Server restart announcements

[noirceur]

Given that server restarts are something that is going to stay with us long-term (I assume that even the release version will have to restart from time to time to ensure everything is in consistent state), it would be nice if we got a broadcast announcement that the server is going to restart, similar to other online games. Some broadcast system is already in place, blaming dispatchers for incorrectly set paths, so as long as the server restarts are graceful and not caused by pulling a plug from outside, it should be fairly easy to implement.

A message should appear in the chat 15, 10, 5, 3 and 1 minute before the server restart. This gives players some time to finish whatever they are doing, instead of just dropping them out of session.

As a little extra, server could inform the player upon loading that the countdown sequence is in progress with current time remaining (so they don't have to wait for five minutes to see whether the global broadcast appears or not and have the information immediately), but I understand that direct messaging might not be implemented yet, as I don't recall seeing anything using it in the game.

Edited May 13, 2023 by noirceur

[Sean the Sheep]

I would add that maybe a permanment countdown is shown below the chatbox.

Maybe also include the next two restart times (in the players local time) on the screen where the player chooses the server they wish to play on.

And include the time to the next restart in the train selection screen, as it shows the time the train you are driving is expected to take to complete and you can then easily see whether you are going to be able to finish the train before the next restart.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Sean the Sheep

[giBBer8]

Suggested in mid-January - 

 

 

Hopefully soon...

Edited May 14, 2023 by giBBer8
Thread addition

[sf_giants15]

I dont really get it. They announce the server restart times in the forum. And then you know when a restart comes. In my opinion a timer would be unnecessary 

[Fightdrug]

vor 26 Minuten schrieb sf_giants15:

I dont really get it. They announce the server restart times in the forum. And then you know when a restart comes. In my opinion a timer would be unnecessary 

i agree with you the server restart times stay here in the forum you can note them as exemple you dont need for every little thing the system that tell you everything use your own brain 😉

[lDestinyl]

When I play, I don't watch the clock ...... It is very annoying when the server shuts down in the middle of a conversation.

Edited May 16, 2023 by lDestinyl

[Eirjan]

I’d argue just give us 5min notice in the server chat box and that’s it. No need to spam us with a literal countdown. 

Edited May 17, 2023 by Eirjan

[Big Ram]

On 5/14/2023 at 1:38 PM, sf_giants15 said:

I dont really get it. They announce the server restart times in the forum. And then you know when a restart comes. In my opinion a timer would be unnecessary 

I can't say I'm a fan of this logic.  If restarts are a temporary thing, then OK.  But if restarts are going to be a normal part of the sim, then some kind of indication of these restarts should be a normal part of the sim as well.  Making people leave a game and go to a forum to make sense of certain features isn't great design.

 

[Dolphin Invasion]

Yeah not asking for a giant countdown timer in the sky for all to see. Just a simple "10 mins to server restart" or whatever time/interval that works is great. To tell new players to look up the restart times on the forum/discord isn't a good way to go about it.

[sf_giants15]

vor 24 Minuten schrieb Dolphin Invasion:

Yeah not asking for a giant countdown timer in the sky for all to see. Just a simple "10 mins to server restart" or whatever time/interval that works is great. To tell new players to look up the restart times on the forum/discord isn't a good way to go about it.

Ok  agree with you guys. Something like Eirjan wrote would be a good solution i think