Please don't start neglecting downtime announcements on the forums... [Archive]

Hanners

11-23-2010, 11:41 AM

Hello,I realize that game downtime is semi-regularly at 7am Pacific time every Tuesday, but please don't start neglecting posting messages regarding the downtime to the forums. I like that the downtime is usually documented but it hasn't been posted on the official game announcements or update notes forum for this week, and there are usually posts for both the American and European servers.I know that there is a brief note on the Network Status page, but it's listed on the 'more details' tab -- if you are going to go down the route of using this page instead of the forums, please ensure that the network status main page includes scheduled downtime instead of a subpage.I know -- what's the big deal? Downtime is every Tuesday. However, recently the Tuesday updates have been happening at odd times, and I think it's only fair to the customers that the usual means of notification continue, including both the network status page as well as messages here on the forums.

Monotone

11-23-2010, 12:15 PM

<a href="http://everquest2.com/serverstatus/">http://everquest2.com/serverstatus/</a>they already annouce downtimes there...no need for two places...aint hard to just bookmark it and hit the more details button

PlaneCrazy

11-23-2010, 12:26 PM

It's not usually like Amnerys to miss making a downtime announcement. Usually, she makes the post in the Official News and Announcements thread around 7-8pm Pacific time on the night before. (which btw means that most of the time she does this from home on her own time) She has also started posting the update notes the night before as well, so we can see them right away instead of having to wait for her to get into work at 10am. She just makes a note on each post that the notes MAY change as the hotfix is being pushed.This is the first time she's missed a post in quit a while and like you said yourself, there's the network status page and the official downtime blurp there that is also posted sometime the night before (I think it's usually a little later then when Amnerys makes her posts though)Don't sweat it.... you'll soon get used to the Tuesday downtimes. It's actually nice that this game has so little interuptions.

Te'ana

11-23-2010, 12:36 PM

Yep, it is unusual to not have an official post on this. Nothing was posted on EQ2X either. I hope nothing is wrong with Amnerys.

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 12:59 PM

Yeah, that's my bad. I'm sorry guys. I never got a ticket yesterday scheduling downtime (or at least not before I left) and I forgot to check with the team, so I missed posting the notice.Usually I post the announcement over in the Official News and Announcements forum, so please continue to check there if you're unsure about a downtime.Darn it, there goes my attempt at being perfect. /sigh <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 01:04 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote>Yeah, that's my bad. I'm sorry guys. I never got a ticket yesterday scheduling downtime (or at least not before I left) and I forgot to check with the team, so I missed posting the notice.Usually I post the announcement over in the Official News and Announcements forum, so please continue to check there if you're unsure about a downtime.Darn it, there goes my attempt at being perfect. /sigh <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Hey, it's all good....just give us some new Velious info and we will call it even, okay? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 01:27 PM

Ok, let's see...Here's something I've never told anyone before...Velious has... snow! Lots of snow. Heaps and mounds and fields of snow. So really, you should probably start gearing up with warm gear right away. And now that I think of it, I might just open a stand at the start of the area and sell hot chocolate. Oh wait, I hate being cold, so I don't want to stand there all day peddling my warm drinks in the cold. Ok, I'll hire some Coldains to sell hot chocolate for me. Except they'd probably spike the hot chocolate with their ale and then it would just be like chocolatey beer, and that's gross.Nevermind. You guys can brave the cold without my hot chocolate. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />But hey, I posted the downtime notice now. So I guess I'm off the hook anyway? <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> hehehe

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 01:30 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok, let's see...Here's something I've never told anyone before...Velious has... snow! Lots of snow. Heaps and mounds and fields of snow. So really, you should probably start gearing up with warm gear right away. And now that I think of it, I might just open a stand at the start of the area and sell hot chocolate. Oh wait, I hate being cold, so I don't want to stand there all day peddling my warm drinks in the cold. Ok, I'll hire some Coldains to sell hot chocolate for me. Except they'd probably spike the hot chocolate with their ale and then it would just be like chocolatey beer, and that's gross.Nevermind. You guys can brave the cold without my hot chocolate. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />But hey, I posted the downtime notice now. So I guess I'm off the hook anyway? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> hehehe</blockquote>I hope the devs are okay with you releasing that kind of info! Some important stuff right there.

Landiin

11-23-2010, 01:32 PM

Snow it is! That is the only for sure thing they know that will be in Velious it looks like <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Taeolen

11-23-2010, 01:33 PM

Snow is clearly overpowered, but not nearly as overpowered as hot chocolate.I will cancel my account if hot chocolate is added!!!!!

