Let us speculate on when the servers will be back online

[Elaguila]

Initially I never would have thought that an earthquake could have affected the operations of a server farm, but I should have been more realistic.

With 4 of Japan's 53 nuclear reactors permanently offline (sea water, which they have used to cool down the fuel, permanently breaks a reactor), the country is now facing a shortage in power. And the question is, when will this situation be remedied?

Several of those 53 reactors were at the time of the EQ not even in operation, but under yearly inspection and maintenance. Which means that it is possible to get back to original power output by speeding this process up and getting a few of them back online earlier than scheduled, which is what will happen, eventually.

Additionally, the last thing Japan needs right now is businesses not being able to function due to the power shortage. It will be very damaging, financially, in the long run.

I believe that getting businesses up and running is not something that's currently "on ice," but something that the Japanese are working very hard towards, while also working on containing the situation at Fukushima 1, and cleaning up after the tsunami.

At first I guessed that we would have had to wait at least 3-4 weeks before we would see the servers back online. But that was when I thought that they would have the Fukushima 1 situation under control within a few days. And those of you who watch/read the news should now that it is still a very serious situation that's not even remotely under control (in fact, it seems to escalate in seriousness).

When I read the Letter from the producer (@ http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/3465-Letter-from-the-Producer-VI-%2803-16-2011%29), however, it said that we would be looking at a 1-2 week delay in the March update. A 1-2 week delay would mean that the SE team would be 1-2 weeks delayed in working on the patch, and the only way that they are able to work on the patch, is with power.

So what do you think, fellow forum writers? Are we actually looking at a 1-2 week downtime?

I try to always stay realistic rather than optimistic, and it still feels like we are looking at at least 3 weeks of downtime, in total.

[Galamantyl]

I am in favor of hamster-wheel-powered-generators.

[whoopeeragon]

I am in favor of hamster-wheel-powered-generators.

And who'll power them? Poor personnel already tired from dealing with the impacts of the disaster? Or get a few horses and cows to run around in circles around a generator with leashes tied to them?

I'll estimate at least 3-4 weeks before the servers will be put to right again.

[Galamantyl]

And who'll power them? Poor personnel already tired from dealing with the impacts of the disaster? Or get a few horses and cows to run around in circles around a generator with leashes tied to them?

It can be done! Assemble 5000 hamster cages, connect their wheels to alternators, route circuits to a power hub, then simply bypass the existing provider of electricity.

Before you say "5000 hamsters isn't enough" - this tactic requires 4 hamsters (two wheels) per cage, with hamsters switching on and off duty every 4 hours, for a grand total of 20,000 hamsters of which 10,000 are working simultaneously to power only the most necessary computers in the offices for development.

100 or so hamster cages must be reserved for breeding more hamsters in case another earthquake occurs.

[Keith_Dragoon]

And who'll power them? Poor personnel already tired from dealing with the impacts of the disaster? Or get a few horses and cows to run around in circles around a generator with leashes tied to them?

I'll estimate at least 3-4 weeks before the servers will be put to right again.

You ofcourse! *cracks whip* get to work you good for nothing man-hamster!

[Abraxai]

I am in favor of hamster-wheel-powered-generators.

All your replies are in this format! It's delightful!

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I don't think it's gonna be as long as the pessimists think. Once they get the Nuclear Reactors under control they should be alright to roll back in with the servers.. TO my knowledge Tokyo wasn't that massively hit that they're even being affected by blackouts.. They're just re-routing the conserved energy elsewhere? So.. By that logic as soon as they get some temporary substitute in order we should be back in business. Which I doubt will be too long. Japans stock exchange is falling, they're losing work time, money, etc.. It's another crisis coupled with what's already occuring so I'd have thought they'd want Tokyo back up and running ASAP.

So long as the people fleeing like a WHM1 from a HNM come back

[Jacob]

It might be the case, but still even if they delayed the patch for 2 weeks that doesnt mean they will delay the operation of the servers as well since its not related

I hope they pass their tragedy soon

[Kaboushi]

next week it's back. Monday.

[Shikyo]

next week it's back. Monday.

NOT! lol SE isnt loosing any money atm with XIV servers down its free to play atm so its actually saving them money, no? only thing they may be loosing is a part of the already low player base that will most definetly find something else to do to pass the time, then decide rather that or coming back when they do decide to kick back up...

[Elaguila]

NOT! lol SE isnt loosing any money atm with XIV servers down its free to play atm so its actually saving them money, no? only thing they may be loosing is a part of the already low player base that will most definetly find something else to do to pass the time, then decide rather that or coming back when they do decide to kick back up...

I think it's likely that they are losing money, though.

Potential buyer of XIV: I want to buy this game *holding copy of XIV in hand*
Gamestop employee: The servers are down, so buy this copy of Rift instead

I don't know how much it would add up to, though. Especially since not many people are buying XIV right now.