[ARG] The Pizza Code Mystery

[Gunsrequiem]

@CPU

Took my first look at dm due to Nonimportantuser’s post and found that 47 raises its ugly head again as “IV7” appearing as part of the roots In dm_bounce

Nice catch! I’m convinced that 47 refers to the number of 64-bit blocks in the hex code–derived by dividing 3008 bits by 47.

EDIT: I know it was mentioned, but has anyone actually tried using the Lucifer cipher? It fits the clues perfectly, and I don’t think there’s open-source versions of it. We’ll either need to code it or do it by hand. The former is probably best, as the latter would require a lot of work considering we don’t know the key.

I posted this before, but here’s a reference to an ARG solution that used Lucifer as a hint: Lucifer Puzzle

You’ll notice that he used DES, since it’s ultimately the same as Lucifer just without the S-boxes and with a reduction in key size (128 to 56 bits). He also managed to solve the first block while using the wrong mode, so it’s possible we may still be able to derive something even if we don’t know exactly which mode to use at first.

It makes more sense based on the number 47 that we would use DES instead of Lucifer, as Lucifer does not use a 64-bit key size. However, a 32-bit block size could be used.

[TextFAMGUY1]

While it would be suitably hilarious to have you guys chasing shadows around forever, that is not a 47 on Bounce, or relevant to the ARG, that is a misaligned roots texture.

Though I have no authority whatsoever to do so, I have still fired Craig.

[Nonimportantuser]

FREEDOM IS’NT FREE!!!

EDIT: Well, it appears that i have made a random Vinesauce reference.

When i mentioned this i was talking about the cave drawings themselves, not that random root.

I did do a little more research and i thought it referenced this, however i am not entirely sure if it is something related or not.

[Gunsrequiem]

@TextFAMGUY1

While it would be suitably hilarious to have you guys chasing shadows around forever, that is not a 47 on Bounce, or relevant to the ARG, that is a misaligned roots texture.

Though I have no authority whatsoever to do so, I have still fired Craig.

Rekt.

[Miles07]

@Gunsrequiem

I know it was mentioned, but has anyone actually tried using the Lucifer cipher? It fits the clues perfectly, and I don’t think there’s open-source versions of it. We’ll either need to code it or do it by hand. The former is probably best, as the latter would require a lot of work considering we don’t know the key.

Well, if we don’t know the key, then it would be impossible to know for sure if the code works correctly.

EDIT: For reference, here is the “official document” detailing the Lucifer algorithm, as well as a transcript of a Lucifer Cipher encryption and decryption program in FORTRAN: https://www.fuseki.com/lucifer.pdf

[Gunsrequiem]

I think it would be wise to spend some time on this site: Dropbox resources

It’s the site that Storm directly referred me to for the SECOM cipher tool and he mentioned that it’s a common resource among some ARG creators/solvers. Since we’re fresh out of leads, I don’t see how it can hurt.

Also, today is the day that someone suggested we might get a new clue due to the “11-18” found somewhere. Not sure if that’s legit, but there it is.

EDIT: For instance, that website includes this “KRYPTA” tool that utilizes a symmetrical algorithm and can output in hexadecimal: KRYPTA Text Encryption

We’ve tried everything else, right? I say it’s worth a shot.

[thewizard99]

@Nonimportantuser

If you go to his website and then go to /images there are a number of interesting files which include .zip files and a .rar file, the .rar is the most interesting.

I looked in that file just now, the desk.jpg and one of the file names on it. Bottom right hand corner “List of highly suspicious CP sites, lifted from OBE’s website”. The OBE Stood out as obeioniserconcept(1) and (2) has the first 3 letter that link to it, also the files obesamcontrolconsole and plasma tube conecpt also have the OBE letters linked. all link to the Anti-Mass Spectrometer. Probably just coincidental but nice to note just incase.

[Nonimportantuser]

I think it is time to take a closer look at anomalous materials, the devs said that there is an Easter egg that has not been discovered yet.

[Gunsrequiem]

@Nonimportantuser

I think it is time to take a closer look at anomalous materials, the devs said that there is an Easter egg that has not been discovered yet.

Where did they say this? Source?

[Pianownd]

@Nonimportantuser

I think it is time to take a closer look at anomalous materials, the devs said that there is an Easter egg that has not been discovered yet.

Wait for real? When was that?

[Nonimportantuser]

It was in one of the test chamber streams, they said this during one of there developer lets plays, the first one i think.

youtu.be/ZyHheLIoudk

[duane_kc]

Stated at around 15:45 in the linked video, there is an easter egg in AM that has not been found.

[thewizard99]

Ok first time i have seen the updated HEV sequence but did anyone notice the file names in that?

Mainly this one

C:\MATS{99A016E1-084D-43AE-8434-A18CEDFA833B}

That looks a awful lot like Hex

[Gunsrequiem]

Hmmm . . . that seems strange considering I’m sure someone (like me) has been all around that map in no-clip mode–at least for the pre-Steam version. I’m assuming this Easter egg was put in for the Stream release? Is it worth doing the digging? I get the feeling it’s probably not ARG-related.

That said, Storm did say in an interview of the team (after the HALOS discovery) that players would need to look for clues in the game world. This was the same video in which he mentioned the Cambridge guys.

EDIT: Looking back in the forums, I came across this again:

@AngelSG

I’ve managed to get a look inside the dossier on Dr. Horn’s desk while nocliping. There’s also another one on the taco-hut with the same pages inside. They have the following text

Dear (Mr. Horn?)

Black Mesa Research Facility regrets to inform you that
the Founder’s Grant for Independent Research was not awarded to
you this year. Despite your amazing ??? (efforts?) in the
field of biochemistry, we feel that the work of (Tanya Granger?)
and (Dilan?) Yu better represent Black Mesa’s vision of the
future. We ask that this not discourage you, as you are free to
re-apply for the grant next year provided your team shows
significant progress.

Sincerely.
Black Mesa Biochemistry Labs
Director M.(Brans?)

Don’t know if it has any importance for the ARG, but there are more dossiers around the QE chapter. I’ll try to look inside them too, but it’s really hard to do. In the brown/red one I managed to read “vccts1: Citrix Terminal server”.

How did we overlook this? This gives us motive, begins to reveal to us the desire that may have fueled the lying about the budget, ultimately leading to something else. These other dossiers, can we get the game files on them? When Storm said “little details,” isn’t that exactly what these are?

[thewizard99]

@Gunsrequiem

@AngelSG

-Snip-

How did we overlook this? This gives us motive, begins to reveal to us the desire that may have fueled the lying about the budget, ultimately leading to something else. These other dossiers, can we get the game files on them? When Storm said “little details,” isn’t that exactly what these are?

Everytime ive tried to look at any files that are “closed” i can’t see to get anything from them. So how AngelSG got close enough to read it, is beyond me.

[Nonimportantuser]

I forgot, where are the dossiers located in game?

[Gunsrequiem]

I recall Storm suggesting multiple times through 0418 (and directly by creating the Wiki page) that we should look at the storyline. Here’s the thing–if Storm truly wanted to prevent some college students from cracking the cipher with their computer skills, how would he do it? I mean, this is the school that produced some encryption methods of their own. The only way would be to use an encryption method and key that cannot simply be guessed at, then hide those pieces in a hard-to-reach place–such as an external site. That said, perhaps only by constructing the storyline will we uncover the location of those pieces.

Perhaps this is just my suspicious mind, but how did Storm know that there were people from Cambridge working on it? Did they tell him specifically? I don’t recall seeing anything about that in the forums.

However, the mention of Cambridge may be a reference to something else. Have a look at this page. Horst Fesitel, developed the Lucifer cipher that eventually became DES. Sure, that’s interesting, but even more interesting is this: Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories.

This all circles around to the photo and jet models at Horn’s desk, the direct reference to HAFB, and the IRC location clues.

I don’t know. That’s just too perfect to pass off as coincidental.

[Nonimportantuser]

Remember that thing i discovered in a spectrogram for jet.ogg, i wonder if it could be useful, however it is only found within the steam release as far as i know.

[attach=4273,none,1348][/attach][attach=4271,none,1348][/attach][attach=4272,none,1680][/attach]

[Gunsrequiem]

I’m upset we didn’t get anything yesterday, as this post may have potentially indicated.

Storm has abandoned us and left us for dead.

[Nonimportantuser]

NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

EDIT: What am i even doing?

Either way we should still stay on target.

Perhaps answers will be found in undiscovered Easter eggs that we do not know about yet.

In addition to solving puzzles, we should simultaneously look for any Easter eggs in game.