Apparently the UTC clock in the inbox is not official

[Magnifico]

According to the announcement in my in-game inbox, the World Traveler event was scheduled to end on 9/19 at 14:00:00 UTC.

I wanted to take advantage of the World Traveler event to upgrade my Tank Depot. Since I was going to be away from wifi for the weekend, I even spent 200 crowns on a peace treaty so that I would be sure I had the resources ready when my workers freed up. It was going to be close, but I logged in a few minutes before the event was due to end only to find that Tank Depot was at its normal, non-discounted price.

I sent Customer Service a screenshot of the in-game clock in my inbox showing the Current UTC time as 13:57:43, along with one of my non-discounted Tank Depot. (And, yes, I sent it right before 14:00:00 UTC. I typed quickly.)

I just heard back from CS:

Thank you for contacting us. This is Game Master Jay of DomiNations Support Team. With regards to your concern, please be informed that the Discount event ended on time. It is possible that you have just confused between the time of your mobile device and the in-game time. Kindly please be always aware of the in-game time to avoid this in the future.

I had thought the UTC clock in the in-game inbox showed official in-game time. Apparently, I was mistaken. Nb4powerup can you enlighten me about how to determine the real in-game time, so that I can do as Game Master Jay suggests and avoid this in the future?

 

[Eddie F1]

Intriguing. The whole point of using UTC is to avoid problems with time zones and daylight savings etc. UTC is absolute. Just checked my in-game UTC and it is correct, so it won't be your device has a 'slow' clock, after all most use accurate timing for GPS.

So, either the servers aren't set up properly and the event finished at 13:00:00 or it's not automated and some bloke has to press the start/stop button and wanted to get to Dunkin Donut early.

We'll have to watch what time the next event starts and stops, if it is out by whole hours or a few minutes/seconds.

 

[Brand Marrow]

definitely was the Dunkin Donuts....nexon employees are totally addicted

 

[Quovatis]

CS helpful as always, blaming the customer instead of taking responsibility. It's appalling

 

[Navalis]

After all this someone needs to open 'Drunken Donuts'! Every donut hole is large enough to hold a shot and the jelly filled donuts are spiked. Pretty soon you won't care about the events or the time lol...

 

[Nb4powerup]

Hi! I've checked into this and it could be that the UTC clock is based on your device's time settings. I'll keep poking around nonetheless.

 

[Magnifico]

Hi! I've checked into this and it could be that the UTC clock is based on your device's time settings. I'll keep poking around nonetheless.

I double-checked my iPad clock against the official US time and it is perfectly in sync. So even if the in-game UTC is based on my device clock, that shouldn't make a difference unless (1) the in-game time is not in sync with actual UTC and (2) the "UTC" displayed in the in-game inbox screen is my device's accurate time rather than the (by hypothesis) inaccurate in-game time. It seems far more likely to me that somebody just triggered the end of the event a few minutes early and that Game Master Jay wasn't being entirely forthcoming with me.

 

[Cris 4321]

Had exactly the same issue (please refer separate posting under General Discussion, prior to seeing this thread). In my case I spent 514 crowns to end an existing upgrade early and free up 4 people in order to launche the max tank upgrade under the promo, only to find it was no longer available. I think the first 2 responses I got from CS were simply stating that the event closed on time and closing the discussion, that wasn't really helpful. One of the answers pointed to the in game time, I must admit I had no idea of what that was or where to find it, which now after reading the forum I was able to find is in the inbox, it maches perfectly with my understanding ie London/UK = UTC +1h = In Game Time +1h (if we want to invent a new time zone In Game Time = IGT + 1). Another response from CS, just said I should use a time zone converter, that wasn't particularly useful either.

Do you think the promos are ended manually, are they not set up in the system to run a defined period of time or until the defined end time of the promo? If they are manual, then I can see the potential for some human error due to human interference, if they are system set up then the only thing I can think off is tat the server time is not really accurate so when they actually say UTC, they do in fact mean this In Game Time (whatever that happens to be) and not the generally understood UTC time.

Does anyone know how early the promotion ended, I must admit in my case I can confirm my experience relates to 1-2 minutes early since I was trying to minimize the number of crowns spent, but would be interesting to know if other people noticed the promo closing even earlier.

So, my 2 cents on this, for future promos, is in the advertisements the team should use reference to the In Game Time, rather than UTC, if there are any sort of instances possible, either in the server set up, or each players device set up, where these 2 times can vary.

 

[Big Daddy]

First place you should just keep track of the UTC time on your own. Why would you assums Nexon have it correct? Why would you trust them? They are here to get you to spend crowns period! You have a very hi tech device in your hand that will help you to be self reliant. Always confirm the cost of the next upgrade prior to expediting the current building that's being upgraded. Do not forget to account for Day Light savings if you live in a state in USA that observes that useless, antiquated, and obsolete practice of daylight savings.

 

[Magnifico]

Look, I know how to tell time. The discount was already gone before 14:00:00 UTC. Both my own clocks AND the in-game UTC timer showed this. The problem is that their event ended before they said it was supposed to end.

 

[Penumbra]

Google "utc" and there is a website for it that shows the current utc time.

 

[Big Daddy]

LoL. I am aware that you know how to read time, from reading your post. I was stating that if you expedited an upgrade or research without first verfiying all cost is on you, not Nexon. You have been around this game long enough, never assume anything always verify. You very will know Nexon is slight of hand. Your pictures are not from a reply, sounds like you have the evidence needed. To much trouble these day to change time on your phone anyways. Was your screen twirling? By your own emission, you were cutting it close.

 

[Magnifico]

I was stating that if you expedited an upgrade or research without first verfiying all cost is on you, not Nexon. You have been around this game long enough, never assume anything always verify.

I had the resources together for the upgrade three days before the event was supposed to end, but wouldn't have time to play over the weekend. Also, my workers weren't going to be free until the 19th at UTC 13:55:00. So I spent 200 crowns on a peace treaty so I'd be sure to be able to afford the upgrade when my workers were ready. There was no way to verify three days in advance that the discount would be gone before UTC 14:00:00, the advertised time.

 

[Big Daddy]

If events happened as you say, I agree they owe you a shield. But if you blindly upgraded before you verified cost of the next upgrade is on you not Nexon. Dominations game has bigger issues the alledged UTC time discrepancy. Do you have daylight savings where you live? Not Nexon reponsibility to keep track of an antiquated practice, that has never been observed in their country. Keep track of the UTC time on your own! Why would you trust the company who's sole purpose in life is to get you to foolish waste crowns. You are better off to actually gamble your money away than spend it on any war game. At least you actually have a chance to be a winner gambling.

 

[Eddie F1]

I think you're confused as to what UTC actually is. Daylight savings has no effect on UTC, nor time zones, or whether it's winter or summer or if there is a 'Z' in the month.

UTC is absolute - if the event finishes at 14:00:00 then it finishes at 14:00:00 wherever. We have another finishing tomorrow at 14:00:00, so we'll see.

 

[maggiepie]

Thanks for the re-direct to this thread, Eddie F1. I experienced a similar 'early' event end during the High Culture event. Apparently we should keep in mind that Nexon's definition of UTC is actually ~15-20 minutes EARLIER than UTC. They've not quite told me so as of yet (that I know of anyway, perhaps they've closed my ticket recently), but that is when the event was cut off for me. I think they need to update their UTC timer to reflect their definitions of time.

 

[Kiruben]

A universal clock. Will solve a lot of issues because alliance planning is very difficult with different time line and a common clock would be great.

 

[TinSoldier]

We found the issue where the inbox clock was being influenced by the device's local time.
A fix is in place and being tested now.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention!