This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Originally posted by aesperus

Just curious, but which other MMOs (besides those made by Funcom) launched with servers being down for 4-5hours every other day for the first week, at least.

Rubbish. There has been one scheduled 3 hours long server mainenance every Sunday, and one unexpected 3 hour long attempt to fix chat.

Today it's down for 5 hours to implement the patch 1.01 players have been begging for since launch. That's it downtime-wise.

EDIT: Make that 4 hours.

Originally posted by aesperus

Just curious, but which other MMOs (besides those made by Funcom) launched with servers being down for 4-5hours every other day for the first week, at least.

People keep saying 'this is just normal', but I can't seem to think of any successful MMOs that have had this problem. Even WoW didn't have this many server downtimes, but they did have a big problem w/ Ques. Don't remember having this problem with LotRO, or Rift, or EQ2, or CoH, or Eve, or WoW, or Champions. So where are all these MMOs that have such clumsy launches?

I know WAR had probably about the same number of bugs, but not as much server maintenance. Honestly curious on this.

Well let me see now..

WOW did have downtimes and massive server qs (Remember wow only initially released in the US)

EQ had big issues as well

Darkfall

Mortal Online

WAR

SWTOR has massive server qs

Infact im finding it hard to think of a game that didnt have any downtime at all.. hell even Rifts was down nearly every day for patches.. I remember them popping up on my facebook and I was thinking wow down again for a patch..

I guess the OP has been unlucky as his time zone just happens to have their peak time when the servers where gonig down for patches...

I am based in the UK and have not had any downtime in peak time at all and im pretty sure thats the same for the rest of europe and the US.... Sadly Europe and the US are the biggest markets for this game so of coruse they dont want to take the servers down during peak time for them... but they ahve to take it down at some point and i guess the OP is unlucky in that it just happens to be during the times he plays..

I also think this has only happened over the last few days so not bad at all really.. and its a very very good thing Funcom are keeping on top of the bugs.. but doing this they cant please everyone :(

Originally posted by aesperus

Just curious, but which other MMOs (besides those made by Funcom) launched with servers being down for 4-5hours every other day for the first week, at least.

People keep saying 'this is just normal', but I can't seem to think of any successful MMOs that have had this problem. Even WoW didn't have this many server downtimes, but they did have a big problem w/ Ques. Don't remember having this problem with LotRO, or Rift, or EQ2, or CoH, or Eve, or WoW, or Champions. So where are all these MMOs that have such clumsy launches?

I know WAR had probably about the same number of bugs, but not as much server maintenance. Honestly curious on this.

 Wtf?

Try every game that launched including the ones you mentioned. It was a great patch and yes this is pretty much normal. This launch has gone rather smooth overall.

Christ some of you are seriously reaching to find things to bitch about.

...and WoW had an insane amount of server downtime. Anyone saying otherwise clearly was not around for launch.

Only games I would say that had very little launch issues were Rift and LotRO. Which is what every company should look to either meet or surpass. So I'm not giving FC a free pass but your assertions are absolutely ridiculous.

Originally posted by aesperus

Just curious, but which other MMOs (besides those made by Funcom) launched with servers being down for 4-5hours every other day for the first week, at least.

People keep saying 'this is just normal', but I can't seem to think of any successful MMOs that have had this problem. Even WoW didn't have this many server downtimes, but they did have a big problem w/ Ques. Don't remember having this problem with LotRO, or Rift, or EQ2, or CoH, or Eve, or WoW, or Champions. So where are all these MMOs that have such clumsy launches?

I know WAR had probably about the same number of bugs, but not as much server maintenance. Honestly curious on this.

People have already debunked most of your list as having massive downtimes I will add to it with Champions Online info, it was down as normal at release. They also had a massive issue with users within the UK completely unable to connect to the game because ISP's were blocking it as peer2peer traffic, hundreds of people that bought the game couldn't play it and it took them a week and a half to get in touch with the ISP's to allow the traffic through.

Originally posted by SlickShoes

People have already debunked most of your list as having massive downtimes I will add to it with Champions Online info, it was down as normal at release. They also had a massive issue with users within the UK completely unable to connect to the game because ISP's were blocking it as peer2peer traffic, hundreds of people that bought the game couldn't play it and it took them a week and a half to get in touch with the ISP's to allow the traffic through.

 The most amusing part was mentioning WoW. I mean...what the....

Hahahahahaha

Originally posted by Vannor

Last night it was down to try and hotfix the chat issues. Today it's down for patch 1.0.1, which they say has a complete fix for the chat problems and lots more minor fixes (based on test server nots if they are accurate).

If you read the launcher beofre you start the game you will have had a few days notice that all this was going to happen.

Just an FYI

CHAT

• Addressed an issue which could sometimes prevent players from using chat while the servers were under heavy load. We are aware that this fix will not resolve all of the current chat issues.

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

Originally posted by Msenge

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

Actually.  Yes he can.  GW2 isn't out yet and their servers are going to get hit hard.  Let's not put the cart before the horse just yet. 

Things should settle down after the next week or 2.MMo's usually receive many hotfixes and server updates in the first few weeks.Then it should be just 1-2 times a week,if that often.

Originally posted by Msenge

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

 

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

ArenaNet can patch their game without downtime ? So they can change their game code without disconnecting the players ? That's truly revolutionary.

I'm not aware of any operating system that will let you change a program while it's running, but I'm always happy to learn something new.

