No Foundry news in patch notes. HILARITY ENSUES FRIDAY.
Typically we don't get news about the Foundry coming back online in the patch notes and incidentally we got news during the dev stream last night. What happened is that while updating the landing page Kael somehow deleted 3 files needed to make the Foundry work (in a completely different set of system folders to what he was working on, it shouldn't be possible but this happens in game design.) So, Cryptic (specifically: Jeremy) has identified exactly what's wrong and we know they were internally playtesting Foundry missions last week. So, big thanks to that.
Personally I think 1-2 more weeks of downtime is likely, they may need more time to test and Kael didn't give an ETA last night (which means: "working on it but can't commit to a time yet.")
Post edited by duncanidaho11 on
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
No Foundry news in patch notes. HILARITY ENSUES FRIDAY.
Typically we don't get news about the Foundry coming back online in the patch notes and incidentally we got news during the dev stream last night. What happened is that while updating the landing page Kael somehow deleted 3 files needed to make the Foundry work (in a completely different set of system folders to what he was working on, it shouldn't be possible but this happens in game design.) So, Cryptic (specifically: Jeremy) has identified exactly what's wrong and we know they were internally playtesting Foundry missions last week. So, big thanks to that.
Personally I think 1-2 more weeks of downtime is likely, they may need more time to test and Kael didn't give an ETA last night (which means: "working on it but can't commit to a time yet.")
At least now we know what's wrong and that they're working on it (and for the doomsayers, if they weren't working on it why admit to something as embrassing as "we accidently deleted the files that make the foundry work").
At least now we know what's wrong and that they're working on it (and for the doomsayers, if they weren't working on it why admit to something as embrassing as "we accidently deleted the files that make the foundry work").
To reiterate it's something that does happen in game design. They're working on large, integrated systems which have been built, ad hoc, over many successive updates. When they say that "sometimes when you add or tweak something in one part of the game it breaks something completely unrelated" what they're referring to are instances like this. It's a very direct example and they're not sure how it could have happened (except that "insert refrain here.")
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
To reiterate it's something that does happen in game design. They're working on large, integrated systems which have been built, ad hoc, over many successive updates. When they say that "sometimes when you add or tweak something in one part of the game it breaks something completely unrelated" what they're referring to are instances like this. It's a very direct example and they're not sure how it could have happened (except that "insert refrain here.")
Yes, but its happends only if you stacking deliberately bugged patches (usally content ones). So bugged patchs moving to main server asap. One after another... And at some point - its really hard to fix something. This approach is profitable for mobile mmos - they usally got a very short lifespan. And it looks like publishers is trying same approach for PC MMOs right now. Its not only STO problem. Its like a world wide pandemic right now
Nonetheless, hilarity is now ensuing. Have you looked in the game right now? Trololo!
So true! Perhaps now that more than a simple 'niche' group is affected, the Foundry might get a bit more dev attention in the next couple of days.... (*hopes*)
This endeavor feels almost like a slap in the face to all of us foundry authors. We've been waiting and waiting and waiting, then they throw this at us? I'm sure it's not intentional but one can't help feeling like this.
"Today is a good day to die... but I'd rather go to Risa."-Fleet Admiral Christopher D. Marshall
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Sooo... are they still putting up foundry missions? Cuuuz the mission I published right before AoD was released is no where to be found...
We're in the middle of what's called an "Auto-republish." The servers are in the process of repopulating Foundry missions (there's many tens of thousands to work through.) Until that process is completed (few days to a week) the Foundry editor and reviews will be disabled (to make sure we don't TRIBBLE anything up during the process and to make sure that star ratings aren't penalized if there's something technically wrong with Foundry gameplay. Both are safety checks.)
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
We're in the middle of what's called an "Auto-republish." The servers are in the process of repopulating Foundry missions (there's many tens of thousands to work through.) Until that process is completed (few days to a week) the Foundry editor and reviews will be disabled (to make sure we don't TRIBBLE anything up during the process and to make sure that star ratings aren't penalized if there's something technically wrong with Foundry gameplay. Both are safety checks.)
Makes sense. At least there is progress and we have an actual ETA. Thanks!
"Today is a good day to die... but I'd rather go to Risa."-Fleet Admiral Christopher D. Marshall
Heads up, a folk is reporting on twitter that they can't actually play Foundry missions right now. They can accept and go to a start location but no go on getting the mission to run. I can't confirm that myself right now, out and about, but if it is the case then we're probably seeing the re-occurrence of an older "coming back from downtime" bug which Cryptic's dealt with before (maybe just an error in starting procedure, it wasn't a big thing to fix.)
I'll update if I hear back from Kael (poked him about this on twitter.) For the time being, sit tight and if you want to help out then just try to confirm if the Foundry isn't quite back yet.
Update: Got a hold of Kael, they'll be looking into the new bug and working on a fix ASAP. Given that this is an issue that's come up before I doubt it'll take very long (it's late on Friday ATM, so no chance of getting a quick turnaround today.)
Post edited by duncanidaho11 on
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Typically we don't get news about the Foundry coming back online in the patch notes and incidentally we got news during the dev stream last night. What happened is that while updating the landing page Kael somehow deleted 3 files needed to make the Foundry work (in a completely different set of system folders to what he was working on, it shouldn't be possible but this happens in game design.) So, Cryptic (specifically: Jeremy) has identified exactly what's wrong and we know they were internally playtesting Foundry missions last week. So, big thanks to that.
Personally I think 1-2 more weeks of downtime is likely, they may need more time to test and Kael didn't give an ETA last night (which means: "working on it but can't commit to a time yet.")
That's something that happens in general IT fairly frequently. I work for HP in Elite tech support (mandatory disclaimer at the bottom) and I see this kind of thing happen often enough with my customers. It can be much worse, like when the user's doing something generally ill-advised like hacking on their registry, they select a few hives and sneeze, deleting everything they had selected with a BSOD immediately following. Or their cat/dog/child pull out the power cable or undock during a BIOS update, killing their BIOS.
And unlike an OS or a BIOS, game server files generally don't have easy to use recovery/restoration media. Accidentally selecting and deleting three files is nowhere near as bad as it can get, trust me.
Seeing the foundry up at all today, even if we can't yet play missions is nice though. I was hoping it would be this weekend, over on the ESO side of things they're doing an event for content I just finished two weeks ago so its sort of meh, even if it takes til Monday to actually play something foundry-wise I'm pleased.
Ibi cookies for everyone involved. Preferably freshly cloned.
(I am an HP Employee at AMS-PPS-CSS. The views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of HP Inc., its suppliers or contractors)
I am a Starfleet Officer first, but an Intelligence Professional second to none. With pride in my heritage, but focused on the future. Performing the first task of an Army; To find, know and never lose the enemy. With a sense of urgency and of tenacity, professional and physical fitness. And above all: Integrity--for in truth lies victory. Always at Silent War while ready for a shooting war: The silent warrior of the Starfleet team
And unlike an OS or a BIOS, game server files generally don't have easy to use recovery/restoration media. Accidentally selecting and deleting three files is nowhere near as bad as it can get, trust me.
I strongly disagree. Scheduled backups. + pre patch backups. +your own backups. backups, backups and backups . Cause anything can happen - starting from your system software\hardware failure and ending with natural disaster. Used to have entire closet of backups.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I personally find this quite amusing. Granted it's no fun, but it is a bit interesting to think of how long the Foundry has been down, and add a somewhat funny mistake to it that'll prolong that downtime. This will be interesting.
I strongly disagree. Scheduled backups. + pre patch backups. +your own backups. backups, backups and backups . Cause anything can happen - starting from your system software\hardware failure and ending with natural disaster. Used to have entire closet of backups.
Yes there are backups, I didn't say there weren't, but actually using them and verifying that they will work with a minimum of issues in an MMO production environment is an entirely different proposition, unlike with something as relatively simple as an operating system or BIOS where generally its fairly easy to do a restoration.
I am a Starfleet Officer first, but an Intelligence Professional second to none. With pride in my heritage, but focused on the future. Performing the first task of an Army; To find, know and never lose the enemy. With a sense of urgency and of tenacity, professional and physical fitness. And above all: Integrity--for in truth lies victory. Always at Silent War while ready for a shooting war: The silent warrior of the Starfleet team
I don't know about the rest of you, but I personally find this quite amusing. Granted it's no fun, but it is a bit interesting to think of how long the Foundry has been down, and add a somewhat funny mistake to it that'll prolong that downtime. This will be interesting.
That's how it goes sometimes. If Kael was adding stuff it can only be a good thing. I just hope he adds the Klingon rebels as an enemy NPC species because its the only kill accolade that I don't have but I'm not killing that Ferasan on Nimbus III a thousand times to get it. I believe Zero had said she'd do it at some point but didn't get around to it before she moved on.
Weird things happen with MMOs though, developers break stuff unintentionally sometimes. Sometimes players find ways of doing something they're not supposed to be able to do with weird results. For example a couple of years ago over on ESO one of my guildies found a way through a wall in the PvP zone (Cyrodiil) into the Gold Coast which was being worked on by the developers at the time, it had place markers and outlines for where Kvatch, the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary and Anvil would go and all kinds of other stuff and since the Gold Coast DLC hadn't been announced yet it led to a lot of speculation.
