Posted January 27, 2017
high rated
*** UPDATE 2 ***
We have a winner! mecirt managed to solve it, and accepted the prize of Rise Of The Triad (2013). From now on, the reward for solving this lies solely in overcoming the challenge. For those of you who continue trying to solve it, the code will still let you check whether you have the correct result. The site will just tell you that it has already been used (as opposed to not recognizing the code if you get it wrong).
I will probably let this run until Friday to let everyone who wants to have a chance at solving it. After that, we'll open up the discussion.
List of solvers:
mecirt
Alaric.us
Urnoev*
Lillesort131
ZFR
* Urnoev deserves a special mention. He did not have the programming knowledge needed to write the necessary code for the first step of the puzzle. He didn't let this stop him though. In spite of it, he was the first (to my knowledge) to figure out exactly what the code would need to actually do in order to progress. After mecirt had solved the puzzle and claimed the game, I sent Urnoev the output from my own code, and he solved the rest of the puzzle using that.
*** END OF UPDATE 2 ***
*** UPDATE ***
I have just been made aware that the data which the riddle leads to is somewhat oddly arranged.
Basically, each byte in the data is in little-endian bit order, so least significant bit first.
This is an additional complication that I never intended to be a part of the puzzle, and that I was not aware of at all. I have checked the data extensively, but only on the byte level, I never checked the actual bits.
The thing is, in my own code I used the .NET BitArray class to convert between bits and bytes, unaware that said class reverses the bit order (why it does this, I have no idea). Since I used it for both types of conversion, I never caught on to the fact that something was, ahem, a bit off.
My apologies.
*** END OF UPDATE ***
Inspired by ZFR's fantastic series of Esoteric Challenges (, [url=https://www.gog.com/forum/general/esoteric_challenge_ii_giveaway/post1]here and here), I finally decided to create my own puzzle.
Admittedly, mine is of a slightly different nature than ZFR's. This time around, you will have to write some code yourself. I know this excludes a lot of people, and for that I apologize, but the idea I had for a puzzle led in that direction. Theoretically, it is possible to solve this without doing any programming, but I reckon it would take so long (and be so boring) as to make the task futile. As such, if you can't program in any language (the specific programming language isn't that important) then this probably isn't for you.
So, you will probably have to do some programming to solve this. Whatever programming language you are comfortable with is fine, although using one that has easy access to libraries for certain kinds of data manipulation (such as .NET or Java) will probably make it a lot easier. How you solve the puzzle is none of my business though, there are no set requirements, and you will not be required to have your solution approved by me. For anyone who does solve it though, I will be interested to know how you did it, if I may, but that is not mandatory.
As with ZFR's latest giveaway, the solution of the puzzle is a GOG game code consisting of 20 hexadecimal characters. As such, whoever solves it first can claim the game immediately.
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
As usual, please refrain from posting any kinds of spoilers in the thread. Once I deem the giveaway to be over, we can discuss everything, but until then, let's keep a lid on the details. Also, please note that most of the appeal in these puzzle giveaways lies in solving the puzzle, not simply receiving a game, so even if someone claims the code, posting spoilers or details is still a no-no until I say so.
I will be following ZFR's usual style of helping those that help themselves, so if you are well and truly stuck, I may be able to offer vague guidance via PM. Like ZFR, I also won't be giving anything away directly however ;-)
DISCLAIMER:
There are no deliberate red herrings in the puzzle. All the hints I have put in should be pointing in the right direction. If you miss some of them (or misinterpret them), you may still end up going the wrong way though.
On that note, let me also mention that the spaceship and planet behind the riddle text are of no consequence whatsoever. I just thought a blank background was too boring, and I didn't want to use a copyrighted image, so I used one I made myself many years ago. In other words, don't waste your time trying to find out if the placement of the stars or the pattern on the cargo pods hold any significance, because they don't.
Now, without further ado, I present: My first puzzle giveaway!
