Vanishing Point Wiki - User contributions [en]

Meta Puzzle

2007-01-30T05:00:45Z

Pure196:

Confirmation of a "puzzle within a puzzle" is confirmed in two locations.

In the [[FAQ]], Loki says:

<blockquote>"... but I'll let you in on a little secret. If you are the first person to find and solve my secret puzzle, you can have your name engraved and immortalized on an AMD chip for a production run through March 31, 2007."</blockquote>

The Rules state:

<blockquote>"Meta Puzzle Bonus: The first individual to correctly solve the Meta Puzzle will automatically receive the AMD Signature Chip Bonus, which means their name will be inscribed on each AMD Athlon 64 FX chip manufactured from the time of the award through March 31, 2007. If you are deemed the recipient of this Meta Puzzle Bonus, follow the instructions presented at time of notification or receipt. This Bonus has no cash value."</blockquote>

It is unknown at this time whether or not any of the clues in the original cypher, [[Video-Ignition]], [[Video-Loki]], puzzle mailings, or any other pre-awareness text and images relate to the Meta Puzzle. However, it is highly likely that the [[Video-Loki]] contains additional clues, since the video is now on the main Vanishing Point page, and has puzzle-like elements that have yet to be explained by the pre-awareness phase.

----

Finishing all of the Week 1 Puzzles gives a congratulatory e-mail from Loki. At the end of the video, the string "on_the_run" flashes on the screen. Going to this directory [http://vanishingpointgame.com/on_the_run/] on the Vanishing Point game's server yields the following message:

<blockquote>Good, you’re paying attention. 

You’ve found something that very few others will… 

This page is not part of the challenge to give away a trip into space….it’s something different. 

When I was hired to build the Vanishing Point, I realized it was an opportunity to build something personal that I’ve been trying to find a way to build for many years now, and that if players were smart enough to get through the puzzle suites, they might also be smart enough to help me with this. 

So let’s see if you can help. In return, I have one amazing bonus prize to give away. 

If you are the first person in the world to help me find my own vanishing point, I will print your name on the actual casing of every AMD Athlon 64 FX computer chip manufactured between now and March 31, 2007. 

When the time is right, I’ll ask you a question. For now, follow this trail to get the word it leads to. 

Contact me.</blockquote>

By "Contact Me" she means send a email to loki[at]vanishingpointgame.com, doing so gets you the reply:

<blockquote>Life is a mix of work and play. You've found play...

~L</blockquote>

So, if @vanishingpointgame.com is Play, then @microsoft.com is Work, right? Perhaps, doing so gets you the reply:

<blockquote>Hmmm. Not quite what I had in mind. Try harder - then listen closely.

~L </blockquote>
Which was sent from v-loki@microsoft.com 

If you called Microsoft and asked an operator to be transferred to v-Loki, you'll get the following message:

<blockquote>"'''A'''wesome '''w'''ork. '''A'''ll '''k'''nowledge '''e'''ventually '''n'''eeds '''e'''ffective '''d'''iagnosis."</blockquote>

Which leads to [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/awakened http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/awakened].

You're given another phone number. When you call it, you have to provide a fax number. When you do, you get this fax document [[Image:Image-Itinerary_for_L_KITSUNE.jpg]] 
Text reads:
<blockquote>Itinerary for: L Kitsune 

Date Flight Depart Arrive 
Jan 4 AW 291 12:05p 2:22p 
Jan 11 SW 608 7:00p 8:05p 
Jan 18 AA 1308 1:45p 6:40p 
Jan 24 UA 373/339 9:15a 1:07p 
Jan 28 AK 394 9:55a 12:08p</blockquote>

That last number, 12:08p is circled, and handwritten under it is the following:

<blockquote>Former AT&T Bldg. 
x55654</blockquote> 
The flights are: 
*AW 291 - America West - Seattle to Las Vegas
*SW 608 - Southwest - Las Vegas to Los Angeles
*AA 1308 - American Airlines - Los Angeles to Austin, TX
*UA 373/339 - United Airlines - Austin, TX to Denver to Seattle
*AK 394 - Alaska Air - Seattle to San Jose, CA

The former AT&T building located in San Jose is AMD's headquarters. Call their main number (408-749-4000) and use the x55654 extention and you get a recording.

<blockquote>Hi, this is Loki. Or rather her electronic footprint left behind on this machine. 
Funny how the inanimate world retains traces of things long after they've disappeared, isn't it?. 
If you're calling about the murmuring rock project, it's on hold indefinitely ... unfortunately.</blockquote>

Here is a recording of it
http://www.windowsconnected.com/files/folders/misc/entry5565.aspx

Searching the internet for "Murmuring Rock" yields information about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorelei Lorelei], which is both rich in folklore, and fills in the missing part of the itinerary. It appears that Loki is the nickname of Lorelei Kitsune.

