The final day of phase 1 is almost here. So far we've seen 23 of the 24 challenges for Google's Da Vinci Code Quest.
So how has your experience been? Have the puzzles been too easy, too hard, or just right?
I've been surprized at how easy the puzzles have been. Will the trend continue for the final puzzle?
For additional commentary including help for the first 23 challenges, see my website on the Google's Da Vinci Code Quest.
174 comments:
At what time are the questions posted daily?
I believe the questions are posted at 1 pm EST.
I think this contest is a win win for Google. It teaches you how to use their tools.
You mentioned the puzzles were easy but imagine what these would be like without Google?
I have to say, I am very impressed with what amount of information that exists at my finger tips via Google. I'm sure this was one of the goals and I think they were very successful with the way they did it.
really...i expected the quest was more difficult..
I've had a lot of fun doing the quest. It's been quite a round of google-practice :o)
As the other have wrote this was a great way to learn and use more google tools then I ever thought were out there. I have always used google for my searching in the past, but found more tools with this game.
As for the quest itself, some parts were too easy, but others you had to spend some time on, I enjoied it, made some of the slow days at work go a little quicker.
Would like to see more of this stuff from google.
I hope they do more. Da Vinci Code in itself is about solving riddles, anagrams, etc...
The theme lent itself perfectly to produce enough promotion or buzz about the movie to web-anchored folks - ones who would not normally spend a great deal of time playing on a separate movie-promo site - as well as allow Google to tailor any answer-hunt to their tools.
I loved the puzzles: while hard, not too hard, nor too drawn out (not Myst-level patience trying) and excellence use of Flash interactivity. Beautifully produced, yet simple. And I enjoyed the "scavenger hunt" for details via wikipedia and google tools.
I do hope they do more, maybe word puzzles?
It's been fun. I got utterly hooked! ;-)
Google's tools are terrific. Book Search, Google Earth are now everyday tools for me.
The 6x6 symbols puzzle was the hardest for me until I figured out a strategy to solve it.
This was fun. See you guys at the Final Round, no?
Do you guys know why I wouldn't get the Day 24 puzzle yet? looks like some of you already got it.
10 more minutes..... I can't wait!
2
so dark the con of man
madonna of the rocks
day 24 was pretty much predictable since there was a good chance it was going to be based on Sophie's google video (it was the only one left). i made a crib sheet this morning of key things in the video...unfortunately it only helped me with the second question. the first one i just guessed a couple times and the third i googled and found pretty easily. i hope i get a cryptex.
i got the same message... had to enter a word verification thingy, and then it didn't save my results and I had to redo it. (with the same questions at least)
if u get the error messege, just open a new window. no need to solve all over again.
answers given here are correct. so damn easy. took less than 2-mins.
Now wait for email. Hope to be in 10K
yay it's over
Stupid video, didn't have headphones!!!
How do you know if you are part of 10k or not?
i was refreshing constantly and solved the puzzle less than a minute after it was released, but the stupid submit form didn't work for me and now it's saying that the game is over. I feel like was a jipped and that I should have a spot in the finals... Does anyone know what kind of times were required to make it into the finals?
I answered the questions in five minutes, got the "congratulations", clicked OK, and was taken back to the original page without having a chance to register. So I refreshed, and it gave me the chance to register, which I did by 1:10 PM. When I hit "submit" I was told the contest was closed. Did 10,000 people really finish this in the first nine minutes? And I also -for the first time ever - was required to give word verification, multiple times!
Are you registered to win as soon as you've answered correctly and you get the "congratulations" video? I had another submit your Google username window pop up then the registration window all of which took 10 additional minutes!!! Ugg.
what does this mean am i a finalist:
"Congratulations on successfully completing all 24 puzzles. If you haven't already, be sure to register to see if you've won a limited edition cryptex replica, and the chance to compete in the Final Challenge."
What's the email adress that we had to add to our address book? - It appered once you registered at the end of puzzle # 24
Well, I finished the puzzle and registration by 1:04, so I hope that's enough to get in the final 10,000.
are they going to send out some sort of verification email or do we have to wait for the call or mail to find out if we won
Did anyone NOT get the congratulations video but had everything else go OK? I'm still trying to figure out if I'm in or out....
when I finished I got a form where all I could put in was my google username, it didn't ask for anything else, when I put my name in and clicked submit it just sat there, clicked submit again, same thing. I finished the puzzles and clicked submit within 2 minutes of it being released, without a doubt, and now I feel like I got robbed. This sucks.
i filled out the form listed below (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/davincicode/dvcqog/registration/weighanhawu/us/)
right after i entered my username (timestamp) and on my google page it says ("Congratulations on successfully completing all 24 puzzles. If you haven't already, be sure to register to see if you've won a limited edition cryptex replica, and the chance to compete in the Final Challenge.")
davincicodequest@sonypictures.com
in response to 'anonymous' above ... the reason they give you that e-mail address is to let you configure your spam blockers, etc so that when they send you the e-mail you actually will get it.
davincicodequest@sonypictures.com was the email to add. Anybody heard yet?