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 01:37 PM

<cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>Snow it is! That is the only for sure thing they know that will be in Velious it looks like <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Well now, just to be clear...the devs know a lot more. But I sit in a different building so they don't give me all the good infoz until we get closer to release and I start really trying to pry the info from them. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> They're still busily working away, so I figured I'd best let them work so they can meet their deadlines...and THEN I start prying information. heheTo be honest, you've seen as much of it as I have if you saw the teaser this summer, or at Fan Faire. I like to be surprised too, so I don't want to see every step of the process...but maybe I'll see the end result just a little before everyone else. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Wait, we're getting off track. You're suppsed to be fussing at me for missing posting the downtime notice last night. I am prepared for my wet noodle lashing. Please proceed.Or we could talk more about hot chocolate. Because I do love my hot chocolate. Mmmmm.

Landiin

11-23-2010, 01:39 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>Snow it is! That is the only for sure thing they know that will be in Velious it looks like <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Well now, just to be clear...the devs know a lot more. But I sit in a different building so they don't give me all the good infoz until we get closer to release and I start really trying to pry the info from them. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /> They're still busily working away, so I figured I'd best let them work so they can meet their deadlines...and THEN I start prying information. heheTo be honest, you've seen as much of it as I have if you saw the teaser this summer, or at Fan Faire. I like to be surprised too, so I don't want to see every step of the process...but maybe I'll see the end result just a little before everyone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />Wait, we're getting off track. You're suppsed to be fussing at me for missing posting the downtime notice last night. I am prepared for my wet noodle lashing. Please proceed.Or we could talk more about hot chocolate. Because I do love my hot chocolate. Mmmmm.</blockquote>I was just ribben ya Amnery thats all <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 01:40 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>Snow it is! That is the only for sure thing they know that will be in Velious it looks like <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Well now, just to be clear...the devs know a lot more. But I sit in a different building so they don't give me all the good infoz until we get closer to release and I start really trying to pry the info from them. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /> They're still busily working away, so I figured I'd best let them work so they can meet their deadlines...and THEN I start prying information. heheTo be honest, you've seen as much of it as I have if you saw the teaser this summer, or at Fan Faire. I like to be surprised too, so I don't want to see every step of the process...but maybe I'll see the end result just a little before everyone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />Wait, we're getting off track. You're suppsed to be fussing at me for missing posting the downtime notice last night. I am prepared for my wet noodle lashing. Please proceed.Or we could talk more about hot chocolate. Because I do love my hot chocolate. Mmmmm.</blockquote>Why is hot chocolate so...hot? <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> When I get it on campus in the morning, and its freezing outside, I want to drink it right away, but I usually need to wait 30 minutes after I buy it to drink it!Okay, maybe 30 minutes is too long, I never timed myself.

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 01:44 PM

<cite>Toranx@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just ribben ya Amnery thats all <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Well, pffft. You do realize that it's before the hour of 9 over here? And seeing as I generally work from 10am to 7pm (bleh) I am generally not awake before the hour of 9. And I'm not a morning person. It's in my gamer DNA. We like late nights and later mornings. But alas, the phone of Rothgar rang at 7:45, so here I am, up and awake and posting on the forums.I think there might be an employee regulation against posting on less than 8 hours of sleep...or at least, there should be. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />And Taeolen, I absolutely don't want you to cancel, but I'm seriously contemplating contacting Domino to see if she'll add Amnerys' Hot Chocolate to the expansion now. Truly, the world would be a better place for it. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 01:46 PM

<cite>Vinyard@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why is hot chocolate so...hot? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> When I get it on campus in the morning, and its freezing outside, I want to drink it right away, but I usually need to wait 30 minutes after I buy it to drink it!Okay, maybe 30 minutes is too long, I never timed myself.</blockquote>I agree! We should write to the International Hot Chocolate Temperature Regulation Society of Elders and Master Hot Chocolatiers and request a sitting to discuss this matter.Just make sure the meeting is scheduled after 9 am, so I'm awake and alert. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Taeolen

11-23-2010, 01:47 PM

I move to have hot chocolate changed to very warm chocolate.All in favor?

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 01:50 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Vinyard@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why is hot chocolate so...hot? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> When I get it on campus in the morning, and its freezing outside, I want to drink it right away, but I usually need to wait 30 minutes after I buy it to drink it!Okay, maybe 30 minutes is too long, I never timed myself.</blockquote>I agree! We should write to the International Hot Chocolate Temperature Regulation Society of Elders and Master Hot Chocolatiers and request a sitting to discuss this matter.Just make sure the meeting is scheduled after 9 am, so I'm awake and alert. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Ah yes...the IHCTRSEMHC (which sounds really German if you pronounce it)Unfortunately, I'm in a diff. timezone than you, so your 9am is my 11am! But it's 26 degrees out right now, so maybe we can make arangements to hold the meeting in CA?

