Posted October 15, 2015
high rated
Almost a year has passed and it's time for another Esoteric Challenge. Hopefully this one will prove more difficult than last time!
The text of the challenge is here:
http://pastebin.com/0hKZUzQp
The answer is a game code that can be redeemed at GOG. It's of the usual format of 20 hexadecimal characters. You'll recognize it when you see it.
If you have no idea at all where to start, a good place is the wikipedia link above. I will not be adding any direct hints, because all the hints are already there, you just have to know where to look for them. Be aware though that not everything hidden that you see is a hint. Some could just be red herrings. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
I will say this however. There is nothing arbitrary or unfair about the solution. So nothing along the lines "if I change vowels to 0s and constants to 1s, I'll get a binary code that is the answer" because that would require you to arbitrarily assign vowels to 0s and constants to 1s. If you are required to do something you will be told to do so.
The above is actually a hint in itself. If you find yourself thinking of solutions that are too arbitrary or too unfair, then know that you are on the wrong track.
That said, there is a really obscure Lords of the Rings reference in the challege. However it's more of a hidden joke than an actual hint. And no Lords of the Rings knowledge is required to solve this. So if you find yourself thinking "let me count the vowels in the names of the fellowship of the ring" you're definitely on the wrong track. Don't really spend too much time thinking about LotR, please.
About the game: it's a classic and it is among my personal top games of all time. It is somewhat of a hidden gem, doesn't seem to be as popular as it should. However if you like the genre, you'll really love this one.
I will help those who help themselves. So if you are stuck or anything feel free to discuss it in this thread or via Chat. And it is my hope that this challenge will get more people interested in the subject, which I find really nice.
That's it. Happy solving.
UPDATE:
I do recommend that you don't watch the video unless you're really stuck.
A few of you have reached the part where the LotR reference might be useful. I was hesitant in including it here because I didn't want people to concentrate on it, while it is just a vague reference at best. However since I PMed the link to a few already, in order to level the field, I will post it here as well.
Here is an excerpt from a LotR movie that contains the reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHCM68KkPY
Here is a funnier version for those who speak Polish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1WyFbzGvG0
Do not spend too much time on it if you just started. If you don't catch the reference do not worry about it either way.
Solved so far (none claimed the game yet):
_adaliabooks
_siulebuo
_v3
_Wishbone
_Lin545
_Psyonicon
UPDATE 28/10/2015:
The game code has been sent to Phc6007, so the code it is no longer redeemable.
UPDATE 29/10/2015:
Solution is in attachments.
The text of the challenge is here:
http://pastebin.com/0hKZUzQp
The answer is a game code that can be redeemed at GOG. It's of the usual format of 20 hexadecimal characters. You'll recognize it when you see it.
If you have no idea at all where to start, a good place is the wikipedia link above. I will not be adding any direct hints, because all the hints are already there, you just have to know where to look for them. Be aware though that not everything hidden that you see is a hint. Some could just be red herrings. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
I will say this however. There is nothing arbitrary or unfair about the solution. So nothing along the lines "if I change vowels to 0s and constants to 1s, I'll get a binary code that is the answer" because that would require you to arbitrarily assign vowels to 0s and constants to 1s. If you are required to do something you will be told to do so.
The above is actually a hint in itself. If you find yourself thinking of solutions that are too arbitrary or too unfair, then know that you are on the wrong track.
That said, there is a really obscure Lords of the Rings reference in the challege. However it's more of a hidden joke than an actual hint. And no Lords of the Rings knowledge is required to solve this. So if you find yourself thinking "let me count the vowels in the names of the fellowship of the ring" you're definitely on the wrong track. Don't really spend too much time thinking about LotR, please.
About the game: it's a classic and it is among my personal top games of all time. It is somewhat of a hidden gem, doesn't seem to be as popular as it should. However if you like the genre, you'll really love this one.
I will help those who help themselves. So if you are stuck or anything feel free to discuss it in this thread or via Chat. And it is my hope that this challenge will get more people interested in the subject, which I find really nice.
That's it. Happy solving.
UPDATE:
I do recommend that you don't watch the video unless you're really stuck.
A few of you have reached the part where the LotR reference might be useful. I was hesitant in including it here because I didn't want people to concentrate on it, while it is just a vague reference at best. However since I PMed the link to a few already, in order to level the field, I will post it here as well.
Here is an excerpt from a LotR movie that contains the reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgHCM68KkPY
Here is a funnier version for those who speak Polish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1WyFbzGvG0
Do not spend too much time on it if you just started. If you don't catch the reference do not worry about it either way.
Solved so far (none claimed the game yet):
_adaliabooks
_siulebuo
_v3
_Wishbone
_Lin545
_Psyonicon
UPDATE 28/10/2015:
The game code has been sent to Phc6007, so the code it is no longer redeemable.
UPDATE 29/10/2015:
Solution is in attachments.
Attachments:
hint_1.png (13 Kb)
hint_2.png (5 Kb)
hint_3.png (2 Kb)
hint_4.png (2 Kb)
final_solution.png (7 Kb)
Post edited November 10, 2015 by ZFR
