Stop releasing updates/expansions/new content and focus on the lag problem

[Feldanor]

Yet another night of t4 progression wasted due to lag. It's beyond a joke at this point. The nerve of SSG to have an expansion coming out when the game is in such a poor, almost unplayable state, is a disgrace. You won't keep new players playing the game when server they play on just lags all the time. Nothing they have done has even slightly improved the problem. I know they are now saying the quest/deed system is now to blame but there's always an excuse. Nothing changes. This game has many issues but the lag making it unplayable is the biggest by far. I for one would much rather no content updates, and for the resources to be put into solving this problem that's been going on for years. Wiping in a raid because you can't move or use skills isn't fun. Lag shouldn't be a mechanic, but it dam well feels like one ATM.

[TronGilrain]

I second that. Yesterday on Evernight we wiped 3x on last wave of adds on B2 becouse people could not do ANYTHING for 3-5 seconds. Riddicules. Stop making low lvl areas and 1-32 lvl expansions and FIX damn lag. Even if that mean no new content for while. Game is sometimes unplayable.

[ertr]

Stopping work on new content would not help much with fixing lag, because it is mostly different people with different skillsets who work on each.
If work on new content stopped, that would just mean a bunch of people would sit around doing nothing. They would not be able to help fixing the lag problem, because they wouldn't have the needed skill or knowledge.

[Feldanor]

It would make a significant difference. Rather than spending money and resources on game development, spend it on fixing this major continued problem.

[ertr]

It would make a significant difference. Rather than spending money and resources on game development, spend it on fixing this major continued problem.

So you think they should fire the people who work on creating content? Because that is the only way they could free up any money by stopping development of new content.
And if they do fire those people, how would they go about restarting development of new content in some future where the lag problems are fixed?

[Plidak]

So you think they should fire the people who work on creating content? Because that is the only way they could free up any money by stopping development of new content.
And if they do fire those people, how would they go about restarting development of new content in some future where the lag problems are fixed?

i support the game the way i can, so my coment is far from hating or trolling.
Let me ask you, how long you think ppl will pay for this lag fest?
Yes i know, its a random to everyone, some have it, some dont, but is here.
In raids, in t2 3 +
It hurts. Its also unpleyable at some point.
We did t2 with ALMOST zero lag /hh t2/ and then on Throne t2 challange, we were not able to move.
Wiping on Ogre /as lvl 140/ because no one can see and cc adds its not fun. We were not able to do this boss challange because of lag.
We also wipe alteast 5 times / 5 of many/ because lag was so big, we dided insta from nothing. Nameless were still yellow, we just get insta one shot.
We started with 8 ppl, we were 12 at some point, and we changed 20. Not kicked, ppl just get frustrated and leave.
At the end we finish it with 6 / HOURS later/ and 2 of them didnt get the deed because of lag.
No, not fun at all.

SSG should redirect their resources to improve server performance or ppl will start droping like flyes.
This is how i see things.

[Feldanor]

So you think they should fire the people who work on creating content? Because that is the only way they could free up any money by stopping development of new content.
And if they do fire those people, how would they go about restarting development of new content in some future where the lag problems are fixed?

Why fire anyone? I'm sure they can find work for them to do. The lag is a big problem that needs dealing with. If money needs to be spent, ppl brought in to sort it etc, then they really do need to do it. As PMPIZDQK said, if they dont fix it they'll lose more ppl. Then no one will have a job.

[Trobon]

Why fire anyone? I'm sure they can find work for them to do.

Yeah. Making content. The art team isn’t going to be able to do anything to fix the lag so they make art assets for updates and content. Quest writers aren’t going to fix lag so they write new stories for updates and content. Etc. A “developer” isn’t some fungible asset you can trade out working on content for fixing bugs.

[Plidak]

Yeah. Making content. The art team isn’t going to be able to do anything to fix the lag so they make art assets for updates and content. Quest writers aren’t going to fix lag so they write new stories for updates and content. Etc. A “developer” isn’t some fungible asset you can trade out working on content for fixing bugs.

Do you fuel a broken car ?

