Space Dinosaurs: The cosmic competition with a prehistoric pedigree

Did you think dinosaurs went extinct?

Well, HQ is pleased to inform you all that dinosaurs never went extinct. They just evolved far enough to invent space travel. Sixty-five million years ago, a big, nasty asteroid did manage to get Earth in its trajectory, but the dinosaurs abandoned this planet for the distant Pluto. The asteroid destroyed most life on Earth and all traces of the original dino civilization, but the surviving Plutonian species soldiered on, explored the universe, and kept an eye on their old homeworld. Of course, we humans have always perceived Pluto as an icy waste, but it appears that this is merely a sophisticated hologram to disguise a terraformed, conifer-covered dino paradise from prying eyes.

… All right. Now is probably when you’re asking how HQ knows such history-altering facts. Did space dinosaurs come to us personally to relay this information?

Naturally.

The dinosaurs didn’t think that humankind had the scientific acumen to interact with an interstellar society such as theirs, but Eyewire is such a hotbed of scientific activity that we have caught their eye. We are just that awesome. What is not awesome: Earth’s impending destruction by a new asteroid. Yes, here at HQ we never expected to write the following statement, but space dinosaurs have contacted us to warn of mass extinction.

Luckily, we are not doomed. After all these millions of years, the dinosaurs have developed the technology to divert such disasters, and they are going to give us the tools and skills necessary to stop the asteroid together.

Between Friday 4/22 and Friday 4/29, you can join your fellow Eyewirers and our new reptilian allies on this world-rescuing adventure. Each challenge set before you will help train an elite squad of Eyewirers to explode the incoming asteroid before it reaches Earth… using, surprise surprise, a highly advanced Neuro-Ray!

*All times given are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).*

Accuracy Happy Hours

First session runs 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Friday 4/22
Second session runs 10:00 PM to 11:59 PM on Friday 4/22

Hone your accuracy to prep for the final Neuro-Ray mission!

Swag:
1 box of space loot for whoever traces at least 20 cubes with the highest accuracy
1 poster each for whoever traces at least 20 cubes with the 2nd and 3rd highest accuracy

Bonuses:
1st Place Accuracy – 10,000 points
2nd Place Accuracy – 8,000 points
3rd Place Accuracy – 6,000 points
Achieve 95% Accuracy – 5,000 points
Achieve 90% Accuracy – 3,000 points
Achieve 80% Accuracy – 2,000 points
1,000 points for anyone under 80% who still plays at least 10 cubes in either slot.
(These bonus thresholds are non-cumulative, i.e. they will not combine. If you earn 3rd place, for instance, and presumably got over 95% accuracy, you still earn a 6,000 point bonus, not 11,000.)

Evil Cubes

Begins at 12:01 AM on Saturday 4/23
Ends at 12:00 PM on Thursday 4/28

Build a set of Evil Cubes to learn the intimate ways of Neuro-Ray construction!

Swag:
1 box of space loot for whoever completes the Evil Cubes with the highest accuracy
1 mug each for whoever completes the Evil Cubes with the 2nd and 3rd highest accuracy
2 mugs raffled to players who complete all 12 cubes

Bonuses:
1st Place Accuracy – 8,000 points
2nd Place Accuracy – 5,000 points
3rd Place Accuracy – 3,000 points
1,000 points for anyone under 80% accuracy who still plays all 12 cubes.
(These bonus thresholds are non-cumulative, i.e. they will not combine. If you earn 3rd place, for instance, and presumably got over 80% accuracy, you still earn a 3,000 point bonus, not 4,000.)

Trivia + Trivia Power Hour

Begins at 11:00 AM on Sunday 4/24
Continues until 11:00 AM on Tuesday 4/26
Finishes with Power Hour from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday 4/26

1 question per hour for the main trivia timeframe, 1 question every 2 minutes for the power hour.

Swag:
1 box of space loot each for whoever finishes with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd highest number of points

Bonuses:
For every question —
1st to answer – 300 points
2nd to answer – 200 points
3rd to answer – 100 points

VS. Challenge

Begins at 11:00 AM on Tuesday 4/26
Ends at 11:00 AM on Wednesday 4/27

Our efforts may be sidetracked by a feud between Clan Archaeopteryx and Clan Pterodactyl! Who shall prevail?

Swag:
1 box of space loot for the top player on each team
1 sticker for each player on the winning team

Bonuses:
Earn 5,000 points – 3000 bonus
Earn 15,000 points – 6,000 bonus
Earn 25,000 points – 12,000 bonus
Every additional 25,000 points – 6,000 bonus
Winning team – 12,000 bonus
Team winner – 3000 bonus
#1 overall score – 12,000 bonus
#2 overall score – 6,000 bonus
#3 overall score – 3000 bonus

Marathon

Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday 4/27
Ends at 10:00 AM on Thursday 4/28

This is it: let’s build that Neuro-Ray and blast that asteroid into smithereens!

Swag:
1 t-shirt for whoever completes the most cubes
1 t-shirt for whoever traces at least 50 cubes with the highest accuracy

Bonuses:
Complete 20 Cubes – 2,000 point bonus
Complete 50 cubes – 5,000 point bonus
Complete 150 cubes – 20,000 point bonus
Complete 300 cubes – 40,000 point bonus
For every 150 cubes above 300 cubes – 2,500 points

If the cell is completed within 24 hrs, those mappers who:

• Complete at least 50 cubes will win rights to vote on a new name for the Neuro-Ray Cell.
• Complete at least 200 cubes will win rights to nominate a new name for the Neuro-Ray Cell.

Space Dinosaurs Closing Ceremony

Begins at 4:00 PM on Friday 4/29

Come celebrate the end of this competition, where admins will recognize everyone’s achievements. As always, we will include a round of promotions for Scouts, Scythes, Moderators, and Mentors. If you’d like a promotion, you can request them here. There will also be a raffle of 6 boxes of space loot, for which those of you earning the participation badge are eligible.