Server Congestion and Trial Period Extensions (09/03/2013)

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We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Since the beginning of official service on August 27, 2013, the number of users attempting to access the game has significantly exceeded our initial estimates. While we are pleased to see support for the game reach far beyond our expectations, the servers were not prepared to handle this influx of players. As a result, our servers have been pushed beyond maximum capacity. In order to allow access to as many users as possible, we have implemented login and character creation restrictions. We understand, however, that these restrictions have greatly inconvenienced our players.


To resolve this issue, we will be performing maintenance from September 3, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. to September 4, 2013, at 3:00 a.m (PDT), for the purpose of increasing the number of available Worlds, reducing stress on the Duty Finder servers, and increasing the number of concurrent logins allowed for each server.

Because login and character creation restrictions have hindered our ability to provide quality service, all FINAL FANTASY XIV service accounts will receive an additional seven days of free play time. Furthermore, users who have yet to enter their registration codes will receive an additional seven-day trial should they register before 11:59 p.m. (PDT) on September 9, 2013. Moving forward, we will continue monitoring the servers to ensure that quality service and support are provided in a timely manner.

The additional seven days will be reflected on service accounts after maintenance has concluded on September 4, 2013, which can be confirmed by accessing the FINAL FANTASY XIV: Mog Station.(http://sqex.to/Msp)

We thank you again for your patience and understanding as we continue to address these issues, and look forward to your continued support of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn.

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It's not just worlds and Duty finder, I knew for a 10 hour maint, it was A lot more than just that.

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increasing the number of available Worlds

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Reducing stress on the Duty Finder servers

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Increasing the number of concurrent logins allowed for each server.

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^^^^^ This is the big one right here, where it actually matters. ( The last quote)

The problem is Concurrent users ( people logging in at the same time) 300k people ( that doesn't mean total number the servers can hold or the total amount of players period.)

I saw this at 8 and was going to post it but figured someone would do a better job than me. I was right. Thanks Star ^.^

Concurrent logins is going to fix most problems, also it'd be nice for character creation to be unlocked so my wife can make a character.

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Originally Posted by Quesse

I saw this at 8 and was going to post it but figured someone would do a better job than me. I was right. Thanks Star ^.^

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All the complaining needs to stop until AFTER the maint. and things aren't fixed. Threads like fix it -now- are so funny because, it's nearing -now-. So they are getting their wish ( I hope?) lol.

They already told us what they are going to do, the time they are going to do it, how they are going to compensate everyone here for lost time. So what is there really to complain about? o.o

You know. Just selfish people just wanting to game up 24/7 and they flip a simple switch to fix or all. I could care less if it took them a week long maint. to get it fixed as long as they can solve most of the problem so that people can stop complaining about stupid issues that they didn't predict.

Does anyone specifically know what "increasing the number of available Worlds " means? Has it been said anywhere if this is going to add NEW worlds that will be completely empty when maintinance is done? If so it only seems logical that they eventually allow 1 free server transfer because how else is the population going to get spread around to the new worlds.
OR...
Does this just mean they are adding new servers to the current existing worlds to give them a higher capacity?
Im sure this has been answered before so i apologize for asking again. This just seems to be a proper thread.


EDIT: So if they are just adding new servers and not doing free transfers what happens to all the people that weren't able to create a character on the same servers with their friends/family?

It means new worlds so they can start selling the digital edition again and bring in new customers.

I hope with increased concurrent connections, as an off shoot, it will also increase the number of characters allowed to be created on old servers.

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Originally Posted by Bruiser_Cruiser

Does anyone specifically know what "increasing the number of available Worlds " means? Has it been said anywhere if this is going to add NEW worlds that will be completely empty when maintinance is done? If so it only seems logical that they eventually allow 1 free server transfer because how else is the population going to get spread around to the new worlds.
OR...
Does this just mean they are adding new servers to the current existing worlds to give them a higher capacity?
Im sure this has been answered before so i apologize for asking again. This just seems to be a proper thread.

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If you had bothered to read SE's announcement in the OP, you would've realized that he answer to your question is "all of the above".

Will this fix the issue for PS3 users who get the "You must have an active account/ or you must digitally purchase/ No Account Registered with SE" error? Hope so if the maintenance allows us to update as PS3 users in the Mogstation.

