ARG Deaddrop

Game: LEGO Pod
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date: December 22, 2009
Status: Incomplete

The LEGO pods have moved out of the United States and back on the other side of the Atlantic. The next pod will be landing in Berlin “tomorrow”. Except, since the Bradford Rant website doesn’t date any of their front page posts, I don’t know what date the information for Pod #5 was posted, so I don’t know what date “tomorrow” indicates. And the twitter updates have been practically non-existent lately, so you have to rely on what is posted to the front page.

Update: They released a twitter update that states the pod will land tomorrow, December 22, 2009

 

Further Information: Bradford Rant Institute — @bradfordrant — #legopod — Friends of Bradford Rant — Unfiction thread

No Comments | In: dead drop, lego pod | tags: berlin, dead drop, german, lego, lego pod. | #

Game: Exoriare
Type: Ham Radio Broadcast
Location: Worldwide
Date: December 18-22, 2009 & January 1, 2010
Status: Incomplete

After one final push, players of Exoriare finally managed to complete all of the ground stations in the Global Forager “game” and gained access to the CLEO satellite. After inputting the access code, the satellite discovered a secret alien moon base and then was given a set of times and coordinates when we are to listen to a communication at 1296.040 MHz (an amateur radio band frequently used for moonbounce communications).

1. 12-18 UT: 17:30:00 – 18:30:00 21°41′S ±90° 56°43′W ±90°
2. 12-18 UT: 23:00:00 – 24:00:00 20°59′S ±90° 136°36′W ±90°
3. 12-19 UT: 18:00:00 – 19:00:00 18°14′S ±90° 52°49′W ±90°
4. 12-20 UT: 00:00:00 – 01:00:00 17°16′S ±90° 140°8′W ±90°
5. 12-20 UT: 18:30:00 – 19:30:00 14°3′S ±90° 49°32′W ±90°
6. 12-21 UT: 18:30:00 – 19:30:00 9°26′S ±90° 39°25′W ±90°
7. 12-22 UT: 02:30:00 – 03:30:00 7°48′S ±90° 156°7′W ±90°
8. 12-22 UT: 19:30:00 – 20:30:00 4°14′S ±90° 44°9′W ±90°
9. 01-01 UT: 01:30:00 – 02:30:00 23°19′N ±90° 17°39′W ±90°
10. 01-01 UT: 12:30:00 – 13:30:00 21°43′N ±90° 177°2′E ±90°

This is going to take a coordinated effort to accomplish since I’m pretty sure most of us don’t have a ham radio stuck in the back of a closet just waiting to be used in an ARG. But it’s certainly possible that we do know someone who is into ham radio who might be able to help us out for an hour (or less than since the speculation is that the transmission will just be looping through that time frame). Please remember that the time frame is in Universal Time (UT) so adjust the windows accordingly to where you are locally.

If you are able to help out, a recording of the broadcast would be the most helpful. But even just a transcription of what was discovered would be appreciated. The players of Exoriare (myself included) have been working towards this for the past month and it would suck to fail at this point. So please, recruit those ham radio operators and let them show off their mad skills.

Further Information: Darknet Forum — Unfiction thread — Wonder Weasels Guide — Exoriare Wiki

2 Comments | In: exoriare, ham radio | tags: EME, exoriare, ham radio. | #

Game: Lego Pod
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: December 18, 2009 “In the afternoon”
Status: Concluded

The Bradford Rant Institute must be getting better at decoding the Pod landing coordinates, since their first update on Pod #4 is a smaller area than the previous pods have been. They say it will be landing in the Chicago area “very soon”.

The recovery for the Houston pod seemed to be smoother than the Orlando recovery since I haven’t heard any negative reports. Of course, I haven’t heard any reports at all, so maybe “no news is good news” is an utter lie. However, since the landing location wasn’t narrowed down until the very last minute, there shouldn’t have been a ton of people just waiting for the exact moment to claim the prize. It does appear that the landing location was first announced on the main page of B.R.I.C.K. rather than via the Map page or the Twitter, so keep that in mind if F5 is your best friend.

Map as of December 14, 2009

The pod landed at the LEGO store at 520 North Michigan Ave, Chicago.