I finished by 1:05 and my wife by 1:09 and we both got through 2 screens. I hope that means we're one of the 144,000... errrr I mean 10,000. :D
I certainly didn't get the 2nd registration in within 7 min. It was a lot of fun though!!!
i had a problem filling in the answers...the cursor just didn't appear when i clicked on the answer fields...then had problem with form, but did finally get it in...
At least most of you got in. I never even had the chance. I think
Google should be boycotted for this, not letting people finish and not having enough servers to deal with the high hits they knew they would have. This makes a very bad mark for Sony and Google as far as I am concerned.
can someone explain the 2 screen registration.
Was I really supposed to fill out the SAME registration form 2 times?
I completed the puzzle in 3 minutes and went to the next screen , where I entered my google ID. Then I filled out the longer registration form.
Did I finish everything? or did I miss an additional registration page?
I solved it within 5 minutes, it sent me to enter my user name (with word verification) then went to registration page. Entered information and it took it so I'm assuming I'm in. Didn't say anything about the contest being closed. Was done by about 1:07 or so
the rules indicate the time stamp on the first form (your id) is the first tie breaker, the time stamp on the second form (the address) is the second...
At least that is how I understood them
when I first hit OK after completing the puzzle it just kept loading, and loading. i had to go back to the google homepage to even get to the first form where I entered my ID
I sent the info once, by the time I returned to enter it again it sent me to the "We're sorry..." page message.
So this means I'm not part of the 10k finalists?
Have some received a confirmation that you have been selected as a finalist?
Wow! What a lot of sore losers! Yeah, it's too bad your OS/browser/computer/connection sucks. That's life. Don't blame Google. I submitted my reg form at 2' 45" past the hour. Still haven't gotten any email yet saying I'm in. BTW, you DO NOT want to win the grand prize. Taxes on that would be like $30,000 or so. I can't afford a $30k trip now, why on earth would I want to WIN one??? (The rules say you can't take cash equivalent.) Now that's something worth complaining about!!!!
no...i don't think they are going to reveal that until tomorrow or in a couple days
Well we will see!!!
It was a great quest!!!
I'm not a tax advisor, and I don't play one one TV, but if you DID win Grand Prize prize and if it's transferable, then you've got a fantastic charitable deduction on your hands (if you don't have the $30K for taxes yourself).
Yes I AM a sore loser when it is their system that causes me to lose. There is no problem with my browser, computer, internet connection, etc. Their server simply did not respond when I clicked submit the first several times. I'll have to wait and see now if I did get registered or not.
My understanding is that only the time of the 1st click (google id) is relevant for winning. You have until tomorrow at 1PM EST to do the second screen w/ name, address, etc. At least that's my reading of the rules...
knightmare,
when I clicked submit the first several times
Sounds like a problem with the computer-to-chair interface, LOL!
Lemme guess, Windows XP and Internet Exploder, right? Yah, I wonder why it didn't work for you.
Please, You'd be a sore loser too if you had the same experience.
Some people clearly had a problem getting error messages from Google And clearly Googles servers couldn't handle the load
I finished the last puzzle at 1:03 but was unable to complete it or register the because of two error messages until 1:13 which was obviously too late.
Ya, I feel gyped. I sent an email to Sony pictures to complain and attached the error messages. It sucks when you've anticipated this for the past 24 days and because of technical issues on Google and Sony side you get locked out.
Official rules said "Phase 1 of Contest ends at 1:00 pm EDT on 5/11/06.".
So, okay, I'm not the one from 10,000, but still, I should not see that message:
"We're sorry, but The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google has ended."
They supposed to accept all registration until 1:00 tomorrow, or else what that phrase from rules means?
no, I'm not running Internet Explorer, but even if I was your argument doesn't hold water. IE is still the #1 browser at this time, with the most integration, market share and compatibility. It sounds to me like you're just a worthless jackass who has nothing better to do than anonymously take jabs at people on the internet. Find something more constructive to do with your time.
Wow! I totally bet Sony and Google are going to be all over your whiny complaints about not getting in! They'll probably spend hours of their time trying to figure it out, and then expand the number of finalists from 10,000 to 1,000,000 just to accomodate you all.
Not.
Seriously, they've set up a filter for that kind of thing, and just shoot all those messages to the trash.
IE is teh suck! Use firefox. It doesn't crash, loads quickly, and doesn't open your machine up wide to haxx0rs.
so what, at least I got to vent
Just got "You have sucessfully registered."
after so many "We're sorry..."
Just tried and tried... so it IS technical problem after all...
Just out of curiosity, how many of you are paranoid you typed your email wrong in the 2nd reg. form?
Same thing here.
Try to register again.. it might work
I just got me confirmation email!!! WOOOHHOOOO!!!
Whoah! I can't believe it! I answered all the questions right in 30 seconds, got the registration page, filled it out, and then just a couple of minutes ago there was a knock on my door and Tom Hanks was there to personally deliver my cryptex and Dan Brown was there and he performed [censored] on me and gave me an autographed copy of his book! It was totally sweet! Ha ha, suck it losers!
No, not really. I took too long answering the questions, and got the "sorry" page. Oh well, it was fun.
anyone else get the confirmation email? I haven't.
It states in the "Rules" that the 10,000 finalists will be notified by e-mail on, or about, May 15,2006.
