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Enjoy a brand-new look at the Click Exchange that's optimized for mobile responsiveness and faster page load times. Over the last couple of days, you may have also noticed more creatures are available for clicking there; this is due to some algorithm changes that we are testing, which adds 10 XC to accounts under 10 XC each day at midnight.
Right now, there are 10,000+ creatures in the Click Exchange but only a small percentage of them end up appearing on most users' click lists. This has made the Exchange be fairly quiet, with little to do or click. The reason why? XC, essentially, is too scarce.
The problem with XC scarcity is that its distribution is skewed toward the most active participants. This isn't a problem in itself, but it leaves less XC to go around for the little guys, people who are new to Egg Cave (i.e. starting with 10 XC), and people who visit the Exchange less frequently. The top 100 Exchange participants own 94% of XC wealth. When even one person from the top 100 wealthiest XC holders decides to not participate in the Exchange for a period time, the total XC in available circulation could be zapped by as much as 15%.
We are considering, with community discussion and ideas, changing the way that the Click Exchange works so that there's more to go around for everyone and ultimately, more creatures to click and give stats to.
Solution: give 10 XC to all Exchange participants with a XC balance less than 10 XC each day. This injects fresh XC into the Exchange and makes many creatures available for clicking.
Potential downside: inactive users can freeload off the Exchange. A proposed solution is to remove inactive users' creatures from the Exchange after 1 month.
This solution is currently live and is in testing at the Click Exchange as we speak. If you've noticed more creatures appearing there, that's why.
Solution: to ensure that XC distributions never get too skewed, XC balances could be reset for all users site-wide at the start of every month. This amount could be 10 XC or something else like XC equal to the number of creatures you have on your account. Everyone is equal and works their way "up the ladder" so to speak by being active participants every month. There are no runaway skewed distributions that worsen over time.
Potential downside: people may feel disappointed that they lose their XC at the end of the month.
Solution: using brains and math, we could write a system-wide algorithm that automatically redistributes XC from the big fish to the little fish. You would receive a notification that XC has been taken from your account.
Potential downside: algorithms are never 100% fair and people may feel slighted by the system and feel penalized for being active participants. Overall, this idea is the least attractive to us at Egg Cave (tyranny!).
Solution: convert XC into a one-time use currency (i.e. XC are not transferred between accounts upon clicking creatures) that is purchasable by Egg Coins. The conversion amount could be something like 10 EC = 1 XC. You increase your XC balance not by clicking other creatures but by "topping up" your XC balance with Egg Coins earned from feeding, trading, etc.
Potential downside: this solution has the least negative effects in our view. It also feels the fairest to everyone. But it means that you have to use your EC to get XC. This is a brand-new Exchange model altogether that would need support from the community to work well.
These are three solutions that we have thought of for fixing the Click Exchange, but what do you think? Solution 1 is currently in testing at the Click Exchange as we speak (and has been for the past couple of days). Do you have other ideas? Submit what you like and don't like in the comments below.
Ian • 24 Mar 2018, 5:53 PM
We're so glad to be seeing such great discussion here. It seems like Option 1 is a favorite in terms of solving the XC problem. We'll continue to watch your comments here and announce action steps in the next week or so. ❤️
jeanne • 24 Mar 2018, 8:05 PM
I like option 1 too. In the new system I have gone from 1100 XC to 4k+ in 2 days I have all my mortal pets needing clicks or feeds in the exchange but still my XC grows. Now there are too many pets in the exchange, if I don't click all some might stop putting pets ......
bribri1114845 • 24 Mar 2018, 8:07 PM
I agree that option 1 seems to be the best. I can say with certainty that I do not like the idea of paying EC for XC, it should be earned by clicking other's creatures. The current exchange seems to be working well, I like having so many more clicks to do. 😊
jeanne • 24 Mar 2018, 8:08 PM
in the exchange cause they are not receiving clicks, maybe already with that many pets some are not being clicked? Depends on how they are being sorted I guess.. I'm afraid I can't think of any solutions except maybe an option to donate xc back?
veritaspunk • 24 Mar 2018, 8:12 PM
@bribri1114845 I wouldn't mind it if it is offered in addition to what we have with option 1. What about a share your XC feature ? Perhaps certain caps and limits could be put in place as a test of sorts.
iris1929578 • 24 Mar 2018, 8:28 PM
This is cool but confusing, hmm...
icedmagma • 24 Mar 2018, 9:04 PM
I finally was able to check out the updated click exchange and I love it! I don't mind the images not collapsing, but I could see why others prefer it. In any case, I really love more creatures being available!
lucas • 24 Mar 2018, 10:32 PM
Option 1!
wavypavy • 25 Mar 2018, 12:32 AM
I wasn't aware it was even feasible to build up XC. My balance usually rests at 0 and is only above that for an hour or so after I click all the available creatures. I'm excited to see how a change to the system will help with this.
bribri1114845 • 25 Mar 2018, 1:17 AM
I'm still confused as to how the old system was unfair. When you click, you get an XC, when you're clicked, you lose one. Right? If people can just buy XC, or gain it without doing anything, who will actually give clicks?