There’s also been a report by lindavz, who runs one of the LEGO forums, that those who show up to the Pod site will be eligible for early testing of LEGO Universe if they provide an email address to the LEGO contact person. And don’t forget, you can also get a free tshirt for showing up as well, so if you’re in the area it might be worth it to make the trip (even if you don’t win the pod).

Further Information: Bradford Rant Institute — @bradfordrant — #legopod — Friends of Bradford Rant — Unfiction thread

No Comments | In: concluded, dead drop, lego pod | tags: chicago, dead drop, illinois, lego pod. | #

Game: Love Letters to the Future
Type: Info Drop
Location: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Washington DC, Buenos Aires, Cork, Toronto, Kinderdijk, Beijing, Cankurtaran, Sao Paulo
Date: Placed before December 10, 2009
Status: Incomplete

Maya, from 100 years in the future, seems to have found some friends in our time to leave a series of symbols scattered around the globe. Based on the one report so far, this will lead to a phone number for you to call that will play another message to us from Maya. The message should in turn provide a clue that will unlock one of six parts of the final video on Love Letters to the Future (keyword: Maya2109).

Part 1: Stockholm & Buenos Aires – UNLOCKED
Part 2: Hong Kong & Cork – UNLOCKED
Part 3: Mumbai & Toronto
Part 4: Amsterdam & Sao Paulo
Part 5: Washington, DC & Cankurtaran
Part 6: Copenhagen, Kinderdijk, & Beijing

Based upon the wording of the clues, most of these locations will have something for you to find in real life. However, for Kinderdijk, Beijing, Cankurtaran, and Sao Paulo, it appears that you will need an Android phone with the Layar application in order to see the clue.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 52° 22′ 20.64″ N 4° 52′ 33.54″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. Look out on the wall, in the back ‘Garden’ at the Cafe of Sound. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Copenhagen, Denmark: 55° 39′ 41.73″ N 12° 33′ 59.23″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. On the Bridge for New Bikes. Look to your feet. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Stockholm, Sweden: 59°19′6.98″ N 18° 4′25.59″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. Take the Elevator Katarina uptop. Under where the bridge meets the mountain, look on the wall. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Mumbai, India: 19° 1′ 43.14″ N 72° 50′ 48.48″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. To the railway station: Matunga Road. Look on the wall outside. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Hong Kong, China: 22° 16′ 59.40″ N 114° 9′ 10.32″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside on the ground beneath your feet. I wish we could have met for a drink at Pub 7.1. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Washington, DC: 38° 55′ 14.163″ N 77° 2′ 29.9832″ W
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. I wish we could have met for a drink, maybe at the Pharmacy. Look to the ground for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: 34° 36′ 23.7492″ S 58° 27′ 41.5254″ W
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. Look on the wall where it curves around the great tree at the intersection. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Cork, Ireland: 51° 54′ 9.99″ N, 8° 28′ 34.73″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. Go to the Firkin Crane and look to your feet. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.
[Note: The coordinates as printed are located in Verl, Germany, however the Firkin Crane is located in Cork, Ireland. If the longitude is West instead of East however, you do get a location in Cork, Ireland.]

Toronto, Canada: +43° 39′ 13.90″, -79° 24′ 6.34″
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen and find me outside. In the park with the Belle View. Look for my mark, friends have placed it there.

Kinderdijk, The Netherlands: 51°53′N 4°38′E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen for a slightly smaller, more mobile Andriod one and find me outside. On a Layar with my name near the mills of Kinderdijk. Look for my mark, I have placed it there.

Beijing, China: 39° 52′ 56.07″ N 116° 24′ 23.29″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen for a slightly smaller, more mobile Andriod one and find me outside. On a Layar with my name near the Temple of Heaven. Look for my mark, I have placed it there.

Cankurtaran, Turkey: 41° 0′ 27.95″ N 28° 58′ 42.68″ E
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen for a slightly smaller, more mobile Andriod one and find me outside. On a Layar with my name near the Blue Mosque look for my mark, I have placed it there.

Sao Paulo, Brazil: 23° 35′ 5.01″ S 46° 39′ 17.1″ W
I have found a different method. I think this is more secure. Harder for them to notice. You’ll need to leave your screen for a slightly smaller, more mobile Andriod one and find me outside. On a Layar near with my name near the Obelisk. Look for my mark, I have placed it there.

Further Information: Love Letters to the Future Blog — Unfiction thread

No Comments | In: augmented reality, info drop, love letters to the future | tags: amsterdam, argentina, augmented reality, beijing, brazil, buenos aires, canada, cankurtaran, china, copenhagen, cork, denmark, hong kong, india, info drop, ireland, kinderdijk, love letters to the future, mumbai, netherlands, sao paulo, stockholm, sweden, toronto, turkey, washington dc. | #

Game: White Cell Research
Type: Flash Mob
Location: Martin Place (35 Elizabeth St), Sydney, Australia
Date: December 9, 2009 7:30am
Status: Concluded

For anyone wishing for more information, our Research Liaison, Jason Meeks, is contactable for all media or other related enquiries.

Jason Meeks, Research Liaison at White Cell Research, is holding a flash mob at Martin Place in Sydney on December 9 at 7:30 am. He is protesting against MalfusCorp’s legal action against White Cell Research that has closed down the White Cell offices and forbidden employees to talk to each other.

If you want to attend, “dress in whatever left-overs you have from Halloween” or Jason will also have some masks that you can wear. Feel free to bring signs and placards against Malfus Corp if you wish. Remember this is a public space, so please act accordingly so that you don’t get yourself or any others in trouble.

Further Information: White Cell Research — @whitecelljason

No Comments | In: concluded, flash mob, white cell research | tags: australia, flash mob, sydney, white cell research. | #

Game: Lego Pod
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Baybrook Mall, Houston, Texas
Date: Sometime before December 16, 2009
Status: Concluded

Bradford Rant reported on December 4th that Pod #3 would be landing within the next 12 days in the United States.

Update: The pod is definitely landing in Texas.

Update 2: The pod landed at the Baybrook Mall in Houston around 12pm CST on December 12. It will be there the entire day, so even if you don’t get to claim it, you’ll still be able to see it and write down the Pod ID to enter on the website.

Map as of December 10, 2009

Some tips based on the first drop in Orlando:

• If you arrive at a pod location, look for the contact person. Since they probably won’t stand out in anyway, look for someone standing near a covered case where the pod will be hidden.
• When you find the contact person, tell them the number of the pod you seek, e.g. ‘Pod No.3′. The first person to arrive at the pod location and tell the contact the correct pod number will receive the pod. Apparently yelling out the pod number when you’re in the vicinity works well. However, there is a rumor that it goes to the first kid who tells the contact person the pod number, so you might want to bring someone younger with you as backup if you really want it. It’s been confirmed via a YouTube comment that age is not a factor when claiming the pod.
   

  We believe this confusion relates to the discovery of the second pod, where several very clever people figured out the landing site before the pod arrived and were waiting for it. We can state categorically that ANYONE, adult or child can find a pod first and therefore get to keep it.

• Be sure to write down the Pod ID. You’ll need to enter it into the website later.
• It is still very important for others to make their way to the pod location and record the Pod ID. At Orlando they were giving out cards that you could redeem for t-shirts, so even if you don’t get the pod, you won’t necessarily walk away empty handed.

Further Information: Bradford Rant Institute — @bradfordrant — #legopod — Friends of Bradford Rant — Unfiction thread

No Comments | In: concluded, dead drop, lego pod | tags: dead drop, houston, lego pod, texas. | #

Game: Lego Pod
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Southeastern US – Florida – Orlando
Date: Early December
Status: Concluded

The Bradford Rant Institute of Cosmic Kinesis has been tracking a strange set of seven signals originating from deep space. After decoding the first signal, they discovered that it gave them an ever narrowing set of coordinates that eventually led them to Legoland in Billund, Denmark where they discovered a Lego Pod manned by a alien pilot in stasis.

There are now six more Lego Pods that need to be recovered. The Bradford Rant Institute is “decoding” the signals one at a time, so we only have access to Pod 2’s location information at this point. Because the Lego Pod keep updating their coordinates to a more specific area as they get closer to Earth, right now the only thing we know is that it will be landing somewhere in the Southeastern United States.

Update: New set of map coordinates given on November 24, 2009 places the landing zone somewhere in Florida.

