EA Updates SimCity Servers, Improves Performance Dramatically
Electronics Arts over the weekend announced that it's been able to improve server response time by 40x for its new SimCity title, thus reducing serving server downtime due to its decision to incorporate a DRM scheme that requires a persistent Internet connection. Not a moment too soon, EA also noted that the number of SimCity players has doubled since the title launched. There's still more work to be done.
"The situation is good, but not good enough," said Lucy Bradshaw, General Manager of EA's Maxis Label. "And since my boss is one of the negatively affected (!) - we’re still driving hard to get everyone online, playing together, and no hitches.
"Tens of thousands of new players are logging in every day. For that support – that commitment from our fans -- we are deeply grateful. More than anything, we know that information is important to our players. Our Twitter chat today made that especially clear, and I want to say thank you sharing your ideas, your issues and for being, well, nicer than I thought you would be, given everything you’ve been through. Thank you."
Trouble started from the get-go when EA failed to anticipate rabid demand for its new SimCity game. EA's servers were overburdened, preventing scores of users from even being able to load the game. Adding insult to injury, EA said it would give angry users a refund if they requested one through its support page, but then reneged on that promise. Not long after, EA said it would email SimCity players on March 18 with a coupon code for a free PC download game from its portfolio.
In addition to rolling out new servers with faster setup routines, EA said it's dedicated to updating its original servers. To do that, it will have to take down those original servers one by one to upgrade them.
"The improvements will be worth the downtime, and thanks for hanging with us as we do this," Bradshaw added.
"The situation is good, but not good enough," said Lucy Bradshaw, General Manager of EA's Maxis Label. "And since my boss is one of the negatively affected (!) - we’re still driving hard to get everyone online, playing together, and no hitches.
"Tens of thousands of new players are logging in every day. For that support – that commitment from our fans -- we are deeply grateful. More than anything, we know that information is important to our players. Our Twitter chat today made that especially clear, and I want to say thank you sharing your ideas, your issues and for being, well, nicer than I thought you would be, given everything you’ve been through. Thank you."
Trouble started from the get-go when EA failed to anticipate rabid demand for its new SimCity game. EA's servers were overburdened, preventing scores of users from even being able to load the game. Adding insult to injury, EA said it would give angry users a refund if they requested one through its support page, but then reneged on that promise. Not long after, EA said it would email SimCity players on March 18 with a coupon code for a free PC download game from its portfolio.
In addition to rolling out new servers with faster setup routines, EA said it's dedicated to updating its original servers. To do that, it will have to take down those original servers one by one to upgrade them.
"The improvements will be worth the downtime, and thanks for hanging with us as we do this," Bradshaw added.
