Winter Wonderland race queue QQ?

psymantis

Last year to start the race you had to speak to the race announcer but you could only talk to him 1 at a time and with a delay. It meant starting the race was awkward as waiting for your turn was difficult with some impatient people rushing in and jumping the queue since there was nothing to stop them.

Is it different this year? If not, why not, as people don't clip into each other so there is no reason for a delay? If you still want a delay then how about we join a proper queue and are teleported to the start of the track when its our turn? That way everyone would join the race in a fair manner with no queue jumpers.

darkstarkirian

psymantis wrote: »

Last year to start the race you had to speak to the race announcer but you could only talk to him 1 at a time and with a delay. It meant starting the race was awkward as waiting for your turn was difficult with some impatient people rushing in and jumping the queue since there was nothing to stop them.

Is it different this year? If not, why not, as people don't clip into each other so there is no reason for a delay? If you still want a delay then how about we join a proper queue and are teleported to the start of the track when its our turn? That way everyone would join the race in a fair manner with no queue jumpers.

Oh yeah, I remember that.
It was Race #1, spam F to win entrance into the race.

New Romulus uses a 50 person zone, instead of the standard 75. Perhaps if that were applied to WW, it would help stem the flow of line jumpers.
Just imagine the Snowman war if half the zone population did it in a 75perp zone. A 50 cap sounds better.

kevaldt

This is the reason I have yet to boot my client, I figured everyone would be wanting to get their daily out of the way.

Of course, moving to a less populated instance always helped last year, so it may work again this year.

azurianstar

Hopefully they remembered that waiting line and thought of a new way. Like increasting the number of participants or adding a second track.

weylandjuarez

No - if anything it seems worse - the popup never appears at all for me - admittedly I've got a slower connection now than I had last year but not so slow that the game lags at all.

Since it's a free-for-all to get in, the players with the faster connections get priority

captainrevo1

Try to zone hope to a less crowded instance.

its always mega busy the first day. it will settle down soon enough

weylandjuarez

captainrevo1 wrote: »

Try to zone hope to a less crowded instance.

its always mega busy the first day. it will settle down soon enough

Actually, the zone I was in was pretty empty - at most there was only 3 other players around the Breen race official - it's not that I can't click the popup in time - the popup never even appears

sollvax

Sounds like Lego universe online (as played by my 8 year old Godson last christmas) 2 hours to start a race

borticuscryptic

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

darkstarkirian

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

Okey dockey then.
This was a complaint last year also... 1 year... to brainstorm.
BTW: didn't you start working at Cryptic about a year ago?

weylandjuarez

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

Thanks for continuing to look into this Borticus - on a happier note I've come first place in the 'Fast and the Flurrious' twice now so I've got lots of Winter Epohh tags (and whoever designed those is sick - the one with the ribbons is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen )

lordhavelock

Easy work-around: Change to an "empty" instance. Once I figured out to do this last year, I *NEVER* had problems starting a race again. Sometimes I would have to try 2-3 instance jumps to find a clear Race Official, but totally worth it.

Knowledge is power.

:cool:

kdawgenigma

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

As greedy and selfish as a lot of people are on this game, I had to chuckle.

azurianstar

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

All i can say this new race is not fun at all.

1) Event notifications are hidden in the mission page, so you have a high chance of missing it, if you are busy socializing.

2) You do not get rewards for partcipating (I ran the race a few times, didn't get a single thing).

3) Time gating events, really not for casual players who has a few hours of playtime.

4) Only way to get these Winter Event store items is either a snowball fight every 30 min or digging in the snow? (Again not for casual players, not to mention goldfarmers making bots to farm these items).

borticuscryptic

azurianstar wrote: »

1) Event notifications are hidden in the mission page, so you have a high chance of missing it, if you are busy socializing.

They also pop into your Open Mission tracking window (I think also called the PvP Mission window when you use F12 to reposition them)

azurianstar wrote: »

2) You do not get rewards for partcipating (I ran the race a few times, didn't get a single thing).

This is a bug we're tracking down. It seems to be related to people leaving the race area before the 3rd place flag is claimed.

azurianstar wrote: »

3) Time gating events, really not for casual players who has a few hours of playtime.

The Snowball Fight runs every 30 minutes.

The Competitive Race runs 4 times per hour, at 15-past, 22-past, 45-past, and 52-past the hour.

The Daily Race can be ran at any time of day.

I'd hardly call that "time gated."

kingdoxy

lordhavelock wrote: »

Easy work-around: Change to an "empty" instance. Once I figured out to do this last year, I *NEVER* had problems starting a race again. Sometimes I would have to try 2-3 instance jumps to find a clear Race Official, but totally worth it.

Knowledge is power.

