[fndfilms]

All though we do have forum PM's, skype, or what ever, this is giving the IN-GAME a bit more uniqueness to minerealm. But we all know not everyone uses the forums and we all know not everyone checks those messages. +1 for the idea.

[smith2013]

Databasing hundreds if unsent messages would use lots of unnecessary resources. Isn't it simply more convenient to us Skype instead?

Not necessarily. A single character only takes up one byte. The limit in Minecraft is right around 100 characters per message. That's 100 bytes per message, meaning there would have to be close to 10,000 messages stored to even come close to a megabyte. Assuming you're using a relational database like MySQL, the estimated query completion time is right around 0.25 seconds (I'm really over-estimating here). If you're worried about RAM, in theory none of this would be cached (you don't want to cache 10,000 rows into RAM, at least for this purpose). Your only concern would be processor usage, but Minecraft servers can only use a single core. The database can easily use those under-utilized cores with no direct performance decrease on the Minecraft server.

[jugglingman456]

Databasing hundreds if unsent messages would use lots of unnecessary resources. Isn't it simply more convenient to us Skype instead?

Not necessarily. A single character only takes up one byte. The limit in Minecraft is right around 100 characters per message. That's 100 bytes per message, meaning there would have to be close to 10,000 messages stored to even come close to a megabyte. Assuming you're using a relational database like MySQL, the estimated query completion time is right around 0.25 seconds (I'm really over-estimating here). If you're worried about RAM, in theory none of this would be cached (you don't want to cache 10,000 rows into RAM, at least for this purpose). Your only concern would be processor usage, but Minecraft servers can only use a single core. The database can easily use those under-utilized cores with no direct performance decrease on the Minecraft server.

Smith has no idea what he's talking about. Plane, however, does:

[mitchie151]

Databasing hundreds if unsent messages would use lots of unnecessary resources. Isn't it simply more convenient to us Skype instead?

Not necessarily. A single character only takes up one byte. The limit in Minecraft is right around 100 characters per message. That's 100 bytes per message, meaning there would have to be close to 10,000 messages stored to even come close to a megabyte. Assuming you're using a relational database like MySQL, the estimated query completion time is right around 0.25 seconds (I'm really over-estimating here). If you're worried about RAM, in theory none of this would be cached (you don't want to cache 10,000 rows into RAM, at least for this purpose). Your only concern would be processor usage, but Minecraft servers can only use a single core. The database can easily use those under-utilized cores with no direct performance decrease on the Minecraft server.

Well if this is the case, why is it that Intelli has denied previous requests for additional private chats because of resource issues. The storage itself is not the issue, rather the transferring data between all the characters on a server. I really have no technical education so I can't reliably say, but chat suggestions HAVE been denied in the past due to 'resource' issues.

[planetphanatic]

snip

SNIP

Well if this is the case, why is it that Intelli has denied previous requests for additional private chats because of resource issues. The storage itself is not the issue, rather the transferring data between all the characters on a server. I really have no technical education so I can't reliably say, but chat suggestions HAVE been denied in the past due to 'resource' issues.

[Joseph3114]

Databasing hundreds if unsent messages would use lots of unnecessary resources. Isn't it simply more convenient to us Skype instead?

Because I'd love to allow strangers who may potentially hate me at some point to have my email, name, and birth day just to ask about selling me a cow or trading stone.

It's suggested for convenience. And based on the numbers, it would be a major convenience for many people.

[eah]

Some more pros:
Some users don't have access to the forums for parental controls / web filter reasons.
Most players are never conscious of the forum's existence.
Payers who have caused small disturbances (such as minor griefing), can be made better aware of their mistake by being sent an in-game mail message while offline.

I think the pros outweigh the cons. But I also think player to offline player mail is in the bottom half of Intelli's to-do list.

[mr. roach]

Back in the good ol' days during our dictatorship, I believe Intelli would have said something like

"Rejected. That's what PMs are for."

Really, the only reason anyone would use this is if they had no forum account, or the other person didn't. As there's no reason to not have a forum account, I would consider this a pointless spam opportunity.

-1

~dlgn

EDIT: Roach, even though players could be banned for spamming, people would still be spammed. Would you want to be spammed?

If someone spams you, simply tell staff and have it taken care of. Unless they buy 5 more alt accounts and continue spamming you, this problem isn't continuous. It's like managing email in real life, you get spam all the time, don't you? Simply delete it, or implement the option to block/ignore a player's mail sent to you.

[Eetrab]

It is certainly a well thought out idea, but I don't see why it was necessary. What others have said, that is what PM's are for.

[Joseph3114]

It is certainly a well thought out idea, but I don't see why it was necessary. What others have said, that is what PM's are for.

The problem with that is that not everyone has forum accounts, not every checks them constantly, and some forum names don't match with in game names. It shouldn't be so hard to get in touch with other players.

I've been trying to get in touch with two different people building realms near me, and the best thing I can do is place signs outside their realm and hope they see it. They don't have forum accounts.