[ARG] The Pizza Code Mystery

faed · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

Ok, so the pizza is a lie texture is named ‘c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti.vtf’.

I went into windows search options and added the .bsp extension, and gave it a plain text filter. Next I went into the maps folder and did a search for ‘c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti’ then search contents.

This is what I found:

background11.bsp
referenced in list

bm_c0a0a.bsp
{
"origin" "5086.06 2884 -1041.58"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "780998"
}
{
"origin" "4441.37 2636 -51.087"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "781007"
}
referenced in list

bm_c1a0a.bsp
{
"origin" "-1362.79 -704.532 645.904"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "3308130"
}
{
"origin" "930.802 -2512 -1115.2"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "3308133"
}
not referenced in list

bm_c2a4b.bsp
{
"origin" "-604.421 -2920 -696.178"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "1170220"
}
not referenced in list

bm_c2a4c.bsp
{
"origin" "-1078.38 -327.876 112"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "1344321"
}
not referenced in list

bm_c2a4g.bsp
referenced in list

bm_c2a4h.bsp
{
"origin" "-1657.45 -4195.52 -416"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "1033696"
}
{
"origin" "2947.11 -1079.26 400"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "1067183"
}
referenced in list

bm_c2a5a.bsp
{
"origin" "-2299.57 -3250.95 1854.72"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "993733"
}
not referenced in list

bm_c3a1b.bsp
{
"origin" "-1760.48 1376 -1498.58"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "2049189"
}
not referenced in list

bm_c3a2a.bsp
{
"origin" "3043.69 -1261.05 -2496"
"texture" "decals/c2a4x_pizzalie_graffiti"
"classname" "infodecal"
"hammerid" "4886235"
}
not referenced in list

So there are 2 different ways that the .bsp files referenced this texture:

The first was in a big ASCII encoded section of the file that includes the location, hammerid, etc.

The second was in a null byte separated list elsewhere in the file. This reference didn’t include any extra information about where the decal would be located. I’m not even sure what the list represents. It was found in some maps that had the coordinates, found in some maps that did not have the coordinates, and also absent in some maps that did have coordinates.

ThatAspie · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

I think the only real option we haven’t exhausted is indeed all the pizza-ARG stuff scattered throughout the game.

But still, not sure how this all adds up. It really does feel like we are missing something obvious…

Toxyn · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

I have tried to take a quick scan of the messages in this topic, and I don’t really get what you guys are doing.

Anyways, what I was trying to get at was has anyone noclipped before the resonance cascade? perhaps that tram ride into black mesa and noclipping around there might shed some light on the subject. I would do it myself, I have a failry decent laptop that runs black mesa with little to no visual glitches, its just a shitty laptop that can’t keep cool on source games so it shuts off my laptop after about an hour of play.

Xappy · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

A thought occurs: Are there any chapters in which there are NO references to the dubious veracity of the pizza?

Gunsrequiem · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

There are only about 9 “Pizza is a lie” messages throughout the game. I’m working on locating them all now, and compiling the list on the wiki.

Xappy · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

hm, from that list… once in inbound, once in AM, twice in RP twice in QE, once in ST and once in Forget about Freeman. And once in Xen - bm_c3a3a.bsp would be Xen, right?
I don’t appear to have a bm_c3a3a.bsp

There are no references in that list to bm_c1a3, so I’m guessing it’s just the Biodome lab logo and not “the pizza is a lie” in that tower.

M-Man · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

That list must be incomplete, you’re missing the one in Blast Pit. The one in the toxic waste tunnel.

faed · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

Could be incomplete. I’m only looking at the ASCII encoded information inside of a compiled map file. There could be information in there that would need to be decompiled to read.

Gunsrequiem · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

Yeah, there’s a good possibility there are more. It seems like there may be one in each and every level. So far, I’ve found all of the ones listed except the ones in c2a5c and c2a4b. C2a5c is the one with the “taco shack”. Other than that, they all seem to be the same–Biodome logo, message.

