Why no more updates on the transfers/server closures?

[maartena]

Turbine started the year with quite a bang, and promised to keep us updated... but after a few weeks in the updates stopped. Now they are back into their old "we will release information when it is ready to be released" mode.

I really would like to hear some updates, spring is less then a month away..... Frelorn? Vyvyanne?

[Leixy]

Vyvyanne and the dev/server team are in a delicate balancing act right now.

Not only are they upgrading server hardware for LOTRO, DDO, Infinite Crisis, and their unannounced game, all at one time, but also the core systems at the same time with server transfers with account migrations / kinship migrations etc.

This is the most recent major post about it from Jan 30th. https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...nsfer-Features

It's been 3 weeks since then, and they are probably very busy building those new database mechanics.

[matalan]

When I read the prod letter it said it was for the next 6 months. I assumed that meant all the server stuff would be dealt with in that time. I think I was being too keen.

I also think turbine have realized it is going to take longer than they had hoped, and I dont hold that against them.

I do agree that it could take months, and we'll have info and threads when ready doesn't look good.... I can feel things slipping already.

I dont have much faith if I'm honest!

[Jewl_of_the_lake]

It also does not help Turbine much when there is 10 feet of snow on the ground.

[Brinswith]

I would like to know how much the adverse weather has set back the things outlined in the Producers Letter are we looking at a June/July release for U16?

[Eldarian_Grace]

I would like to know how much the adverse weather has set back the things outlined in the Producers Letter are we looking at a June/July release for U16?

Hopefully the technical staff will have been able to remote in and do most of what they planned to do from home

[Yula_the_Mighty]

When I read the prod letter it said it was for the next 6 months. I assumed that meant all the server stuff would be dealt with in that time. I think I was being too keen.

A six month Producer's Letter is supposed to tell what they are spending the next six months on. Proper planning means it takes them six months to get it done because Athena needs to keep her people busy every day.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Hopefully the technical staff will have been able to remote in and do most of what they planned to do from home

For the company that I work as a software developer there are a lot of stuff that can't be accessed remotely. It is considered to large a security risk to internet enable these functions. Another issue only part the staff has significant remote access. Every one that you allow access is another point of entry into the systems. There are ways to get your work done to a point when you are not in the office. You get to the place where you new a internal access point to continue.

Everybody's greatest fear is that somebody will download the entire code database, project definitions, build files. Adobe is one example of a company had some of their source code stolen. Somebody had everything taken for one of their products.

[Balcony]

As I recall, the announcement was in a ToDo list for this year, with a line saying "..and we hope to have it done by December".

[Frelorn]

There have not been updates on this because right now we have no real new information. The work is progressing and the team is continuing to get everything they need to get done. When we have some new information we will certainly pass it along, but as of now we do not have anything new on this. And yes the snow did not help, but it will not have a significant impact on when the work is finished.

In short, things are progressing but there is really not anything new we have to share right now. When we do have more information, you can be sure it will be posted here.

[TaSwavo4God]

There have not been updates on this because right now we have no real new information. The work is progressing and the team is continuing to get everything they need to get done. When we have some new information we will certainly pass it along, but as of now we do not have anything new on this. And yes the snow did not help, but it will not have a significant impact on when the work is finished.

In short, things are progressing but there is really not anything new we have to share right now. When we do have more information, you can be sure it will be posted here.

To me, that IS an announcement of work in progress.
That is actually what we are after on a regular basis. Nothing more unless you have it. But not no post at all
Thanks Frelorn - could you make it weekly, even if it's nothing more than a weather report and how the work is going (slow, medium, fast). I work as a programmer (data analysis so very different) and I do get that overall progress on a big task is done in bits and it's not easy to see overall progress at times until things gel together nearer the end.
We're just after a general impression of progress - unless you have something concrete you're allowed to tell us.

Thanks again

[Valamar]

Turbine started the year with quite a bang, and promised to keep us updated... but after a few weeks in the updates stopped. Now they are back into their old "we will release information when it is ready to be released" mode.

I really would like to hear some updates, spring is less then a month away..... Frelorn? Vyvyanne?

The Producer's Letter was posted on 7 January.
Spring may be only a month away (although most of the folks in Boston will laugh at that statement) however,
it NOW STILL only February -- that announcement was only about 7 weeks ago.

Be patient.

[Valamar]

To me, that IS an announcement of work in progress.
That is actually what we are after on a regular basis. Nothing more unless you have it. But not no post at all
Thanks Frelorn - could you make it weekly, even if it's nothing more than a weather report and how the work is going (slow, medium, fast). I work as a programmer (data analysis so very different) and I do get that overall progress on a big task is done in bits and it's not easy to see overall progress at times until things gel together nearer the end.
We're just after a general impression of progress - unless you have something concrete you're allowed to tell us.

Thanks again

Major projects like this do NOT take place in a vacuum.

If you have ever worked in any kind of software or engineering environment where you were required to give status reports ever 7 days (i.e.weekly) -- that meant, in a good week, you got a maximum of 4 days worth of work done. I say a MAXIMUM, because during that same period, you had an infinite number of "Team meetings," "Project Coordination meetings," meetings with vendors, etc. I have never worked on a project where Management's estimate of how long something would take was simply off by a day or two -- they were usually simply wrong - by weeks or months. And the more reporting they required, the worse those estimates got.

The more meetings, reporting and coordination that takes place, the less work gets done, and since major projects cannot be done by one individual working alone . . .

[frost702]

Vyvyanne stopped replying to my inquisitive PMs, I guess it's all top secret.

[TaSwavo4God]

Major projects like this do NOT take place in a vacuum.

If you have ever worked in any kind of software or engineering environment where you were required to give status reports ever 7 days (i.e.weekly) -- that meant, in a good week, you got a maximum of 4 days worth of work done. I say a MAXIMUM, because during that same period, you had an infinite number of "Team meetings," "Project Coordination meetings," meetings with vendors, etc. I have never worked on a project where Management's estimate of how long something would take was simply off by a day or two -- they were usually simply wrong - by weeks or months. And the more reporting they required, the worse those estimates got.

The more meetings, reporting and coordination that takes place, the less work gets done, and since major projects cannot be done by one individual working alone . . .

Sorry - I'd say that was pretty much garbage for the dev at the end - the dev at the end may spend 10% of his/her time in meetings unless the managers are poor.
I spend 15 minutes a day and plaus 2 hours every two weeks.
Plus any other time I need - that is just my "team time"

Actually in ALL weeks you get 4.5 days done on work - unless the managers want to take up too much of your time rather than using theirs going desk to desk asking questions as used to happen in sane times.
daily meetings plus active managers? try it.

I hate doing the control I have in last 6 months - but it works and is controlled - I tell them what I can/cannot do
if another picks that project up and does it faster/better - WE win

but turbine team is NOT like that - the lotro level-design team OR the lotro 3d asset team have tasks - they can report upon progress
your circumstances sound like poor management or a scheme like we used to have (which worked REALLY well until we just got too big for it - or they reduced devs down to just me... removing the other 3)
Perhaps there is a connection - but my story is true and I am working hard and am stable in my post because of it

draw your own conclusions ;P

[redwoodtreesprite]

It's the timeframe many are nervous about.

For example, how much notice will we get once servers are selected to be closed. A month, 3 months?

And a general idea of when it is expected this all might start would be good. It would certainly help sales of mithril coins and such if we knew if it was likely 3 months, 6 months, some general idea...

Many are holding off on renewing subs, buying TP and such. If it was expected to be at least 6 months for things to start on all this, and it was announced as likely 6 months, you would get a lot more money spent on the game.
As it is now, you are likely to have more and more people spending less and less, and maybe even taking a break for a while. If too many players do this, it will cause even lower populations on some servers. A continuing downward spiral...

[maartena]

There have not been updates on this because right now we have no real new information. The work is progressing and the team is continuing to get everything they need to get done. When we have some new information we will certainly pass it along, but as of now we do not have anything new on this. And yes the snow did not help, but it will not have a significant impact on when the work is finished.

In short, things are progressing but there is really not anything new we have to share right now. When we do have more information, you can be sure it will be posted here.

Thank you for updating us, I really appreciate it.

Hopefully we'll hear something soon. This is a rather big issue, and I do understand you wanting to make sure it goes smoothly. But also understand that is a big issue for the players.

Thank you.

[Banaticus]

GG, Frelorn. Seriously, you're doing great.

[Hammadryad]

It's the timeframe many are nervous about.

For example, how much notice will we get once servers are selected to be closed. A month, 3 months?

And a general idea of when it is expected this all might start would be good. It would certainly help sales of mithril coins and such if we knew if it was likely 3 months, 6 months, some general idea...

Many are holding off on renewing subs, buying TP and such. If it was expected to be at least 6 months for things to start on all this, and it was announced as likely 6 months, you would get a lot more money spent on the game.
As it is now, you are likely to have more and more people spending less and less, and maybe even taking a break for a while. If too many players do this, it will cause even lower populations on some servers. A continuing downward spiral...

I second this. My friends and I have been discussing whether we want to buy, spend, invest time and money in the game until we know roughly when things are going to happen. We finally decided this week that we aren't, we all shelved our characters and have gone off to play a different game until Lotro gets its act together. The big question is, when things finally happen will we come back? That depends on how long they take, how deeply we have got into out new game and what state Lotro is in after they finish and the rage, screams of anguish and the inevitable round of ragequits have happened. The longer it drags on, the more chance other players will join us and the more players who might not come back. So the ball is in Turbine's court, they started all this with the news of server closures, but obviously with no idea how or when it will happen.

[cdq1958]

I would like to know how much the adverse weather has set back the things outlined in the Producers Letter are we looking at a June/July release for U16?

Where was it said in January that U16 was coming in April? Major releases typically take longer to do and there has been a lot of staff turnover in the last 12 months. When U16 was announced, I was/am expecting a May/June release for it. I did see a late April release as possible, but really stretching things.

[Bulbous]

I second this. My friends and I have been discussing whether we want to buy, spend, invest time and money in the game until we know roughly when things are going to happen.

Really? The "when" makes no difference whatsoever...

