portal updated

douchebagatrondouchebagatron Custom member title Join Date: 2003-12-20 Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">WITH A PUZZLE</div>so portal got an update last night.
<!--QuoteBegin-update+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (update)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Updates to Portal have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted.

Portal
Changed radio transmission frequency to comply with federal and state spectrum management regulations<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

there's been a tinfoil hat convention going on at the steam forums that i've been watching.

if you'd like to figure this all out on your own, stop reading now. otherwise, please continue.

the update added a new achievement for finding all the hidden signals in radios placed throughout the game. some signals are morse code (translated below) some are just garbage.

garbage that can be decoded into pictures!

a couple of the pictures are:
<a href="http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5395/dino3.png" target="_blank">http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5395/dino3.png</a>
<a href="http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8126/dino4.png" target="_blank">http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8126/dino4.png</a>
<a href="http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1900/dino9z.png" target="_blank">http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1900/dino9z.png</a>
<a href="http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4641/dino23.png" target="_blank">http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4641/dino23.png</a>

everything can be found on the steam forums for portal, in a few threads
<a href="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169218" target="_blank">http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/show...d.php?t=1169218</a>

<!--QuoteBegin-morse code+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (morse code)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->1.
interior transmission active external data line active message digest active

2-4 are pictures

5.
9e107d9d372bb6821bd91d3542a419d6

6-11 are pictures

12.
system data dump active user backup active password backup active

13-16 are pictures

17.
beep beeeep beep beep beeeep beeeep beeeep beep beeeep beep beep

18-26 are pictures<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

the beeps in 17 translate to LOL, and the hex values in 5 are an MD5 (<b>Message Digest</b> 5) hash of 'The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog'

the images can be pieced together into another MD5 hash (9459c6cac8c203b8128b7cc63068d4fd) which decodes to '(425) 822-5251'

the phone number is a BBS number, if you call it you get modem garbage, but if you connect to it through a telnet service, then you get...
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/5wbap.gif" target="_blank">a login!</a>

the weird thing is, no login/pass would work at first, then all of a sudden backup/backup started working (from "active user backup active password backup")

but also important: the version is 3.11, march 11th is right smack in the middle of GDC this year, and its apparently the day that Gabe Newell is scheduled to receive some fancy award.

apparently after logging in with backup/backup people have been getting a mix of ascii art and some memos. here's a collection of them all.
<a href="http://i8fhosting.com/portal.png" target="_blank">http://i8fhosting.com/portal.png</a>


I don't know if there's much more to the puzzle or not. perhaps THEM can help us out?
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Comments

  • PipiPipi Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69550Members
    Haha, that's crazy.. I'd have stopped at the morse codes 0_o

    lol
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  • ZiGGYZiGGY Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12479Members
    woah.
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  • RobRob Unknown Enemy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 25Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=1756449:date=Mar 2 2010, 02:19 PM:name=6john)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6john @ Mar 2 2010, 02:19 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756449"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->...
    I don't know if there's much more to the puzzle or not. perhaps THEM can help us out?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Or just smirk knowingly and gloat at our plight.
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    edited March 2010
    If you own Portal, fire it up, there's a whole new challenge layer now. If you don't own Portal... You call yourself a gamer?

    <center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5bdTlryKes"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5bdTlryKes" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>

    Apparently they know just how tech-savvy their fans are too, I mean, Christ, game-file sounds encoded to contain plain text which contains ASCII art? Telnet directions? Noise-encoded images? Valve are really out-doing themselves with this.
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  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    <!--quoteo(post=1756460:date=Mar 2 2010, 12:06 PM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Mar 2 2010, 12:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756460"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Apparently they know just how tech-savvy their fans are too, I mean, Christ, game-file sounds encoded to contain plain text which contains ASCII art? Telnet directions? Noise-encoded images? Valve are really out-doing themselves with this.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    And yet they still haven't finished HL2:Ep3 yet XD
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  • Sub_zer0Sub_zer0 Join Date: 2004-05-09 Member: 28569Members
    Would you really want ep3 rushed though? Because you know they out do them selfs each ep and I recon there is going to be a few tie ins with portal universe. Maybe this is in fact to do with a second ep of portal or ep2 who knows valve are crafty people..
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  • TemphageTemphage Join Date: 2009-10-28 Member: 69158Members
    edited March 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1756465:date=Mar 2 2010, 07:28 PM:name=Sub_zer0)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sub_zer0 @ Mar 2 2010, 07:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756465"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Would you really want ep3 rushed though?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Oh <i>please</i>.

