Microsoft 360 competition. Or something close to it.

[schild]

Let's win this shit. Time to get hardcore. We won the Ngage code cracking contest, I have faith in winning this new thing:

http://www.ourcolony.net/

The race begins...NOW.

[schild]

Password to enter Site: Play

-> Join Existing Colony
Team name: f13.net
Team password: 67197351

[schild]

We need at least 5 people. And I should have named the fucking thing Bat Country.

[schild]

Gamespot picked up the story:

The second half of this article:

Several such fliers were also plastered around the Sony Metreon in San Francisco right around the time of the PSP launch. The fliers are a classic example of a "teaser" campaign, where a cryptic billboard or flyer stirs interest in a product or service--in this case, ourcolony.net.

Another similarity between ourcolony.net and ilovebees.com is the prominent countdown clock on its home page. The countdown will ends at 8pm PDT on Thursday, May 12, nearly four days to the hour before Microsoft's pre-E3 presentation on the evening of May 16. What will happen on May 12 remains unclear. But, during his keynote at GDC last month, Chief XNA Architect and Corporate Vice President J Allard confirmed Microsoft would use the May 16 presentation to unveil its next-generation Xbox. Unconfirmed reports also say Allard sported a t-shirt with an ant logo on it while at GDC, though no such logo was visible during his keynote address.

That said, there does appear to be more than one direct connection between ourcolony.net and Microsoft. First, one of the distorted images on the ourcolony.net home page features an Xbox power button. When compared to a current-generation Xbox's power button, the pattern is unmistakable, although it is now set against a shiny white background.

But whereas Ilovebees.com was a narrative-driven mystery, ourcolony.net appears to be a competition. After successfully guessing the password to enter the site (Hint: it rhymes with "hay") a message from someone called the "Gamem8ker" asks visitors to form a "colony" or team. "It's colony against colony and to the winner, well, the winner gets all," reads a message from the Gamem8ker.

How does one win? Do the still-unnamed viral-marketing firm's legwork and spread the word about ourcolony.net. After starting a colony, players of the not-an-alternate reality who recruit five to the colony game will get their first "challenge," and will receive more challenges as they recruit more members to join the ad campaign/game. "You're not going to make it to the end if you try to solo this, there's strength in numbers," reads Gamem8ker's message.

The second connection to Microsoft has to do with the rewards doled out to colonies that win challenges. According to posts in the ourcolony.net forums, challenge-winners receive partial pictures of what looks like a white version of a redesigned Xbox controller. Currently, only two images are currently available--both in a folder marked "thesecret" on the site's directory. The first looks like a thumbstick above a D-pad. The second shows the D-pad in more detail, just above a curved edge in what appears to be the middle of a controller. When combined and compared to a current-generation S-controller, the images exhibit a distinctly Xbox-ian layout and feel, although the start and back buttons appear to be missing. As the ourcolony.net competition progresses, it is almost certain that a more pictures of the controller--and perhaps its console--will surface.

The ourcolony.net-Microsoft connection is also circumstantially backed up by the fact most colonies already involved in the game are linked to the Xbox in some way, either in the form of Xbox Live clans or Xbox fan sites.

While obvious, the connection between ourcolony.net and Microsoft is not official--and likely won't be before E3. When presented with the images from ourcolony.net and the sites similarities with ilovebees.com, a Microsoft spokesperson would only give the following statement: "We’re aware of the fact that ourcolony.net has captured the imagination thousands of gamers across the world, and that these gamers have taken control of the site and are making it their own."

[Shockeye]

Challenge
LAST " " 0761537082

Opening the Xbox : Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution
Author: DEAN TAKAHASHI
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 23 April, 2002
Publisher: Prima Lifestyles
ISBN: 0761537082
 

[schild]

The last quote in that book. Well shiat. I have no Barnes & Noble or Border's near me. Who wants to take care of this one?

Edit: I tried a combination of a lot of shit from the last quotes on the Amazon "Look inside this book" shit. Unfortunately, it skips from page 6 to the index. Looks like we might have to find the book as the back cover revealed nothing.

[Murgos]

[HttpException (0x80004005): Server Too Busy]
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.RejectRequestInternal(HttpWorkerRequest wr) +148

Thier .net app ate itself.

[stray]

Yeah, that site runs like shit. I'll try later.

[Xilren's Twin]

Heh, finally got to type in "play" and promptly got this...

Transaction (Process ID 68) was deadlocked on lock resources with another process and has been chosen as the deadlock victim. Rerun the transaction.

I'm a victim!  Where's Johnny Cochran now that I need him...

Xilren

[Shockeye]

Did you try anything from the last quote on the back cover of the book?

The back cover is available on Amazon for viewing and the last quote on it is by Dawn C. Chmielewski from the San Jose Mercury News.

[schild]

Did you try anything from the last quote on the back cover of the book?

The back cover is available on Amazon for viewing and the last quote on it is by Dawn C. Chmielewski from the San Jose Mercury News.

Edit: I tried a combination of a lot of shit from the last quotes on the Amazon "Look inside this book" shit. Unfortunately, it skips from page 6 to the index. Looks like we might have to find the book as the back cover revealed nothing.

kekelaaaaa~ ^_^

[Xilren's Twin]

Got it. It was "just imagine the future".

Next linky is this

http://www.ourcolony.net/thesecret/2.jpg

Xilren

[schild]

Analog nub.

Edit: I can not access the web site. So uhhhh. Yea.

