Maintenance for the week of September 1:
• [COMPLETE] Xbox: NA and EU megaservers for patch maintenance – September 3, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC)
• [COMPLETE] PlayStation®: NA and EU megaservers for patch maintenance – September 3, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC)

Prime Time Maintenances?

Harleyquincey
Harleyquincey
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I'm sorry that I have to post this, since actually I deeply appreciate the game and enjoy it to the extent of having taken vacation for it.

Alas one can not be but very deeply concerned (a friendly variant of what I have received in messages, via zonechat, via friends of mine) about the actual time of maintenances and their short notice.

The weekly scheduled maintenances are already at terrible times (Tuesda afternoon, Sunday morning) but another one, right on Monday afternoon right around the time when people get back from work? There surely has to be alternatives to this.

Please don't make people quit just because they get frustrated by a choice you have entirely in your own hands. My suggestion? Tuesday morning, Thursday morning. Why? Because those are rarely national holidays, there is time after a weekend when more bug reports roll in and time after thursday (but before weekend) if something goes wrong with a patch. Also those times are elsewise rather empty of players.

Please reconsider this at least.
EU Server
Clavius Lydoris Probus - Imperial Dragonknight Tank
Co-Founder of [Black Manticore Brigade]
Proud member of [Sigma Draconis] and [House Zar]
  • Eris
    Eris
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    If you are talking about the maintenance happening right not, it is 7:30am where I am, hardly prime time. It's always prime time somewhere, but it's also always dead time somewhere else. So maintenance at any time is inconvenient to someone.
    Side effects of reading messages on forums can cause nausea, head aches, spontaneous fits of rage, urination due to intense laughter, and sometimes the death of your monitor or other object in throwing range. If you find that you are reading forums more than 24 hours a day, please consult your nearest temporal physicist.
  • yvanbroeckpreeb18_ESO
    I have to agree with you. This does happen at the worst possible time.

    I wonder if this'll continue once the EU Megaserver switches to the European location.
  • Heishi
    Heishi
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    The game is global, so someone's going to be in primetime no matter when they do it. I doubt there's a good solution here
    And so did many brave men, women, and beast fall to the end of Beta, never to be heard from again. All that is left, is whispers of the adventures they had.
  • Duccea
    Duccea
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    I have to fully agree with that. I love this game, but those maintenance times are simply unacceptable in the long run.
    I can see the reason for a short notice maintenance at prime time so shortly after the release, but if it stays that way, a lot of European customers will reconsider if they are really willing to pay for a service which is regulary unavaiable during their prime times.
  • KariTR
    KariTR
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    I've just read that the small patch will take 'several hours' and once done, the US server will be patched.

    Timezone wise, it would have made more sense to reverse this sequence (the US still being offpeak), but I guess the EU gets to be the game guinea pig.

    Great :/

    EDIT: Harley, hotfixes outside of regular maint is to be expected during the early life of a MMO, but the timing needs to looked at. It would have made more sense to do US now and EU later if they really expect the downtime to be as long as their announcement suggests.
    Edited by KariTR on April 7, 2014 2:40PM
  • Killsnakeb14_ESO
    I gotta agree on this... I like the game and playing it.. but maintenance in the prime time europe is insane... the worst possible time is right when everyone comes home... and then to have it last for hours.
    These hours should be changed as it would be rather bad to loose lots of players just cause you have to put this at the worst possible hour.
  • Brunlea
    Brunlea
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    A lot of quests and other things are broken for people and they can not progress. A patch is needed ASAP so thank you Zenimax.
  • Atwa
    Atwa
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    Oh, and please, DEVS can put the announcement onf forum? :) ,,|,, ,
    Guild Española "ESP Scrolls" /w Artema para unirte!
    www.espscrolls.es tu comunidad en Español.
  • strongy_p
    strongy_p
    i would say that since thiers only 2 servers and one is eu and one is us their the only time zones that matter atm, having maintanence at 3.30 / 4.30pm in the eu is just stupid.
  • Jarnhand
    Jarnhand
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    Yes, this need to change. This MMO has the worst downtimes, usually primetime play time for euro players.
    And its not a quick patch either, its expected several hours downtime.
    I guess it is to fix the huge nasty bank bug, but still.
    At least let people know why this is done.
    If planed downtime is in prime play time for people, many will just get angry and stop playing.
    And I hope you guys fix the bank bug, that one is nasty!
  • adlplumbingb16_ESO
    now, why now, why not this morning since you can take one down, then the other?
  • Publius_Scipio
    Publius_Scipio
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    The game just launched and needs fixes and tweaking to improve everyone's in-game experience. After a month or two I am sure the maintenance schedule will become normal.
  • Harleyquincey
    Harleyquincey
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    I am absolutely aware of it not being prime-time in some zones of the Earth. Yeah. However in the EU it is close to being prime time. Many folks work 9 to 5 and it's going to be right when they return from work that they will find the maintenance going on. That's usually the time many folks begin playing to relax from their jobs and all.