No confirmation email yet. I think anonymous (the other one, not me) is lying.
Copy/paste your email, nony, and let us see!!!
I finished (despite one browser crash, the only one during the contest cycle -- was using safari, even though technically not supported), got the congratulations, filled out both forms, got the "you are registered" but "no you are a finalist" confirmation. Was finished about 1:10EDT
Are they keeping us in suspense?? Did any finalists get a confirmation?
read the rules, the whole rules and nothing but the rules for information
Ok, I AM lying, but it was funny for a minute....
It was also funny that someone had posted "you should find something better to do with your time" about picking on someone or something like that.
Does anyone else find it funny that they posted that comment on a blog being read by people waiting around to play a puzzle game on a computer?
Right, read the rules! The rules clearly state that they are not going to start notifying the finalists that they made it until about May 15th!!! About 5 days away!!! So don't hold your breath waiting for an e-mail today & get on with your lives until May 15th!!! LOL
Yeah, I was using my time constructively. I was winning a cryptex, which your dumb ass doesn't have now. Neener, neener, neener.
Will all those who've won a cryptex, please take one step forward...not so fast knightmare!
Yes, I am a jackass of high order.
I find it strange that I was finished with everything including the registration form within 4 1/2 minutes and yet I did not get anything other than a message that the contest had ended. My husband on the other hand submitted his after I did and got a message after he submitted to bookmark the email and watch for a confirmation or whatever it said. Totally bizarre
Notification: Phase 1: Finalists will be notified by email on or about May 15, 2006 and at time of receipt of their Finalist Prize which will be shipped by postal mail to be received by May 18, 2006. If the Finalist Prize or email notification to a particular Finalist is returned as undeliverable, or if he/she is found to be ineligible to participate in the Final Phase, and/or is deemed not to have complied with these Official Rules, such Finalist will be disqualified, and time permitting, the participant with the next earliest time-stamp will be permitted to participate in the Final Phase.
Hey Ausboss...Eligibility: The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google (the "Contest") is only open to legal residents of the 50 states of the U.S. and D.C., who are physically located and residing therein, who are 13 years of age or older as of April 17, 2006 and who have successfully registered for a Google personalized home page.
Sorry but it looks like those folks at Google wanted to keep it US only.
2
so dark the con of man
madonna of the rocks
I must be really missing something here because nobody has posted answers that resemble the questions I got. I got the first two questions right but the 3rd one stumped me:
Q3. What is the name of the charater seen holding a votive candle holder?
I saw the character in the video and I tried every character name I could think of and none were accepted.
what were your other 2 questions?
I wonder if Google will reveal the time of the first entry: 1:00:57 or something... It would be cool to see the first 100 entry times.
The exact text of all my questions is:
Q1. Cryptography is all about noticing numbers and patterns. Here's a simple one to start with. how many glass panes are visible on each of the doors to Sir Teabing's mansion?
Q2. Although it refers to words not spoken, we hear it spoken three times. What is that word.
Q3. The final question will really test your powers of observation. What is the name of the character shown holding a votive candle holder.
I know I got the first two right because no matter what value I entered for answer 3, I always got this message, "Not bad, two of your answers are correct. Concentrate and observe."
However, if I entered "Silas" as the answer, I just got told I had entered the wrong answer.
I think there might be a bug?
If I answer the questions like this:
1. 9
2. secret
3. fred
I get this message:
Not bad, two of your answers are correct.
If I try these:
1. 9
2. secret
3. silas
I get this message:
Sorry, that answer is incorrect.
Now if I try these answers:
1. 9
2. wronganswer
3. silas
I get told that I again have two answers correct. That just doesn't make any sense.
I have 2 questions: How many books are shown in the flash back sophie has with her grandfather?
2. Rearrange letters to reveal a famous work of art by leonardo housed in Louvre in Paris and National Gallery in London?
any help, I am racking my brain. Thanks!
2 books,
madonna on the rocks
how come I am getting different questions than everyone else? I am in the US. I am using Firefox. For some reason I can't even get the puzzles to run on IE.
okay the 2 books worked but the Madonna on the rocks isn't??? Any other suggestons? Thanks!
The answer is "Madonna of the Rocks"
sorry
madonn OF the rocks
answers...
2
so dark the con of man
Madonna of the Rocks
Here's a hint, watch your spelling.
I feel bad because I can't enter the final contest ( I live in Canada).
I feel bad because all those answers are for different questions to the ones I am being presented with. :)
Check out this link from a marketing company for some answers:
http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3599586
They say:
"The first 10,000 people who complete all 24 puzzles will be invited to participate in a final 48-hour challenge. The grand prize winner will receive vacations to New York, Paris, London and Rome. Other prizes include a Bravia LCD television and a VAIO notebook computer."
just one final update. I logged onto another machine and tries IE and Firefox. Both times when I accessed the puzzle I was given the questions as they have appeared here. Only on my own work PC did I receive the other questions. Does anyone know if there are multiple sets of Day 24 questions? If so, how come it appears as though I was the only one who actually received them? :)
I've had different questions then others on some of the other days - from this blog you can see there were 12,358 different puzzles created for the quest...