InedibleTrevor · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

As a quick aside, where is this “Xen placeholder” map I’ve seen a few people mention? I went to look for it to decompile it, but I can’t find anything of the sort! Help me out?

EDIT: I’m not going to piss anyone off by decompiling a map, right? If a dev sees this, let me know if it’s an issue and I’ll cease and desist Just in case.

faed · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

I found all 11 of them.

Gunsrequiem · August 11, 2020, 9:38am

Excellent work, man!

Also, has anyone determined what the background in the Code C image is? It could just be random, but it looks a little too “techy” to be just a random backdrop.

Tebeau23 · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

I myself havent seen it, I think Pyro? mentioned it a few pages back and 2 steam friends confirmed it. It isn’t the area in the biodome.

Sorry if i’m causing a conundrum :fffuuu: lol

Xappy · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

There don’t appear to be any unused bsp files that could be this placeholder map…?

Charli · August 11, 2020, 9:38am

0418_08151814:

I’m sure the main problem is focus here, you’re not seeing the wood for the trees as such. I’m the user known as Code_ from the IRC channel, and in my fairly extensive experience of args and puzzle trails, often the best way to find the answers is not to look for clues everywhere, but to put your self in the creators shoes, which I have tried to do with this.

I wouldn’t be surprised, considering the relative ease of the first 3 puzzles, if the answer isn’t staring us in the face. I already noted over IRC to gunsrequiem that the whiteboards, despite being partially related in places, such as the nuclear alchemy board and the office whiteboard, seemed more related to expanding the games immersion than the hidden arg. That doesn’t rule out the possibility that somewhere on one of them there is something we need to use to solve the puzzle however. I just think people have been making red herrings everywhere due to taking the clues a bit too literally.

The TF2 and Portal args are well known for being very easy in comparison to the majority of args and puzzle trails across the internet. No progress for a few days is nothing in comparison to the lack of progress on some of them.

I have been more of a quiet follower to this arg, but I think those are wise words.

0418_08151814:

I would take the information you have, and create a map of where they were all found, then focus on that area before looking in every nook and cranny of every level in the game.

I would start in Dr Horns office and work out from there. I’m not convinced that following the initial 3 puzzles the last cipher would be anywhere near as complex as a cascade cipher or even a basic block cipher. I don’t think we are far off with the nihilist variant cipher, but it might be a good idea to take another look at the clues that have been explicitly given, before jumping to the conclusion that there are clues hidden everywhere. ARGs don’t fail because people can’t solve them, thats like blaming a crossword for being too difficult. You need to think outside the box a bit more, and think less literally. I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere we make a breakthrough soon, or at least find something new to look into.

Making a map of those findings sounds like a great idea to me.
I don’t know if that’s possible without the actual source, but maybe someone with a bit hammer experience could make a map overlay for questionable ethics (like this one for on a rail) so we could mark all the findings in there.

AwesomeFaceCH · August 11, 2020, 9:38am

then open

in hammer… because apparently you all know what you’re talking about ?!

I was looking at that picture for hours and now I open it and the first thing that comes to my mind is trashcan… it looks like it’s ontop of alot scrapped paper…

Pyroclase · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

You can’t just open a map in hammer, you have to decompile it first.

AwesomeFaceCH · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

well then decompile it… idk it an’ be that hard I mean I’ve never done this stuff but I’m sure some people here can but anyways an unfinished placholder map has nothing to do with this arg anyways.

Gunsrequiem · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

So I think we can eliminate the nihilist cipher for at least the first section of the code. Since the first number is 31, nothing can be subtracted from that to get a number that falls within the first section of the nihilist table.

31 - 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 31

None of the possible answers falls within those same numbers.

EDIT: Same for the second: 04 not compatible with the nihilist cipher.

Guess we can focus on other ideas, and i doubt it’s as hard as a VIC or other complex cipher. Could be a case of simple substitution, just have to determine how.

RocketJumper · November 25, 2018, 2:38am

Hey guys, I’m back after being without internet for the past days.
I’ve updated the Wiki’s theme and gave it a more Half-Life-ey look.