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On May 1, the Macbot and Doovoo were unvaulted and available in the Cash Shop Park. Whenever a rerelease occurs, the species population is allowed to double at most and no more. This is in the interest of protecting creature rarities and their values. This past unvaulting, the Macbot and Doovoo were limited to 35 creatures each. However, due to site lag and the server being overwhelmed with requests all at once, a total of 90 Macbots and 100 Doovoos were obtained in this past rerelease cycle (in 2022).
We sincerely apologize for this. This was not supposed to happen. It was not because we were attempting to sell more creatures than allowed as a cash grab or because the Cash Shop was incorrectly configured. Never before has an unvaulting generated so much interest and traffic at the site. These "traffic surges" are difficult to test for in development environments alone. They are unique scenarios that happen live on the site and then have to be analyzed and fixed after they happen.
Now, why did this happen and what is Egg Cave doing to prevent this from happening again?
This unvaulting generated an enormous amount of traffic at Egg Cave. Many users were attempting to buy the Macbot and Doovos at once. Here's an example of what occurs with site lag.
In order to prevent this from happening again, we have implemented something called mutex locks when purchasing Cash Shop creatures. Mutex (MUtual EXclusion) locks are a programming concept that force the server to handle requests on a first-come, first-serve basis; the server will actually reject other incoming requests if they're occurring at the same time.
What this means: In future Cash Shop rereleases, customers will begin seeing a "Server is busy" error message if the server rejects your request to buy a Cash Shop creature. This message means somebody else beat you to it in that particular timing window to buy a creature, but that there may still be other stock available. A "Server is busy" error doesn't necessarily mean the creature is sold out already, it means that you need to try your request again.
In general, servers actually do handle incoming requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Mutex locks are generally not required to enforce this. Mutex locks are something that are applied in special cases and scenarios. This is obviously a scenario where they need to be applied. The change above has been implemented.
We sincerely apologize that more Macbots and Doovoos were sold than what was allowed. In terms of retroactively correcting the amount released, we find it particularly cruel to remove Macbots and Doovoos from players' accounts that already feel that these creatures are already theirs—even with a refund. Some players have already traded or begun auctions with their new creatures, which would lead to a messy, disastrous domino effect of corrections (what if you're already traded for a Macbot or Doovoo that would be retroactively removed, due to no fault of your own?).
If you've obtained a Macbot and/or Doovoo during this unvaulting, it's yours. Based on the fix that we've implemented above, it should not happen again.
Ian • 2 May 2022, 5:56 PM
Hey all! We are sincerely sorry that this happened and that Macbots and Doovoos were oversold. This was due to the server. Team EC has been chatting all day about the best course of action. Retroactively removing creatures as a correction seemed cruel and like a
Ian • 2 May 2022, 5:58 PM
...painful nuclear option for players. We understand that some people are upset. And we're sorry. And we're confident that the changes implemented above will ensure that this does NOT happen again.
sandara • 2 May 2022, 6:09 PM
That explains a lot XD Hope you guys have no more problem with this new implementation, and thanks for letting us keep the creatures that were wrongly sold ❤️
prairie • 2 May 2022, 6:11 PM
I’m happy to see that this issue has been addressed for future stuff!! Guess that the doovoo and macbot will be set on ‘rerelease stock’ for the next four years or so lol. Thanks @ian!
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:13 PM
@prairie the rule is creatures can’t be unvaulted 2 years in a row. So it’s always a 2 year minimum. However, yeah, it’ll be longer for the Macbot and Doovoo.
heatherm19 • 2 May 2022, 6:17 PM
Very grateful for the explanation, not all sites would be so transparent. Though I didn't buy either, I'm glad none are being taken away from users because of this error. These are still extremely limited and I'm sure plenty of people didn't get any and will want to trade for
them, so I hope there aren't a lot of hard feelings about 'rarity' and 'exclusivity' being affected. I'm glad something has been put in place to stop this from happening again!
sparklefox • 2 May 2022, 6:18 PM
Thanks for allowing us to keep them. I had a feeling the lag was the cause of this. (I'm not really annoyed over this in the first place, tbh.)