Several of the puzzles (maybe all?) even allowed you to get a different puzzle (one of the tabs/buttons at the bottom, near where you could 'reset' the puzzle)
Congratulations on successfully completing all 24 puzzles. If you haven't already, be sure to register to see if you've won a limited edition cryptex replica, and the chance to compete in the Final Challenge
If I see this, does it mean i havn't completed the registration?
I remember submitting the form and i got an email id to save in my address book.
does any one no when we get an email from google
no it doesnt meen that you didnt register
re: this -- "I've had different questions then others on some of the other days - from this blog you can see there were 12,358 different puzzles created for the quest..."
I too have seen different puzzles as well but this is the first time I have seen everyone else discussing a different puzzle than the one I saw. I would say, "maybe I'm just special" but I don't feel so special since I could not answer question three. Did anyone else answer a question about the character holding the vodive candle holder? I managed to "prove" that Silas was the correct answer (see above post at about 3pm) but I could never get my answers accepted.
Regarding the "contest closed" thing, I think I might have an answer.
I completed the last puzzle and submitted around 2:30pm EST - I got the confirmation page, filled it out, everything was cool.
The rules of the competition say somewhere that the individual puzzles are timed - could it be that submissions which already have a total time-to-complete longer than the 10,000th one currently held aren't being accepted to save time & trouble?
If you were faster than "slowest already accepted" entry, you'd be told to complete the registration process and you'd bump the entries below you down 1 place (and bump the 10,000th one out of the running completely).
Makes sense to me, but probably totally wrong
Sorry to say, I think you're wrong. I got several "Contest over" (at least a dozen times trying to register and cursing each time) But when someone else said they were able to register I tried again and lo and behold it accepted my registration.
Even if someone gets bumped, I can't imagine that that would be the reason that it's now accepting my registration.
Well, at least they made the marketing ploy fun, if a little easy (although the question I had to do for the restoration puzzle led me to a restricted book on Google's search, so I couldn't get the answer. Luckily the internet knew ;)
I would have liked it if they had opened the final part to Canadians. I guess they didn't think that after the IPO of Google shares only being in the US was enough of a torture, maybe I want a cryptex!
i only have one question, is this quest only for ppl from usa?
From what it looks like the contest ends 5/11/06 at 1:00 pm not today - 5/10/06. So if you finished then I believe you are in.
Folks, do you honestly think Google or Sony don't want you to be able to register? Of course they want your address, e-mail, and so on...and for you to click "yes" on those buttons that indicate you're willing to receive promotions from their affiliates. Who do you think is paying for the prizes?
If you could/couldn't register, it's because their server was overwhelmed at times, and has nothing to do with how many people have already completed the puzzle.
There is such an extensive quality control involved in determining who is actually eligible to move on to the final round that they have to accept many more than 10,000 entries because they anticipate some will be disqualified. That's why you won't hear until May 15th.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited by law. Open only to legal residents located and residing in the 50 United States and D.C., 13 years or older as of 4/17/06.
well, i guess only USA. this sucks
How to confirm if you are one of the first 10,000?
Oh man, I had class all day today and I couldn't finish the last puzzle untill now. I'm really bummed, it took me like no time to finish it. Google should have had a time that also worked for people who have school or work. I hope I'm in the top 10,000 but I know better than that.
I didn't see an address to save to my email (although I might have been too wound up at the time to notice it) finished the puzzle within 5 minutes and entered my id, went to reg page and got that done within 10-15 seconds. (I also panicked that I got my email wrong) after reading everything, I thought I would try to re-register, it told me that I was already registered so I'm assuming that my 1:06-1:07 time is hopefully good enough to be a finalist.
Hi
can't find answer to question
2. Langdon asks Sophie if she has heard cartain words before. To what words is he referring ?
Thanks
To the person that said they're not a tax advisor and you can donate it to charity--dude, you still would have to declare it as income:
step 1: Get $128 k prize
step 2: Your income is now +128k
step 3: Give to charity. Reduce income by 128k
Net result: nothing.
Moral: Don't win the prize!!!!!
althought it may sound ridiculous, you can work with the irs. how to a 30K+ tax bill on installments would be problematic and since they will not take first borns nor body parts...i am at a loss as to what to do if actually won. What a dilemma to have though...
You can take the cash equivalent! So, if they give you $100,000.;00, they'll keep $25,000.00 or so -- you get the rest -- what's the big deal?????
You can't take the cash equivalent. Read the rules.
Win the prize, get screwed. There's no way around it.
And the rules state that the (travel portions at least) are non-transferable, so you can donate the merchandise, but not the travel
It is now after 1:00 pm EST on May 11th. Google has collected all the registration forms that will be considered. The first 10,000 successfully completed solvers based on the time they completed the puzzle completion form with the single email address field(who also then sent in a contest entry form by 1:00 today) will be notified by email and by mail sometime on or around the 15th. Thus, if someone DID complete the puzzle and the simple Puzzle Completion Form, but DIDN'T complete the Contest Entry form by now, then finisher 10,001 qualified. Good Luck everyone.... B in Atlanta
Okay, here's a question. In the rules section regarding the prizes, it says that you and three (3) guest will receive first-class round trip air transportation from the major air-port new grand prize winner's residence to London, England (etc. etc.). Now, it also says the same thing for Rome, Italy, Paris, France, and New York, New York. Does this mean that it is actually 4 seperate trips? Also, you get train travel from Londo to Paris, and return tickets from London to Avignon. So what is the trip(s) exactly? One trip, or four? Train travel, or air?