Originally posted by SpottyGekko

Originally posted by Msenge

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

 

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

ArenaNet can patch their game without downtime ? So they can change their game code without disconnecting the players ? That's truly revolutionary.

I'm not aware of any operating system that will let you change a program while it's running, but I'm always happy to learn something new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swapping#Software

Originally posted by jdnyc

Originally posted by Msenge

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

Actually.  Yes he can.  GW2 isn't out yet and their servers are going to get hit hard.  Let's not put the cart before the horse just yet. 

Actually he can't.  We've already seen the system work at launch of GW1 so we've seen the system work as stated at a game launch.  While GW1 wasn't a 'full' MMO in definition it had many of the backend systems and qualities other 'full' MMOs had.  And ArenaNet has always said it wan't the instanced nature of GW1 that allowed them to update on the fly. 

Also, we've seen the system work during the beta events which are used to test the servers and systems and to simulate full launch conditions.  And we've already seen some game systems fold under the wieght of the masses of players during betas (for instance the overflow server system had issues in the first public beta).  So these Beta Wknd Events are at least partially effective measures of full release.  And I personally saw the update system work twice in the last beta and it worked perfectly both times. 

Returning to GW1-again it had it's fair share of issues/bugs/etc. over it's lifetime, but the update/patching system has never been one of them.  If GW2 was being made by an unknown and untested dev studio and we hadn't seen this patching system work with our own eyes for over seven years (even under launch conditions) and most recently in the new game itself as well, I wouldn't have said anything.  If the patching system was just some idea or claim made by a dev without evidence I'd be right there with you.  But there is proof.

P.S. Just to note: In the part you quoted nowhere did I but a at launch stipulation.  I was refering to the games as a whole.  Over the course of TSW lifetime, the servers will be required to come down to patch the game (which is a true statement).  Over the course of GW2 lifetime, the servers will not be required to come down to patch the game (which is another true statement).  Will the GW2 servers have to come down at some point to effect an update.  Probably at some point (maybe if there is a need for a roll back for example).

Originally posted by Kaerigan

Originally posted by SpottyGekko

Originally posted by Msenge

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

 

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

ArenaNet can patch their game without downtime ? So they can change their game code without disconnecting the players ? That's truly revolutionary.

I'm not aware of any operating system that will let you change a program while it's running, but I'm always happy to learn something new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swapping#Software

So you reckon Anet coded the whole of GW2 using interactive programming techniques ? Interesting indeed. And they can change the code while 10K users are accessing it simultaneously ? I'm still sceptical, but we'll see it in practice soon enough.

Originally posted by SpottyGekko

Originally posted by Msenge

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

 

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

ArenaNet can patch their game without downtime ? So they can change their game code without disconnecting the players ? That's truly revolutionary.

I'm not aware of any operating system that will let you change a program while it's running, but I'm always happy to learn something new.

How the system works in GW2.  Every time you open the game the launcher checks the registry of files on your PC against the registry on Anet servers.  Any and all priority changes or new files are downloaded and installed immediately.  This obviously take less time for smaller patches than for larger (most times I've experianced times of a minute or less).  All lesser or low priority files are downloaded in the background while the game is running so there is less time players watch a patching progress bar. 

If there is a game update while you are playing the game there is a small notice on the UI and you have five minutes to close out of the game and reopen.  Once you reopen the patch is made by the system mentioned above.  If you don't close out of the game after 5 minutes the game will do it for you and automagically reopen the launcher so the the patch is installed as mentioned above. 

The servers themselves don't go down, but the player must relaunch the game.  So while the system isn't perfect enough to allow players to play with out interuption it is far better than blanket down times in other MMOs.

Originally posted by SpottyGekko

Originally posted by Kaerigan

Originally posted by SpottyGekko

Originally posted by Msenge

Originally posted by Mrlogic

This is normal for most mmos after launch, Im expecting something similar when GW2 launches (I hope not) but it wouldnt surprise or annoy me.

Well, such down times are quite normal in other MMOs especially at launch, but I wouldn't lump GW2 in with that group...at least in terms of server down time.  ArenaNet rarely ever takes their servers down (they can patch without downtime).  Just looking at GW1 which over it's entire lifespan (over 7 years) has only been down about 32 hours.  While GW1 is most definitely not GW2, we have seen the updating/patching process for GW2 and it works in much the same way.  This is not to say GW2 servers will never be down for maintenance or emergencies.

 

So while I don't begrudge TSW it's server downtime around game launch, you cannot say that it's something that every MMO has.

ArenaNet can patch their game without downtime ? So they can change their game code without disconnecting the players ? That's truly revolutionary.

I'm not aware of any operating system that will let you change a program while it's running, but I'm always happy to learn something new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swapping#Software

So you reckon Anet coded the whole of GW2 using interactive programming techniques ? Interesting indeed. And they can change the code while 10K users are accessing it simultaneously ? I'm still sceptical, but we'll see it in practice soon enough.

Why not? All they'd have to do is to push the new code out to all clients and then the clients themselves can do the actual hot swap. I don't see why it would take any more bandwidth than just regular ol' patching.

By Funcom standards, 3 hours of downtime is like the second coming(delayed by 3 hours).

MMORPG's are incredibly complex to make and maintian, let alone constantly update and build upon.  Thankfully ArenaNet's awesome updating system doesn't require 'downtimes' aside from 'Please restart whenever you have time and the game will automatically be patched' since it updates in the background.  For older designed MMORPG's... this is simply a necesity.