The trail appears to go cold here. Loki said earlier, "When the time is right, I’ll ask you a question. For now, follow this trail to get the word it leads to." It appears that "'''Lorelei'''" is that word. Now ... we wait.

----

At the end of Week Two's puzzles, a new video from Loki appears, in which she talks about her experience with the recruiters at Microsoft. At the end, the word "/collectionplate" pops up. Going to [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/collectionplate vanishingpointgame.com/collectionplate] tells you that when the time is right, Loki will ask for a word. It then shows how many boxes (see [[Collection Plate]]) you have found. Presumably, finding all 36 (9 per week) will unlock the next stage of the Meta Puzzle.

Once you find all 36, you are given a puzzle, which when finished gives you the Coat of Arms of "'''Odessa'''".

----

At the end of Week Three's puzzles, another new video from Loki appears. More talk about her recruit. At the end, the word, /more_answers pops up. Going to [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more%5Fanswers/ http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers/] tells you that when the time is right, Loki will ask you another question. It then shows how many of the puzzles you have solved (48, 12 each week). Another next stage of the Meta Puzzle.

When you complete all of the puzzles, you are given a word search. When you eliminate all the words, you are left with "6b617261." Translating that code from hexidecimal into ASCII results in "'''Kara'''."

----

At the end o Week Four's puzzles, there is another video which directly you to several pages: [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/roamingroaming/ http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/roamingroaming/].

On 'roamingroaming' there is a set of directions(?) Linking the directional clues given when Loki lowers her glasses, you get ...

# Mystery Spot, CA ('''Added CA after original post see below''')
# East 5874.61 miles
# North 1049.62 miles
# East 1161.79 miles
# South 153.48 miles
# West 543.55 miles
# South 652.2 miles
# West 4909.96 miles
# South 548.42 miles

----

Finally, http://www.vanishingpointgame/lokiv gives you the opportunity to guess Loki's name. The first correct answer wins.

----

L.O.K.I Said she majored in 4 areas in college: Physics, Stage Arts, History, and Folklore

Lorelei - is German Folklore.

Odessa - Ukraine Colony founded by Greece, History

Kara - Asian Comic, South Korea, Stage Arts

I??? - Physics

Best guess for I currently is Irene, Physicist daughter of Chemist Marie Curie. Possible Answer: Lorelei, Odessa, Kara, Irene

---
<blockquote>
Thins is only a gues. but for the /roamingroaming i believe Thanli is a province or town in china. its not listed on every map i've came across. the catch is i cant locate any programs that will allow me to draw a radius from a point on a global map. idealy if i had a good normal map that was detailed enough to show thanli on it some pins and string id be all set to try it out. i submited a gues that the name are Lorelei, Odessa, Kara, Inari. Inari as in lake Inari. probably wrong on that part. 

I also tried an alternitive method wich was close to working. Since they appear to be identical quadruplets. I spent a large amount of time looking up info on that. its a 1 in 11 million birth scenario so there is detailed listings for every birth since the 1930's well mostly more then 80% are detailed enough to carry the children's names (none that match Loki) in between the 1955-1985 (id guess there's in there 20's but just in case). there is a strong possibility there were born to the Zhang/choi famlily in china in 1977 june 17 i believe it said making them 29. but this is all speculation since those records are not detailed for that birth. but its also one of the only identical births i came across that fit into the time period that wasn’t detailed. but that was a stray thought i went to far chasing (still could be a alternate solution to finding them if you had some decent medical journals to research). 

To wrap things up if you have a detailed map or map program that contained thanli id start from there. as a side note make sure you remember to cross reference and historical land marks with the radius you draw onto the map. the points after tanli don’t have to be towns, more likely there objects since the miles are detailed enough to have xxxx.XX . i don’t believe the starting point is Odessa, it could be but that would some what negate its use as a name in Loki. the anagram to Latin idea isn't bad and could as well be the starting point.
but being as one of the maps i have seen tanli, china on the "MSN live maps" (coughs Microsoft).but anyway's i figured id share my ideas since I'm probably not going to enter in another solution and i only guessed at the answer after spending most of yesterday and last night searching for a means to check my ideas and gave up.
i have one more possible idea that I'm going to try its really simple and i doubt its correct so unless i find it to be true i wont be posting it :P 

good luck and if you figure it all out be sure to post it.
</blockquote>

---

I don't know if i'm retarded or not, however, I looked at the /roamingroaming again and now it says Mystery Spot, CA. I therefore got rid of my turkey nonsense.

that it does. may help with my other idea i didnt mention. when your on the main page at vanishingpointgame.com. after you select a puzzle box if you mouse over the flags the display long/lat where the events were held. theres 2 in ca could be the starting points.

