da vinci code quest

We will know the winner of the game today according to its official rules. Although Google and Sony Pictures disregarded their rules several times in the course of the game, I still hope that finally they can tell us who is the winner on time.It took me around 13 minutes to solve all the puzzles. But I know that many players completed the quest within 5 minutes. The shortest time I've heard about is 20 seconds. It's really amazing and unbelievable. So I guess the final winner could make it in less than 5 seconds. Yes, some of them cheated. They downloaded the game in swf format and decompiled it, and then wrote some macros to complete the game automatically. However, I am wondering whether Google could detect it. O.K. Let's see who's the winner :-)

Again, there is an unexpected change of the rule of the game. Although the official rules state that the game is starting at 1pm EST, now ( 9 am EST) the game is already available. I hope to do it right now but I cannot because I have to go to school and teach two classes today. (Fortunately, the first phrase didn't end at Friday. Otherwise I would have no chance to enter the final phrase due to the time conflict). Anyway, I will probably start the game late this afternoon when I am back and post my solutions here if I could succeed in completing them. I am just curious about the final puzzles and care less about the grand prize because even if I can win it, I have to turn it down. I don't have $40,000 to pay the taxes. Therefore, the grand prize is of little value for me. Let's wait and see what we will have for the final quest.

BTW, I posted a modified photo yesterday to show a possible way to make the cryptex fully functional. Tekee actually did it in this way. Here is his blog post about how to modify the cryptex.

Finally my cryptex arrived today. It's a nice gift from Google and Sony Pictures. Do you notice that mine is slightly different from yours? Mine is fully functional because it uses five dials. Why? Because I "fireworked" the photo :-) Sorry for kidding you but the photo shows a way to make the cryptex fully functional. It only needs some metal work. Furthermore, you can reset the code that opens the cryptex. Steven has a good tutorial about it. So if you add three additional teeth and reset the code, you will have a real cryptex.

I commented on Google's Da Vinci Code Quest game the other day and said that the design of the game was flawed.I still think so although now I am among the finalists. Since we're free before the final phrase starts, let's talk more about the first phrase of the game.

Axiom 1: A good game tests players' ability and singles out finalists accordingly.

Proposition 1: Google's Da Vinci Code Quest game is not a good game because at most it only tests the ability of players from a subset of the whole population.

Proof: Suppose players have two types, either high ability (H), or low ability (L) (Alternatively one may assume the ability of players has certain distribution over the whole population but here I just want to keep it simple so I use binomial dist.). H players can solve the puzzles quickly while L slowly. Moreover, since most of players are not totally free everyday, let's suppose that the number of players starting to solve the puzzles over time follows a certain distribution F (Normally it could be a Poisson one but generally there is no need to specify it). Or in simple words, some players will start playing the game earlier than the others. Then H players have a dominant strategy that is to solve the puzzle quickly and then reveal the solutions publicly via INTERNET. In this way, they can "kick out" other H players who have to start playing later by bringing in enough L players who just got the solutions via INTERNET. As a result, the small portion of H players can increase the possibility of winning finally because those L finalists are less competitive. Since all H players have such incentives and it's very easy to disseminate information quickly and effectively via Internet, the game can only tests the ability of players from a small subset of the whole population. Therefore, it is not a good game. □

Empirical Evidence: Everyday the solutions of the puzzle are revealed in the Internet 3-5 minutes after the game started. This is also true for the last and most important puzzle. The solution was revealed 4 minutes after the game started. That's why even one submitted his/her answers at 10:07 but still wasn't a finalist.

Comments: Who should be blamed for the stupid game? Not those H players but the designers of the game. The worst and most stupid thing they did is to choose an observation puzzle as the final one because it has a unique solution!

However, we know that Google and Sony Pictures are not stupid but fairly smart. Therefore, they may just have a different axiom for a good game. For them, a good game may be the one that __________________. You can fill it :-)

I didn't get the cryptex today though many players have reported that they got one mailed from California. However, I just got an email from Sony Pictures saying that I am among the 10,000 finalists of the Da Vinci Code Quest game. Many other players also got this email. So finally we know the results. I am very happy that I can enjoy the next round of the quest :-) The following is a screen shot of the email:

By the way, the email says:"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." It seems that I am still very likely to get the cryptex. Maybe it is just on the way and the USPS guys in Illinois are rather slow. At least, no one from Illinois reported that they got the cryptex. Hope I can get it tomorrow :-)

update1:

All the confirmation emails were sent out. If one completed all the 24 puzzles but were not among the 10,000 finalists, an email titled NOT A FINALIST - The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google will be received.

Up to now, for the Da Vinci Code Quest game, no confirmation email of the finalist was sent out by Google or Sony Pictures. However, to everyone's surprise, the CRYPTEX is being sent out. Several players have already got it, ranging from Florida to Ohio to Montana. The package was mailed via USPS mail from Burbank, California. Since there are 10,000 finalists, some of them may get the cryptex a bit later. So just be patient and wait for the good news!

jayshree's photo

states where players reported that they got the cryptex:

• Florida
• Ohio
• Montana
• Virginia
• New York
• California
• Michigan
• Connecticut
• Pennsylvania
• Alabama
• New York
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Washington

update1:
Here are more views of the cryptex and the message inside: cryptex,cryptex,message,box, cryptex and message.

And the message inside says:

Congratulations,

you have proven worth of the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google, visit www.Google.com/DaVinciCode to see if your journey continues.

update2:
A debate is going on regarding what this cryptex means. One side believes that this cryptex indicates the status as a finalist. Google just changed the rule of the game without notifying the community of players. The other side believes that the cryptex is the "surprise" mentioned in the email sent out by Sony Pictures last Friday. That is to say, those who received the cryptex are not finalists but guys who completed the quest and thus are rewarded a gift.

Nobody knows which side is right. But it seems that the cryptex is not like the one mentioned in the Official Rules. Moreover, Google haven't sent out any email yet.

update3:

The Finalist Confirmation Email was sent out!

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First of all, although the rules state that it officially ended today at 1 pm EST, the game actually ended much earlier. Some friends of mine got the following screen after they completed the game before 1 pm EST today. Maybe there are just too many players.

Second, if you successfuly registered after you completed the game, now in your Google personalized home page, you will get the following message:

Furthermore, if you successfully registed, please check this page. You will get the following message: ( Please look at the url, it says: final_puzzle_too_early.html )

If you didn't register successfully, you will only get a message saying:

Thank you for participating in The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google.

We're sorry, but in order to compete in the Final Challenge you must have completed the previous 24 puzzles correctly and registered prior to 1pm (EST) on May 11th.

The Da Vinci Code is in theaters worldwide May 19th.

Let's continue to wait and see what will happen :-)

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Update1: Google sent out the following email around 8:40 pm (central time) today:

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
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update 2: THE CRYPTEX IS BEING SENT OUT!