The REAL game starts... (Puzzle Box 1)

[DaveLegg Developer]

Actually i was pointing out the people that started the trail and i understand what your saying and i think we should have a seperate forum so that in between the chapters we can talk about past stuff. anyone agree?

While we have a box open and puzzles to work on, thats what people post about, we then update the first page of the thread with a summary of it all. Theres no reason that in the mean time, people shouldn't post here about other theories, it's not getting in the way of the discussions of the puzzles, as there are currently none being actively worked on.

With regards to stuff like the stamps etc. It may have been a small hint, but nothing important, otherwise it would have been made accessible to everyone, not just those who got the packages.

[towtol]

Actually i was pointing out the people that started the trail and i understand what your saying and i think we should have a seperate forum so that in between the chapters we can talk about past stuff. anyone agree?

I agree.

[agentleman]

I'm with DaveLegg on this one. This is where we should be having the conversation between box 1 and 2...and probably into Box #2, for we need to see if there is a relationship between the boxes in the puzzle. We already know that the Meta Game spans the contest, so I am more inclined to have things the way they are now...one closed thread with the Pre-Game posts, and this one.

If it looks like each box's puzzles are unrelated, or if we have a flurry of posts that make us to have a thread with 400 pages, then maybe Dave should chop up the thread like he did last time.

Just my thoughts...the thoughts of a very tired, Neowin message board update obsessed, Vanishing Point Game addict.

[towtol]

The boxes shown vanishingpointgame.com are Japanese puzzle boxes called Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box). And some contain more than one compartment.

As a reference http://www.yosegi.net/himitsu.htm

[towtol]

Of interest on the page with the first puzzles: if you drag your cursor over the area the gears surround, the cursor changes to denote text which is hidden from view. I found 2 spots. I did a copy of one which is the word "solve" but was unable to do a copy of the second one.

[TheBeef]

Of interest on the page with the first puzzles: if you drag your cursor over the area the gears surround, the cursor changes to denote text which is hidden from view. I found 2 spots. I did a copy of one which is the word "solve" but was unable to do a copy of the second one.

http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtop...29&start=15

Top most post on the page. I started to look more into the white boxes when I, too, came across the cursor-to-text-cursor phenom. Confirmed what is said in the above link: Placeholder text, basically. Swaps between solved and unsolved.

~TheBeef

[Korn1699]

I take it that the Ghost Ship reference doesn't appear to mean anything to anyone. I was just thinking it might because the ship and its passengers basically disappeared and the game talks about vanishing a lot. There wasn't anything I could find past that though, so maybe it just means that I watch way too many movies...

Edited January 12, 2007 by Korn1699

[Hawx's]

Yes, I verified every single one of them. They are all real flights (I documented them a number of pages ago). That prompted discussion of why she's arriving in Austin 5 days AFTER the Austin event. Unless you work for the airline or the FBI - you're not going to get your hands on a passenger manifest - they don't post those on their websites.

Oh - and Hawx's - if you've got the time (like the rest of us) to sit around and waste your time with an online game, surely reading a few extra posts won't kill you. This is all for fun (I assure you that most of us are NOT going to get any prizes) - this is one of the few events in the world where all the people involved are excited about using their brains...enjoy it.

Point taken, srry i just got a little frusterated :)

[Merlin777]

As everyone knows Loki is the Norse God of Trickery... but the funny thing so is Kitsune. The best way to start this is by using an excerpt from Kitsune, a Japanese Folklore Book. It is simple, and right to the point.

'Kitsune is an animal supposed to be mysterious, fascinating, and mischevious. And he is believed to be very grateful for the kindness done to him, as seen in many tales, and is also affectionate as revealed in some dramas. He is enshrined as a god because of his supernatural power. He is endowed with the subtle art of metamorphosis, and he is able to bewitch men in the guise of a charming girl. An exceedingly interesting and entertaining beast Kitsune is.' (preface, page vii)

Since LOKI and KITSUNE are TRICKSTERS in the form of a CHARMING FEMALE, this must be some kind of clue. Also Loki's Majors of History, Stage Art (Japanese Drama), and Folklore definately apply.

[.Markus]

The boxes shown vanishingpointgame.com are Japanese puzzle boxes called Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box). And some contain more than one compartment.

As a reference http://www.yosegi.net/himitsu.htm

[OFF TOPIC]

Interesting read indeed! The youngest qualified "personal secret box" maker is 60 years old!

[/OFF TOPIC]

I agree with Hawx to an extent, digging to deep into what sunglasses Loki is wearing in the video and then analyzing their official website for clues is a bit over the top IMO...

Regarding the stamps that came with the ciphers and USB keys, I reckon there's two reasons behind it;

* It looks more personal and luxurious than sending with company prepaid mail, which was kind of the intention behind the mail - to make the encoder feel special and not part of a viral campaign targeting thousands of people.

* The chosen stamps got the right theme for this campaign, and probably got hand selected. Microsoft are not able to make custom stamps with hidden messages.

