So many giveaways in the forums seem to have only one path to victory, one type of person who can solve the puzzle, one percent of people who can qualify to enter, that I thought I'd do things a bit differently.

This, then, is my multi-path givewaway. I will be giving away Castle Crashers to one lucky entrant via my Steam gift. Simply select which path you think applies to you and you will be directed to the appropriate challenge. Those of you who can solve ALL FOUR PATHS will get the added bonus of being automatically entered in my next forum giveaway. Consider it a "free pass" for the multi-talented.

Hints for each path will pop up on the puzzles in about 11-12 hours' time. Have fun! )

(Now all I need to do is figure out how to set up proper URL-links in my postings.... P

For Us Old-Timers

For the Cool People

All that puzzle crap makes my head hurt!

In the end, we had...

20 old fogeys, 64 kool kidz, 51 folks who keep it simple, and 1 person up to the challenge.

Hints for "challenging" path were:
1) For those of us who enjoy a challenge, our challenge has already begun.

2) Currently, the first step is the most difficult because it involves finding the starting URL.

3) At an unspecified point in time, the SG update will supply you with an additional option.

4) You don't really want to start with this webpage.

5) Click once to notice the code, click again to examine it better.

SOLUTIONS:

Challenging Path -- (solved by Henkan67)

For the "challenging" path, you had to start by examining my avatar. The easiest way to do this was to pull up my profile (one click), and then from there to pull up my Steam profile. It is possible to see the code hidden within it from the SG profile page, but it's much easier to see if you use the Steam profile page and then "view image" and then magnify the image. This allows you to read the "PBqdF928" in the bottom, right corner. That is a code which is to be used at the itstoohard.com puzzle site.

The puzzle at itstoohard.com is a lateral-thinking puzzle. There are eight ways to type in the answer, but the idea is that the man is short and can only reach the tenth-floor button unless he has his umbrella (rainy day) or someone assists him (another person in the elevator). Answering this puzzle gives you the following numbers: 38 35 20 31 31 37 20 35 32 20 31 31 34 20 31 30 32.

Using the "tool" link takes you to http://home.paulschou.net/tools/xlate/ where you plug in the hexadecimal number, decode it, and get "85 117 52 114 102" in the text box. This is an ASCII code. Decoding that ASCII code will give you "Uu4rf" in the text box, and that is the code for the SteamGifts giveaway.

Old-Timer Path --

Answer: "Woodstock"

The written text is in telegraph form. Even if you weren't familiar with telegraph, you may still have been able to read it. "Airplane" refers to Jefferson Airplane (who played there), "storm" refers to the storm which interrupted the proceedings, and the mention of "summer" and "weekend" was an additional hint because I didn't want the puzzle to be too difficult. Woodstock, by the way, was not actually held in Woodstock; it was held on Max's farm due to local laws.

Kool Kid Path --

Answer: "M&M"

Before he became known as "Eminem." Marshall Bruce Mathers III had multiple stage-names. His first stage-name, however, was the one he used as a teen, "M&M," which was taken from the initials of his name.

Simple Path --

Answer: "obvious"

You really needed to think simply in order to understand that the answer to the puzzle was "obvious," just as the puzzle said.

IN CONCLUSION --

I tried to make a puzzle contest people would enjoy, and one wherein you could reach the drawing by having at least one of several talents. In hindsight, I think that those who could handle the "challenging" path had an advantage in reaching the "grand prize" because they had a shot at solving all four puzzles whereas the rest of us did not. I'll try to even that out, next time by making the grand prize achievable with 3 out of 4 successes or something.

I hope you all had fun! D

1 decade ago*

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Thanks. Will probably attempt this once I am home.

1 decade ago
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3rd solved, trying 2nd just for fun :)
Edit: 2nd solved, trying the 1st one

1 decade ago
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I would have imbedded the links, but SG uses a format I'm unfamiliar with.

1 decade ago
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[text] (URL)
remove space

1 decade ago
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Thanks, guys. )

1 decade ago
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Looks like one of my hints had a bad timer on it. Bummer.... (

1 decade ago
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Hey! I'm a cool person! XD

1 decade ago
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"Those of you who can solve ALL FOUR PATHS will get the added bonus of being automatically entered in my next forum giveaway."

I solved all three paths, where's the fourth? :P

1 decade ago
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As I said, the most difficult part of the "challenging" path is the first step. The good news is that it will get easier with the passage of time.

1 decade ago
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thnx. Puzzle 1 down
puzzle 2 down
you sure the other puzzle answer is right? i tried everything. Grants tomb puzzle.

1 decade ago
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I'm absolutely certain. The hint comes out in about nine hours.

1 decade ago
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All four paths solved. Thanks for the challenge!
By the way, how do I prove this? Thanks again.

1 decade ago
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How do you prove it? You contact me via Steam chat so I can check you, of course! D

1 decade ago
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Accept my invitation :p

1 decade ago
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Done. )

1 decade ago
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I know the context of how to be a cool old dude. I can't seem to express it though. I'll be trying it in the morning via the post.

1 decade ago
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3 of 4 down, but the challenging part is giving me a headache XP
I have no clue what to do, researching your steam profile, etc. doesn't help at all X3

1 decade ago
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Examine it better.

1 decade ago
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Closed 1 decade ago by Khalaq.