I was messing arround and I tried a starting point of Vista, CA (I ended up somewhere in the desert of Mexico didn't seem right) and I started out near Sacramento in a place called xxxx vista (can't remember the first word) that time I ended up arround arkansas. I was also thinking, maybe from the starting point you follow each direction which would land you on a different city and spell something out? No clue what the starting point is though.

*Update
There aparently is an actual place called Mystery Spot in California near Santa Cruz
*Update

I used Mystery Spot, CA as starting point, and did the distances as listed above. Below are my results. (With lat/lon listings).

Mystery Spot, CA

37 01' 01.15" N

122 00' 09.83" W

5874.61 miles east to:

Atardecer en Donana (or Matalascanas), Spain

37 01' 01.15" N

6 33' 39.24" W

1049.62 north to:

Bridgetown (or Kilmore), Ireland (Wexford county?)

52 13' 05.58" N

6 33' 39.24" W

1161.79 east to:

Warsaw, Poland

52 13' 05.58" N

20 59' 39.67" E

153.48 south to:

Tarnow, Poland

49 59' 43.93" N

20 59' 39.67" E

543.55 west to:

Dietzbach (or Dreieich), Germany

49 59' 43.93" N

8 46' 1.98" E

652.2 south to:

Bonnanaro, Sardinia, Italy

40 32' 26.86" N

8 46' 1.98" E

4909.96 west to:

Blandinsville, IL

40 32' 26.86" N

90 50' 7.70" W

548.42 south to:

Middle of nowhere in Mississippi

32 34' 42.38" N

90 50' 7.69" W

Good luck figuring any of that out. All the distances and locations found using Google Earth. (Has a ruler which lets you see distance as you move around the globe)

On a lighter note, if you pull lines from one spot to another it seems to spell IP...

Jeroen, 29-01-2007

---

I got slightly different coordinates using Google Earth, but also verifying accuracy (due to rounding) with the distance and radius tools here: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators

<pre>
Mystery Spot, CA 37° 1'1.17"N 122° 0'10.35"W
East 5874.61 miles 37° 1'1.17"N 6°42'28.08"W
North 1049.62 miles 52°13'4.65"N 6°42'28.08"W
East 1161.79 miles 52°13'4.65"N 20°48'58.10"E
South 153.48 miles 49°59'51.79"N 20°48'58.10"E
West 543.55 miles 49°59'51.79"N 8°36'7.67"E
South 652.2 miles 40°33'12.24"N 8°36'7.67"E
West 4909.96 miles 40°33'12.24"N 90°53'39.48"W
South 548.42 miles 32°35'59.82"N 90°53'39.48"W
</pre>

I ended up about the same place you did - middle of nowhere, Mississippi. More precisely, a piece of farmland off Newmann Rd, east of US-61, between Hardee and Valley Park. Interesting part is that this is in Issaquena county. Perhaps the I is Issaquena? Possibly, but that doesn't begin to take into account physics or latin. Also interesting, a google search yielded this page http://www.rootsweb.com/~msissaq2/mollison.html about a man named Willis Elbert Mollison, born in Issaquena, who lived a prominient life and had seven genius children. Loki did mention the seven brothers... Perhaps she is a decendant of this guy?

Update: The "smallest place" text on the page is a link. It shows a map with a red X right on Hardee, Mississippi.

-Matt

---

www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers now has a crossword puzzle with a twist--you have to find all of the answers from the games and press drop to make the puzzle drop down. It seems as if you have to do the puzzle in a certain order.

---

I played through the "more_answers" wordsearch as much as I could, but got stuck with three answers left. "stage", "bigben" and "white". I couldn't remove white because there was no w left in the puzzle. Stage and Bigben I couldn't clear either because of the rogue h and i from white, see below. Could the remaining answers form part of the puzzle? [http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=stage+bigben+white&meta= Google Search for White, Bigben and Stage]. Maybe even the remaining letter and numbers might form a clue. "6B617261" - TCLN Ryster (Neowin.net)

[[Image:More_answers-puzzle.jpg]]

Please read above, we're done with the crossword. You forgot a word before you hit drop. Try it again.

---

The clue map is exactly here in Mississippi http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=32.577123~-90.827923&style=r&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000

When I go to /more_answers nothing happens...It says "0 of 48 completed" even though I've done all the puzzles. Anyone else have this problem?