Hopefully that finishes the discussion about Dolce & Gabbana and filatery... :)

[towtol]

I wonder if "hanamichi" is Loki's style.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki

[Merlin777]

Lorelei is the younger sister of the sorceress, Amora the Enchantress. The two sisters share an interest in using their beauty and wiles to dominate any male that either desires. However, unlike Amora, Lorelei has had no interest in mastering sorcery apart from learning certain skills to aid her in her amatory pursuits. Both sisters are natives of Asgard.

Loki, the Asgardian god of evil, chose Lorelei to seduce his longtime enemy, his stepbrother Thor, god of thunder. Lorelei, who was strongly physically attracted to Thor, needed no persuasion to agree to Loki's scheme. Lorelei prepared a love potion which, if Thor drank it, would cause him to fall madly in love with the first woman he saw. Loki hoped that Thor's passion for Lorelei would distract him from interfering in Loki's schemes for gaining power. Thor had not seen Lorelei since she was a child, and so would not recognize the adult Lorelei.

[godwi014]

Has anyone made any progress with finding the vanishing point tag? If not, since we know for sure this is a real clue, maybe we should spend some more time on it.

[Interface7]

Oh wow....Have you guys noticed that the location countdowns for the seconds box do NOT match? some do but 2 of them are off.....Los Angeles is off by a whole day..something will happen there first????????? ....and Phoenix is off by 2 hours.....wonder what that is about?!

the 3rd box location countdowns are scattered all over the place.......

[godwi014]

Oh wow....Have you guys noticed that the location countdowns for the seconds box do NOT match? some do but 2 of them are off.....Los Angeles is off by a whole day..something will happen there first????????? ....and Phoenix is off by 2 hours.....wonder what that is about?!

the 3rd box location countdowns are scattered all over the place.......

I believe it is to make for the different time zones.

[towtol]

Lorelei is the younger sister of the sorceress, Amora the Enchantress. The two sisters share an interest in using their beauty and wiles to dominate any male that either desires. However, unlike Amora, Lorelei has had no interest in mastering sorcery apart from learning certain skills to aid her in her amatory pursuits. Both sisters are natives of Asgard.

Loki, the Asgardian god of evil, chose Lorelei to seduce his longtime enemy, his stepbrother Thor, god of thunder. Lorelei, who was strongly physically attracted to Thor, needed no persuasion to agree to Loki's scheme. Lorelei prepared a love potion which, if Thor drank it, would cause him to fall madly in love with the first woman he saw. Loki hoped that Thor's passion for Lorelei would distract him from interfering in Loki's schemes for gaining power. Thor had not seen Lorelei since she was a child, and so would not recognize the adult Lorelei.

Interesting. Greek or Norse mythology?

[Interface7]

I believe it is to make for the different time zones.

that can't be because, for example, the 3rd box...the minutes are different..not just hours

[kackles]

Loki Said in the video the puzzles were based on her interests and so the title of each puzzle box (Time Passes, Magic Happens, Memories fade and people disappear) are somehow linked to interest to her

[Interface7]

Loki Said in the video the puzzles were based on her interests and so the title of each puzzle box (Time Passes, Magic Happens, Memories fade and people disappear) are somehow linked to interest to her

Yeah ok..I get that...but what I am pointing out is that the live events for boxes 2 and 3 DO NOT start at the same exact time......i think that's interesting.

[swat21]

Has anyone made any progress with finding the vanishing point tag? If not, since we know for sure this is a real clue, maybe we should spend some more time on it.

Tags are generally used in blog posts. I think this was just saying that if you get stuck, just search for vanishing point and surely someone will have figured it out.

[towtol]

A nice tutorial for when the second round of puzzles begin.

http://www.unfiction.com/dev/tutorial/

[Sir_billy_wizz]

See my earlier post.

On xbox live you will find the Vanishingpoint tag.....

P.S.

you will also find a

Lorelei Tag

Kitsune Tag

And also

Pi tag

Edited January 12, 2007 by Sir_billy_wizz

[sacrifist]

As everyone knows Loki is the Norse God of Trickery... but the funny thing so is Kitsune. The best way to start this is by using an excerpt from Kitsune, a Japanese Folklore Book. It is simple, and right to the point.

'Kitsune is an animal supposed to be mysterious, fascinating, and mischevious. And he is believed to be very grateful for the kindness done to him, as seen in many tales, and is also affectionate as revealed in some dramas. He is enshrined as a god because of his supernatural power. He is endowed with the subtle art of metamorphosis, and he is able to bewitch men in the guise of a charming girl. An exceedingly interesting and entertaining beast Kitsune is.' (preface, page vii)

Since LOKI and KITSUNE are TRICKSTERS in the form of a CHARMING FEMALE, this must be some kind of clue. Also Loki's Majors of History, Stage Art (Japanese Drama), and Folklore definately apply.

Maybe Loki is actually Bill Gates in disguise and this is his going out party. Someone email Bill and see if he responds as the true mastermind behind this game lol

[Apogee]

Bill Gates

Bill in drag does not = Loki lol.

[towtol]

Bill in drag does not = Loki lol.

:yes: