Realm Maintenance 11/11/08

Greetings,

As you are likely aware, the realms are undergoing extended maintenance to ensure that some important issues are resolved before they become available for play. If you wish to track the status of the realms, you may do so via this thread in the new Service Status forum, found here:

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=12454631234&sid=1&pageNo=1#2

I realize that the minimal extra downtime to resolve these matters can be inconvenient, and for that we deeply apologize. We know you guys just want to play - we do too.

World of Warcraft is a very complex system though, and it is composed of inter-connected elements. At times extended maintenance is necessary to ensure smoother play in the long term, and your patience is vastly appreciated while we work hard to resolve any lingering mail and other related issues swiftly.

To help consolidate the forum, please restrict discussion of this matter to this thread. When doing so, please also be mindful of the forum code of conduct:

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/policy/forum-coc.html

Q u o t e:
no offense blizz, but this is jacked up. you take down the realms all morning for maitenance, then you jack up the mail systems so we cant recieve mail, THEN you go and turn of all the realms without telling us when they will be back up or anything. Its veterans day, so ALOT of america has the day off and wants to play. So why cant you leave the realms up while you find the problem and take them down when you KNOW what needs to be done?? and on the whole maitenance thing, what did u do? did you guys let a monkey use a computer to update the realms or something?? come on try having a little customer care and let us play while you figure out who messed up and THEN fix it not just sit there with your thumbs up your <plums> saying "should we get to work?" "No the orangitangs on it"

I know that this situation isn't ideal. Like I said, we're all eager to get into the game - but if there's an issue, and a number of potential related issues, then they must be resolved. In some cases it simply isn't an option to leave the realms up while such issues are resolved.

Plus, our orangutans are very pro. Please refrain from dissing any great apes, prosimians, monkeys or other primates in the employ of Blizzard Entertainment.

On a serious note, we have very accomplished staff that are dealing with extremely difficult issues in very short (comparatively) periods of time. The maintenance we're performing now isn't the kind of thing we ever hope for, but it is necessary.

Q u o t e:
Like I said in the other thread, it's hard to be upbeat and positive when I had been planning my activities for this day since last week, and now I get to spend the majority of my day off looking at offline servers rather than getting my characters prepared for Northrend.

I know, and I am genuinely sorry about that =(. It's generally best to try to remain flexible on patch or maintenance days, as somtimes issues are discovered that must be resolved - and this can result in an extended maintenance.

The realms will be under substantial pressure soon with the advent of Wrath of the Lich King, and it is more important than ever to do what we can to help ensure that our players' expedition into Northrend proceeds as smoothly as it can.

Q u o t e:


My cell phone and plasma tv are complex too. I don't have downtime on those products.

Well, yes, that's true - but it's also completely invalid to compare them to a single World of Warcraft realm, much less all the realms. You are discussing solid state systems in use by a single user.

A single WoW realm is a much more complex affair. For example, there are massive gears and groaning monolith steam turbines involved, as well as Halcyonitrix Difference Engines. Power is provided by stories-tall Tesla Coils, flashing bolts of cerulean lightning into the night, illuminating fog shrouded zeppelins. Spider-limbed brass clockwork robots skitter here and there making repairs and adjustments.

No wait. That's Steampunk.

The realms really are extremely complex, and under constant stress. An analogy is only useful if it is applicable.

Q u o t e:
Malkorix, u forgot to say, WOOSH at the end of the post :P rofl

Hrm... "Hsoow!"

No... no that's not quite right.

Um, "WSOOOH?"

Dang.

Okay, okay, I got it!

Ready?






”Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm"

='(

On a serious note, I know that some of you are concerned about compensation.

I will note that compensation is typically only provided in regard to long term outages, and this is why there was a recent 3 day credit to every account in good standing.

However, that said, if you do feel that this situation does merit compensation, please make a constructive post on our Suggestions forum to that effect. I'm unable to forward such concerns or requests via this forum.

I know you guys really just want to play, and I'd like to express my deep apologies not only for the extension of the realm maintenance, but also for the delay on updates.

I don't have any information yet, but I'm hopeful that we'll have a solid update for you guys soon. As soon as I do, I'll make it available to you guys as soon as I possibly can.

As a reminder, you can keep an eye on this thread for updates as they are posted as well:

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=12454631234&sid=1&pageNo=1#2