Ever made a guess in SightGuesser and wondered how we turn thousands of kilometers of error into a neat, round score? It’s not just a straight line from A to B. We use a specifically designed function to make the scoring both fair and challenging. Let’s break down what that means.

The Core Idea: Precision is Everything

The fundamental principle of our scoring is simple: the closer you are, the more points you get. But we wanted to heavily reward precision. An exponential decay model does this perfectly. It means that every kilometer you are off matters a lot more when you’re close to the target than when you’re far away. Getting from 50km to 10km away gives you a huge score boost, while improving a guess from 5000km to 4960km offers a much smaller reward.

Two Curves for a Fairer Game

A single exponential curve didn’t feel quite right for a global game. The world is a big place, and we want to reward you for being in the right country, even if you’re not in the right city.

This is where the “piecewise” part comes in. We use two different decay formulas:

The Precision Curve (0-1000km): This is a steep curve where points drop off quickly. It’s designed to reward players who can pinpoint a location with high accuracy.
The Ballpark Curve (1000km+): After 1000km, the curve becomes much gentler. This ensures you still get a decent score for being in the right general region of the world.

Here are some key benchmarks:

0 km: 1000 points (A perfect guess!)
1000 km: 400 points
8000 km: 150 points
Maximum Distance: You’ll always get at least 25 points, just for trying!

The Speed Bonus: Quick Reflexes Pay Off

To add another layer of excitement, we included a speed bonus. If you can make a highly accurate guess (under 10km away) in less than 30 seconds, you’ll get an extra 100 bonus points. This rewards players who can quickly recognize their surroundings and make a snap decision.

So, while the math might seem complex, the goal is simple: create a scoring system that feels intuitive, rewards skill, and keeps every round exciting. Now that you know how it works, go out there and chase that perfect 1100-point score!