I understood this to mean that you have 4 seperate trips, which includes 4 round-trip tickets and 4 days/nights accomdations for each location.
However I don't quite know how/when you would use the train tickets.
Also does it make sense to anyone that the ARV of the flights are $97000 and the ARV of the accomodations are only $16000. I think they have those numbers backwards. No way round-trip airfare to each location averages $6000.
Round-Trip airfare to each location certainly is around $6,000 - it's First Class. They're not sticking you in Cattle Class in back with the hoi-polloi, you get those big-assed roomy seats, food cooked to order, more champagne than you can shake a stick at and probably more besides.
Whether this is actually worth $5,000 or so more than the regular coach fare is open to question, but basic demand/supply economics would seem to suggest that it is, given that airlines don't like to fly around with empty seats.
did anyone finish in less than 3 minutes fuck that would suck if 10000 people finished before me
whats the contest entry form
is it the thing it takes u to right after?
u had to do 2 registrations fuck thats sucks really no c'mon
Just got this email....I think it confirms my registration, but not that I'm a finalist.
Thank you for participating in "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google. This email is to confirm that you have completed all 24 puzzles within the quest and successfully registered for a chance to participate in the final challenge. Well done! We will be contacting the 10,000 finalists on Monday 5/15 via email regarding their cryptex shipment. Within that email the 10,000 finalists will also receive instructions on how to participate in the final challenge. All remaining players who finished the quest will also receive a surprise message via email. Thank you all for participating in "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google and making it such a success. We hope you enjoyed playing. The Da Vinci Code In Theaters 5/19
yeah I just got that same e-mail too, I think it means we're in..
I got that same email ... but I got it 2x. The 2 emails were identical, but 1 was addressed from "davincicodequest @ sonypictures.com"
and the other was addressed from
"spotlight @ news.sonypictures.com"
Anybody else see this?
yes I just got both e-mails just like you described..
what do you think that means. Do you think if we got two we are in?
I think we are in. Anyone here get the same e-mail that did'nt make the time limit?
I got the 2 emails as well, but 20 minutes apart. I think everyone that completed the 24 puzzles is getting them. I don't think we will find out if we are "in" until Monday. Has anyone that finished NOT received these emails??
You can no longer complete the challenge, so I suspect it closed after it reached the 10,000 cap -- of course it's possible for there to be overlap, people that completed it and submitted it in rapid succession before it had time to close. I got the e-mails, but like everyone else am waiting til monday for the final word.
got my email last night confirming I was in the 10K.
At 1:25 on Wednesday, Jade left a comment referring to a congratulations VIDEO. Has anyone else seen a VIDEO (as opposed to a static screen) saying Congratulations? This may be the early clue to distinguish the 10K from the also-rans....
the video they refer to is the one that plays after you finish the puzzle... nothing more.
also, the email doesn't confirm you are in the 10k, that hasn't been announced and won't be until the 15th. EVERYONE that completed before the close gets the same email.
I'm starting to wonder about some of the stipulations for the final phase.
1. It reads that you don't have to start right away, your time stamp is how long it takes from the time you start to when you finish. Not the time that the puzzle is available to the time you finish. (makes me think about waiting half a day and getting an edge by seeing what the puzzles are from all these people giving everyone answers) (if you are in a race to get through a maze with 20 other people, does the person in the lead mark the path so everyone can follow)
2. Anyone else have an internet connection that they aren't very secure with. Mine has a tendency to drop me on occassion. Would that be considered 'logging out' of the puzzle. According to the rules, I would be disqualified.
They'll be emailing us on Monday, 5/15 to tell us if we won anything. If you recieved a confirmation email, you'd know that :-).
"Go beyond the infiniti"
--Azharul Haque
Anyone received their email yet?
Not Yet! Eagerly waiting...
got the cryptex in the mail today (I have not seen it, but my wife tells me it is pretty cool.)
good luck to all
who delivered it? ups? usps? fedex? dhl?
bullsh*t on the delivery, to quote, "We will be contacting the 10,000 finalists on Monday 5/15 via email regarding their cryptex shipment,"
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MY CRYPTEX CAME TODAY!!!
bovichtj | Mon, 2006-05-15 16:29
Still no e-mail, but a small white box that contained the Cryptex was delivered today! If you use the code :grail" written on the outside of the box, a paper inside gives direction.
SO COOL!
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so kool..how was it deliver
Dwhisperer | Mon, 2006-05-15 16:42
that so neat...no email here yet...and no white box...how you get your white box...
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Wow, Congrats!!!Seems like
SaintAelphaba | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:25
Wow, Congrats!!!
Seems like Google and Sony are running ahead of one another...
Have ya cracked the code yet?
~Saint Aelphaba
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whooo hooo
Fekona | Mon, 2006-05-15 16:45
I got the cryptex!!!! it is soo awsome!!!! looks just like the onein the movie!!! yeah
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Cryptex Delivery
bovichtj | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:03
It came in the US Mail...