    They've had more than two and a half years to make the game - and the engine, guns, most of the models and art are already done. Two and a half years is what you use to make a game from SCRATCH. And I also certainly hope they've already had it storyboarded as well.

    Yes, I do want Ep3 rushed, because only a total idiot would say what you just said.

    As Gordon Freeman himself said, "Optimists are <b>retards</b>."
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    What he meant is that they've ALREADY had a lot of time to finish Ep.3 and you can't possibly call it rushed from this point on. Only he said it in a really mean way because that's how he is. Don't mind him.
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2010
    They aren't doing anything that hasn't been done in several other ARGs. Hell, I'm surprised they didn't co-opt the Wavs to also show pictures/messages on a spectrometer.

    Currently SomethingAwful is the crew furthest in this ARG. Last I saw, they cracked the password to the BBS and managed to get all of the ASCII images. Far as I know, the trail went cold after that.

    There may be more Username/Password combos, but no one knows them yet.

    Edit: Also, I don't give a ###### when Episode 3 comes. Valve has been doing just fine, and as much as I want them to get it out, they can take it at their slow ass pace all they want. Turning into some troll over release dates is pretty ###### stupid.

    Not every game company needs to release things on game company schedules. Especially when they have the money to actually legally tell you to STFU.

    And I'm gonna mind him aplenty. Bad addition to the community is bad. Harrumph. :|
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    Stuff like this annoys me simply because I really don't have the know-how or the patience to follow it myself. That's not their fault, though, I'm just lazy.

    Also I think the ending for Ep 2 has posed a major challenge for Ep 3 and that they might not have thought about it properly.
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  • spellman23spellman23 NS1 Theorycraft Expert Join Date: 2007-05-17 Member: 60920Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756460:date=Mar 2 2010, 01:06 PM:name=Draco_2k)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Draco_2k @ Mar 2 2010, 01:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756460"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Apparently they know just how tech-savvy their fans are too, I mean, Christ, game-file sounds encoded to contain plain text which contains ASCII art? Telnet directions? Noise-encoded images? Valve are really out-doing themselves with this.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Well, they have plenty of baseline examples of what lengths people will go to to figure it out.

    See the Wikipedia Article on Augmented Reality Games, Viral Marketing, and so on.

    Heck, even Neopets does a serious ARG every year within their game with weird arcane secret hoops you have to jump through.


    Behold the power of community and the sensation of "Look at the cool thing I figured out! Time to share on the internetz!!!"
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  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    wutz yur hi-est lvl neopet spellman!?!?!
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  • steppin'razorsteppin'razor Join Date: 2008-09-18 Member: 65033Members, Constellation
    Followed it yesterday, was fun watching all of it get worked out
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  • spellman23spellman23 NS1 Theorycraft Expert Join Date: 2007-05-17 Member: 60920Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756625:date=Mar 2 2010, 10:20 PM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (locallyunscene @ Mar 2 2010, 10:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756625"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->wutz yur hi-est lvl neopet spellman!?!?!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I don't play anymore.
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756614:date=Mar 3 2010, 05:40 AM:name=X_Stickman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (X_Stickman @ Mar 3 2010, 05:40 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756614"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Also I think the ending for Ep 2 has posed a major challenge for Ep 3 and that they might not have thought about it properly.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The very few interviews on the matter indicate that this is exactly what they want.

    <!--quoteo(post=1756618:date=Mar 3 2010, 06:04 AM:name=spellman23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spellman23 @ Mar 3 2010, 06:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756618"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Well, they have plenty of baseline examples of what lengths people will go to to figure it out.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That's a good point. After all, we're on the Internet, we're already a bunch of nerds. :p
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <a href="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1170872" target="_blank">http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/show...d.php?t=1170872</a>

    Here's a good summary of the ARG to date. I agree that this has been done before, but I think props to valve for doing a pretty good job on it so far.

    Anyone care to guess what it is? I'm guessing either portal 2, or steam on Unix platforms ( i.e. OS X and/or Linux )
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756705:date=Mar 3 2010, 02:32 PM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Mar 3 2010, 02:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756705"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Anyone care to guess what it is?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's quite clearly Portal-related.

    <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4402930118_98b95fd393_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    There are shots of the Enrichment centre, further to the right are good old turrets... And to the bottom left there's quite clearly an Android. Oh dear.
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  • RellixRellix Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13572Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    I read somewhere this afternoon that the trail ends in a message involving 3.11, the day Gabe accepts an award or something this month, so I wouldn't expect much news until then but what a let down it'll be if its not a Portal 2/Ep 3 announcement.
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    For crying out loud, they updated it AGAIN.