Anyhow, I doubt it'll be offline that much longer, I kind of expect to see it back online by the middle of next week, but who knows. All I know is that I haven't been playing much lately since the Foundry is what I spend the majority of my time in STO doing and I miss it so I hope it's sooner than later, and I think all of us here can agree on that.
I am a Starfleet Officer first, but an Intelligence Professional second to none. With pride in my heritage, but focused on the future. Performing the first task of an Army; To find, know and never lose the enemy. With a sense of urgency and of tenacity, professional and physical fitness. And above all: Integrity--for in truth lies victory. Always at Silent War while ready for a shooting war: The silent warrior of the Starfleet team
Yes there are backups, I didn't say there weren't, but actually using them and verifying that they will work with a minimum of issues in an MMO production environment is an entirely different proposition, unlike with something as relatively simple as an operating system or BIOS where generally its fairly easy to do a restoration.
Again. Strongly disagreed. if you just rolling back to some point of restoration - its a same process for all things. Fixing a bugged patch - actually is somewhat more complicated for OS than for MMO game server. However there is a lot of similarities. First - you need to compare a working version to bugged one. How? Well fist step is actually simple. You even dont need to do manually, there is software for that. IF you actually do it - missing files and folders is first things what you will find. Second thing - difference in configuration files. Looking for errors in lines of code is more complicated process, but you need a mentioned proccess to know - which files have been changed so you will have some idea which files you need to check. But wait... There was just missing folders or files. And you need just a few moments to fix it. But... Judging by the time they needed to find out bout missing files - is really disturbing. And means one thing - no one was doing anything bout a problem. And thats it.
Ibi cookies for everyone involved. Preferably freshly cloned.
We have a team for holiday cookie preparation and delivery now.
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Any word on an new ETA? (because of the latest bug)
I kind of assume it won't even get looked at until next Monday due to the holiday weekend. I only hope that now it's off the main radar (not an Endeavor anymore), it won't get kicked to the back burner for another couple months - - again.
Any word on an new ETA? (because of the latest bug)
I kind of assume it won't even get looked at until next Monday due to the holiday weekend. I only hope that now it's off the main radar (not an Endeavor anymore), it won't get kicked to the back burner for another couple months - - again.
There's no ETA I know atm. That said we should get it up ASAP unless it hits the too hard to the winter event time, after all the devs don't kick it down the line because they hate us but rather there's other things they think take priority.
Now we can try to change those priorities but we won't do it by insulting the devs.
Any word on an new ETA? (because of the latest bug)
I kind of assume it won't even get looked at until next Monday due to the holiday weekend. I only hope that now it's off the main radar (not an Endeavor anymore), it won't get kicked to the back burner for another couple months - - again.
There's no ETA I know atm. That said we should get it up ASAP unless it hits the too hard to the winter event time, after all the devs don't kick it down the line because they hate us but rather there's other things they think take priority.
Now we can try to change those priorities but we won't do it by insulting the devs.
Yeah, at any rate... TRIBBLE this if it is going to be an impediment to the Winter Event's programmation. I want my T6 Fekh'iri ship. At that point, the Foundry can wait a couple more weeks as far as i'm concerned.
The priority thing this week was U.S. thanksgiving. Worth pointing out that a bunch of devs stayed after hours yesterday working on stuff, and that included Zero.
We sent them GIFs because Kael told us to. If they were working on the Foundry and something breaks again, you can probably blame me.
Bipedal mammal and senior Foundry author.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Comments
Typically we don't get news about the Foundry coming back online in the patch notes and incidentally we got news during the dev stream last night. What happened is that while updating the landing page Kael somehow deleted 3 files needed to make the Foundry work (in a completely different set of system folders to what he was working on, it shouldn't be possible but this happens in game design.) So, Cryptic (specifically: Jeremy) has identified exactly what's wrong and we know they were internally playtesting Foundry missions last week. So, big thanks to that.
Personally I think 1-2 more weeks of downtime is likely, they may need more time to test and Kael didn't give an ETA last night (which means: "working on it but can't commit to a time yet.")
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
At least now we know what's wrong and that they're working on it (and for the doomsayers, if they weren't working on it why admit to something as embrassing as "we accidently deleted the files that make the foundry work").
To reiterate it's something that does happen in game design. They're working on large, integrated systems which have been built, ad hoc, over many successive updates. When they say that "sometimes when you add or tweak something in one part of the game it breaks something completely unrelated" what they're referring to are instances like this. It's a very direct example and they're not sure how it could have happened (except that "insert refrain here.")
