Yeah, really frustrating. I have not one clue what to do after the 2nd iteration. It makes zero sense to me. Zero. Very aggravating.

Going to sleep, so won't be checking any answers in the next hours...

Really small hint:
It's not a substitution cipher. Once you figure out what it is, you're more than halfway there.

I realize this is not helpful to those of you who already solved part 1, I'll post more hints tomorrow.

Wow! I didn't expect to get this one like I wasn't able to get yogsloth's quick giveaway. Very nice code, ZFR!

A non-spoiler hint for those who reached a more advanced stage:

_Did you find the hidden clue?
_Again: There is a wikipedia link in the OP. Yes I know if you've reached this far, you probably know about it or don't need it, but... if you're stuck at this stage would it hurt to look at it again?


I'll leave this running for some 3 more days. Towards the end of the week, I'll post the solution (with gradual spoiler hints). If the last game is not won by then, I'll give it away or donate it.

Let me just bump this for those who may have missed it. There's still one game left, though you have to solve the puzzle to find out what it is. Even if it's one you don't want, or you just don't want any at all, the puzzle is still great fun to solve in and of itself :-)

Another bump for the night crowd.

Thanks for the challenging giveaway! :p


+1! :D

Even though I'm a dummy, and there's obviously something wrong with my empty memory, just want to re-state that this is a great giveaway. If I could have solved it, I wouldn't have taken a game, because the reward is in the journey!

Final bump. Since it looks like there will be no more participants, then on Friday I'll put up the solution and if the final game is still unclaimed it will be donated to some other giveaway.

Looks like last bump was useful. We got one more solver, who also refused to take the last game...

This was really fun! I recognized the code in the pastebin immediately, without even checking the Wikipedia link, just because it's such a fun thing, this... code :)

But man, how I really got stuck at the second stage!

Thanks again to ZFR for this fantastic idea of a challenge/giveaway!

I'm still in shock some people solved it lol.

It is quite difficult, and it's made with a programming mindset. People with no programming experience are definitely at a disadvantage here.

Edit: Just to clarify, that was in no way meant as a criticism of the puzzle, quite the contrary. I loved it! :-D

Like me :D

And the giveaway is over.

The last game Duke Nukem 3D Atomic Edition is sadly left unclaimed and will be dontated to another giveaway.

Hints and solution are in attachments to the first post. I've put gradual hints, so if you get stuck you can read them one by one instead of looking at the full solution.

I hope you all enjoyed this. Although most of those who solved it already knew about brainfuck, I'm hoping others will get interested in it. I'm very fond of it myself.
Less fond of whitespace. A stack-based language that I like much better is befunge. But whitespace can be used to hide code, create polyglots, and if you print it uses up much less ink (and a printed page with top secret code can look like an ordinary blank page ;))