    Apparently there's a change to a map in this one. Dammit, Valve.
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  • slayer20slayer20 Killed a man once. Join Date: 2007-12-13 Member: 63157Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    I'm going to spoil it for you.

    It's in the map escape_02, where you fight GLaDOS. Just kill GLaDOS and listen to what happens.

    <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>A robot comes up to you and says "Thank you for assuming the escort party submission position." Then proceeds to drag you off.</span>
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  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    <!--quoteo(post=1756839:date=Mar 3 2010, 04:09 PM:name=slayer20)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (slayer20 @ Mar 3 2010, 04:09 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756839"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm going to spoil it for you.

    It's in the map escape_02, where you fight GLaDOS. Just kill GLaDOS and listen to what happens.

    <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>A robot comes up to you and says "Thank you for assuming the escort party submission position." Then proceeds to drag you off.</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    And here is a video of that if you want to see it: <a href="http://www.xfire.com/video/2393cf/" target="_blank">http://www.xfire.com/video/2393cf/</a> ZOMG SPOILARS
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    Just ran through the live thing. It's a mix of good and bad, because the original ending was awesome, and the new ending is awesome.

    Well. Back to the test chamber.
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  • douchebagatrondouchebagatron Custom member title Join Date: 2003-12-20 Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    apparently the BBS has begun displaying a progressbar. more info <a href="http://half-life2.nl/index.php/The_Progress_Bar" target="_blank">here</a>.

    full puzzle wiki at: <a href="http://half-life2.nl/index.php/Main_Page" target="_blank">http://half-life2.nl/index.php/Main_Page</a>
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  • Sub_zer0Sub_zer0 Join Date: 2004-05-09 Member: 28569Members
    Rather exciting!
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  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    edited March 2010
    <b>Portal 2 announced.

    </b><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Left 4 Dea<u>d</u>, Counte<u>r</u>-Strike and Half-Life) and le<u>a</u>ding <u>t</u>echnologies (such as S<u>t</u>ea<u>m</u> and Source), tod<u>a</u>y annou<u>n</u>ced Portal 2 for shipment this comi<u>n</u>g holiday season.

    Portal 2 is the sequel to 2007's Portal, w<u>h</u>ich won 7<u>0</u> i<u>n</u>dustry achi<u>e</u>v<u>e</u>ment awards.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What's this? Shocking, I know, right? Now read the message again, noting the underlined letters.

    Yes, they're still dropping clues as to what's going on... In the game's announcement news.

    --------------

    Look like it's a login. And possibly good/bad news.

    <img src="http://bayimg.com/image/oalehaaca.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • Konohas Perverted HermitKonohas Perverted Hermit Join Date: 2008-09-26 Member: 65075Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756474:date=Mar 2 2010, 01:49 PM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Mar 2 2010, 01:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756474"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Oh <i>please</i>.

    They've had more than two and a half years to make the game - and the engine, guns, most of the models and art are already done. Two and a half years is what you use to make a game from SCRATCH. And I also certainly hope they've already had it storyboarded as well.

    Yes, I do want Ep3 rushed, because only a total idiot would say what you just said.

    As Gordon Freeman himself said, "Optimists are <b>retards</b>."<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    The reason Episode 3, is taking soo long is because you get to play as GMan. True story.
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  • Sub_zer0Sub_zer0 Join Date: 2004-05-09 Member: 28569Members
    <a href="http://kotaku.com/5486657/an-insiders-guide-to-portal-2" target="_blank">http://kotaku.com/5486657/an-insiders-guide-to-portal-2</a>


    <a href="http://kotaku.com/5486758/portal-2-adds-multiplayer-co+op-new--familiar-characters" target="_blank">http://kotaku.com/5486758/portal-2-adds-mu...liar-characters</a>

    dunno if its true or not..
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1756474:date=Mar 2 2010, 09:49 PM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Mar 2 2010, 09:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1756474"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As Gordon Freeman himself said, "Optimists are <b>retards</b>."<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    I'm sure I'd have remembered it if Gordon said anything like that.
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1757495:date=Mar 6 2010, 01:53 AM:name=Cereal_KillR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cereal_KillR @ Mar 6 2010, 01:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1757495"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm sure I'd have remembered it if Gordon said anything like that.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    He totally says it.

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DfJ-IPZOR8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DfJ-IPZOR8</a> (nsfw)
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  • steppin'razorsteppin'razor Join Date: 2008-09-18 Member: 65033Members, Constellation
    <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/03/05/its-portal-2/#more-26495" target="_blank">http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/03/05...l-2/#more-26495</a>

    Co-op Portal 2? Excited...
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