We have a winner! mecirt managed to solve it, and accepted the prize of Rise Of The Triad (2013). From now on, the reward for solving this lies solely in overcoming the challenge. For those of you who continue trying to solve it, the code will still let you check whether you have the correct result. The site will just tell you that it has already been used (as opposed to not recognizing the code if you get it wrong).
I will probably let this run until Friday to let everyone who wants to have a chance at solving it. After that, we'll open up the discussion.
List of solvers:
mecirt
Alaric.us
Urnoev*
Lillesort131
ZFR
* Urnoev deserves a special mention. He did not have the programming knowledge needed to write the necessary code for the first step of the puzzle. He didn't let this stop him though. In spite of it, he was the first (to my knowledge) to figure out exactly what the code would need to actually do in order to progress. After mecirt had solved the puzzle and claimed the game, I sent Urnoev the output from my own code, and he solved the rest of the puzzle using that.
*** END OF UPDATE 2 ***
*** UPDATE ***
I have just been made aware that the data which the riddle leads to is somewhat oddly arranged.
Basically, each byte in the data is in little-endian bit order, so least significant bit first.
This is an additional complication that I never intended to be a part of the puzzle, and that I was not aware of at all. I have checked the data extensively, but only on the byte level, I never checked the actual bits.
The thing is, in my own code I used the .NET BitArray class to convert between bits and bytes, unaware that said class reverses the bit order (why it does this, I have no idea). Since I used it for both types of conversion, I never caught on to the fact that something was, ahem, a bit off.
My apologies.
*** END OF UPDATE ***
Inspired by ZFR's fantastic series of Esoteric Challenges (, [url=https://www.gog.com/forum/general/esoteric_challenge_ii_giveaway/post1]here and here), I finally decided to create my own puzzle.
Admittedly, mine is of a slightly different nature than ZFR's. This time around, you will have to write some code yourself. I know this excludes a lot of people, and for that I apologize, but the idea I had for a puzzle led in that direction. Theoretically, it is possible to solve this without doing any programming, but I reckon it would take so long (and be so boring) as to make the task futile. As such, if you can't program in any language (the specific programming language isn't that important) then this probably isn't for you.
So, you will probably have to do some programming to solve this. Whatever programming language you are comfortable with is fine, although using one that has easy access to libraries for certain kinds of data manipulation (such as .NET or Java) will probably make it a lot easier. How you solve the puzzle is none of my business though, there are no set requirements, and you will not be required to have your solution approved by me. For anyone who does solve it though, I will be interested to know how you did it, if I may, but that is not mandatory.
As with ZFR's latest giveaway, the solution of the puzzle is a GOG game code consisting of 20 hexadecimal characters. As such, whoever solves it first can claim the game immediately.
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
As usual, please refrain from posting any kinds of spoilers in the thread. Once I deem the giveaway to be over, we can discuss everything, but until then, let's keep a lid on the details. Also, please note that most of the appeal in these puzzle giveaways lies in solving the puzzle, not simply receiving a game, so even if someone claims the code, posting spoilers or details is still a no-no until I say so.
I will be following ZFR's usual style of helping those that help themselves, so if you are well and truly stuck, I may be able to offer vague guidance via PM. Like ZFR, I also won't be giving anything away directly however ;-)
DISCLAIMER:
There are no deliberate red herrings in the puzzle. All the hints I have put in should be pointing in the right direction. If you miss some of them (or misinterpret them), you may still end up going the wrong way though.
On that note, let me also mention that the spaceship and planet behind the riddle text are of no consequence whatsoever. I just thought a blank background was too boring, and I didn't want to use a copyrighted image, so I used one I made myself many years ago. In other words, don't waste your time trying to find out if the placement of the stars or the pattern on the cargo pods hold any significance, because they don't.
Now, without further ado, I present: My first puzzle giveaway!
Post edited February 06, 2017 by Wishbone