Update 2: The landing zone has been confirmed for Orlando, FL.

Map as of November 30, 2009

As it gets closer, the landing area will shrink until a final location is broadcast. Then it will be time for someone to go and collect the Lego Pod. The Bradford Rant Institute has helpfully provided a set of guidelines to help ensure a safe Lego Pod collection process.

• Each signal transmits a set of map coordinates. The last set shows the exact location of the pod
• We believe the pods are attracted to large amounts of LEGO® bricks and/or imagination
• Once we decipher the last set of map coordinates we will try to inform persons at the location to secure the pod
• If you arrive at a pod location, look for the contact person
• When you find the contact person, tell them the number of the pod you seek, e.g. ‘Pod No.2′. Be sure to write down the Pod ID.
• The first person to arrive at the pod location and tell the contact the correct pod number will receive the pod
• It is still very important for others to make their way to the pod location and record the Pod ID
• Take photos and video footage and send it to us here at Bradford Rant bradfordrant@gmail.com. Your data may help others in their search
• REMEMBER: Always write down the Pod ID!

The Pod ID is very important as it unlocks data in the mainframe computer revealing more information about the origins of the pod.

So, if you’re in the Southeastern US, keep checking back here for updates on the Lego Pod’s location. And if you’re elsewhere in the world, you might want to keep track of updates to this game in case one the other 5 pods decides to land near you.

Further Information: Bradford Rant Institute — @bradfordrant — #legopod — Friends of Bradford Rant — Unfiction thread

1 Comment | In: concluded, dead drop, lego pod | tags: brick, dead drop, florida, lego pod, orlando. | #

Game: Levi’s Go Forth
Type: Finale Event
Location: Randsburg, CA (N 35 22.12, W 117 39.275)
Date: November 13, 2009, 5:30pm PST
Status: Concluded

We’ve finally reached the finale event of the Levi’s Go Forth game. There have been rumors flying around that this event is going to be a bit of a party, so if you’re looking for a bit of a good time on Friday and are remotely in the area, you should go check it out.

Randsburg, CA

November 13, 5:30pm PST

Go to N 35 22.12, W 117 39.275. A fire will be lit and a story will be told.

The quiz to determine the 100 finalists who will compete for a chance at $100,000 will go live Sunday, November 15th at Noon PST, so make sure you review all the recordings and understand the ciphers if you want a chance to win.

Further information: Levi’s: Go Forth website — @GraysonOziasIV — Grayson Ozias IV on Facebook — Unfiction thread — Go Forth Wiki — Where is the Man in the Hat?

No Comments | In: concluded, contest, finale, go forth | tags: california, contest, finale event, go forth, levi's, randsburg. | #

Game: Levi’s Go Forth
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Sun Sun Wo Store (Kow St & Main St), Coulterville, CA
Date: November 11, 2009, 12-3pm PST
Status: Concluded

According to the Go Forth rules, this should be the final task for us to complete (since it’s #11), but there are all sorts of posts on the Go Forth board that there will also be something happening on Friday, November 13th. So stay tuned in for updates to that as well.

Sun Sun Wo

November 11, 12-3pm PST

Recover the package from the man the in hat.

Further information: Levi’s: Go Forth website — @GraysonOziasIV — Grayson Ozias IV on Facebook — Unfiction thread — Go Forth Wiki — Where is the Man in the Hat?

No Comments | In: concluded, contest, dead drop, go forth | tags: california, contest, coulterville, dead drop, go forth, levi's. | #

Game: Levi’s Go Forth
Type: Scavenger Hunt
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Date: November 4, 2009, 11:30am PST
Status: Concluded

The penultimate event. Three lucky people got to RSVP for a scavenger hunt in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Park

November 7 11:30am PST

Michael L, Lynn S, & David R should meet the Man in the Hat at the Bandshell in Golden Gate Park. Be prepared to venture throughout San Francisco.

Further information: Levi’s: Go Forth website — @GraysonOziasIV — Grayson Ozias IV on Facebook — Unfiction thread — Go Forth Wiki — Where is the Man in the Hat?

No Comments | In: concluded, contest, go forth, scavenger hunt | tags: california, contest, go forth, levi's, san francisco, scavenger hunt. | #