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:20 PM
@sparklefox thanks for understanding that we, as people, are doing the most we can over here! Servers are another thing entirely.
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:21 PM
@heatherm19 we hope that there aren’t hard feelings about rarities either. The alternative was the nuclear option of retroactively removing creatures, which seemed even worse than being mad about rarities.
pet_cemetery • 2 May 2022, 6:31 PM
Out of curiosity what was the rarity of the creatures before?
luv • 2 May 2022, 6:33 PM
I'm glad to see this addressed, thank you Ian! And I do hate to be a Debbie Downer, so the last thing I'll say here is I hope in the future, you'll listen to your members first when we mention an issue - the supply could have been limited at several points yesterday if concerns -
luv • 2 May 2022, 6:34 PM
- had been addressed when they'd been first raised, instead of being dismissed repeatedly, and told our counts were "nowhere close" without any check on behalf of staff, leading us to need to "prove" the numbers or, in my case, look as if I was lying for bringing it up. -
bribri1114845 • 2 May 2022, 6:34 PM
This makes me wonder if I would’ve been able to grab my doovoo if not for the lag, lol. well I’m glad I got him! I’m certainly not bothered by the extras. thanks for the in depth explanation though, I was quite curious.
Orderedchaos • 2 May 2022, 6:34 PM
@pet_cemetery They were the two rarest (960 & 961) on the site
luv • 2 May 2022, 6:35 PM
- I know this probably wasn't the intention, and I appreciate this transparency ❤️ I just wish that during the process of figuring this out, there had been a bit more care taken in how these issues were addressed, or even just an acknowledgment that you'd seen the issue and -
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:35 PM
@luv 100% this! You’re right and we dropped the ball here. I’m sorry. We’ll triple-check with a quicker response next time.
luv • 2 May 2022, 6:36 PM
- were preparing a statement, instead of the two messages we did get, saying that nothing was wrong and doubling down. Overall, that's mostly semantics, and I'm happy to see this addressed & thankful that a statement has been posted, and I'll let people enjoy in peace now 😉
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:37 PM
@luv you’re 100% right. Thanks for the thoughtful and constructive feedback. I appreciate it.
luv • 2 May 2022, 6:38 PM
@Ian thank you! (And sorry for my slow typing :')). I completely understand the strain this must have put on the server, and I appreciate the well-thought out message you all put together here ❤️ & of course the overall chance for a Macbot & doovoo. Glad all confusion was sorted!
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:39 PM
@luv ❤️
aedia • 2 May 2022, 6:40 PM
Thank you so much!!! Im just glad we get to keep them. I would have been so sad. Thanks @Ian for all you do!
Ian • 2 May 2022, 6:42 PM
@aedia thanks for understanding!
mindwhiper • 2 May 2022, 7:00 PM
Oh my god! It's so terrible when ppl are loose their rarity status of their creatures! I'm sure it was a really hard decision not to take away creatures from users who PAY for this.
nut • 2 May 2022, 7:09 PM
thanks eggcave team for the explanation 😊
witika • 2 May 2022, 7:11 PM
I mean, if there was an option to return out creatures to keep rarity down could we? I just got a doovoo to see if I could get one, it did take longer than usual to obtain one. I should of noticed it right off the bat that there was an issue, instead I was like its my internet.
Ian • 2 May 2022, 7:12 PM
@ian_hives if this were a cash grab (it’s not), I assure you we wouldn’t have implemented the fix we outlined in the blog post above. 😘
@witika if you wish to voluntarily return a Macbot or Doovoo, sure. Submit a ticket, we will offer a full 1500 CC refund. We are not, however, going to force this.
stormwarden • 2 May 2022, 7:18 PM
thanks for the transparency and future solution EC team!! ❤️
mightymouse5x • 2 May 2022, 7:27 PM
Thanks for the clear up! Appreciate everything y'all do 😊
pipkitten • 2 May 2022, 7:30 PM
Glad to see a solution, and while I would've been okay with nuking the excess, I'm happy this won't happen again with future releases.
