Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tyrian on June 27, 2006, 01:46:53 pm

Title: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on June 27, 2006, 01:46:53 pm
[Cheesy Reality TV Style Intro]

A group of Terran and Vasudan scientists have made an astonishing discovery!  A code, left by the Ancients has been found in Altair!  However, shortly after the code was transmitted to GTVI, the science vessel carrying the team mysteriously vanished...  It is up to you to break the code and discover the secret of the Ancients!

[End Cheesy Reality TV Style Intro]

Ahhh...Always wanted to do that...  :lol:

This is a little puzzle I thought up yesterday while I was bored.  It's a riddle / cypher that I think should be quite tough to solve...  The winner is the first person to crack the code. 

The riddle:  Spanish Matthew retails coneffess 00110010...Me read already, springs to mind.

The code:  2-2-4, 1-1-11, 2-5-3, 1-1-2, 2-4-3, 1-1-9, 2-2-10, 1-1-3, 2-3-2, 2-2-1, 2-1-36, 2-1-3, 2-2-3, 2-1-10, 1-1-5, 2-5-4, 1-1-1, 2-1-2, 2-3-4, 2-1-13, 1-1-8, 2-2-5, 2-1-5, 2-3-6, 2-5-8 !

You must solve the riddle first, in order to crack the code.  Oh yes, don't try any fancy code-breaking software either.  I incorporated an anti-brute-force codebreaking measure in the code itself.   :drevil:

Good luck! 

EDIT:  Raising this thread from the dead is encouraged.  I want to see if anyone can break this code.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Sandwich on June 27, 2006, 03:27:08 pm
*whistles for CP*
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Herra Tohtori on June 27, 2006, 03:31:23 pm
Is the exclamation mark in the end part of the code?

As in,

8 ! = 1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8 = 40320

 :p
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Sandwich on June 27, 2006, 04:46:45 pm
Quote from: Tyrian on June 27, 2006, 01:46:53 pm
...coneffess... 

Is that spelled like that on purpose?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on June 27, 2006, 06:32:35 pm
@Herra -- The exclamation point just notes the end of the code.  Nothing special about it, it's just punctuation.  (Goob would be proud, punctuation on the Internet   :lol: )

@Sandwich -- Yes, "coneffess" is spelled like that on purpose.  It's part of the riddle.  I proofread the whole thing after I posted it.  Twice.  Everything is as it should be.  And who or what is CP?

Forgot to mention, everything you need to solve it, you already have...as long as you have the FS2 CD's or Shivan_Sps's packed FS2 download.  Doesn't matter which you have. 
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Black Wolf on June 29, 2006, 07:37:48 am
The binary translates to 2 apparently, according to thi\s
:

http://nickciske.com/tools/binary.php.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Flipside on June 29, 2006, 11:17:22 am
The swapping the 'n' for the 'f' suggests you invert the number, which makes it Binary 11001101, which is 205. So maybe Matthew 20:5 is something to do with it?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Black Wolf on June 29, 2006, 12:00:38 pm
I kinda doubt it :p

Quote
20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

I suspect it's an anagram, but the anagram generator gives me thousands upon thousands of hits and I'm nowhere near interested enough to go through them all.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: ZylonBane on June 29, 2006, 01:52:35 pm
I declare this puzzle:

TOO DIFFICULT AND TOO BORING TO BOTHER WITH
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: karajorma on June 29, 2006, 02:22:08 pm
Well Spanish Matthew could be Mateo since that's the translation of the saints name.

No idea how to fit that in with anything else on the thread though :)
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on June 29, 2006, 03:55:49 pm
@Black Wolf -- Correct, that's one part to the riddle's answer.

@Flipside -- No Biblical references here.

@Zylon -- Just take it apart piece by piece...It's not too tough if you do it in little pieces.

@Kara -- Actually Kara, that's closer than you might think...But it's not Mateo, it's something else...  The translation I got might not be 100% accurate though.  If it's not, I'll at least post what "Spanish Matthew" is,  I'll give you all that much.  ;7

So far the riddle has been translated into:

Spanish Matthew retails con effess 2, Me Read already, springs to mind.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Goober5000 on June 29, 2006, 04:11:11 pm
Well, you gave part of it away with that space there. :p FS2, right in the middle.