Eveningsong

11-23-2010, 01:53 PM

<cite>Vinyard@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why is hot chocolate so...hot? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> When I get it on campus in the morning, and its freezing outside, I want to drink it right away, but I usually need to wait 30 minutes after I buy it to drink it!Okay, maybe 30 minutes is too long, I never timed myself.</blockquote>That's what the whipped cream and marshmallows are for -- to cool it down! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Hanners

11-23-2010, 01:53 PM

Thank you for the replies! I was more concerned than anything that the forum updates would be discontinued. In my experience, where I work, when a regular job suddenly becomes irregular, it's not too long before it disappears entirely. I've been playing MMOs for ten years now and communicating server downtime seems to be an oddly irregular task and I like that it's pretty much the opposite here. Thank you =)

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 01:54 PM

<cite>Eveningsong wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Vinyard@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Why is hot chocolate so...hot? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> When I get it on campus in the morning, and its freezing outside, I want to drink it right away, but I usually need to wait 30 minutes after I buy it to drink it!Okay, maybe 30 minutes is too long, I never timed myself.</blockquote>That's what the whipped cream and marshmallows are for -- to cool it down! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>My campus isn't fancy like that...the hot chocolate comes from a machine and you just push a button <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> It's only like $1 though!

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 01:59 PM

Hanners, you're quite welcome. The honest truth is that there are so many moving parts to a game, and to the job of Community Manager, that sometimes I'm just going to mess up. I wish I could be perfect, but if I were, I'd probably be running my own company somewhere making gazillions of dollars. So I try to reserve those mess ups for smaller things, like a weekly hotfix instead of a Game Update or Expansion. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But I try my best to mess up as little as possible.And to tell the truth, I was so wrapped up in writing some news articles for today and next week, and talking to my team about upcoming projects, and grabbing screenshots of the upcoming Frostfell events, that the day just flew by and I didn't even think about it being a Monday (don't they normally just drag?) and it wasn't until this morning that I realized it was Tuesday and I hadn't gotten hotfix info! Ah well, perfection is boring anyway, I suppose. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 02:00 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hanners, you're quite welcome. The honest truth is that there are so many moving parts to a game, and to the job of Community Manager, that sometimes I'm just going to mess up. I wish I could be perfect, but if I were, I'd probably be running my own company somewhere making gazillions of dollars. So I try to reserve those mess ups for smaller things, like a weekly hotfix instead of a Game Update or Expansion. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> But I try my best to mess up as little as possible.And to tell the truth, I was so wrapped up in writing some news articles for today and next week, and talking to my team about upcoming projects, and grabbing screenshots of the upcoming Frostfell events, that the day just flew by and I didn't even think about it being a Monday (don't they normally just drag?) and it wasn't until this morning that I realized it was Tuesday and I hadn't gotten hotfix info! Ah well, perfection is boring anyway, I suppose. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>The 2 hours of downtime just passed, and servers are still locked. FIX IT AMNERYS'!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 02:03 PM

Oh noes. It's time for me to go get dressed (yes, I've been posting in my PJ's, muhahahaha!) and head into the office. I'll see if I can get an update before I hit the road.Hang tight!

Vinyard

11-23-2010, 02:05 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote>Oh noes. It's time for me to go get dressed (yes, I've been posting in my PJ's, muhahahaha!) and head into the office. I'll see if I can get an update before I hit the road.Hang tight!</blockquote>No, I apologize...that was just my addiction talking <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Was hoping to get some EQ in before class, cause I won't get home until around 8pm tonight /cry

Amnerys

11-23-2010, 02:17 PM

So, it sounds like the hotfix has been canceled. :You should be able to log in. Nothing will have changed since last week since they didn't actually run the fix. If and when they reschedule, I'll update everyone.I'm off to the office. Happy Tuesday!

PlaneCrazy

11-23-2010, 02:29 PM

<cite>Amnerys wrote:</cite><blockquote>So, it sounds like the hotfix has been canceled. :You should be able to log in. Nothing will have changed since last week since they didn't actually run the fix. If and when they reschedule, I'll update everyone.I'm off to the office. Happy Tuesday!</blockquote>Strange, i just logged in for the first time today and I see the new features (purchase button for character slots on character select screen and the gift button on SC)