metaphor • 2 May 2022, 7:43 PM
Thank you for addressing the issue! I think all will be ok. They are popular creatures in high demand, and a lot of people bought them just to keep.
pwuffy • 2 May 2022, 7:43 PM
appreciate the transparency 😊 these things happen unfortunately, within our control or not... doovoo and macbot populations will eventually work themselves out over the next few years, realistically this game is a long-term one and they will become rarer over time --
pwuffy • 2 May 2022, 7:44 PM
-- although thankfully not as rare as they once were... i am forever appreciative of the rereleases in the first place as they make the game feel a lot more fair! but yeah, thank you for posts like these, it's also definitely some interesting insight into how the site operates --
pwuffy • 2 May 2022, 7:45 PM
-- since i'm kinda nerdy and curious about technical things like that XD ❤️
bribri1114845 • 2 May 2022, 7:56 PM
I think it’s good to not nuke the extras for many reasons but mostly, some players, like me, only bought CC to buy a rerelease, so even though we’d be refunded CC I’d still feel out that money. ($15 for one pixel boi is a lot lol but I love eggcave so it’s cool)
jilltheplatypus • 2 May 2022, 8:21 PM
A good apology and transparency of what exactly happened yesterday! Thank you for your honesty! Beep bop guys! Enjoy your Doovoos and Macbots to your hearts content!
Ian • 2 May 2022, 8:28 PM
@bribri1114845 we understand the exact position you’re in! Makes sense.
@jilltheplatypus indeed!
iia • 2 May 2022, 8:35 PM
Even though I wasn’t involved and honestly am not bothered by this mishap I’m thrilled to see the quick response and how the team on eggcave (especially ian) are continuously responding to individual eggcavers 😊
Ian • 2 May 2022, 8:44 PM
@iia thanks 🥰
muppet • 2 May 2022, 8:54 PM
Thanks for the explanation and the fix. You guys went above and beyond what most sites would have. I am glad you're not nuking the extras...that would've been heartbreaking. As far as rarity goes...they are still going to be one of THE most sought after creatures.
raccoon • 2 May 2022, 9:52 PM
THIS is what I love about eggcave. The transparency and communication between staff and players is amazing. I've never seen this done so well in any other game.. Things break, bug, glitch, and lag. It happens and yall aren't afraid to admit it. Thanks for being honest with us 😊
Ian • 2 May 2022, 10:07 PM
@muppet exactly this! You nailed it. There is NOTHING about these creatures that’s suddenly “not rare” because of this.
Ian • 2 May 2022, 10:09 PM
@raccoon thanks for the encouragement! We’re regular people behind the screen, too, and want for everybody to have a fun gaming experience. We want for you guys to know what happened behind the scenes.
lexicon • 2 May 2022, 10:24 PM
There's a reason I've been here for 10+ YEARS and it's to be a part of this community that has been built through an outpouring of love from the creators and players alike❤️. Thanks for being receptive to feedback. We all make mistakes, it's how you react and learn from them 😊
netherling • 2 May 2022, 10:25 PM
I love seeing this was addressed! So many sites brush problems like this under the rug. I got both because one I actually do like (the Doovoo grew on me because it matches the spooky energy that I like) but the Macbot I want to hold on to to hopefully trade for my dreamies. The-
netherling • 2 May 2022, 10:26 PM
-rarities did go down for them, but considering it looks like majority of them are being kept and not traded it still makes the trade market for them active but not TOO active. A little bit of activity is better than absolutely no activity considering the site's nature ❤️
dragrawr • 2 May 2022, 10:29 PM
Thank you so much for clearing this up and working so hard to keep everyone happy, thank you so so so much Ian and staff! I’m glad you all owned up to the mistake and took the absolute best course of action! Go eggcave !! 💕😁🌸👍
netherling • 2 May 2022, 10:30 PM
All of the creatures that are estimated to be worth over several thousands of dollars in real money need to have their rarities dropped down anyway, in order for it to even out I mean. It makes site activity go up in areas that have been still for too long. Which is never fun.
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