Patch Debacle

Melchizedek · 01-21-2006, 05:26 PM

Without Violating Any Rules, this is not a slam on any game company.

Recently a patch came down from a very popular MMO that many of us play or played, loved than hated, only to love again. During this patch some things went live that should have never went live and thus caused major consternation.

The results of certain NPCs going live was a massive rollback where people did not only loose XP, but they lost flags, AAs, and Gear. This scares the heck out of me. I plan to play VG 4 to 6 hours a day when I do not work and 3 to 4 when I do (I got a cool wife like that). I don't want to see a flag or a peice of gear get taken away because of an "oops".

I can go into greater detail but I do not want to turn this into a hate company X or game Y. I want to know Vanguard will be better and I feel this is a legitimate question that should be discussed while the game is still in beta.

Can anyone discuss how patching will work in VG so we don't have a catastrphic debacle?

PS Sorry for typoz, I have more drugs in me than a heroin attict going through rehab

Twyla · 01-21-2006, 10:58 PM

Greetings Melchizedek,

I feel that a game is a game, we play them for entertainment. We pay for this entertainment. At no time do players own anything in these games, we do not pay for ownership of anything in the game.

From that point of view maybe these players in your example are unhappy with their entertainment and want to be compensated for the time they spent being entertained. In that case I agree that a case for compensation in some form be given. (Be it double exp or free subscription time)

But I do not agree that these players own the virtual characters or items in the game and should never be affected by changes the developers see fit to make.

I think players get a little too attached sometimes, you pay for entertainment, you don't own the character or its items or its advancement in the game.

Sorry if I misunderstood your post but it came across as if you think the players have entitlement to the characters they play and any affects that change them by the developers. I feel that is an attached point of view, that sheds anything the developers do in a harsh light.

Its just a game played for entertainment. Developers are going to make changes. If the games stops being entertaining for you then its time to move on.

Lycrist · 01-21-2006, 11:26 PM

I think SOE had to do what was best for the overall well-being of the game. While it definitely wasn't the players' fault, I think it's understandable that mistakes will happen.

AFAIK they added an increased experience boost through the weekend to sort of make up for it.

I do agree that it could have been handled better.

Aredhel · 01-22-2006, 04:12 AM

My guild mates there are talking about this. I almost refuse to log in right now because of it. I hate the boosted exp! It's a "legitimate" form of powerleveling. One of them sent me a tell tonite saying that she agreed with my stand. They are seeing lots of characters go from 1 to 70 in less than 3 months because of this kind of thing. (there has been more than one "oops" lately there!)

One of my friends said that it was getting harder to find a real group, rather than one that had been powerleveled by the game. They don't know how to play! hmm...sounds a lot like what I've squawked about for years!

And, while I understand Twyla's thoughts, I also understand Mel. Some of those flags or items are a major PAIN to get the first time, and the GMs can't restore that stuff (flags). And if they lose the data base with the logs....well, ya get the idea! It doesn't give players warm fuzzies! At the same time, exp is easy to get. I never worry about that!

And Mel, about your question on patches: No clue, hon. Far as we know, it's going to be a lot of the way the other games do it now. Bring down the servers and patch away! Some patches can be done while the servers are still up, and you don't realize it until you log back in. I certainly don't live in those shoes, so I don't think any of us here are qualified. Maybe Glip or one of the others will nose over and be able to respond a bit better!

Greymain · 01-22-2006, 07:48 AM

Surely part of the problem relates to testing and test servers. Having played both AC2 and Horizons from beta I am a veteran of bad patches and Rollbacks. Also as someone who worked in IT for 30 years I understand the need for good code and proper testing.

Companies need a test server, need to have regular backup to reduce roll-back time. As paying customers we deserve recompense if they mess-up. At least vanguard has some advantages using the Unreal engine in that the core bugs will have been identified and sorted.

Flagg · 01-23-2006, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycrist

I think SOE had to do what was best for the overall well-being of the game. While it definitely wasn't the players' fault, I think it's understandable that mistakes will happen.

AFAIK they added an increased experience boost through the weekend to sort of make up for it.

I do agree that it could have been handled better.

That my friend is a understatement
as far what they should hav done was just shut seavers down asap and gave some free time away etc instaed of punishing every poor fellow that had the most remote possible contact with the tiantied stuff. Form what I understand they punish people that had contact with normal vendors just becuase some jerk face took advanage of the tainted vendor and then sold to the normal vendor. Also if they were going to nerf all the flags and stuff that was earned during this time just cuase one person or whatever on the raid touched thier mistake it would have been better to just shut down and explain what happened and give everybody some free time to make up for it. I think everybody, well except jerkwads that wanted to take advanage of this situation, wanted them to perseve the game's moral stance etc. They just let it fester too long and thus had to carry a bigger nerf stick then should have been needed.

Melchizedek · 01-23-2006, 05:57 PM

This is the nerf bat from hell. I never thought something like this could happen. I am so glad I am not playing EQ. Aredhel, on a 50 dollar bet I took a cleric from 1 to 70 in 5 days and change. I could have made a business out of this but decided against it as I think that it was bogus to sell characters. But it is so easy to go from 1 to 70 anymore.

Finially, I would really like to know SGO's stand on this. How are they going to ensure this kind of debacle doesn't happen in VG? I think they could release some statement of how they plan to ensure bad patches don't kill flags and gear.

Aredhel · 01-23-2006, 10:01 PM

Well, we know there will be items. We don't know what they plan on for zone entrances and all as the game progresses. The only ones that can answer that, tho, is them. Hopefully, tho, they will think before doing anything as nutso as this! Flagg is right!

Cobalt Katze · 01-24-2006, 12:43 AM

I think their official reply would be something along the lines of that things outside of logic or preparation do happen, and that some times it just isn't able to be perfect 100% of the time. Mistakes will happen, wrong choices will be made... but they won't necissarily be the same mistakes or choices taken in the past.