Hotfixes: In Addition to Content Patches

[Balbanes]

So drawing from my previous MMO experience, I was wondering what might help the playerbase feel a little more trusting and at-ease with how things are progressing for our game.

Hotfixes
http://ffxiv.zam.com/wiki/Updates_%28FFXIV%29 <---clicky Here is a list of every single patch FFXIV has ever had.
Now as we all know, we're tentatively on a 2 patch-per-month schedule. One is generally a large content patch, the other includes tweaks/system changes. However both of these patches include things that could be pushed out in smaller, more frequent doses.

My suggestion? What if we had "Hotfix" patches? These patches would be small, frequent changes and tweaks and bug fixes to the game. Once these tweaks have been programmed, tested and verified, push them out for the players to 1) benefit from the changes and 2) help reassure folks that the wheels are turning over there in the XIV studio.

Save the major content additions for their own large, monthly patches. Get us the minor changes in more frequent, smaller doses.

[Kurokikaze]

I can agree with this. It's how other companies handle bugs and balance fixes instead of making players wait till the next patch.

It's funny but things like the SP changes and some changes that were done to enmity could have all been hotfixes.

[Ava]

Hotfixes would be great, but something tells me their back-end technology isn't capable of such a thing. =/

[Jennestia]

Hotfixes would be great, but something tells me their back-end technology isn't capable of such a thing. =/

If they can patch the game they can do "hotfixes" -- patching is all the same no matter how big/small/quick/etc.

[Ava]

If they can patch the game they can do "hotfixes" -- patching is all the same no matter how big/small/quick/etc.

Hotfixes aren't patches. In wow, hotfixes were streamed straight onto live servers with no patching. I would assume this is the same thing the OP was thinking, I don't know who else does hotfixes.

[Kurokikaze]

Hotfixes aren't patches. In wow, hotfixes were streamed straight onto live servers with no patching. I would assume this is the same thing the OP was thinking, I don't know who else does hotfixes.

Yeah but then again does SE have the capabilities to stream hotfixes...? =_=

We've all seen how small bugs get drawn out for long periods of time due to (I'm guessing here) spaghetti code.

Btw... What the fuck happened to Auto Target?

Also, heres another bipartisan suggestion, like the LS vault suggestion, that is getting opposition. No hope for this community.

[Jennestia]

Hotfixes aren't patches. In wow, hotfixes were streamed straight onto live servers with no patching. I would assume this is the same thing the OP was thinking, I don't know who else does hotfixes.

They are the same - with hotfixes you just resync everyone which you could do with normal "offline" patching as well if you want but it's risky to do so.

I said if they can patch the game they can do hotfixes as both requires you to have an infrastructure that is "open". Most don't do hotfixes because most choose to knock things out in one go in a big patch, but that doesn't mean they don't have the ability to do so.

[Balbanes]

Hotfixes aren't patches. In wow, hotfixes were streamed straight onto live servers with no patching. I would assume this is the same thing the OP was thinking, I don't know who else does hotfixes.

Actually, of all the MMOs I've played, WoW isn't really one of them. Played it for about 2 months years and years ago.

I do indeed mean just regular style patches, as Jennestia mentioned (just smaller more frequent ones).

As for XIV's patcher... yeah, it's not so great, but they've at least acknowledged it and have added it to their mountain of things they need to work on.

However, if they're able to stream it to players while playing the game, that sounds pretty cool too!

[Akira_Tenshi]

The less updates we have to download the better. The stupid downloader is mega slow.