Server Issues and Limitations

[Delsus]

Again ... we not asking for every explicit detail of the problem. Just some further explanation other than "server issues".

It's almost like we're back in the old Hiromichi Tanaka days.

Interviewer: Many players have complaints about <<fill in the blank>>. What are your plans to address them?

Tanaka: We cannot say at this time, but please look forward to it!!

Now with Naoki Yoshida at the helm, communication about fixes to current issues and future plans has become much much better, EXCEPT when it comes to the subject of "fixing server issues" ... which BTW is preventing half a dozen other game issues from being resolved.

Seriously, what's up with that??

The server and network problems are probably technical and if they were going to give us inforemation about it they would have to go into detail rather than get a completly ambiguous comment like "we have noticed problems with the router/server/switch/firewall configurations and are working to correct them" if I got that (being educated in networking) I would know that it could take anywhere from a few weeks (if they knew the exact problem and has everything completly documented) to a few months and I would need to know more, a router config for a large company could have hundreds of commands that need to be sifted through to fix somthing.

Sometimes it is alot easier to wipe a configuration and start from scratch, but that can bring the network down if it isn't done carefully, and takes awhile to get clearance which is why companies rarely do that, they take the time sifting through the commands.

Again all they can say is "we know there are server/network problems and we are working to address them" or give us details about the problems even the smallest detail about a network can open it up to hacks, who needs IP configs if they give us one protocol they use I can use nslookup to get the ip of one of thier servers then launch a ping sweep of thier whole network through that open port from one protocol they leaked.

If you think they can give us more info without giving us info then give me an example that isnt just "we know there are problems and we are working to resolve them"

[Sorel]

If you think they can give us more info without giving us info then give me an example that isnt just "we know there are problems and we are working to resolve them"

Possible Examples:

We are working to reconfigure server storage to allow for <<insert feature here>>, but it will take some time.

We are working to steamline network communications to improve <<insert feature here>>.

We are planning on updating our databases to make it easier to <<insert feature here>>, but we won't be able to complete that until after <<insert feature here>> is implemented.

And the Development Team doesn't have to explain every little detail when they do this. They don't when they talk to us about other aspects of the game. They don't detail the new crafting algorithms to us when they tell us about crafting ... they don't tell us the additional lighting and shader effects when they talk about improved animations ... and they don't tell us the polygon count when they announce new armor.

So I don't see why the Development Team would be forced to give us every detail of their internal IT structure when they talk to us about the "server issues" that are plaguing FFXIV.

We just want the Development Team to communicate about the server issues the same way they communicate about fixing every other issue in the game.

[VydarrTyr]

Again ... we not asking for every explicit detail of the problem. Just some further explanation other than "server issues".

Well, you're asking for that now. But the OP isn't asking for it. And to be honest, I can't remember anyone else ever asking for it. So while I would agree with those suggesting that it would be a bad idea for SE to reveal that info, at the very least we can hopefully show some patience and wait for an explanation until after we've asked.

As for the OP, here's a bit of the Famitsu interview posted by the incredible, inimitable, subligar-sporting Reinhart:

Famitsu: How about delivery?

Yoshida: We will implement delivery, but it will be after server modifications. Message and letter will be same.

Famitsu: When a player has something for repair up in bazaar and has item full you cannot repair that persons damaged equipment. Are there any plans to fix this?

Yoshida: It will be hard to do right away but we are going to make changes how the trade window works so along with that we would like to work on this.

...

Famitsu: Do you have plans for changes to party search feature?

Yoshida: First we will make minimum required changes to the current UI and with server repair planning to release redesigned search feature. In patch 1.18 part of it will be modified. Forming parties with search feature means forming with random people and it might troublesome for some (laugh) so some just try it once and get angry and don’t use again…. It’s right that easier search feature and UI is needed but lastly it’s really up to the player to have courage.

Famitsu: How about the area search feature?

Yoshida: Along with party search this is also going to be redesigned

Famitsu: Will it be possible to show more details for linkshell members?

Yoshida: Not only linkshell but for friendlist same type of system is required so it is being looked into carefully.

Famitsu: What kind of measures is being taken for inventory space as with armory system you will require to carry a lot of equipment?

Yoshida: might say not that again, but this will be after repairs to the root. Plan is already made but will need to be changed along with swapping the UI. Will try to make it by PS3 release but currently can’t give exact date on it yet.

Hope that resolves your issue.

[Sorel]

Well, you're asking for that now. But the OP isn't asking for it. And to be honest, I can't remember anyone else ever asking for it. So while I would agree with those suggesting that it would be a bad idea for SE to reveal that info, at the very least we can hopefully show some patience and wait for an explanation until after we've asked.

The subject of the "server issues" and "server optimizations" and "server repairs" has been one of the recurring themes of several threads, but there have been only two threads that I could find that directly asks the Development Team about these "server issues". This thread is one, and the other thread is below.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...lly-addressed.

Now granted, both threads are less than a week old. I'll give you that. So I think the call for patience in waiting for a response to these server issue questions is not unfounded.

Nonetheless, question has now been officially asked, the challenge has been formally issued, and the gauntlet is now irrevocably thrown.

Now we wait, and see what the Development Team has to say on this.

[Reinheart]

There is one part on last nights YoshiP's post when he was explaining to the JP guys that data storage method isn't the way some players think and that he tried to explain it so players can understand using basic terms... which wasn't really important doesn't talk about actual server so didn't translate it but the last last part of his post he put I see from reading some of the comments on the forums some of you do networking as main occupation, will be looking forward for your resume.

Maybe they don't have enough server engineers still which is delaying it more?

[Delsus]

There is one part on last nights YoshiP's post when he was explaining to the JP guys that data storage method isn't the way some players think and that he tried to explain it so players can understand using basic terms... which wasn't really important doesn't talk about actual server so didn't translate it but the last last part of his post he put I see from reading some of the comments on the forums some of you do networking as main occupation, will be looking forward for your resume.

Maybe they don't have enough server engineers still which is delaying it more?

Lol I would love to work on the networking side for ffxiv, but I would need the money to relocate to Japan which costs alot from the UK.

[Keftenk]

I'd imagine that its a horrific nightmare trying to work for Square...or working with Square. Either or is probably as equal of a pain.

[Delsus]

I'd imagine that its a horrific nightmare trying to work for Square...or working with Square. Either or is probably as equal of a pain.

I bet it wouldnt be that bad, well once you get past the 24hrs in the office to get the next patch out intime or suffer the dissatisfaction of players that rage when a patch is one day late.

[viion]

Working on solving it

aka

Googling around to figure out how to do things, oh we couldnt find out how to do it so we're going to do it the old, out dated and limited way that will take months just to ensure that little button works right!

[Hexaemeron]

This is simple. SE has never coded a native PC game or did a port well. The networking stack bolted onto crystal tools is probably the most arcane, esoteric and bizarre server/client setup in the modern world of gaming. They didn't bother doing adequate internal testing for any of the actual game systems. Why should the databases be any different?