NCsoft scrambles to reduce server queues: Private store tweaks incoming
by Brooke Pilley 
Sep 25th 2009 at 12:00PM
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Patches, News items
If one thing has marred the otherwise polished launch of Aion it is the extremely long server queues players face when trying to log in and play what they paid for. NCsoft responded a couple days ago saying that they are aware of the problem and working on solutions such as increased server caps and even opening a new server in both North America and Europe. Today they just announced a maintenance patch that addresses a major cause of their queue problem: Private stores will now have 30-minute timer to prevent them from being abused.Private stores are a great concept. Players can set up shop anywhere in the world to sell their spare goods and make a pretty penny. Unfortunately, a feature of these stores is that they prevent you from idling out of the game. This feature really compounds the current server queue problem.
To avoid going through the queue process again, many players simply set up a private store and go AFK for hours at a time. One store we came across had this description set: "AFK at work, making you queue." This is even more evidence that MMO players will often take the path of least resistance for personal gain. Devs really need this hammered into their heads.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Arkanaloth said on 12:05PM 9-25-2009
Doesn't Aion have an AH system? why even code in private stores when you have an AH system? Additionally, limiting the private store to a 30 min timer effectively makes it pointless. >_>
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Zheitgeist said on 12:14PM 9-25-2009
I have to agree on this matter with the OP. While I do feel that private stores have a very limited use (such as rural areas where AH does not reach) giving them such an incredibly short timer makes them completely pointless. Although it wont be as drastic as the 30 min timers, I feel something around a 2 hour timer would work a little better. It would prevent people from going AFK to work or school or w/e, but still give the seller a decent amount of time for people to peruse the wares.
Either way hopefully this will cut down on all the annoying open stores in Pand and w/e they call the Elyos city. Nothing destroys the ambiance of the otherwise pretty cool cities like people sitting on crates and text as far as the eye can see.
Still nice to see them trying to do something though. Effort at least shows acknowledgment of the problem and an attempt to fix (effective or otherwise).
Tom said on 12:12PM 9-25-2009
^^ This.
The private store concept just seems redundant and counterproductive.
It also feels to me a bit ... tacky ... in its implementation ("I am this world's last best hope for salvation and, by the way, psssst. Wanna buy a Rolex watch, real cheap?").
Aion should just jettison the whole system, imo.
Brooke Pilley said on 12:19PM 9-25-2009
Aion does have an AH system but you can only access it from cities and towns. Private stores can be opened anywhere. I do agree there is quite a bit of overlap but one helpful application I've seen is someone selling gatherables needed for a quest directly beside the quest-giver.
As for the 30-minute limit, though it isn't mentioned, we're sure this will only be a temporary measure. Once the first free month of Aion is up and populations settle the queues will probably become eaasier to control and the limit will be increased or removed entirely.
Siya said on 12:35PM 9-25-2009
The concept of the private store is an Asian MMO design concept. A lot of the MMO in Asia have this feature. It isn't a surprise to see such a system in Aion. But I do think its not a design that is suitable for the western MMO players.
tw34k said on 12:42PM 9-25-2009
1-2hrs would be a better alternative, but given the situation when people blatantly abuse a feature, consequences for all usually result. Its unfortunate that its a result of it, but thats usually how it goes. When things get back ontrack hopefully people who use the system for the right reasons can without the timer. I personally wont miss the 100 or so personal stores right in the teleport area walkway of the major cities.
Its good to see ncsoft actually working on things so early in the release hopefully given some time more features will be implemented. Personally I'd love to see some proper implementation of reporting spammers and the like,
Celestian said on 2:56PM 9-25-2009
Because the "AH" only has like 10 slots to sell.
Why they have not changed the personal stores to log you out and put a merchant in your place I have no idea. The personal stores are great but the fact it keeps you in game is a bit silly. It needs to be completely reworked so that it just puts a NPC in your place and logs you out.
Course in a few weeks once things settle down no one will care.
