The Great Spring Creature Feature: Come One, Come All!

Attention Eyewirers!

At HQ we happen to have received a priority bulletin from a top-level government institution concerning the escape of numerous animal specimens from a classified laboratory (naturally one at an undisclosed location). While we were informed of “substantial necessity” to keep the existence of these specimens a secret, EyeWire’s assistance has been requested in recapturing each and every peculiar species. The bounties promised include something new: physical prizes brought to you in partnership with our sponsor KT! Available swag for certain winners:

• Posters
• Mugs
• Copies of Sebastian Seung’s book Connectome: How the Brain’s Wiring Makes Us Who We Are
• Stickers
• T-shirts

As usual, there will of course be bounties of big points and badges on EyeWire itself. You can also enjoy the satisfying achievement of gazing upon strange beings who have been publicly disavowed for decades: cryptids.

Between Friday 3/20 and Friday 3/27, your opportunity to help recapture the escaped cryptids will comprise several challenges designed to help you obtain various species. The details are given below. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to participate in as many challenges as you can and reap the relevant rewards. Afterwards, of course, it’s on your own conscience as to whether you reveal this state secret to the world or keep it forever under wraps. It depends what you think is the best choice… FOR SCIENCE!

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

Accuracy Happy Hours

First session runs 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Friday 3/20
Second session runs 10:00 PM to 11:59 PM on Friday 3/20

Here we’re introducing a new challenge format. During either timeslot (or both), trace cubes like usual for standard Happy Hour bonuses, but your accuracy will also be measured to give out additional points and badges. Unlike Evil Cubes, your tracing may not be as difficult, but while you may feel the need for speed to get your normal extra points, we’re going to see how well your accuracy holds up under pressure. If you trace during both slots, your best accuracy figure will be the one that counts. If you get 80% accuracy or higher, you will have successfully caught a Mer-Unicorn and earn badges accordingly!

Swag: Based on their accuracy, the top 5 players will each win an EyeWire poster.

Point 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 20 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 12:01 AM on Saturday 3/21
Ends 12:00 PM on Thursday 3/26

Finish a set of Evil Cubes to figure out where the Jersey Devil is hiding on Princeton’s campus. Earn badges for 90% accuracy, 80% accuracy, and for generally completing all 12 cubes.

Swag: Based on their accuracy, the top 5 players will each win an EyeWire mug. There will also be 10 more mugs raffled off for players who complete all the 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 11:00 AM on Sunday 3/22
Continues until 11:00 AM on Tuesday 3/24
Finishes with Power Hour from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Tuesday 3/24

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

Swag: Based on bonuses accrued, the top 3 players will each win a copy of Sebastian Seung’s book Connectome: How the Brain’s Wiring Makes Us Who We Are.

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

VS. Challenge

Begins 11:00 AM on Monday 3/23
Ends 11:00 AM on Tuesday 3/24

Bigfoot vs. Nessie: which cryptid is your favorite? Choose a team and trace away.

Swag: The top players on each team will each win one EyeWire poster and one EyeWire sticker. Each person on the winning team will also win one sticker.

Bonuses:
Earn 5,000 points – 3,000 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 – 3,000 bonus
#1 overall score – 12,000 bonus
#2 overall score – 6,000 bonus
#3 overall score – 3,000 bonus

Marathon Battle

Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday 3/25
Ends at 10:00 AM on Thursday 3/26

The Great Spring Creature Feature will finish with a marathon on the Chupacabra Cell, which will run for 24 hours.

Swag: Based on number of cubes completed, the top 15 players will each win an EyeWire t-shirt. Each player who completes more than 20 cubes will also win an EyeWire sticker.

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 Chupacabra hunters who:

• Complete at least 50 cubes will win rights to vote on a new name for the Chupacabra Cell.
• Complete at least 150 cubes will win rights to nominate a new name for the Chupacabra Cell.

Creature Feature Closing Ceremony

Come celebrate the end of the Great Spring Creature Feature, where admins will bestow the bounties you’ve earned. As is now becoming routine, we will include a round of promotions for Scouts, Scythes, Moderators, and Mentors. If you’d like a promotion, you can request them here.

Begins at 4:00 PM on Friday 3/27

Additional Prize Raffle

Any players who have participated (i.e. earned the participation badge) will be entered into a raffle for an additional 3 posters, 1 book, 5 mugs, and 5 shirts!