[Hammadryad]

Really? The "when" makes no difference whatsoever...

Of course it makes a difference! If the closures/transfers happen in the next month or so then I would hold off on making that new character, buying stuff like Mithril coins, TP etc and wait to see what happens, where I end up, what the kin does, and all the other minutae that comes with it. If however it is 6 months, 9 months maybe even next year before it all happens that is a completely different kettle of fish. I am not prepared to hang around in limbo for ever to see what Turbine eventually does.

If we had some idea of when this all might happen then I would know whether to resubscribe, buy those Mithril Coins, know where the kin might be going, know if it's still worth while playing Lotro. This is a social MMO, and if enough of my friends quit for whatever reason then I may not have enough reason to still play it. They and I am starting to lose interest due to an uncertain future and the longer it drags on with no news of even a vague timeframe or list of servers to be closed or remaining, then the more apathy some of us are feeling.

It's like being told that your house may be demolished sometime in the future. Is it worth repainting and doing certain improvements because you might still be there for at least a year? Or would it just be a waste and your better off looking for somewhere else to live? And if there was no idea of when the decision might be made, why tell us and leave us to worry before you knew anything anyway?

[BangoTwinkletoes]

Of course it makes a difference! If the closures/transfers happen in the next month or so then I would hold off on making that new character, buying stuff like Mithril coins, TP etc and wait to see what happens, where I end up, what the kin does, and all the other minutae that comes with it. If however it is 6 months, 9 months maybe even next year before it all happens that is a completely different kettle of fish. I am not prepared to hang around in limbo for ever to see what Turbine eventually does.

If we had some idea of when this all might happen then I would know whether to resubscribe, buy those Mithril Coins, know where the kin might be going, know if it's still worth while playing Lotro. This is a social MMO, and if enough of my friends quit for whatever reason then I may not have enough reason to still play it. They and I am starting to lose interest due to an uncertain future and the longer it drags on with no news of even a vague timeframe or list of servers to be closed or remaining, then the more apathy some of us are feeling.

It's like being told that your house may be demolished sometime in the future. Is it worth repainting and doing certain improvements because you might still be there for at least a year? Or would it just be a waste and your better off looking for somewhere else to live? And if there was no idea of when the decision might be made, why tell us and leave us to worry before you knew anything anyway?

Just a friendly question, but why are are you not being more proactive about ensuring a positive outcome as a result of the mergers for your characters and the kin? The previous poster is right, when it happens is less of importance as which servers close, the terms of the transfer and how you're going about finding a new home.

The key is not to be passive and instead make it yours and your kin pals goals to focus on finding a new server. That way when the time comes you'll have a plan and the decision will already have been made

[Radbug]

Of course it makes a difference! If the closures/transfers happen in the next month or so then I would hold off on making that new character, buying stuff like Mithril coins, TP etc and wait to see what happens, where I end up, what the kin does, and all the other minutae that comes with it. If however it is 6 months, 9 months maybe even next year before it all happens that is a completely different kettle of fish. I am not prepared to hang around in limbo for ever to see what Turbine eventually does.

If we had some idea of when this all might happen then I would know whether to resubscribe, buy those Mithril Coins, know where the kin might be going, know if it's still worth while playing Lotro. This is a social MMO, and if enough of my friends quit for whatever reason then I may not have enough reason to still play it. They and I am starting to lose interest due to an uncertain future and the longer it drags on with no news of even a vague timeframe or list of servers to be closed or remaining, then the more apathy some of us are feeling.

It's like being told that your house may be demolished sometime in the future. Is it worth repainting and doing certain improvements because you might still be there for at least a year? Or would it just be a waste and your better off looking for somewhere else to live? And if there was no idea of when the decision might be made, why tell us and leave us to worry before you knew anything anyway?

I thought you had made a decision already...

I second this. My friends and I have been discussing whether we want to buy, spend, invest time and money in the game until we know roughly when things are going to happen. We finally decided this week that we aren't, we all shelved our characters and have gone off to play a different game until Lotro gets its act together. The big question is, when things finally happen will we come back? That depends on how long they take, how deeply we have got into out new game and what state Lotro is in after they finish and the rage, screams of anguish and the inevitable round of ragequits have happened. The longer it drags on, the more chance other players will join us and the more players who might not come back. So the ball is in Turbine's court, they started all this with the news of server closures, but obviously with no idea how or when it will happen.

Do us a favour Podgie and get your story straight.

Cheers

[Galadhloth]

The first few weeks I was chomping at the bit for MORE DETAILS NOW... and as much as I am dying to know what's going to happen with my beloved Imladris, I've just sort of decided that while I am still having fun in the game (and I am!), I'm just going to continue to enjoy myself and deal with what happens whenever it comes. I have made a few contingency plans anticipating what I'll do if this server stays, or if that server closes, and I've checked out a few alternate servers, but that's about as far as it has gone.

The only real change I've made, and it's a fairly minor one, is that I'm only paying housing upkeep in small amounts instead of filling up the whole 6 month upkeep queue, figuring that any paid housing maintenance costs probably aren't going to transfer in case of server closure.