev. team!

Why not have the time-stamp work from the System Clock in the PC/Console.

It's in my understanding that this is how other games do time-stamps.

Id think its a good idea. Just hope people don't find ways to exploit it if using the system clock.

I think this is important regardless. And having the ability to save those automatically in local PC would be appreciated. :D

I think timestamps would be great especially reading logs when you get messages/requests in LS chat from other players and do not know when you got them. It would definitely help with organizing and promoting community. I cannot measure its value against the cost in system resources without knowing what that cost would be first. Having it generated local sounds good but I am uncertain what kind of exploits that might open up.

As for game play, it is very useful in timing actions and learning about the time cost of whatever your char is doing. Of course this is something that would make the game easier so people might not want that kind of advantage added. I have manually had to add my own time stamps via echo during game play and it is tedious but not horrible so I say soft yes with an indication that I would like to see other player's comments so I have an idea of what the down side is to adding time stamps vs not.

+1 for time stamps.

I'm afk a lot and never know if I should respond to shouts or LS messages when I come back. They may be from one minute or from one hour ago after all.

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Originally Posted by Rukkirii

However, since there would be a heavy load placed on the system if you change the display setting in real time, we have to carefully evaluate this addition for version 2.0.

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Uh... just ... add/remove the timestamp to the next display message displayed instead of updating the whole chatlog? o.o

Is it a case of "why simple if you can complicate it" or am I missing something?

This is a fantastic idea! I do not think it needs to be the time stamp saved on the server. Rather, just use the client time. It's only purpose is to show the log progression to the player. Who said what and when, relative to his/her own time frame (PC or PS3 time).

There is a chance that the user may change their regional setting or actual clock during play, but this is a very small chance I think. The great majority of users will not be doing this. Just add a note to the release that mention the clock display in the log window is always the user's system time.

This should have little impact on the client and server load. Allowing the log to save will be a bonus!

Timestamp should definitely be an option.

In most other MMOs when you toggle the timestamp, it simply applies the change to the incoming text and does not change whatever is already loaded on screen. I believe that should reduce your load problem to some degree.

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

Uh... just ... add/remove the timestamp to the next display message displayed instead of updating the whole chatlog? o.o

Is it a case of "why simple if you can complicate it" or am I missing something?

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I don't think that the time data is stored as an actual timestamp, but as a UNIX time... What would make it completely unreadable if you don't know what it means at all

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Originally Posted by Skies

I don't think that the time data is stored as an actual timestamp, but as a UNIX time... What would make it completely unreadable if you don't know what it means at all

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If you mean UTC, windows doesn't use it. It uses local time, so retrieving PC clock time is not a problem. What they seem to try to do is update past messages with a timestamp, which would indeed cause some processing issues, but is totally unnecessary. If the user switches timestamp on, it should merely prepend it on the next message.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

If you mean UTC, windows doesn't use it. It uses local time, so retrieving PC clock time is not a problem. What they seem to try to do is update past messages with a timestamp, which would indeed cause some processing issues, but is totally unnecessary. If the user switches timestamp on, it should merely prepend it on the next message.

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Nnnnope, not UTC Soukyuu. UNIX timestamp... Which is a measure that says "X seconds have passed since midnight of January 1st 1970".

Which is all but unreadable for a human. Also what computers tend to use most often.

Also I doubt that they ACTUALLY retrieve clock time and that instead the log messages are timestamped with the server's time, and that putting timestamps right now would require the client to convert it into local time.

At least, that's the most plausible explanation of all.

if its going to strain server response times, why even bring it up? id rather the server be strained elsewhere than with something as pointless and mundane as time stamps. Who gives a crap who said what @ what time.

It adds nothing to the game nor does it add to my level of enjoying the game.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

if its going to strain server response times, why even bring it up? id rather the server be strained elsewhere than with something as pointless and mundane as time stamps. Who gives a crap who said what @ what time.

It adds nothing to the game nor does it add to my level of enjoying the game.

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Someone asked, JP-side, about it. So since it was answered they translated it for us

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Originally Posted by Skies

Nnnnope, not UTC Soukyuu. UNIX timestamp... Which is a measure that says "X seconds have passed since midnight of January 1st 1970".

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I thought that was UTC but looks like it's not.

There is no reason they would use that though, windows doesn't use it anywhere cause it's not based on UNIX

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

if its going to strain server response times, why even bring it up?

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It should not put any strain on the server, displaying timestamps in server time is useless, not to mention ridiculous design-wise.

Yes, I want timestamps too. I've had so many instances of receiving a /tell while I was AFK, and coming back and having NO idea how long ago it was that I got it.

It would be nice to have.

Why not just have the client add a timestamp to the log entry on the players PC
(C:\Users\****\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV\user\0141E71B\log)
Its really quite simple and doesn't have to have anything to do with the server side of things.

Have the system always log this data and then players can change the settings to either show or hide the timestamp.

I dont see any technical limitations tbh. The time stamp should be client side and using the local time/TZ settings. Servers should have no part in this as it is only a convenience feature and accuracy* is not required.

If implemented, a check box should be present to show or hide time stamps. It could also be a little button on the chat window to make the show/hide action even faster.

*accuracy of your system clock.

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Originally Posted by Rukkirii

We've seen requests from players asking about adding time stamps to chat logs. We actually save the the time of each message internally, so it's certainly possible to display it technically speaking.

However, since there would be a heavy load placed on the system if you change the display setting in real time, we have to carefully evaluate this addition for version 2.0.

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LOL... no you wouldn't have to cuz it would put a lot less load than the /clock command, the game clock, the timer tab in the attributes, etc. Yeah time stamps are not going to be a burden on the server.

+1 for timestamps please. Base it off of your system's clock if necessary, but please do implement them.

also looking at message date by simply right clicking on it name in the chat.. rather bloating the whole chat log.

they should rather consider optional query of players connectivity

thats more done on the server

I know in ARR many of the configuration options that are done in the external config program will be able to be done in game, however will there still be options that can only be configured while not playing? If so, log time stamps could be a configuration option there.

It might be a bit taboo to mention this, but Windower program for FF11 turns this on clientside as the game loads up, so I don't see what would be difficult about doing it in the game's external config options. If it's something that's bound to cause a lot of system stress, make it to only be toggleable in the external config before the game is loaded up.

I'm not sure if I'm missing something else that is making this option more complex to implement or not. Enlighten me if so. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

if its going to strain server response times, why even bring it up? id rather the server be strained elsewhere than with something as pointless and mundane as time stamps. Who gives a crap who said what @ what time.

It adds nothing to the game nor does it add to my level of enjoying the game.

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If they do it right it shouldn't strain anything. We don't need server accurate timestamps, just locally accurate timestamps.

And second, for anyone who has ever gone afk and received tells, having a frame of reference for the amount of time that has passed since you received the tell and you saw the tell is a pretty handy thing.