    So, sorry for not including this is about the timeframe in 80% of Europe, wasn't my intention to annoy anyone or anything. I really mean it in a positive, encouraging manner. I just politely ask to reconsider because this will drive people away. It has done that for other very large MMOs in the past and the last thing I want to see is people leaving TESO.

    I am very grateful for the game and its current state, smoothest launch I've participated in since '99 actually, and it's mind-boggling. Yet that is why this pick of the time is such an annoyance to many folks - because it is entirely the choice of ZeniMax Online.

    I don't expect (or mind) a bug or two here and there, that's to be expected, but this here is a choice thing, not a can-do-thing. :)

    Of course, this close to the release, it's good if the hotfixes come out asap. But that is why I am concerned (deeply so) about future downtimes. Not saying "dem evil guys do dat to me!" or "yay, all's swell!". It's a tough choice I can imagine right now but please, don't make these downtimes at these times a regular thing. It would be like putting water on a campfire ;)


    Edited by Harleyquincey on April 7, 2014 2:43PM
    EU Server
    Clavius Lydoris Probus - Imperial Dragonknight Tank
    Co-Founder of [Black Manticore Brigade]
    Proud member of [Sigma Draconis] and [House Zar]
  • scruffycavetroll
    scruffycavetroll
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    Well, I was wondering how long this was going to take. I disagree with you as to the timing.

    It is 1036 am est as I write this and a few minutes earlier I got a message that the server would be coming down in 1 minute for maintenance. I normally would be working right now like the majority of people so I wouldn't be effected by it and would come home to a working game but I took a 4 day weekend to play this, I'm not annoyed, you shouldn't be.

    Most MMo's bring down during the workday...also school is in session now, so most people are working / in school. it is the perfect time to do the maintenances.

    so long as they're done, done on a regular basis and with content fixes, updates, tweaks, etc, I'm totally OK with it. It's all part of what we are paying for! : D Now it's off to blow some stuff up in BF4 for a few hours.

    the one issue is the 1 minute lead time...10 / 15 please.
    Edited by scruffycavetroll on April 7, 2014 2:42PM
  • Duccea
    Duccea
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    Brunlea wrote: »
    A lot of quests and other things are broken for people and they can not progress. A patch is needed ASAP so thank you Zenimax.

    While I do agree on that, and I can also see that patching at this very moment might be the only option they have right now, I am still worried, since the regular maintenance downtimes they announced are scheduled to be on sunday mornings (around 10am CEST) and Tuesday afternoons, which I consider to be a rather bad choice sinde this will affect a lot of people in the EU. Why not do the maintenance for the EU servers during European nighttime or mornings?

  • taze222b14_ESO
    taze222b14_ESO
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    Yet doesn't every other MMO have their maintenance on Tuesdays? Zenimax has to be the most inexperienced MMO Dev I've seen.
  • adlplumbingb16_ESO
    I understand the reason for maintain the game, but things like this lost swtor loads of subs, as kept taking down during prime time, even on bank holidays.
  • Brunlea
    Brunlea
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    Duccea wrote: »
    Brunlea wrote: »
    A lot of quests and other things are broken for people and they can not progress. A patch is needed ASAP so thank you Zenimax.

    While I do agree on that, and I can also see that patching at this very moment might be the only option they have right now, I am still worried, since the regular maintenance downtimes they announced are scheduled to be on sunday mornings (around 10am CEST) and Tuesday afternoons, which I consider to be a rather bad choice sinde this will affect a lot of people in the EU. Why not do the maintenance for the EU servers during European nighttime or mornings?

    Yes their Sunday morning downtime needs a rethink and I'm sure they will get it right in time. After all they do need the EU :smile:
  • flameweaver
    flameweaver
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    Atwa wrote: »
    Oh, and please, DEVS can put the announcement onf forum? :) ,,|,, ,
    I'm actually seeing two announcements on the forum, one in German and one in French. I'm (supposedly) using the English version of the forums, so how come I don't see the maintenance announcement in English ?

    Edited by flameweaver on April 7, 2014 2:44PM
  • KariTR
    KariTR
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    Well, I was wondering how long this was going to take. I disagree with you as to the timing.

    It is 1036 am est as I write this and a few minutes earlier I got a message that the server would be coming down in 1 minute for maintenance. I normally would be working right now like the majority of people so I wouldn't be effected by it and would come home to a working game but I took a 4 day weekend to play this, I'm not annoyed, you shouldn't be.