Origosis said on 3:19PM 9-25-2009
Maybe an Automated system! If there is no server Queue then the AFK's and Stores are left alone. If there is a Queue then as the Queue rises, the time your allowed to be AFK or in a shop drops. So if the Queue is 10-20 minutes, then your allowed 45 mins AFK time, if the Queue is 20+ mins then the AFK time drops to 20 mins or something reasonable.
Serres said on 9:18AM 9-28-2009
Is this a real question?
The auction house takes a portion of your sale. Private stores do not.
Rib said on 12:12PM 9-25-2009
How did NCSoft not see this problem coming? Anyone who has ever played an Asian MMO with the stall system knows this happens. Silkroad used to be impossible to login to as we all afk'd with our stalls for hours, sometimes days at a time.
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Jack said on 12:27PM 9-25-2009
NCSoft is part Asian! that's why they do not care ;D
Origosis said on 3:22PM 9-25-2009
Well it's not like they didn't see it coming.. The game was WAY more popular in Korea... I think anyways? And just Like WoW has Queue's after Major updates and expansions.it make sense Aion would too. thy are probably doing what they can for now, but why go crazy adjusting the way the game works for something that may never happen again in 2 weeks.
Jack said on 12:25PM 9-25-2009
This mmo was coded for a pay a hour feed! Asian MMO got Private stores for that reason. But look like NCSoft love this idea to let players make complete useless stores in case they need go away from 30 mins....
If almost everyone playing you game hate private stores and they not listen... well are you going to pay 15 bucks for this game again?!
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Daegalus said on 12:31PM 9-25-2009
To those saying its redundant or don't know why its needed, must remember this is a game coded for the Asian market. There are very few difference code-wise from the Aion in Korea and the Aion in NA/EU. The reason for the stalls is you pay by the hour in Asia. You pay 5 hours, and you get 5 hours of ingame time (doesn't tick when you log out). So a Private Stall will tick away at your paid time. So its uses in the Asian market are a lot more controlled simply because of the subscription model.
The problem arises when they go from the pay per hour model to a monthly unlimited play model. Hence the server-side fix they implemented.
Also for those not sure why you need stalls when you have an AH. Well you can't access the AH everywhere and using a stall in a controlled manner can lead to some profit. There is a quest in Aion that asks you to go get a cooking ingredient from the main fortress thats a good 5-6 min run away with no flight path or other method of getting there except running/gliding. Going there and back for a sinlge 200 kinah item is a waste of time. What people did was tehy stocked up on 100-200 of these items, setup a stall in the town, and sold them for 150-200% of the price. At this level you already have 30-50k kinah, so paying the extra is nothing. In the end the seller makes a nice profit, and lazy/pressed for time people have a quicker way of doing the quest.
So while it might seem redundant if has its uses if used in a controlled manner, like selling teleport scrolls, or revival stones, etc.
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Renko said on 12:38PM 9-25-2009
"Private stores are a great concept."
Says who outside of Asia?
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THAC0 said on 12:47PM 9-25-2009
Says me. I think Auction houses hurt games by reducing community interaction. Finding someone you know who supplies goods by talking to them and setting up a time to use their store is a great way to build relationships and communities in a game. Private stores are a great concept.
Wisdomandlore said on 12:54PM 9-25-2009
Private stores would be ok, but this kind of implementation is just problematic. Disregarding the server queues, it turns cities into displacement camps. FFXI had a similar system, and tons of people would set up shop up and down the road selling mithkabobs and assorted junk. Not only did it increase lag inside the city, it just looked tacky.
If there were a special area where people could set up shops and signs and such, I would be ok with it.
Halldorr said on 4:05PM 9-25-2009
I'm down with private stores too and miss being able to sell stuff outside my house like I used to in UO. Used to know what guys sold certain things I was always after etc.
Solude said on 12:52PM 9-25-2009
Private stores are part of UO, EQ, EQ2, Aion...
Also its not 30m and poof you're logged out. It'll likely be like most AFK measures. 30m goes by with no input, get a pop up asking you to confirm you're really there, timer reset.
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Myria said on 1:00PM 9-25-2009
"Private stores are part of UO, EQ, EQ2, Aion..."
Note the age differential between the former three and the latter.
There might be a reason for the gap...