EDIT: And "con" is Spanish for "with", if that makes a differnce.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: karajorma on June 29, 2006, 04:43:44 pm
Quote from: Tyrian on June 29, 2006, 03:55:49 pm
@Kara -- Actually Kara, that's closer than you might think...But it's not Mateo, it's something else...  The translation I got might not be 100% accurate though.  If it's not, I'll at least post what "Spanish Matthew" is,  I'll give you all that much.  ;7

Well the apostles translate to

Mateo   Matthew
Marcos   Mark
Lucas   Luke
Juan     John

No luck finding Christ's other disciples so far as I can't read spanish well enough to read a Bible.


Oh and Springs to Mind is likely a reference to the Mindspring folder that FS2 installs right?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on June 29, 2006, 06:58:44 pm
Kara gets a cookie for the Mindspring folder reference!

And it appears that the site I used for "Spanish Matthew"  was not accurate at all...

"Spanish Matthew" is supposed to mean "Manuel."

And Goob gets a cookie for the "con" = "with" and the phonetic spelling of FS2.  That space slipped in there...D'oh...

The riddle now stands translated to:

Manuel retails with FS2, Me Read already, Mindspring.

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

That's the only freebie you're getting.   ;7

Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: MechMantis on June 30, 2006, 06:23:19 pm
...


www.freespace2.com?


That's all I've got.  :nervous:


Though, with the riddle... you've already read the manual that comes with retail FS2?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on June 30, 2006, 06:36:09 pm
Mech gets the Manuel = Manual connection.

But a manual isn't always the instruction book for the game.  Look for other forms of documentation in relation to the rest of the riddle, specifically the second part of the riddle.

Only one more part of the riddle remains to be deciphered!  The riddle is the key to decrypting the code.  It tells you where to look for...something important...

The riddle now stands:

Manual retails with FS2, Me Read already, Mindspring.

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

The last part should be easy, given the rest of the riddle...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Sandwich on June 30, 2006, 06:36:46 pm
Something to do with the readme.txt in the FS2\Mindspring folder?

If not, with the commas you added, we have potentially 3 sources of information - manual, readme, and mindspring (?) - from which to figure out each part of the 3-part code sequence.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: MechMantis on June 30, 2006, 08:46:39 pm
If that's the case, then maybe the code is the first letter of the line/page mentioned for each section of the code? It has manual, readme, mindspring, so the construction would probably be (manual page-readme line-mindpring line), each code section equalling a total of three letters.


Could anyone try that? I don't have my manual handy. And I don't have the FS2 readme handy. And I don't have the mindspring readme handy. Come to think of it, I don't have ANY FS2 info handy.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: pecenipicek on July 01, 2006, 10:03:53 am
i dont know where my manual ended up... *shrug*
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on July 01, 2006, 10:16:30 am
Sandwich is correct!

The key to deciphering the riddle is the ReadMe.txt in the Mindspring folder.

The complete riddle translation:

Manual retails with FS2, ReadMe.txt, Mindspring.

That gives a hint to decipher the code.  At least half of it...

The code is:

2-2-4, 1-1-11, 2-5-3, 1-1-2, 2-4-3, 1-1-9, 2-2-10, 1-1-3, 2-3-2, 2-2-1, 2-1-36, 2-1-3, 2-2-3, 2-1-10, 1-1-5, 2-5-4, 1-1-1, 2-1-2, 2-3-4, 2-1-13, 1-1-8, 2-2-5, 2-1-5, 2-3-6, 2-5-8 !