:cool:

Yup, change to an empty or low populated instance. Easy fix......The more you know

maicake716

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

why not actually make a que system? like you can talk to him at any time but you given a number in "line". if you leave the map you lose your place, if you talk to him again you replace your number..

how about something like that?

azurianstar

borticuscryptic wrote: »

This is a bug we're tracking down. It seems to be related to people leaving the race area before the 3rd place flag is claimed.

Good that the error was quickly detected.

borticuscryptic wrote: »

The Snowball Fight runs every 30 minutes.

The Competitive Race runs 4 times per hour, at 15-past, 22-past, 45-past, and 52-past the hour.

The Daily Race can be ran at any time of day.

I'd hardly call that "time gated."

Time gated to certain times of the Hour. So if you wanted the first quarter PvP Race, or the Snow War at the top of the hour, you have to wait 30 minutes for the next event, correct?

Not to mention the only ways to get these store items is either Snow Wars or putting your toon on Auto pilot and constantly dig in the snow. (Goldfarmers are loving this, btw).

borticuscryptic wrote: »

They also pop into your Open Mission tracking window (I think also called the PvP Mission window when you use F12 to reposition them)

Most people have no idea when the event is or if it's starting up.

Instead of a RED Alert, maybe make a BLUE Alert?

bumperthumper

This is the first time I've run this event, and I have no clue how to run it. I've given up on it already.

I spent my time in-game just spamming F for snowball digging.

There needs to be a tutorial in-game for this. The dialogue doesn't quite cut it.

voiceoftemprus

kingdoxy wrote: »

Yup, change to an empty or low populated instance. Easy fix......The more you know

What is an "empty instance"? When I was playing earlier, they was more than 99 instances and they were all max capacity. :eek:

thlaylierah

I'm pretty sure there's a LOT less traction this year.

I used to run last years event at full speed for most of the course.

This year you can slide up and over hills for a much greater distance.

k022

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

Make it like a PvE or PvP que...

karcorner

I have run 7 toons through the race and did not have to wait to que up and never needed to change instances. No problem here. Has there been a problem this year or are people still complaining about last year without actually playing it this year?

azurianstar

karcorner wrote: »

I have run 7 toons through the race and did not have to wait to que up and never needed to change instances. No problem here. Has there been a problem this year or are people still complaining about last year without actually playing it this year?

No, just people found a cheat with the new race and easily getting first place. But a fix is already in the works.

scififan78

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

We'd hoped that adding the little "queue area" would encourage players to line up and wait their turns. We may end up enforcing that by disallowing interaction with the Race Official unless you're standing in line.... or something. I dunno exactly what, but we're aware of the issue, and are trying to brainstorm ways to improve the functionality.

Until we can potentially put in some sort of enforced fix, we'd like to request that players just play nice. Get in line, wait your turn. It's only like a 10-15sec wait per person in front of you.

I noticed the little queue line yall had set up. How about wrapping the fence around the Race Coordinator and make the fence one of those pesky invisiwalls yall have in certain areas. Like the rails to the walkways on the Breaking the Cord mission or the fence at Starfleet Academy.

dracounguis

borticuscryptic wrote: »

Unfortunately, we don't have an easy solution to this issue without sending everyone to a private instance to run the race (which ruins the social aspects of the map). But, we are hearing your feedback, and sharing your frustrations.

I don't know about others but I'm not doing a lot of socializing in the middle of a race. In fact, is some goober wanders in my way and costs me the race, I will be very very very very upset.

neoakiraii

When I need motivating for the race, I play this during the race. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37YJgdw_Ks

psiameese

neoakiraii wrote: »

When I need motivating for the race, I play this during the race. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37YJgdw_Ks

I play this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ :P

neoakiraii

psiameese wrote: »

I play this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ :P

HAHA classic

warpangel

karcorner wrote: »

I have run 7 toons through the race and did not have to wait to que up and never needed to change instances. No problem here. Has there been a problem this year or are people still complaining about last year without actually playing it this year?

I've been doing the race on both my characters since the event started and never had to wait or switch instances. Not even right when the event started. With 30-man instances and everyone only doing the race once per day (unless they lose), it doesn't seem likely everyone would be trying to do it at once.

To whoever said the button didn't show up at all, make sure you pick up the race mission from the race coordinator first. I just had a situation like that, forgot to pick up the mission then wondered why the start button doesn't appear.

It would, perhaps, be useful if the race official would tell you you need to talk to the other guy first if you go up to him without the mission.

thlaylierah

It sometimes takes awhile for the start button to appear.

I'm assuming that he is queing you.

I just jump up in his face for a bit, that usually makes the button appear.

( I like to hit him with snowballs as well as he is annoying.)