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Yes, but its happends only if you stacking deliberately bugged patches (usally content ones). So bugged patchs moving to main server asap. One after another... And at some point - its really hard to fix something. This approach is profitable for mobile mmos - they usally got a very short lifespan. And it looks like publishers is trying same approach for PC MMOs right now. Its not only STO problem. Its like a world wide pandemic right now
So true! Perhaps now that more than a simple 'niche' group is affected, the Foundry might get a bit more dev attention in the next couple of days.... (*hopes*)
arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1203368/pve-content-a-list-of-gamewide-polishing-pass-suggestions
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
We're in the middle of what's called an "Auto-republish." The servers are in the process of repopulating Foundry missions (there's many tens of thousands to work through.) Until that process is completed (few days to a week) the Foundry editor and reviews will be disabled (to make sure we don't TRIBBLE anything up during the process and to make sure that star ratings aren't penalized if there's something technically wrong with Foundry gameplay. Both are safety checks.)
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Makes sense. At least there is progress and we have an actual ETA. Thanks!
I'll update if I hear back from Kael (poked him about this on twitter.) For the time being, sit tight and if you want to help out then just try to confirm if the Foundry isn't quite back yet.
Update: Got a hold of Kael, they'll be looking into the new bug and working on a fix ASAP. Given that this is an issue that's come up before I doubt it'll take very long (it's late on Friday ATM, so no chance of getting a quick turnaround today.)
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
I still have "Enter a search term....." on all Foundry tabs.
That's something that happens in general IT fairly frequently. I work for HP in Elite tech support (mandatory disclaimer at the bottom) and I see this kind of thing happen often enough with my customers. It can be much worse, like when the user's doing something generally ill-advised like hacking on their registry, they select a few hives and sneeze, deleting everything they had selected with a BSOD immediately following. Or their cat/dog/child pull out the power cable or undock during a BIOS update, killing their BIOS.
And unlike an OS or a BIOS, game server files generally don't have easy to use recovery/restoration media. Accidentally selecting and deleting three files is nowhere near as bad as it can get, trust me.
Seeing the foundry up at all today, even if we can't yet play missions is nice though. I was hoping it would be this weekend, over on the ESO side of things they're doing an event for content I just finished two weeks ago so its sort of meh, even if it takes til Monday to actually play something foundry-wise I'm pleased.
Ibi cookies for everyone involved. Preferably freshly cloned.
(I am an HP Employee at AMS-PPS-CSS. The views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of HP Inc., its suppliers or contractors)
Original Join Date: 19 December 2010
I strongly disagree. Scheduled backups. + pre patch backups. +your own backups. backups, backups and backups
Yes there are backups, I didn't say there weren't, but actually using them and verifying that they will work with a minimum of issues in an MMO production environment is an entirely different proposition, unlike with something as relatively simple as an operating system or BIOS where generally its fairly easy to do a restoration.
Original Join Date: 19 December 2010
That's how it goes sometimes. If Kael was adding stuff it can only be a good thing. I just hope he adds the Klingon rebels as an enemy NPC species because its the only kill accolade that I don't have but I'm not killing that Ferasan on Nimbus III a thousand times to get it. I believe Zero had said she'd do it at some point but didn't get around to it before she moved on.
Weird things happen with MMOs though, developers break stuff unintentionally sometimes. Sometimes players find ways of doing something they're not supposed to be able to do with weird results. For example a couple of years ago over on ESO one of my guildies found a way through a wall in the PvP zone (Cyrodiil) into the Gold Coast which was being worked on by the developers at the time, it had place markers and outlines for where Kvatch, the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary and Anvil would go and all kinds of other stuff and since the Gold Coast DLC hadn't been announced yet it led to a lot of speculation.
Anyhow, I doubt it'll be offline that much longer, I kind of expect to see it back online by the middle of next week, but who knows. All I know is that I haven't been playing much lately since the Foundry is what I spend the majority of my time in STO doing and I miss it so I hope it's sooner than later, and I think all of us here can agree on that.
Original Join Date: 19 December 2010
Again. Strongly disagreed.
We have a team for holiday cookie preparation and delivery now.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
*makes note for further doodles*
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Any word on an new ETA? (because of the latest bug)
I kind of assume it won't even get looked at until next Monday due to the holiday weekend. I only hope that now it's off the main radar (not an Endeavor anymore), it won't get kicked to the back burner for another couple months - - again.
arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline/#/discussion/1203368/pve-content-a-list-of-gamewide-polishing-pass-suggestions
Now we can try to change those priorities but we won't do it by insulting the devs.
Yeah, at any rate... TRIBBLE this if it is going to be an impediment to the Winter Event's programmation. I want my T6 Fekh'iri ship. At that point, the Foundry can wait a couple more weeks as far as i'm concerned.
We sent them GIFs because Kael told us to. If they were working on the Foundry and something breaks again, you can probably blame me.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!