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Originally Posted by Rivalda_Kreissieg

Will this fix the issue for PS3 users who get the "You must have an active account/ or you must digitally purchase/ No Account Registered with SE" error? Hope so if the maintenance allows us to update as PS3 users in the Mogstation.

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I'm wondering this myself, but I really don't know.

Sadly people will find new things to complain about. Most likely it will be the fact that the maint is during NA Busy hours (Kind of like it was with FFXI.)

Unless they significantly allow more logins per server they're just giving more slots to afkers. Hopefully afk feature will be added too.

So wait i'm a little confused... does the maintenance end in 3-4 hours?

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Originally Posted by Krylancelo

So wait i'm a little confused... does the maintenance end in 3-4 hours?

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we will be performing maintenance from September 3, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. to September 4, 2013, at 3:00 a.m (PDT)

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9 hours starts Maint. and it end's at 6:00am EDT ( 10 hr maint.)

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Originally Posted by Krylancelo

So wait i'm a little confused... does the maintenance end in 3-4 hours?

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It doesn't start until 5pm Pacifc and will end 3am Wednesday, I think. Offpeak for EU but peak for US. If you can log on ofc.

Crossing my fingers that they've gotten this figured out, we shall see, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

Working back-end IT, networks and servers in particular, I've been shaking my head at all the "FIX IT NAO!" threads.. people think you can just snap your fingers and have an instant doubling of server capacity or something :lol:

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Originally Posted by Ruethryl

Crossing my fingers that they've gotten this figured out, we shall see, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

Working back-end IT, networks and servers in particular, I've been shaking my head at all the "FIX IT NAO!" threads.. people think you can just snap your fingers and have an instant doubling of server capacity or something :lol:

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Yea, it's as if some people think all SE has to do is just go to Walmart and buy some ready-made servers and plug it in.

Take back your free 7 days.. I dont want it.. I want my vet rewards on the 10th not the 17th!!! :(

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Originally Posted by Nica

Yea, it's as if some people think all SE has to do is just go to Walmart and buy some ready-made servers and plug it in.

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Even (2) weeks is impressive as far as turn-around, kudos to whoever their supplier is if they're not completely custom building their server gear. (2) weeks is even a stretch since they ordered additional equipment when phase 4 showed there would be problems and they had it installed and in testing a week later roughly.

last chance for them from me :( im so overly frustrated about this drama :( i bought a game i couldnt even play past beta :(

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Originally Posted by nasomi

Concurrent logins is going to fix most problems, also it'd be nice for character creation to be unlocked so my wife can make a character.

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You can create a character elsewhere and save the data and simply pull it up as soon as they allow it on the server you want.

Well it's nice to hear something about whats going to be worked on, just I have one issue.

You SE are only giving me an extra free week of play, yet the issues have been going on for 2 WEEKS!!

I expect you to allot extra time given to be comparable to the time of your seriously miscalculated incompetence.

I just sincerely hope this will alleviate 1017 and clear up getting 90k'd every 20 minutes x-x

90k error should of been fixed a fair few hrs ago. since they did a maintenance to fix it earlier

A 8pm EST 5pm PT maintenance. Where did these people figure that being a good idea?

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Originally Posted by willwillx

A 8pm EST 5pm PT maintenance. Where did these people figure that being a good idea?

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Considering that it's a 9 hours long maintenance, one would think it'd be obvious that they would start it at the beginning of the work day.

The world doesn't revolve around your schedule.

The world? So the datacenters are being upgraded in the USA at 8pm at night? Are you joking? Don't be naive. Nonetheless... We are in the USA AND maintenance should be done during the morning/afternoon like every OTHER MMORPG in the last 10 years

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Originally Posted by willwillx

The world? So the datacenters are being upgraded in the USA at 8pm at night? Are you joking? Don't be naive. Nonetheless... We are in the USA AND maintenance should be done during the morning/afternoon like every OTHER MMORPG in the last 10 years

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Honestly it is because this isn't just happening in EU/NA but also JP datacenters. The world is not centric around USA as much as many of us claim.

It is Midnight - 10 AM for EU and 7 AM to 5 PM JP time. To do it during non peak hours for USA would slam peak hours for 2 other Time zones. JP based game, JP based maintanence.

Why not separate the times? Congestion. While NA/EU servers are down, JP would be slammed, and while JP servers are down, NA/EU would be slammed harder.

it is what it is.

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Originally Posted by willwillx

The world? So the datacenters are being upgraded in the USA at 8pm at night? Are you joking? Don't be naive. Nonetheless... We are in the USA AND maintenance should be done during the morning/afternoon like every OTHER MMORPG in the last 10 years

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Egocentric much? You realize this is a JP game, with the majority of the staff in JP right?

Seriously, get over yourself, that kind of mindset makes the rest of us look bad.

I am glad they are fixing these things, While i have played a good bit of FF14, I have had to hit the X button on my PS2 controller a lot as well.

And I noticed earlier someone saying that you can just magically have a server ready when they order. That's not how it works at all, even build a computer for my brother and his gf earlier. Not only did they have to wait for newegg to ship the parts to me, they also had to wait for it to be build, set up, update windows and drivers and install additional software (they have a data cap while i don't have one right now) and then having to ship it.

So yeah, they've probably been working their butts off getting to this point to do the maintenance. Yeah, i got 1017, 2002, 10102, and 90000 but I never complained once about it. I know you can always under-estimate stuff. Sure it doesn't make it easier for everyone who has paid and can't get in, but the point is, at least they know and are addressing the problem in a timely matter.

not sure what u are justifying it on that usa should have maintenance in morning/afternoon and not at night when it wasn't even made in usa. since game is made in japan there doing it in japan morning time/afternoon which is reasonable since it was made there. so u saying that USA should have preference for time maintenance should be is just stupid

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Originally Posted by Nica

Egocentric much? You realize this is a JP game, with the majority of the staff in JP right?

Seriously, get over yourself, that kind of mindset makes the rest of us look bad.

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You realize also with decisions like this and the experience during the first week, the "american's" who probably consist most of the supposed 230k after 37 days won't be subbing?

I am hopeful this will resolve most of the log-in and connection issues.. then perhaps, since more people will be able to log-in and play and progress, we'll all be able to focus on the some of the short-comings of ARR.

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Originally Posted by kaya_suzumiya

not sure what u are justifying it on that usa should have maintenance in morning/afternoon and not at night when it wasn't even made in usa. since game is made in japan there doing it in japan morning time/afternoon which is reasonable since it was made there. so u saying that USA should have preference for time maintenance should be is just stupid

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Actually they have separate server regions right? So why don't they just doing maintenance on Japan servers first then move on to NA/EU?

I don't mind much about this though, if it's going to fix the problem I can wait just another day. But I can understand that some people won't like this and that is absolutely doable.

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Originally Posted by willwillx

You realize also with decisions like this and the experience during the first week, the "american's" who probably consist most of the supposed 230k after 37 days won't be subbing?

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This is priceless, maybe you can enlighten the rest of us as to where you got your numbers from, I mean, random stats pulled out of the air on the internet can never be wrong amirite?

If doing major server infrastructure upgrades during JP timezone for a JP game with JP staff will make people quit, then I say good riddance, they were probably terrible anyway.

Seriously, 'Murica :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by fides5566

Actually they have separate server regions right? So why don't they just doing maintenance on Japan servers first then move on to NA/EU?

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Probably due to software. They need to ensure all servers are working perfectly the same and have the exact same configuration specs, which means that both NA and JP parties need to be on constant live communication.
Which means that both server clusters need to go on maitenance at the same time and it means that at least one party would irrevocably end up working the graveyard shift for this :(

I honestly don't think they will fix all of this tomorrow. I'm expecting to see more of 1017, 2002, 90000, 3012 etc.... And obviously, I'm also expecting some apologizes from Square.

Call me pessimist if you want, I've played MMOs long enough to know where this is going.

Of course, I would be very surprised if they'd really fix it by tomorrow, and I would be the first one to claim I was wrong.

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Originally Posted by ShinrinCole

And I noticed earlier someone saying that you can just magically have a server ready when they order. That's not how it works at all, even build a computer for my brother and his gf earlier. Not only did they have to wait for newegg to ship the parts to me, they also had to wait for it to be build, set up, update windows and drivers and install additional software (they have a data cap while i don't have one right now) and then having to ship it.

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I am sure SE buys the components from Newegg and builds the servers themselves ;) That is why it is taking soo long.

Most companies can get any number of servers sent to them overnight and have them the next day in the morning, even shipping from overseas. Either way I highly doubt that SE has their own personal datacenter here in NA, they are renting space from another company in which case adding space could be as easy as working out terms to get more servers online for them to use.