MUCH cooler than the ones on e-bay now... Brass with white sliding letters...
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So glad for you
Dwhisperer | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:11
Mail came and did not get one..but i live in a really rural area...
Happy for you....
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My apartment office has
sdpalladio | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:25
My apartment office has bankers' hours, so even if it comes, it could be a while before I get in there. I hate to stalk the mailman, but it might be my only option :) Still no email, anyone?
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Cryptex
Ickabod16 | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:42
I have still not receiced any email, and I havent checked my mail yet.
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I also got my Cryptex in the
dlethal | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:42
I also got my Cryptex in the mail today. Still no email. I was a little dissapointed that the answer was on the bottom of the box, and the paper inside led me to a public URL. Seems like anyone could do the finals. I'm still awaiting my email, maybe that will explain things a bit better.
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FOR EVERYONE THAT GOT A CRYPTEX SO FAR
SaintAelphaba | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:44
Where do ya'll live? That might explain a bit to me, since my mail hasn't shown up yet and I am in California.
Thanks! :)
~Saint Aelphaba
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I'm near Chicago in IL
dlethal | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:50
I'm near Chicago in IL
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Thanks! That explains a lot
SaintAelphaba | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:56
Thanks! That explains a lot since ya'll are like 3 hours ahead, and my mail isn't scheduled till like... 5 pm my time! *does crazy dance* We even have a tendency for the carrier to get lost, or give my packages to the neighbors. I had a holiday fruit basket disappear like that once...
~Saint Aelphaba
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Location
bovichtj | Mon, 2006-05-15 17:57
I'm in Michigan, and the mail comes early here... in the box before noon :)
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I just got mine, i live in
floridagirl1025 | Mon, 2006-05-15 18:00
I just got mine, i live in FL and was basically stalking the mailman through our windows and was watching to see when he was at my neighbors box
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I live in boston, got it around 12:00
That's great. Somone take a pic and post it somewhere. I'm sure alot of people on here(who may or may not get one) would like to see nice pictures of it. Thanks.
There's on posted on EBay now -packaged in a very "movie promotional" looking package.
http://i6.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/24/f9/d2_1.JPG
OK. So what is the "public" url that folks can go to. I can't check my mail until I return home late tonight but presumably I can login or something and see if I'm a finalist?
The interesting thing is in the description of the item...
"Inside is a message that says to go to the Da Vinci Code Quest site to see if you qualify for the finalist round."
My question is...I thought only finalists were getting one. Why would the directions say to go to some URL and see if you're a finalist? Does that indicate that more than the finalists are getting one? Maybe everyone that was able to register after completing is getting one?
Could some of the people who have gotten one estimate how long it took them to solve the final puzzle? Was anybody who got one finishing after say 9 or 10 minutes past the hour last week?
OK Folks please go to http://www.google.com/ig/davinci/final_puzzle_too_early.html
That should settle your stomach for now...
I am very happy for everyone who got a cryptex, that's all i really wanted believe it or not that's the ONLY reason I played, i completed all puzzles and was registered, but got no email or cryptex so i guess i didn't win one. Good luck to everyone who did.
I just got mine in the mail. I finished the last puzzle and registered 3 or 4 minutes after 1:00 EDT. I haven't recieved any email though, and am curious why it didn't come with "a screenshot of 4 codes" like it says in the rules. I am in Santa Cruz, California by the way.
is it the same code for all?
I figured out how to open it and then saw the word "Grail" on the bottom of the box
I got my cryptex, but no e-mail.
And did anyone notice that all you need to do is line up the "I" and the "L" to open the ccryptex?
It's strange. I've been reading that everyone can open their cryptex with just aligning the "IL".
Well, I've also heard that on the box, it shows a website that the item came from. www.noblecollection.com
On the site they have two different types. The Cryptex, which is the one in the movie and the Mini Cryptex, which looks like the one we will be receiving if we're lucky.
The description for the Mini Cryptex reads the following :
An authorized miniature working model of The Da Vinci Code™ Cryptex. Opens with password you set. Change the password at any time. Store your notes, poems, jewelry, keys or other valuables. The uses of this Cryptex are limited only by your imagination, perfect for sending someone the most special gift. Crafted of die-cast metal and plated in aged gold. Hidden compartment measures 3” x ¾ ”. Overall length is 4 inches.
Too bad we don't get the actual one. I'm not complaining though.
People, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm getting the BIG one from the Noble collection, that's where google got these mini ones from. The bigger ones come in a wooden box with afluer de ly on them they are much larger and nicer, google just ripped everyone off. HA! HA!
Has anyone gotten the email yet?
I just got the email from sony!! I am a finalist!!! Everyone check your mailboxes!!
I just got my email and watched the congrats video from Sir Ian McKellen. Pretty cool.
Got my e-mail - haven't received the cryptex yet
Got my confirmation e-mail at 9:51 Central Time - I'm one of the 10,000 but have not yet received my cryptex - hopefully tomorrow...
I have the email but no cyptex; I think those who received something via the mail may be deceitful. My email came in around 10pm. Below is a copy of the actual text...
Good Luck to you all.
