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New Login Restrictions for Unsubscribed Players
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Sleuth Admin
Sleuth Admin
Tale Spinner

Jun-20-2006 10:44

Over the past six months, we've been struggling to maintain a decent level of Sleuth server performance, despite increasing numbers of simultaneous players.

This is a great problem to have! It means there are lots of new people trying out Sleuth, but it's a bit of a losing battle logistically. There has been some success making software changes to improve things, but those gains are quickly eclipsed as traffic continues to increase. There is only so much the current hardware can handle.

New server machines will be purchased in the next couple of months. This will help, but if Sleuth continues to grow, it won't be long before capacity is reached on the new machines as well, and things will slow down again.

This situation is unfair for paying subscribers, who cannot enjoy the game at peak hours due to the lag of the servers. So, in the interest of fairness there will be a rule change that will limit when unsubscribed players will be able to access the game.

Starting later this week, detectives who are unsubscribed and older than 7 days, will not be allowed to login if there are already 60 or more detectives online.

You will not be allowed to login to the game if all three of the following conditions are true:

1) There are already 60 or more detectives logged in
2) Your detective is not currently subscribed
3) Your detective is older than 7 days

Sleuth has always been as welcoming as possible to non-subscribed players. We also recognize that in some countries, the monthly subscription price is not affordable to everyone, but this rule change is necessary for the well-being of the game. Paying subscribers deserve to have access to a game that is playable, accessible and fun.

Thanks,
The Sleuth Team


Replies

LilRach
LilRach
Well-Connected

Jun-27-2006 21:58

Yes, it was odd, it was very slow this morning til about 1 pm.

Sleuth Admin
Sleuth Admin
Tale Spinner

Jun-28-2006 00:35

Yes, we had quite heavy traffic this morning. It's tough to keep things even enough.

Chronestrian
Chronestrian

Jun-29-2006 18:04

I don't know how anyone else feels about this, but it wouldn't be so bad if we had unlimited file space so we could at least save our cases when the site is moving slowly. It's tough trying to get them all done and help others with theirs when you're 'against the clock' so to speak. A bit frustrating, too. (Then some of the suspects decide to run and hide....ARGH!) :-)

R Anstett
R Anstett

Jun-30-2006 07:16

It would be a bad thing for unlimited file space in my opinion.

It would allow agencies to store huge ammounts of solved cases and then blow through hunts with ease. Single city hunts would go to agencies that store the most solved.

Chronestrian
Chronestrian

Jun-30-2006 10:08

Not everyone is concerned with only hunts. Until the 'server lag' situation is truly rectified, I think it's an option that should be seriously considered. As for hunts, the favors still need to be completed and there's no guarantee that any agency, no matter how many cases they store, is going to win. My agents have expressed to me the issue that they have limited amount of time to play, and when the site is slow, they lose cases because they can't complete their daily allotment.

R Anstett
R Anstett

Jul-1-2006 08:28

Hopefully the server lag problem will never be truly rectified. If the game is to grow it needs more people subscribing. More people means more traffic, which leads to slow downs. I do hope that the critical mass of subscribers that allows the purchase of new hardware happens soon, so that the current lag issues will temporarily abate.

I agree that not all agencys are interested in hunting, but any rule change has to be looked at from all points of view.

It seems we have two different points of view on it. I think I am paying for better access to the site. Because I do not have time to do all 10 cases, I loose the chance to do them.

You seem to be saying (not trying to put words in your mouth) that you are paying for 10 cases per day and want to do them when you want. So if you did not log in for 3 days you would have 30 cases waiting for you to do. Or at least the abilty to log in and put the 10 cases each day into the files so you had the 30 later on to do.

It seems to me to be a huge rule change you are proposing.

biggie528
biggie528
Lucky Stiff

Jul-5-2006 19:18

I completely agree, and wouldn't the HUGE amount of information stored lead to even slower times? I constantly have a lag on my system, whether its from the amount of people on or just my stupid computer, but I would just as soon let the cases go, rather than just keep storing them....

Chronestrian
Chronestrian

Jul-6-2006 08:22

I wasn't putting this out for open debate, I was hoping to hear from Ben on this matter. Even if it's just the ability to store 1 days worth of cases, I don't think it's too much to ask.

Chronestrian
Chronestrian

Jul-6-2006 08:57

Here's another option that doesn't require any change in file space - just don't wipe out any unopened cases when the new day comes. Example...if player A only did 3 cases today and has 7 left, why not just add the 10 for the next day and then player A has 17. Don't change file storage space, but don't erase any unused cases. That way nothing is really affected, and the player knows he hasn't lost or wasted any of his/her subscription.

AndreaX
AndreaX
Thespian

Jul-6-2006 13:58

You know I have often wondered about why isn't there any "rollover cases" (like the cell phone minutes). I belive is probably to encourage active and fair participation in the game. Otherwise, think about this: an agency with 10-12 agents can just sit idle accumulating cases for 1 or 2 days, accumulate like 100 to 200 cases total and blow through 3 or 4 hunts in one day!
I know not everyone is into hunts, but it could really affect that aspect of the game, which is one of the most active anyways.
Having said that, I would still like the rollover. Maybe limit it to 2 or 3 cases...

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