EDIT:  Mech, that's fairly close to the code, except it's not the FS2 manual...  The riddle tells which piece of documentation to go to...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: dyndak on July 21, 2006, 04:27:49 am
Is it something about tech support phone numbers given in the readme?
404-287-9111
800-719-4660
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Energiser on July 22, 2006, 03:45:08 am
I had an idea... in the readme file there are two numbered lists, with them both having at least points 1-7. Now, in the code, each part is in the form a-b-c where a, b, and c, are numbers. Now, a is only ever number 1 or 2, I believe to represent to check either list 1 or list 2. b is only a number between 1 and 5, possibly showing which line of each list to go to. This would leave c as meaning either which character, or word is supposed to be part of the answer, but is it words or characters, if its characters does it include spaces and symbols, does it include the "1. " (I think not since it does reference characters 1, 2 and 3). I have tried a number of these things, but only come up with gibberish each time. from there it could be an anagram, maybe the spaces dictate word sizes, maybe they just show how many words it is supposed to be...

Here are the results I have come up with:
nhlla cihwiueikecon n lta
n, s, e, l, a, h, i, i, h, s, i, u, e, c, k, e, c, o, n, h, t, t, l, h, d
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on July 22, 2006, 07:48:59 pm
Not quite, dyndak.  Nice try though.

Close Energiser.  Very close. 

Here's a hint:

Go watch National Treasure. 
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Polpolion on July 22, 2006, 10:09:11 pm
you have to much time on you're hands, tyrian...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on July 23, 2006, 09:33:15 am
I know.   :D

If you want it to stop, crack the code.  How to get the answer is in the riddle.

EDIT:  I just can't do anything useful, like FRED, edit tables, or mod.  So I give comic relief and brain-twisting riddles.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Mefustae on July 23, 2006, 12:25:23 pm
Quote from: Tyrian on July 22, 2006, 07:48:59 pm
Here's a hint:

Go watch National Treasure. 
I'd advise against that. National Treasure is one of those movies that looks really cool in the ads and not bad while you're watching it, but afterwards leaves you wondering why you pissed away 2 hours. Nothing neccessarily wrong with it, just has a rather bad aftertaste.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on July 23, 2006, 01:23:41 pm
Watching National Treasure is a hint.  I stole...er...borrowed the code from a specific scene.  If you've never seen the cipher that I used, watching a specific scene from the movie tells you how to interpret it.  The code is featured in the movie at the guy's dad's house...On the back of something rather important.  The riddle tells where to find the key to deciphering the numbers.  Apply the numbers to the key and you get through the first of two layers of the code.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Harbinger of DOOM on July 23, 2006, 09:55:27 pm
Damn, I knew I should've TiVO'ed that movie when it was on Starz....
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Polpolion on July 23, 2006, 10:18:17 pm
Quote from: Tyrian on July 23, 2006, 01:23:41 pm
Watching National Treasure is a hint.  I stole...er...borrowed the code from a specific scene.  If you've never seen the cipher that I used, watching a specific scene from the movie tells you how to interpret it.  The code is featured in the movie at the guy's dad's house...On the back of something rather important.  The riddle tells where to find the key to deciphering the numbers.  Apply the numbers to the key and you get through the first of two layers of the code.

gahh... I get it


I'll crack it tomarrow thought...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Energiser on July 24, 2006, 02:23:44 am
Meh, I put in my bit, I Could go and download the movie off the Uni network, but I'm working off a strict quota, so that wouldn't work. Anyway, good luck to people. I'll keep an eye out to see what it was that I was missing.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Polpolion on July 26, 2006, 05:40:24 pm
Aap. woop nevermind. I know excactly where you got it from, but it doesn't seem to work...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Charismatic on July 26, 2006, 07:51:41 pm
The 'you have too much time on your hands' comment is seconded by me.

But this is really cool tho. Read the whole thread. Kudos Tryian.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on July 28, 2006, 10:59:09 am
@Sizzler -- You got a bunch of random letters right?  What did you use for the first, second, and third numbers?  And post the letters you got...They might actually be right.  The National Treasure code is only the first layer...There is another code buried inside those random letters...   :D
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: TheSleeve on August 01, 2006, 06:57:30 pm
I haven't seen National Treasure but I do remember an old 3-number code system used for the very old computer game: The Ancient Art of War in the Skies.

If you see 5,3,2...  you turn to page 5, look at the third paragraph, and read the second word.