This problem is solved by returning to vanishingpointgame.com and LOGGING IN.

Hardee is in ''Issaquena'' County which is the ''smallest'' county in Mississippi.

Lokiv

2007-01-30T04:45:15Z

Pure196:

The final part of the meta puzzle is to discover the four names of Loki. The start of this final stage is given in the video awarded for completing the puzzles in [[Puzzle Box 4]], and is the directory [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/lokiv '/lokiv'].

It seems that the trail for each name starts with the hidden directory given at the end of the video each week that is awarded when all the puzzles have been solved.

The first week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/on_the_run '/on_the_run'], where Loki asked to be contacted (details on the [[Meta Puzzle]] page, which eventually led to the message about the 'murmuring rock project'. This has led solvers to believe that Loki's first name, or the name of the first Loki in the final video, is Lorelei or Loreley.

The second week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/collectionplate '/collectionplate'], where the number of white boxes that had been identified was recorded. Once all 36 of these had been found (nine per week) (details on the [[Collection Plate]] page, the page was replaced by a scrambled image. When reassembled, this image has been found to be the coat of arms of the Odessa Oblast (county). This has led solvers to believe that Loki's second name, or the name of the second Loki in the final video, is Odessa.

The third week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers '/more_answers'], where the number of puzzles that had been solved was recorded. Once all 48 of these had been solved, the page was replaced by a word search of the solutions to all the puzzles (with an additional tetris-like drop down feature). When all the words are eliminated, one is left with the string '6B617261', which is the ASCII for 'kara'. This has led solvers to believe that Loki's third name, or the name of the third Loki in the final video, is Kara.

The fourth week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/roamingroaming '/roamingroaming'], where an image of Loki with her glasses lowered was accompanied by a list of eight distances starting with '1. Mystery Spot', and the string 'TANLI'. This has not been solved, but is believed to link with the eight directions Loki gives, one per video, when lowering her glasses, and to result in her fourth name, or the name of the fourth Loki in the final video. Given that the first three names begin with L, O and K respectively, it is believed that the fourth name will begin with I. The main remaining unsolved matters are where the 'Mystery Spot' and the start of the geographical trail should be, and what 'TANLI' means. Theories for the former include Fremont Studios in Seattle, where the Jan 27th 'mystery' party was held, the Mystery Spot tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, California, the Bellagio Hotel, where Loki's first video is set, or the city of Rome in Italy. Theories for the latter are that some further processing must be done with the result of the geographical trail such as anagramming or translating to or from Latin.

<blockquote>
Come on!!! Some one must have figured out her name by now! It has something to do with Hardee, Mississippi.
</blockquote>

Hardee is in ''Issaquena'' County which is the ''Smallest'' county in Mississippi.

Lokiv

2007-01-30T04:42:58Z

Pure196:

Lokiv

2007-01-30T04:42:15Z

Pure196:

The final part of the meta puzzle is to discover the four names of Loki. The start of this final stage is given in the video awarded for completing the puzzles in [[Puzzle Box 4]], and is the directory [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/lokiv '/lokiv'].

It seems that the trail for each name starts with the hidden directory given at the end of the video each week that is awarded when all the puzzles have been solved.

The first week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/on_the_run '/on_the_run'], where Loki asked to be contacted (details on the [[Meta Puzzle]] page, which eventually led to the message about the 'murmuring rock project'. This has led solvers to believe that Loki's first name, or the name of the first Loki in the final video, is Lorelei or Loreley.

The second week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/collectionplate '/collectionplate'], where the number of white boxes that had been identified was recorded. Once all 36 of these had been found (nine per week) (details on the [[Collection Plate]] page, the page was replaced by a scrambled image. When reassembled, this image has been found to be the coat of arms of the Odessa Oblast (county). This has led solvers to believe that Loki's second name, or the name of the second Loki in the final video, is Odessa.

The third week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers '/more_answers'], where the number of puzzles that had been solved was recorded. Once all 48 of these had been solved, the page was replaced by a word search of the solutions to all the puzzles (with an additional tetris-like drop down feature). When all the words are eliminated, one is left with the string '6B617261', which is the ASCII for 'kara'. This has led solvers to believe that Loki's third name, or the name of the third Loki in the final video, is Kara.