Your journey does not end here. You have also qualified to compete for the grand prize which includes trips for four to New York, Paris, Rome and London, a colossal Sony® Electronics package and more valued at over $100,000! See official rules.
Beginning on or around 1pm EDT May 19th at www.google.com/davincicode, the final challenge, which is a time trial, will be made available to you for 48 hours. You can begin whenever you like, but prepare well, for once you begin there is no turning back. The player who completes all five tasks in the shortest amount of time will be declared the winner.
As for your previous accomplishments, your skill and perseverance will be rewarded with a limited edition replica cryptex arriving in your mailbox in the coming days.
While you wait, Click here to watch a congratulatory message from Sir Ian McKellen and a sneak peek of The Da Vinci Code and then continue on to view special offers and discounts from our Quest partners.
Got both my cryptex and email today. I guess either should confirm whether you're a finalist or not. Don't worry though, the final puzzle doesn't start until friday. Any speculation on what it might be on?
Well, looks like I'm Mr. 10001. But it was still a fun ride.
The previous poster asked about what the final puzzles might look like. The Googler who authored this contest, Wei-Hwa Huang, gave a hint in his blog here:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/04/can-you-crack-code.html
Expanding on his hint just a bit, the chess puzzles in the first rounds were a specialized type known as helpmate compositions. I will freely admit that I truly suck at chess problems. So, believing that I would be Mr. 9999 instead of Mr. 10001, I had sought out some assistance for this and found:
ChessExplorer version 5.3
http://www.geocities.com/explorer127pl/
I tested this s/w with the original Google puzzles and it breezed through 'em without any trouble. Should be a nice assist for the chess-challenged in the final round...
Got my google email last night, but no cryptex yet. I live in Virginia, if that helps anyone.
Like others have said, there's no way I'm interested in paying taxes on this prize (Note to Google: next time, add a lump of cash to the package so the winner can pay taxes from it), but I do want to try the puzzles. I'm sure everyone is going to get a different puzzle, but I'll do them then dawdle before pushing submit to ensure my failure, and I'll post here a summary of the challenges.
Good luck!
I am VERY surprised that within only 8 minutes, 10,000 people across the US completed these puzzles. I submitted my answers at 1:09 and received my email that I am NOT a finalist. I have seen other posts stating that they finished at 1:08 and DID qualify. Wow.
Hightek..?
Did you receive a email saying that your not a finalist
By the way... those of us that failed received a link to a video of Sir Ian McKellen stating "Congratulations on completing the 24 puzzles. Unfortunately your journey ends here". We then get to see the short "behind the scenes" movie with Ron Howard talking about the awesomeness of the Louvre, etc. etc.
Then, as a consolation prize, we get a link to some pretty generic discount offers to buy stuff:
"Not all who embark on the Quest can succeed and you have NOT qualified as one of the 10,000 finalists.
The challenges we set forth were both demanding and numerous and we knew not all would prevail. However, your diligence and cunning should not go unrewarded.
Click here to enjoy special offers and discounts from The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google partners."
Waaahhh! Call the Waaaahmbulance!
Hightech, it would be interesting to see the statistics of who submitted at what time, and whether they got the cryptex. I don't think this blog has enough readers to get good data, though. And you never know how accurate folks are timing.
For myself, I submitted the second (name, age, address) form at about 2 and a half minutes past the hour. I've been informed I'm a finalyst, but haven't got the cryptex yet.
It's not too hard to believe that 10,000 people did it in under 8 minutes. You already knew it would be a video challenge, and it was pretty easy to guess which video it would be (since there were only so many from Sony and there was only one left we hadn't seen). Assuming you'd read the book, the third question was trivial, the second was easily gotten by watching the video, and the first one I just guessed at: kept typing 1, 2, until I got the right answer--I knew it had to be a relatively low number, but I didn't want to rewatch the video and count.
Given the number of people who were all set to go, sitting near a fast net connection, yah, I assume it's not too hard to get 10,000 to quickly dish up the right answers.
I got the cryptex, but no email yet. Anybody else in that situation?
Maybe your spam filter captured it? Mine was sent from davincicodequest@sonypictures.com at 10:12 pm (EST) yesterday.
I've seen on ebay where people are selling instructions on how to change the password of this cryptex. I emailed noblecollection's support and they responded that the promotion item from Sony does not have that feature. Does anyone know how to change the password of the 3 pronged cryptex from Sony/Google because obviously there's a way, unless people are scamming on ebay
2 pronged I mean......
Well after doing some checking myself on the ability to change the code I have figured out how to do it. It really is pretty simple if you look into it. You will need a tiny jewlers screwdriver to remove the set screws and then just make the changes. However as only the last two letters really matter it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to change it.
Here is instructions on how to change it cryptex code:
http://www.imgplace.net/cryptex/
Now the real question is, has anyone else "modified" their cryptex so that all five rings are functional in setting the code? Using some scrap metal and a grinder I was able to make some more "teeth," and weld them on. You might want to stick a band of clay on first to mark the right position.
Now that I've received my cryptex, I gotta say, I'm really surprised by the number of people originally asking what the code to open it was. It's pretty easy to figure out just spinning the tumblers. You can easily feel where the ring "catches" on the slot. This cryptex would be a pretty poor security measure!