In the game, that was the copy protection.  You had to have the manual with you to enter in the secret word every time.

Is it something similar?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on August 01, 2006, 08:07:15 pm
That is it!  Except it doesn't start with page number.  It starts with something else you mentioned.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Sandwich on August 02, 2006, 07:28:10 am
Chapter (or section or whatever it's called)?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 02, 2006, 07:37:51 am
Someone finished this yet?  :confused:
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on August 02, 2006, 11:23:32 am
*cough* Paragraph *cough*
*cough* Line Number *cough*
*cough* Letter in the line *cough*

Man...I must get that cough looked at...   ;7
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Sandwich on August 03, 2006, 07:17:23 am
The Mindspring readme doesn't have applicable paragraphs, and the manual's paragraphs don't match the code after the 3rd grouping.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on August 03, 2006, 11:46:19 am
When I say paragraphs, I mean the blocks that the text is divided into.  There are three main blocks.  At least my Readme has them...
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 04, 2006, 04:17:02 am
The solution >>>>>


Spoiler:
Will never be found, Waaaaaaahh................. :(
Please save our sanity, by giving just 2 credits a
month, you can sponsor a noob and train him to crack
Freespace/National treasur code hybrids.
555-HLPNOOB
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on August 04, 2006, 01:44:32 pm
Since there seem to be inconsistencies in the Mindspring Readme and that everyone knows it's the key, I am posting my copy of it. 

Mindspring Readme:

Welcome to MindSpring Internet Services!

MindSpring's commitment is not necessarily to be the biggest Internet Service Provider, but the best.  Winning the prestigious 1998 PC World magazine "World Class" award for Best Internet Service Provider, MindSpring continues to rate above competitors on the metrics it believes in:  support, software, and reliability.

Sign up now and receive:

-Waived Start-up Fee ($25 savings)
-30 Day Money Back Guarantee
-Local Access in more than 375 cities throughout the United States -Toll Free Technical Support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -Flexible pricing plans start from $6.95/month to $19.95/month for unlimited access.

That's the relevant part, at least.

Happy Codebreaking!
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on September 02, 2006, 12:55:20 pm
Bumpage...Why?  Even I don't know...

*Starts to sing Stayin' Alive*   :nervous:
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Goober5000 on September 02, 2006, 01:51:37 pm
Yeah, I think this has run its course.  Maybe you should post the solution.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on September 02, 2006, 07:12:01 pm
Yeah, I think you're right. 

The solution:

The first number is the paragraph number.  The second number is the line number.  The last number is the letter in the line.

You should get this:

vilenoolaslnrgoiwiaotisin

Gibberish, right?

Apply Caesar's Box, an old Roman cypher.  The square root of 25 is 5.  So a 5 x 5 box looks like this:  (Pardon the spacing)

v o l  i    t
i  o n w  i
l   l r  i    s
e a g a  i
n s o o  n  !

Read across, you get the answer:

Volition will rise again soon!
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Mars on September 02, 2006, 09:01:06 pm
Am I the only one who thinks that no one would have figured that out in a million years?
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Dark Hunter on September 02, 2006, 09:44:34 pm
If it can be coded.... it can be decoded.


I might point out that the last line in the 5x5 box has six characters. :p
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on September 03, 2006, 10:52:20 am
The exclamation point is just in there to denote the end of the line.  Technically, it shouldn't be in there, but I threw it in anyways.
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: KappaWing on September 03, 2006, 01:30:52 pm
Wow this was very interesting to read through. Nice coding!  :)
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Polpolion on September 03, 2006, 01:51:22 pm
We should get you to do some of the FSO coding!! :D :P
Title: Re: The FreeSpace 2 Code!
Post by: Tyrian on September 03, 2006, 05:10:03 pm
@KappaWing -- Thanks.  Codes are something of a hobby with me.  If I get more positive feedback, I'll make another code for you guys to crack.

@thesizzler -- Cryptography is one thing...Advanced programming for a game engine is another.  I know a little C++ but I'm so rusty, I'd be worthless on the team.  I'll stick with my puzzles, but thanks for the compliment.