I noticed something similar. In all three towns I run, the first daily play freebie mystery box I opened after the monorail event take-down contained 10 donuts. I haven't hit the second box yet, but I'll be watching for more billboards.
I got 10 donuts in both of my towns. Which I thought was a little weird so that was probably intentional. I should be getting boxes today and tomorrow. I don't think there's enough evidence to suggest the Mystery Boxes will no longer be random though.
Joined: May 2014 • Level: 563 • Favourite Characters: Lisa & Ralph
I got 10 donuts in both of my towns. Which I thought was a little weird so that was probably intentional. I should be getting boxes today and tomorrow. I don't think there's enough evidence to suggest the Mystery Boxes will no longer be random though.
i know they are not random anymore
the prize is predetermined before you open it.
Without turning this into a long thread on psudorandom number functions (a subject that I am nowhere close to an expert), what Max is saying is that the code for the 'new' boxes to achieve randomness behaves significantly differently from the old boxes. In the new box, the app knows what's inside before you open it. In the old box, the prize was chosen by the app while you opened the box. It's still arguable that both programming options are 'random' though.
What's odd that the recent takedown may have altered something to make it easier for players to spot patterns in the randomness. It'll be interesting to see if the 10 donuts>billboard pattern will continue and be spotted by others, or if other patterns will emerge.
Without turning this into a long thread on psudorandom number functions (a subject that I am nowhere close to an expert), what Max is saying is that the code for the 'new' boxes to achieve randomness behaves significantly differently from the old boxes. In the new box, the app knows what's inside before you open it. In the old box, the prize was chosen by the app while you opened the box. It's still arguable that both programming options are 'random' though.
What's odd that the recent takedown may have altered something to make it easier for players to spot patterns in the randomness. It'll be interesting to see if the 10 donuts>billboard pattern will continue and be spotted by others, or if other patterns will emerge.
Per this thread: http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/10337055.page below are the probabilities for the MB. But I find it strange that so many got 10 donuts after the take-down. Programs usually "seed" the PRNG with a value that is somewhat random; like the time of day.
Rest is from that thread repeated here for y'all.
***************
These are the actual percentages, not rounded:
Unique items (55.4%):
Blue Haired Lawyer: 14.2%
Squeaky Voiced Teen: 14.2%
Tire Fire: 14.2%
Kearney: 6.6%
Lemon Tree: 6.2%
-
Premium, repeatable (18.2%):
Channel 6 News Van 6.6%
Itchy Scratchy Billboard: 6.6%
Lard Lad Donuts: 2%
10 Donuts: 2%
30 Donuts: 1%
-
Non-premium, repeatable (26.4%):
1979 Onda: 6.6%
Bomb Shelter: 6.6%
Minnow Pond: 6.6%
Khlav Kalash Stand: 6.6%
If the seed to the PRNG is the same for everyone then we all get the same sequence. That's how PRNGs work. They are not really random; whatever definition of that you take. Randomness is a complex, fascinating subject. So are PRNGs.
My last 6 boxes in order have been (excluding the ones during the monorail event) 30 Donuts, Kearny, News Van, Blue-Haired Lawyer, 10 Donuts and Itchy & Scratchy Billboard
Replies
Yesterday I received 10 donuts.
same as me
i know they are not random anymore
the prize is predetermined before you open it.
What's odd that the recent takedown may have altered something to make it easier for players to spot patterns in the randomness. It'll be interesting to see if the 10 donuts>billboard pattern will continue and be spotted by others, or if other patterns will emerge.
you explained this so much better
thanks.
Rest is from that thread repeated here for y'all.
***************
These are the actual percentages, not rounded:
Unique items (55.4%):
Blue Haired Lawyer: 14.2%
Squeaky Voiced Teen: 14.2%
Tire Fire: 14.2%
Kearney: 6.6%
Lemon Tree: 6.2%
-
Premium, repeatable (18.2%):
Channel 6 News Van 6.6%
Itchy Scratchy Billboard: 6.6%
Lard Lad Donuts: 2%
10 Donuts: 2%
30 Donuts: 1%
-
Non-premium, repeatable (26.4%):
1979 Onda: 6.6%
Bomb Shelter: 6.6%
Minnow Pond: 6.6%
Khlav Kalash Stand: 6.6%
After have all the unique items:
Premium (48.977%):
Channel 6 News Van 12.755%
Itchy Scratchy Billboard: 12.755%
Lard Lad Donuts: 8.155%
10 Donuts: 8.155%
30 Donuts: 7.155%
Non-premium (51.022%):
1979 Onda: 12.755%
Bomb Shelter: 12.755%
Minnow Pond: 12.755%
Khlav Kalash Stand: 12.755%
Same here too
(edited for operating system clarity)