Edit: Ok, so I got in. We just have to wait for the next challenge I think. That link is just telling us to "imagine a chrome plated analog nub." Or something equally stupid. Either way, not a challenge 

[Murgos]

Now a I get a "The Colony is growing quickly.  Please be patient." error page.  Nice 14pt black text on a white background.

[Murgos]

source code for our team page has a commented out anchor tage below the link to the metal nub image.

Code:

<!--<a id="solve" href="javascript:submit('challenge');">Solve</a>-->

which is the following javascript function

Code:

/* form submission */

// accepts id of form node to submit.  use for submitting via link instead of submit button.
function submit(id) {
	//if(f.onsubmit()) alert('ok');
	var f = document.getElementById(id);
	if(f.onsubmit) { if(f.onsubmit()) f.submit(); }
	else { f.submit(); }
}

I don't know if this is part of the challenge or not, but someone else will have to figure it out.  It would seem silly to make you wait until they are ready for you to go to the next challenge, it's time restricting the winner.


edit:  Looking at the code again, it looks like it IS just form validation that was cut out of the page because the previous challenge was answered already.

[Krakrok]

There is also

http://www.ourcolony.net/thesecret/1.jpg

[Miasma]

Analog nub.

Edit: I can not access the web site. So uhhhh. Yea.

Edit: Ok, so I got in. We just have to wait for the next challenge I think. That link is just telling us to "imagine a chrome plated analog nub." Or something equally stupid. Either way, not a challenge 

That image where you login looks like the reflection from a chrome plated nub.

[Samwise]

Now I can't get in.  I think their server is cracking under the pressure.

[Xilren's Twin]

Sadly, it looks like this particular race began at least a month ago...which is why some teams have so many points.  It also appears you can only get 1 challenge a day, so the points from adding members and submitting challenges add up too..

i.E. If you type "create" on the intial screen, you get this...

http://www.ourcolony.net/canvas/

Think you're better than the rest of these "n00bs" playing the game and want your shot at running it? this is your chance to show me you're better than them. If your challenge is good enough, I'll use it and make sure everybody knows you're a step ahead of them and the game.

There's only a few rules to remember when you're making up your challenge

keep it clean
don't break the law
don't hurt anyone
someone's gotta be able to solve it
There's no guarantee I'll use whatever it is you come up with, but if i do use it the reward will be sweet.

Make your own challenge and tell me what it is. or build your own and gimme the URL.

Our Symbol

Also, "rules" on the main page gets you this

Rules
Welcome to the colony. I'm glad you're here. Maybe you've been playing the game for a while now or maybe you've just begun. Since you've made it here I can give you a few hints on how the colony works.

Grow your colony and work together
Answer right and answer first
This is global, get people around the world in your colony
Make it your game
Show our symbol and share
Keep what I've said in mind as you play and soon enough, you'll be leading Colony.

Worth a browse daily for the hell of it.

Xilren

[Samwise]

Hm.  Is there a "log in" button somewhere that I missed?  Or do I just keep re-registering?

[Xilren's Twin]

Hm.  Is there a "log in" button somewhere that I missed?  Or do I just keep re-registering?

The site very hit and miss, but I just bookmarked the team page so I could minimize my clicks.  If ypu go through the front page you would click on the "my colony" link and throw in your username and password.

Xilren

[Furiously]

It won't let me in - getting growing message.

[Xilren's Twin]

This thing is just plain weird.  Finally made it in a few minutes ago, and while there no new challenge yet today, the team page gave me this...

Colony leader board
Rank Score Name
1 120 f13.net
2 6934 TeamXbox
3 4055 yay
3 4713 ARGolonists
4 3846 lljk
5 2734 TeamXbox
6 2536 XBW
7 1930 Aglami
8 1800 GAF Horde

Unless they have suddenly changed to lowest score wins, I have no idea why that ranking system shows as it does.  There were team way ahead of us, and also behind us yesterday...

Xilren

[Shockeye]

Every time I hit refresh the leader board changes with no rhyme or reason.

FUBAR

[Samwise]

Current challenge:

20000 CMWKTRW. Who?

[Furiously]

Answered previous.

Next one:
Your memory is lost, your aura is high, your life within an inch, you have one weapon left to finish off the enemy what is it? If yo

[schild]

Here's the whole thing.

Your memory is lost, your aura is high, your life within
an inch, you have one weapon left to finish off the enemy
what is it? If you read closely you should know the answer

[Xilren's Twin]

Actually, now it's this:

Up for anything as she marches to the beat of 11 drummers. No that's superficial.

Xilren

[Furiously]

Now it is blank.

[Xilren's Twin]

Now it is blank.

As of 6:00pm EST, it's a puzzle piece shaped picture of a red car.  Plus the note

ready for more secrets?

if you aim to find the truth, you will uncover a real caty in our midst

Xilren

[Furiously]

11:39 Pacific it is:

ready for more secrets?


if you aim to find the truth, you will uncover tom canty instead of edward

(to err is human, without the colony, you would have been misled by the error)

[Hanzii]

See, I have no idea what to do here, but does it help any to note, that Tom Canty and Edward (Tudor) are the protagonists in Mark Twains The Prince and the Pauper?

[Aenovae]

It is "The End" when Alpha, Delta and Omega are destroyed.

Missile Command

[Murgos]

You don't get a lot of points for answering the trivia, at least not compared with points for new members.  It's a clever idea, the trick to winning is to advertise for them.  Unfortunately, what it really means is that the winner will be whoever figures out how to spoof new user authentication process the most efficiently.

[Aenovae]

No matter what the scheme, TeamXbox will blow everyone else out of the water.