    Most MMo's bring down during the workday...also school is in session now, so most people are working / in school. it is the perfect time to do the maintenances.

    so long as they're done, done on a regular basis and with content fixes, updates, tweaks, etc, I'm totally OK with it. It's all part of what we are paying for! : D Now it's off to blow some stuff up in BF4 for a few hours.

    the one issue is the 1 minute lead time...10 / 15 please.

    I was simply responding to the announcement, which states that the US server will only be taken down after the EU maintenance is complete. It makes sense for US to be down now during offpeak hours. It wouldn't have made sense to perform maint to EU first, if they were only to be doing one server at a time.

  • wghewittub17_ESO
    Eris wrote: »
    If you are talking about the maintenance happening right not, it is 7:30am where I am, hardly prime time. It's always prime time somewhere, but it's also always dead time somewhere else. So maintenance at any time is inconvenient to someone.

    It is indeed prime time for EU.. it's currently 4:45PM and most now come from work.

    Just like you now stated.. seems Zenimax have the same reaction than you and don't gives a rat ass about the EU players.

    Edited by wghewittub17_ESO on April 7, 2014 2:47PM
  • Myugen
    Myugen
    I have to agree with you. This does happen at the worst possible time.

    I wonder if this'll continue once the EU Megaserver switches to the European location.

    I think this is where things will change. Currently they probably take both servers down and do it doring work hours in NA. I'd like to think once they switch it over to EU, they'll be running the schedule on those hours.

    Game has only really been officially released for a few days...they're still new to this methinx.
  • Atwa
    Atwa
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    Atwa wrote: »
    Oh, and please, DEVS can put the announcement onf forum? :) ,,|,, ,
    I'm actually seeing two announcements on the forum, one in German and one in French. I'm (supposedly) using the English version of the forums, so how come I don't see the maintenance announcement in English ?

    I don't see nothing xDD


    Guild Española "ESP Scrolls" /w Artema para unirte!
    www.espscrolls.es tu comunidad en Español.
  • RustyBlades
    RustyBlades
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    I see that the EU servers are getting hit before the NA servers. I guess us NA guys are slower at finding exploits than the EU guys... see falling behind in the tech race..
  • Oblongship
    Oblongship
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    Heishi wrote: »
    The game is global, so someone's going to be in primetime no matter when they do it. I doubt there's a good solution here

    Game may be global but there are North American servers that should not be going down in the middle of the day...
  • jusueb17_ESO
    I have to agree with this. Its really annoying that when you get back from work and there is maintenance. You really should reconsider doing maintenance at peak hours. Why to prevent people from playing? I think that would be bringing more dissatisfied customers. Most players are anyhow working or studying, they have free time at evenings.

    "Oh, and please, DEVS can put the announcement onf forum? :) ,,|,, , "
    - Thumbs up for this! -
  • Evenio
    Evenio
    Eris wrote: »
    If you are talking about the maintenance happening right not, it is 7:30am where I am, hardly prime time. It's always prime time somewhere, but it's also always dead time somewhere else. So maintenance at any time is inconvenient to someone.

    if it's 7:30 AM where you are, then you are not in Europe, that's pretty obvious.
    Edited by Evenio on April 7, 2014 2:50PM
  • dinaerb16_ESO
    dinaerb16_ESO
    Soul Shriven
    Well actually is not true that is the same at any time, we have 2 different TIME ZONE servers US and EU so there should be different TIME ZONE maintenances.

    In Europe time can vary from 1 or 2 hours but mostly is Afternoon = time in wich a lots of player will play after a day at work...so is not fair at all.

    Do different maintenance or give EU player time back on their account time.
  • bytestream
    bytestream
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    Eris wrote: »
    If you are talking about the maintenance happening right not, it is 7:30am where I am, hardly prime time. It's always prime time somewhere, but it's also always dead time somewhere else. So maintenance at any time is inconvenient to someone.

    The thread is about the EU server, and in the EU it's not 7:30am, it's around 16:50 (+/-1 1 hour) which is prime time. People are coming home from work right now and want to play the game they pay a monthly fee for. That's not the time to shut the servers down for several hours.

    Maintenance is important, no doubt, but if you do it do it while your costumers are at work or sleeping, not during prime time.
  • Duccea
    Duccea
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    Myugen wrote: »
    Game has only really been officially released for a few days...they're still new to this methinx.

    Yes, they are still new to it and the game is still new and thus sometimes in need of emergency bug fixes.

    And if people voice their disagreement with those maintenance times and their unwillingness to accept those on the long run, here's hoping this will be heard by the Devs and helps them with picking maintenance times which affect less people in the future. :smile:

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