"its distribution is skewed toward the most active participants" sounds like that's exactly how it should be. "people who visit the Exchange less frequently" don't need XC because, clearly, they don't use it, and don't "deserve" it, for lack of a better word.
id2d • 25 Mar 2018, 2:30 AM
Definitely Option 1. So far I've been seeing way more varied user names in the XC, which is great because I could always use more EC. Also I think the XC should stay as an 'exchange' not a pay to win type of thing.
wavypavy • 25 Mar 2018, 6:22 AM
I've noticed that there are now so many creatures that it's hard for active players to get clicks. Maybe the creatures should be ranked with people who have more XC generally appearing further up the list of creatures to click. Or some serious culling of inactive players
invisiblefly • 25 Mar 2018, 7:44 AM
Communism
solaris • 25 Mar 2018, 7:50 AM
My creatures seem to be getting way more clicks than ever!
thaliel • 25 Mar 2018, 8:21 AM
why not get rid of XC entirely? Instead of basing the appearance of creatures on how much xc someone has, it could very well be randomized. But it is good to see more creatures in there now, really helps making good use of the x2 ec bonus from Dragol's den
draco_malfoy • 25 Mar 2018, 8:40 AM
I definitely think that Option 1 is the best. Sure, Option 4 is the fairest, but I don't want to use my EC to get XC; I'd rather save up for a creature or travel that I like.
spectaclenest • 25 Mar 2018, 5:28 PM
the click exchange is so much more noticeably fantastic!!!! i'm with option one. in addition to how well i feel it's currently working, there's something in each of the other options that i balk at:
spectaclenest • 25 Mar 2018, 5:33 PM
i don't like the idea of my xc disappearing at the end of the month, i really don't like the idea of being held to an algorithm, and i really REALLY don't like the idea of xc becoming a paid feature, even if it is only 10 ec per click. thanks for the amazing update!!!!!!
icecloud101 • 25 Mar 2018, 6:46 PM
@ian i like the first and fourth options thank you (all) at eggcave for making this site friendly and enjoyable
laurelprince • 25 Mar 2018, 7:31 PM
I've been enjoying the new update but I have noticed that I've still been really racking up XC. This could have to do with the fact that I only have one creature in or that I've gotten a lot of 2x coins from feeding but I'm pretty solidly at 600 EC right now.
raccoon • 25 Mar 2018, 8:25 PM
First and second options seem the best imo. The third just seems unfair in all ways, and the fourth is just annoying. I'd rather use something like an outside click exchange website than have to top up with ec. The issue here is people hoarding XC... which is kind of greedy imo.
r0ry00 • 25 Mar 2018, 8:32 PM
I like the first one, I feel like my creatures gets a lot of clicks! 😃 Two and three are just no. The fourth is a big no-no for me. I mean, if I can simply buy XC, why bother with click exchange? I can just massclick a few users and get money (and XC) quicker that way.
poe • 25 Mar 2018, 10:09 PM
Option 1 is feeling pretty good! I'm liking that I can gather up enough XC now that I don't run out in between daily visits to the exchange (uni keeps me busy!). I think perhaps 1 month may be longer than needed to call someone inactive with respect to the exchange, though.
veritaspunk • 25 Mar 2018, 10:10 PM
@raccoon What if people had the option to share their well earned and saved up xc ... perhaps have a trade-in where they get like 50ec per XC etc ...
rhiecakes • 26 Mar 2018, 1:30 AM
solution 2 is the best option in my opinion. by constantly and consistently wiping XC out of the system, it'll never become a runaway problem. i personally don't mind losing mine. if XC is also injected into the system (10 per user like it is now) i think that would be ideal.
rhiecakes • 26 Mar 2018, 1:32 AM
solution 4 sounds terrible frankly. i click the exchange to grind EC, and i like the availability of creatures currently that also allow me to gather XC and some stats for my creatures. i would never spend EC on XC. algorithmic distribution of XC might also work, tho it seems (c)
rhiecakes • 26 Mar 2018, 1:34 AM
that people really dislike that option. i personally wouldn't really care. there is always access to more, and it doesn't take long to get it.
rhiecakes • 26 Mar 2018, 1:52 AM
i just had a good idea. you could cap XC. this way, it doesn't get wiped and nobody can ever have too much. you could even distribute excess XC earned to active players without much of their own. if it's a high cap, people shouldn't be upset about it.
mistishackleton • 26 Mar 2018, 2:00 AM
I agree I think option 1 makes the most sense.
duskitty • 26 Mar 2018, 4:14 AM
option 1 sounds cool! though honestly it needs some tweaking... there's too many inactive users in there right now :/ option 4 sounds really bad though honestly, it kind of removes the whole exchange idea and feels really pay2win
Ian • 27 Mar 2018, 12:01 PM
@icecloud101 we've decided to go with option 1, per this blog post. ❤️ Thanks for your feedback!
icecloud101 • 27 Mar 2018, 3:00 PM
@Ian tysm
This blog post is now closed to comments.