Comments on: The trail continues!

By: Will

Will — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 05:47:16 +0000

Larry and Dunkin, I’m with you. I was able to decipher the coded message of #3 almost immediately, but its directive has me stumped. #4 is just plain nuts. I have no idea what the puzzle even is.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:09:58 +0000

Got past puzzles 1 and 2 and deciphered 3…but the solution to 3 and the entire puzzle 4 have me baffled!

By: The Puzzle Team

The Puzzle Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:30:40 +0000

One important point is that the puzzle doesn’t “refresh” each time you load it; that is, if you previously typed an answer and it was wrong, then it will continue to display the “wrong answer” message until the correct answer is typed.

– The Puzzle Team

By: The Puzzle Team

The Puzzle Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:29:27 +0000

Yes! If it says “Correct” you are indeed correct.

– The Puzzle Team

By: The Puzzle Team

The Puzzle Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:26:50 +0000

Keep at it! FYI, the puzzle rules do not prohibit you from making more than one attempt at solving a puzzle. – The Puzzle Team

By: The Puzzle Team

The Puzzle Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:24:19 +0000

Some people appear to be entering answers to the first puzzle that are ALMOST correct. Read Ken’s blog post for further info.

– The Puzzle Team

By: The Puzzle Team

The Puzzle Team — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:16:22 +0000

Keep at it! FYI, the puzzle rules do not prohibit you from making more than one attempt at solving a puzzle. -- The Puzzle Team

By: Dunkin

Dunkin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:01:50 +0000

First one was tricky but good; never found the icon, but figured out what it must be. Short trip to correct password. Obviously correct, once you see it.
Second one, lots of red herrings I thought, but after I figured it out, I had to learn a thing or two (to quote Bart Simpson: “Wait a minute! This is educational…!”)
Third one, I solved the cipher pretty quickly, now am totally flustered, since I don’t want to try a shotgun approach to answers, but don’t see any “obvious” ones…yet?

By: Joe Durusau

Joe Durusau — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:56:13 +0000

It appears that you either know how to interpret the
plaintext from the cryptogram or you don’t, and I don’t.

It will be interesting to see what kind of an
explanation is made after the contest is over.

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:40:06 +0000

Ken Jennings, precious life blood being wasted on Puzzle #3, oxygen running out…brain cells dying…shaking fist in air as last action on earth…

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:15:26 +0000

I have solved the cryptogram, found the icon, found the reference and entered what HAS to be the password to no avail. I really don’t think I’m that obtuse. Please tell me there is some problem with the computer on your side!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:25:02 +0000

Puzzle 3 is killing me. There is obviously a red herring, but my eyes are falling out trying to figure this one out. I have tried EVERYTHING. Ugh.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:35:05 +0000

I am also stumped by #3. My big concern is getting bumped due to a guess limit. I have 3 areas I am focusing on and 2 of my incorrect answers could have been phrased a couple ways each. That was 8 guesses for 2 ideas.
[joke mode on]
Did the creators of wd40 stop at try 29? No, they pushed on. Did Thomas Edison stop at 30 tries? No, he took 3000 tries to get the incandescent bulb! Did Thomas Jefferson complain that there were 86 changes to the original Declaration of Independene draft? No, he did not!

Not only is trying hard and not giving up “sportsmanlike,” it is the American way!
[joke mode off]

Please don’t bump us for that reason! I’m having a great time losing sleep trying to figure these clues out.
Thanks!

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:34:51 +0000

I’m right there with ya, Kim! The password puzzle and web puzzle 1 weren’t too bad, but now I’m staring at the deciphered clues for web puzzle 2, I’ve tried several guesses, and now I’m just stumped. Anybody get this one yet?

By: Dwest

Dwest — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:34:42 +0000

I am hoping that maybe a later puzzle will shed more light on puzzle #3. The decoded clue #3 is the toughest so far with so many rabbit holes to follow. Might be the one that does me in, only time will tell. Back at it!