Nevertheless, I've folded up the sheet that I have important passwords on and put it in the cryptex and put that in my secure office safe. Now that'll be an interesting moment if DIA comes to do a security inspection and finds a security container within a security container!
ok heres a weird post. Yesterday i recieved a cryptex in the post and yet i recieved no comfirmation e-mail either way. What do you think this means.
Im going thrue the same thing I got my cryptex moday and I still havent heard in any email if I am or not a finalist any comments on this?
I'm in the same boat. Got the cryptex Monday and no email yet, either way. Glad to hear there are others. I'm assuming we're finalists but I really wish we'd get that email! (and yes, I've checked my spam and have added the email address to my contacts...so it's not that.)
Just finished..took me longer than I hoped, I'm sure others will beat my time. Once I finished, I chekced my email and I finally got the finalist notification, which I thought was kinda funny! Good luck everyone!
I totally had fun, yeah it would be nice to get a Cryptex but I had a BLAST playing and waited everyday that I could play. I would hope the Google would do more things like this, maybe with Harry Potter or other movies.
I just finished. Took longer than I thought it would take. Not saying my time but it was TOUGH!!!The last puzzle is amazing. If anyone is checking here before starting...bring your "A" game. You will certainly need it.
Hey, Google. It was an absolute blast and I hope you make this kind of a tradition. See you in the theater tonight.
SoDarkTheConOfGoogle
---------LAST MINUTE HELP------
Sorry to post this so late, but I just did the Final challenge myself this morning…
Ok, the cat is out of the bag. Information is getting shared, and people are benefiting from that. That being said, I'll share what happened to me just now.
Using the information already published and shared by other people (except the idiot selling a video on ebay, the ‘nads of some people). I prepared for this morning as best as I could, but still made some critical errors that knocked my time down to the 6 - 7 minute area. Though I didn't time it, it does seem possible that a winning time around the 3 minute mark is about right. Shorter than that is gonna be pretty damn tough.
The scoop:
FINAL Puzzle #1: Sudoku Symbols. The killer with this one is that when you drag a symbol from the source bar to place on the grid, it takes a precious full second or more to regenerate! Anyone with quick reflexes would greatly benefit from making their next selection a different symbol - each time. Thus, a strategy of utilizing the already published final challenge ( http://www.imgplace.net/codefinal/ ) and printing a sequence of screenshots representing the placement of each symbol all over the grid is faulty due to this delay. The ultimate winner will invariably be able to quickly assess where these pieces go, perhaps doing two symbols at a time and alternating their placement. Using 2 colors (or highlighters) with printouts of the sequential placement of two symbols at a time is probably the best strategy for someone using published resources. Rest assured, here is where video game players with lightening reflexes will serve them very, very well. If you have time to MEMORIZE them, then you have two advantages. You don’t have to keep looking at your key and you are less likely to place one in the wrong spot.
As before, you’ll have a break between puzzles & can click when ready for the next one.
FINAL Puzzle #2: Restoration: I hear the image in the background changes for different people, but he placement of the “smudges/dust-bunnies” is identical each time. Using the screenshot at (http://www.imgplace.net/codefinal/ ) and the “honeycomb” sequence published at: (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3057/2255/1600/splotches.0.jpg ) you should memorize the sequence. Since it’s a bit difficult to quickly see where to go for the next pair, print it out and draw a linear path (with a different color) connecting the center points of the pairs…. The published path is very good, but I recommend doing the pairs numbered “2”, then “12”, then “13” first, since they are geographically close, then proceeding with pair “1”. Studying this with the image of the painting, MEMORIZE the sequence…and you’ll do fine. Again, lightening reflexes are key here too.
FINAL Puzzle #3 Gallery: The published image at ( http://www.imgplace.net/codefinal/ ) is correct. But note again that the hooks on the two lower right paintings are different! That one snagged me costing precious seconds. Hang paintings in the order you get them and you’ll do fine.
FINAL Puzzle #4 Chess The answer sequence for everyone has been simply 2, 2 and 4. (Each is represented by a multiple choice selection of 4 possible moves, the correct ones are choices 2, then 2, then 4). If you want the screenshots, they’re here: (http://googlefact.iphorum.com/topic/chess-puzzle-screenshots-32.html ) Just click the answers in this order which refreshes very quickly, and you’ll get to the last puzzle.
FINAL Puzzle #5 Jigsaw with changing image. 36 pieces. You might benefit slightly if you are somewhat familiar with the images that the jigsaw will display while you are trying to solve the puzzle, but only a little. Since there’s less than 2 hours before the deadline, you would be better served to focus your efforts on Puzzle #1 and #2. This one is mainly about getting the edges in place and when an image appears, you’ll get a quick sense where a few of the pieces need to go. Keep your focus for the 2 or 3 seconds to move those few then you’ll look for the next one. The images are here: (http://googlefact.iphorum.com/topic/puzzle-5-jigsaw-screenshots-30.html ) There is space below the jigsaw area to temporarily store about 1 row of pieces (5 or 6) but that’s about it. This one is clearly the one that people will benefit from the least by having advance information.
Good Luck! Lentjes@bellsouth.net
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