[GozmitJosh]

Do you fuel a broken car ?

Do you really want the person who designs the fancy look of the car to start working on the engine untrained?

[Trobon]

Do you fuel a broken car ?

What a poor comparison to what I said. However, since you used the analogy, if my car has trouble starting and the heat doesn’t work and the radio it’s leaking oil that won’t change the fact that I still need to fuel it to get to work. I assume you were trying to be clever in saying your wouldn’t fuel a car that can’t drive but that’s not apt when discussing a game that does play, even if you think it plays poorly. A car that drives poorly still needs fuel to run.

Again, this is all based on a poor analogy though. And as Gozmit says, I wouldn’t expect the guy who washes my car to fix the oil leak or check the starter. I would expect him to wash the car.

[Plidak]

What a poor comparison to what I said. However, since you used the analogy, if my car has trouble starting and the heat doesn’t work and the radio it’s leaking oil that won’t change the fact that I still need to fuel it to get to work. I assume you were trying to be clever in saying your wouldn’t fuel a car that can’t drive but that’s not apt when discussing a game that does play, even if you think it plays poorly. A car that drives poorly still needs fuel to run.

Again, this is all based on a poor analogy though. And as Gozmit says, I wouldn’t expect the guy who washes my car to fix the oil leak or check the starter. I would expect him to wash the car.

Im not trying to be clever. Im.
So clever, that i can see where this goes.
Log in Evernight and follow WC. Ppl have fun of lag. From weeks. For now we menage to turn it to fun...
There is event comming. New expansion/ content too= even more strugle for servers.
And instead of INSISTING SSG to redirect some /if not all/ resources to atleast fix part of the lag, you support the idea of making new content.
I do agree that sales are needed to make profit, but lag need to be fixed. i dont know what contnet you play, maybe solo, enjoying questing/ exploring? Ye then you care less about the lag. But trying to do something compeditive, turns to fars.
Maye this is the SSG way to finaly get rid of their demanding end game player base .
If yes, then they are about to succeed.

[Froyo_K_Baggins]

So you think they should fire the people who work on creating content? Because that is the only way they could free up any money by stopping development of new content.
And if they do fire those people, how would they go about restarting development of new content in some future where the lag problems are fixed?

Why, yes. If they don't have money to do both, fire the people creating buggy, uninteresting expansions and focus on hiring people to rebuild the server and fix lag. When the servers work better, they'll retain more players, rather than leaking like a sieve, and the added income from new players hanging around will let them hire some content folks again.

[Trobon]

Im not trying to be clever. Im.
So clever, that i can see where this goes.
Log in Evernight and follow WC. Ppl have fun of lag. From weeks. For now we menage to turn it to fun...
There is event comming. New expansion/ content too= even more strugle for servers.
And instead of INSISTING SSG to redirect some /if not all/ resources to atleast fix part of the lag, you support the idea of making new content.
I do agree that sales are needed to make profit, but lag need to be fixed. i dont know what contnet you play, maybe solo, enjoying questing/ exploring? Ye then you care less about the lag. But trying to do something compeditive, turns to fars.
Maye this is the SSG way to finaly get rid of their demanding end game player base .
If yes, then they are about to succeed.

Uh-huh. This whole tirade has been said in one form or another for one reason or another for the past 15 years. So yeah, I agree they should fix the lag, but that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of the developers don’t work on things that touch the lag and you can’t just divert them to doing so. So go on your soapbox if you want, but after 15 years of hearing how xyz is going to die it’s not really that effective of an argument to me.

[Plidak]

Uh-huh. This whole tirade has been said in one form or another for one reason or another for the past 15 years. So yeah, I agree they should fix the lag, but that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of the developers don’t work on things that touch the lag and you can’t just divert them to doing so. So go on your soapbox if you want, but after 15 years of hearing how xyz is going to die it’s not really that effective of an argument to me.

