Xsyon Updates Archive

[Xsyon]

March 5 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The Main Server and client have been updated with a minor patch. This is a patch to primarily address lag issues.

As more players have been joining us recently in Xsyon, the server has experienced lag spikes. This is our primary concern right now and we've been focused on this for the past week. From our observations, these lag spikes have been caused by the server not properly distributing the processing of actions across the CPU cores. When one CPU core overloads it causes a lag spike that can last a few minutes. This was dependent on specific actions and in game activity, not number of players online.

When the load is properly distributed the server runs at around 15% CPU usage even at peak times.

Hopefully this patch will resolve these lag spikes. A few minor bugs have also been fixed.

We will be observing the server carefully today.

[Xsyon]

March 7 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

Just a quick update today. There was a minor server patch yesterday and there will be another with the next maintenance and most likely another Friday morning. With these patches we are addressing specific situations that can cause server lag and fixing a few bugs and exploits. We're doing this now so we can get back on track with more substantial game improvements.

I will catch up with the Questions sessions when I can. It's been a hectic week for me, with my travels and finally settling in where I'll be for the next few months here in Russia.

Much thanks to all who joined us on the Test Server yesterday! This helped us confirm some of recent improvements and pinpoint what we still need to finish fixing.

[Xsyon]

March 9 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The server and client have been updated with a small patch.

Patch notes:

- Continued server revisions for proper load distribution to prevent specific lag situations.
- Patterns, blueprints and schemes now stack.
- Entity use system optimized and revised to prevent exploits.
- Open, Permission and Lock actions are now instant.

We're going to resume progress on more substantial changes today but will continue to monitor the server closely in case of any lag spikes.

Enjoy!

[Xsyon]

March 9 2012

A quick update: I am not patching out the stacking for patterns, blueprints and schemes until Monday as there are additional changes to the data files that need some more checking.

That's all. Sorry for the slow maintenance today. I'm experiencing internet connection issues. The server is restarting now and will be up in 15 minutes (4:00 AM PST).

[Xsyon]

March 11 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

We will be running important tests on the Test Server today all day. Please join us if you can. Specifically we are checking the following:

- Database cleanup. We need to make sure that your containers, especially building containers are correct. The database on the Test Server is a copy of the Main Server data from March 9 2AM PST.

- Server optimizations. We need to test zone crossings, loading and general actions.

We will be observing the Test Server at these times:

4:00 PM GMT (9 AM PST)
7:00 PM GMT (12 noon PST)

This will also be announced in game several times. Please join us if you can!

[Xsyon]

March 14 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

Thanks for the help testing over the past few days! The Main Server has been updated with a patch. In this patch:

- Database cleanup.
- Revised server process load distribution. Basically we are balancing functions to optimize use of the server's CPU.
- Revised loading to prevent players to get stuck in a queue with long loading times.
- Revised compression for improved server / client messages.
- Fixed bug with learning from stacked recipes.
- Fixed bugs with containers getting stuck open.

Our server revisions are not yet finished. It will take a while to fully implement what we have planned. Feature improvements have been back in progress and we'll start testing these soon.

We will be monitoring the server closely today.

[Xsyon]

March 15 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The Test Server is up for Public testing. We are testing a revised Tribe upgrading system.Tribes can now upgrade from Homestead to Band to Clan to Tribe as members are added. Tribes will downgrade as usual if members are removed.

When a new Tribe is created, it will require placement at maximum distance from nearby Tribes, based on the starting tribe type of the new Tribe. (This is the same as what is already in place on the Main Server).

As a Tribe upgrades, its radius will increase ONLY if it is not blocked by the CURRENT radii of nearby Tribes. This will allow smaller Tribesto grow into unclaimed nearby territory and potentially block the full growth of nearby Tribes.

The Totem / Town information panel now displays the current Tribe type and radius at the top of the panel.

We will be testing and asking for feedback on this system (in the Developer Zone) over the weekend.

[Xsyon]

March 20 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The weekly Questions to Developers thread is up to date now. I've caught up with the past few weeks of questions.

The Tribe ugrading system is ready to go for tomorrow. We will patch out the system that allows tribes to upgrade tribe type and radius as longs as it's not blocked by the maximum growth radius of nearby tribes. We are also testing some important optimizations to loading entities that should slightly increase loading times, but most importantly, prevent bottlenecks during loading that can create lag spikes. Please join us on the Test Server today if you can.

Regarding loading times in general, we've identified the main cause of slow loading and one of our programmers is fully dedicated to resolving this. Hopefully we will be testing some major improvements to loading in the next few days.

That's all for today. We should be able to get this current patch out tomorrow.

[Xsyon]

March 21 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The Main Server and Client have been updated with a patch.

Patch 2012.03.21 Notes:

- Improved loading times.
- Improved data loading for crossing sectors.
- Server optimizations (we will continue to optimize server functions for a while).
- Tribes can now upgrade from one type to another.
When upgrading, your tribal radius can grow as long as it's not blocked by the maximum growth radius (based on current tribe type) of nearby tribes.
If more space becomes available because nearby tribes shrink or are abandoned, your tribe radius can be reset by adding or removing a member.
- Minor bug fixes.

We will set up a thread for you to provide feedback on loading times. In our tests loading times were increased greatly!

Enjoy!

[Xsyon]

March 22 2012

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

The Main Server and Client have been updated with a minor patch.

Patch 2012.03.22 Notes:
- Owner label on ground bins and buildings turned back on.
- Revised game logic processing on the server.

If this build causes any issues we will revert to yesterday's patch. We will be monitoring very closely today.

Enjoy!