Chat Log Time Stamps

[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.

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

[Drazzan]

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.

[Decconi]

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

[BobbinT]

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

[MStowastiqVahlshdeh]

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.

[Efrye]

+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.

[Soukyuu]

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.

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?

[Skies]

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?

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

[Soukyuu]

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

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.

[Skies]

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.

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.