Game has nothing to do with the game we had 15y ago. Speaking of performance. We had some hickups 1y ago, but wasnt so laggy. Not even on "flower" expansion. This have nothing to do with server population, or conection speed. Nor with how powerful your pc is. Its clearly related to the new content release and probably the ones you defend are behind it. " lot of the developers don’t work on things that touch the lag and you can’t just divert them to doing so." They probably create the thing, causing the lag.
They should fix the lag yes, at any cost, even if that cost is some ppl heads.
About the "game has going to die" its already dead for some classes. Good luck wardening, or with your LM CC induction. You see thing happening 2-3 second after they happen.(if lucky to even see them)

I play 2 more other games, but in lotro im here to stay. And i dont want to see this game turn to ghost town (already did before servers merge, and it takes years to stabilise)

[Feldanor]

It's clear that lag hasn't been a priority to ssg. Either they need to spend some money and accept a loss for a time or, yeh maybe they do need to fire some of the art guys/developers. As has been said this isn't a new problem. They will have had chances to replace people who left with l who could have fixed this issue. There has been no significant improvement to the lag issue for years. If creating new content is what's causing lag then send those developers or whatever to another game. In the nicest sense it's not my our any of our problems to sort out what to do with those guys. We have a new area coming soon. In theory may attract new players to the game. They will all leave the game when the feel the lag. It's a major factor that's made evernight a shell of its former self. The number of people and kins that have left the game is shocking.

[DoRonRon]

I'd put them on playing the game on Evernight every afternoon. A few weeks in our shoes will get them a morsel of context and a fresh set of eyes on colleagues' efforts. Get them out of their own bubbles so they see the multitude of systems we have the deal with on a populous server.

Except that another's efforts are absolute taboo, however much they let down the game. Nothing changes without the will!

[fealegwe2]

Stopping work on new content would not help much with fixing lag, because it is mostly different people with different skillsets who work on each.
If work on new content stopped, that would just mean a bunch of people would sit around doing nothing. They would not be able to help fixing the lag problem, because they wouldn't have the needed skill or knowledge.

what you said is true..its a whole different group or department of people

but why does it lag more after each new content release? so in effect not bringing out new content would not make the game worse

[Thentix]

They can't fix the lag. They are too busy promoting people that have no business being promoted and giving them raises. Game companies are notorious for failing upwards. Instead of fixing lag, they are just adding more and more to the game which, according to them, causes more lag because there is more resources in the game. So why they do it is beyond me.

Go buy the ultimate fan bundles and give them more money. That will fix it. You ARE an ultimate fan right?

[Plidak]

They can't fix the lag. They are too busy promoting people that have no business being promoted and giving them raises. Game companies are notorious for failing upwards. Instead of fixing lag, they are just adding more and more to the game which, according to them, causes more lag because there is more resources in the game. So why they do it is beyond me.

Go buy the ultimate fan bundles and give them more money. That will fix it. You ARE an ultimate fan right?

They can. If they break their connection with Akamai

[Neinda]

I would be very surprised if SSG does not know what is causing the lag/performance issues. I suspect it will cost more than those in charge are willing to pay to correct the problem. I imagine there is no profit in fixing the issue. SSG is still selling expansions, point packs and VIP subscriptions so there is no need to fix the problem right now. When they stop selling all of those things there will be no reason to fix the problem or continue maintaining the game. I think what we have currently is a good as it is going to get.

[Curuer_Bauglir]

Keep releasing content please.

[Trientalis]

They can. If they break their connection with Akamai

I believe they eliminated Akamai some years ago.

As for me, I hope SSG continues to develop and release new content. I've really enjoyed playing through all of it, and want more!

[Cenedras]

My husband has been in IT for over 35 years and we talk about the lag all the time. Allocating more resources is what is needed. SSG has said its the game engine.. well the game is 15+ years old... if they had started working on a new engine 5 years ago when it really became a bigger problem could it have been done by now? I really don't know the answer to that question but maybe thats a good discussion...

[Plidak]

Stopping work on new content would not help much with fixing lag, because it is mostly different people with different skillsets who work on each.
If work on new content stopped, that would just mean a bunch of people would sit around doing nothing. They would not be able to help fixing the lag problem, because they wouldn't have the needed skill or knowledge.

Isnt about ppl, its about to $$$ and where to invest. They need new servers asap.