The fourth week gave [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/roamingroaming '/roamingroaming'], where an image of Loki with her glasses lowered was accompanied by a list of eight distances starting with '1. Mystery Spot', and the string 'TANLI'. This has not been solved, but is believed to link with the eight directions Loki gives, one per video, when lowering her glasses, and to result in her fourth name, or the name of the fourth Loki in the final video. Given that the first three names begin with L, O and K respectively, it is believed that the fourth name will begin with I. The main remaining unsolved matters are where the 'Mystery Spot' and the start of the geographical trail should be, and what 'TANLI' means. Theories for the former include Fremont Studios in Seattle, where the Jan 27th 'mystery' party was held, the Mystery Spot tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, California, the Bellagio Hotel, where Loki's first video is set, or the city of Rome in Italy. Theories for the latter are that some further processing must be done with the result of the geographical trail such as anagramming or translating to or from Latin.

<blockquote>
Come on!!! Some one must have figured out her name by now! It has something to do with Hardee, Mississippi.
</blockquote>

It is in Issaquena County which is the smallest county in Mississippi.

Captain's Log

2007-01-28T19:34:27Z

Pure196:

[[Image:Captain'slog.JPG]]

<spoiler>
The signal flags spell out "How many flares?"

Answer: Seven
</spoiler>

Captain's Log

2007-01-28T19:33:33Z

Pure196:

[[Image:Captain'slog.JPG]]

<spoiler>
The signal flags spell out "How many flares?"
Answer: Seven
</spoiler>

Memorial Plaque

2007-01-28T04:58:15Z

Pure196:

"1 from every 4."

<spoiler> Answer is '''ray brown''' </spoiler>

Template:Timeline

2007-01-25T18:01:20Z

Pure196:

* A mysterious ad on the [[IE Blog]] leads to a countdown timer
* The [[Countdown]] page asks for keys.
** Several [[Keys]] have been found by using any of five cipher keys, either posted online or sent to bloggers.
** Several keys were solved by using the contents of a [[Puzzle Box Package]], mailed to various people. The contents include a [[Video-Loki|video]].
** These keys have frequently been accompanied by extravagant gifts (laptops, media center computers, etc.) from Loki, the "Enigma Director", and all come from Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, WA.
* The countdown expires Jan 8th 2007 at 6:30PM PST. A decompile of the Flash app on the main page reveals the location as the fountains in front of the Bellagio. This time and location coincides with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is expected that this is when the game will officially start.
* Several new [[countdowns]] are behind a particular key, listing various cities and times of additional live events.
* A new [[Video-Ignition|video]] from [[lokivanishes]] is discovered on YouTube, giving a new [[Keys|key]].
* Scattered reports are arriving that the [[Microsoft CES Keynote]] includes more details about [[Prizes|prizes.]]
* [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com Registration available] and [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/prizes.aspx rules and prizes posted]. There's also a [[http://vanishingpointgame.com/faq.htm FAQ]][http://vanishingpointwiki.com/wiki/FAQ] with more hints.
* The rules page lists a secret [[Meta Puzzle]] with an instant-win prize for the first to solve it. The prize is their name inscribed on each of a new AMD processor model to be released soon. Several clues in the puzzles, events, and in the original video could relate to the Meta Puzzle.
* Another [http://www.tweakvista.com/Article39053.aspx clue] from Loki surfaces at the bell desk of The Orleans hotel in Vegas, pointing to the location the event at the Bellagio Fountains.
* All of the events now have GPS coordinates. They are noted here on the [[Countdowns]] page.
* Jan 8th 2007: The [[Las Vegas Event]] has occurred, giving us a [[Video-Las Vegas|Video]] and [[Puzzle Box 1]] has been unlocked. After all the puzzles are solved, Loki gives us a [[Video-loki_time|video: loki_time]] [http://assets.vanishingpointgame.com/loki_time.wmv]. At the end of the video a url is [http://www.tweakvista.com/Article39055.aspx flashed] on the screen pointing to a side contest to get your name printed on AMD Athlon 64 FX processors. Thus begins the [[Meta Puzzle]].
* Jan 13th. 2007: The first of the two multi-city events occurred today, leaving us with [[Puzzle Box 2]], [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/skyType.htm several new clues], and a new [[Video-magicweb|video (magicweb)]] after solving them all. ''The White Box Phenomenon'' has been connected to the [[Meta Puzzle]] through the [[Collection Plate]] directory.
*Jan 20th. 2007: The second of the two multi-city events occurs today, leaving us with [[Puzzle Box 3]] and clues projected on buildings.[http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/projections.htm]
*Solving all of the puzzles gives yet [[Video-loki_eras|another video]]. At it's end, the words "/more_answers" flashes. Going to [http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers http://www.vanishingpointgame.com/more_answers], one finds a tracker of the puzzles completed.
*Jan 24th 2007: A special VIP party is being held for the last clue. To go you must be 18 or older and be able to get to the Seattle, WA event. To RSVP e-mail vanish@vanishingpointgame.com and in the body just put "yes".