If one thing has marred the otherwise polished launch of Aion it is the extremely long server queues players face when trying to log in and play what they paid for. NCsoft responded a couple days ago saying that they are aware of the problem and working on solutions such as increased server caps and even opening a new server in both North America and Europe. Today they just announced a maintenance patch that addresses a major cause of their queue problem: Private stores will now have 30-minute timer to prevent them from being abused.

Private stores are a great concept. Players can set up shop anywhere in the world to sell their spare goods and make a pretty penny. Unfortunately, a feature of these stores is that they prevent you from idling out of the game. This feature really compounds the current server queue problem.

To avoid going through the queue process again, many players simply set up a private store and go AFK for hours at a time. One store we came across had this description set: "AFK at work, making you queue." This is even more evidence that MMO players will often take the path of least resistance for personal gain. Devs really need this hammered into their heads.

Source:  www.massively.com/2009/09/25/ncsoft-scrambles-to-reduce-server-queues-private-store-tweaks-i/1#c21890065

Great, after Aion runs in Asia one year and after beta NOW the realize this? It would be so easy to make players shops via NPCs you "hire", then you can log out and that NPC remains 24 hours, selling your stuff. Why does a million dollar heavy company not think of such simple solutions themselves and NOW realize an issue. Bit late for so called experts.

Chinese players pay per hour, it's why all games report such high subscriptions in china, since they only need to buy a single block of hours to keep their subscription "active".

Also explains why this particular problem only manifested on western servers.

That treats a symptom but the problem is larger than personal stores alone. I wager a new server will be inc and existing server numbers will be increased

I have yet to see any queues on my server and i log in and out almost all day i ahve never put up a shop to stay in game and have yet to have any problems logging in at any given time.  Not sure if you guys just chose the server at the top and called it good or what the deal is but there are servers with no queues.

To the many that say just switch servers:  There are no east coast servers without queues.  Glad you have no queues on your west coast server, but I am not moving to california or changing my waking hours just to play a game. 

My server had no queue's until today.

Came home from work, fired up the PC and clicked the Aion quick launch icon to be met with an hr and 7 min q, my first time however so I'm not that bothered, but I understand that here in Europe the game is now on general sale in the shops and so q's where to be expected, least I had a little head start on the mad rush =).

Yeah I've been playing on Ariel and it's pretty damn rare to see a queue.  When there is, it's been <5 mins to get in.

Good to see they're intent on fixing it, and hopefully they don't add too many servers, since a ton of players always leave after the first month and we may never have the prob again.  Not that I expect it to lose too many, since it's a solid game.  But it's a fact of life for launching an MMO.

Originally posted by dirtyjoe78

I have yet to see any queues on my server and i log in and out almost all day i ahve never put up a shop to stay in game and have yet to have any problems logging in at any given time.  Not sure if you guys just chose the server at the top and called it good or what the deal is but there are servers with no queues.

your right, im sure the company didnt do any research and just released a statement.

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Lineage II was the second MMO I ever played, and I loved it.  The one Gripe I've had with it though was the private stores; you would go to a town and there would be 100's of players sitting in the middle with their stores and it was lag city.  Also it was so hard to sell things or find the best price for items.  

Why cant NCsoft make an AH like most MMO's so that people can sell stuff with out being online and lagging others, and it would also let people be able to log in and play .  ???

I just dont understand the idea behind having private stores ...

Originally posted by Mischiff

Lineage II was the second MMO I ever played, and I loved it.  The one Gripe I've had with it though was the private stores; you would go to a town and there would be 100's of players sitting in the middle with their stores and it was lag city.  Also it was so hard to sell things or find the best price for items.  

Why cant NCsoft make an AH like most MMO's so that people can sell stuff with out being online and lagging others, and it would also let people be able to log in and play .  ???

I just dont understand the idea behind having private stores ...

There is an auction house, and private shops... No clue why you would need the shops, but apparently easterners like them.

Originally posted by Mischiff

Lineage II was the second MMO I ever played, and I loved it.  The one Gripe I've had with it though was the private stores; you would go to a town and there would be 100's of players sitting in the middle with their stores and it was lag city.  Also it was so hard to sell things or find the best price for items.  

Why cant NCsoft make an AH like most MMO's so that people can sell stuff with out being online and lagging others, and it would also let people be able to log in and play .  ???

I just dont understand the idea behind having private stores ...

When L2 came out, it was a Korean grind PvP game and they were used to player shops so that's how tey made it.  If more thought would have gone into it a AH would have been their but it was Korean.

Well, that makes sence i guess .. didnt know AION had an AH, but i just started playing it last night, so thanks for that info also, ill have to look around for it   =)