Fox’s new series Alcatraz premiered on Monday night (January 16) and to promote it, they’ve launched a campaign that “task[s players] to solve perplexing anomalies and crack the many puzzles that surround [Alcatraz]. The search will lead some of you to seek out clues in the city streets, and may even bring those who dare to the island itself.”

Visiting LegendsOfAlcatraz.com leads you to a puzzle where you must determine at what time the Alcatraz Spaghetti Riot was scheduled to start.

(Highlight to read method spoiler)

The missing letters from the sign are Roman Numerals: CMXIV which is 914 or 9:14

Inputting 9:14 into the answer box gives you a message that “It Begins” on January 27, 28 and 29 at 9:14 at Alcatraz. The linked twitter account @AlcatrazLegends shows off a photo of a metal box that just so happens to have been received by several different bloggers, so it’s possible that more boxes may be given away to those that show up.

It’s hard to say at this point in time what Fox has up its sleeve for event but at least they scheduled this for the weekend so you wouldn’t necessarily have to take off from work if you didn’t want to. If you need to be on the island by 9:14, AlcatrazCruises.com has a tour that leaves Pier 33 at 9:00am but it costs $26 so take that into consideration before deciding to see what may (or may not) happen (unless of course Fox springs for a chartered boat to take some lucky people out to Alcatraz or you know where to find cheaper tickets). Hopefully @AlcatrazLegends will provide more details soon.

Update: Fox has finally given us more information about what will be happening.

Dr. Soto has arranged exclusive night-time access to the Rock for those interested in helping him solve mysteries for his new book “LEGENDS OF ALCATRAZ”

The first 302 volunteers to check in when and where we say on Friday are selected.

What to bring:
• A flashlight
• Warm Clothes
• A comfortable pair of shoes

• Event lasts approximately 2-3 hours. Food and drink are not provided.
• Parking is not provided.
• If under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Valid ID required.

Exact details to be announced here and on Twitter: @AlcatrazLegends #LegendsofAlcatraz

Update 2: The first 302 people to check in at Pier 33 starting at 6:00pm will be selected. The boat leaves at 7:00pm so if you get selected, be prepared to hang out so you don’t miss the boat.

Further Information: LegendsOfAlcatraz.com — @AlcatrazLegends

The Human Preservation Project is having yet another round of dead drops for individuals lucky enough to have the day off on Thursday, November 17th. The countdown page is promising that this is the HPP’s biggest expedition yet, so maybe it will be more than first come, first served (but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that).

Although the countdown page doesn’t list the “rules” that were given out on previous missions, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to follow them in order to maximize your chances at getting one of the last remaining ice flies.

• Sign up at SurvivalCode.com
• Bring a mobile phone with you that can receive text messages.
• Be prepared for only one package available per location (first come, first served)

There’s a coordination thread over at Unfiction where if you want to plan your strategy (or just check out the competition).

Further Information: SurvivalCode.com — Mission Ice Fly — Unfiction thread

After searching bloody hotel rooms, sorting through paranormal emails and voicemails, and taking walks through San Francisco, players were finally able to solve enough clues to unlock the hexed documents folder on Oliver’s phone.

I: Number of cards in Major Arcana
II: Word Oliver said during his dreams
III: Word spelled out in his last tarot reading.

Inputting “XXII Capti Animas” unlocked a psychic pass to a trial on Oliver’s phone. A few minutes later, zoetrap.com updated with details as to when Oliver’s trial would take place.

FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENED TO OLIVER DREW AND DECIDE HIS FATE
VENUE: CELLAR BAR, SAN FRANCISCO, 685 SUTTER STREET
TIME: 7.30PM

So if you are in San Francisco and want to help (or even condemn) Oliver, head over to the Cellar Bar tonight. At the very least, you should be able to meet some very cool ARG players and creators. If you’re not in San Francisco, the website promises to update with what happens, so that everyone can still play along.

Further Information: Zoetrap — @_zoetrap on Twitter — Audioboo Voicemails.

Storyworld 2011 is taking place in San Francisco this week and at least one new ARG is taking advantage.

Oliver Drew is an Occult Transmedia producer who had planned to present some workshops at Storyworld where he would demonstrate “how to harness the power of the spirit world as a transmedia platform.” Except that during a Twitter seance last night, something went wrong and now he’s missing.

His girlfriend, @eva_lake is asking / begging anyone in the area to go check out his room to see if they can find any clues as to what happened to him.

I’m begging everyone at #swc11 who’s reading this, go to room 2413 at Parc 55 hotel. I need your help to find Oliver. #zoetrap

It’s possible that Oliver’s infamous zoetrope is still in the room and that it will hold clues to his disappearance. I can say from experience that searching through a hotel room for an ARG is unlike anything else. If you go, try to document everything just in case you aren’t allowed to remove anything from the room. You never know what might end up being important.

Update: @eva_lake has tweeted a cleaner version of the QR code that was in the Paranormal Press article.

It leads to an iTunes app where a lot of the game will play out (at least according to some behind-the-scenes information taken from the Zoetrope IndieGoGo page). So if you’re wanting to follow along, be sure to download the app. (Disclosure – at the moment I am unable to get the app myself so I have no idea if there is a charge for it or not. So please double check for yourself before downloading.)
It’s free, but only for iPhones / iPod Touches. However, you can view the videos at zoetrap.com and listen to the voicemails at Audioboo.

Further Information: Zoetrap — “>@_zoetrap on Twitter — http://deaddrop.wonderweasels.org/?p=974 Game: Test Subjects Needed / Mission Ice Fly
Type: Dead Drop
Location: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland, Dallas, Washington DC, Nashville, Chicago, Denver, Orlando, Seattle, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta
Date: June 30, 2011, 2:00 PM EDT
Status: Concluded

Test Subjects Needed has updated their Mission Ice Fly website to hint that there will be some kind of dead drop happening in several cities this Thursday.

ATTENTION TEST SUBJECTS: Starting at 00:00:00:00:000 we will need one volunteer in each of the listed locations to follow a signal.

Details:
• Bring a mobile phone with you (standard text messaging rates apply)
• You will need to use your online user name from TestSubjectsNeeded.com during the mission (register here in advance)
• Only one package available per location (first come, first served)

They’ve already begun coordinating on the Unfiction forums, so if you’re interested in trying to be the one lucky individual who gets to participate in your city, make sure to register at Test Subjects Needed and make yourself known on the forums.

Further Information: Test Subjects Needed — Mission Ice Fly — Unfiction thread

Portland: 45.479254, -122.615219 (4613 SE Woodstock Blvd) — Claimed

San Francisco: 37.78446, -122.40831 (10 Cyril Magnin St) — Claimed

The instructions:

• Get to the above location immediately, and bring a phone that can send and receive calls (does not have to be a Flynn Lives phone).
• Find the TRON sticker and call the phone number printed on its face.
• Stay at the location and wait for further instructions – Flynn Lives will let you know when the mission is complete.
• Only the first person to find and call the phone number will unlock the drop and get the final meet-up instructions.
• Be diligent. Stay safe. And good luck.

Further Information: Flynn Lives — Unfiction fourm — Tron Wiki — ARGN — Movie Viral

The finale of Flynn Lives is upon us. After solving the final puzzle, players were eventually taken to a countdown page with a copy of a flyer of Kevin Flynn’s book tour in 1988. It is believed that the clues to Flynn’s disappearance can be found in the cities he visited just before he vanished.

We need to summon our resources for one last push. Flynn was on to something; he was growing more paranoid by the hour during his final book tour. If we retrace his steps, maybe we can finally learn the truth.

We need an operative on the ground in every city that Flynn visited. There is more important evidence there, and we’re tracking down every shred of it.

While the countdown page says to check back for exact times and locations, with a little less than 2 days to go, there is still no new information. It’s entirely possible that the countdown is simply for the release of the information and that the finale events will happen hours (or maybe even days) later. But that hasn’t stopped people from planning out their strategy in numerous threads on the Unfiction forum. If you’re interested in trying to participate, you might want to check to see if there is going to be anyone else in your area, and definitely keep refreshing the Digital Pulse countdown page” for any new information that is released.

Further Information: Flynn Lives — Unfiction fourm — Tron Wiki — ARGN — Movie Viral

The forum members of Flynn Lives are having a meet-up before the Encom Press Conference. The meet-up is going to be from 6:15 to 7:45pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency (within walking distance from the Justin Herman Plaza).

This meet-up is to plan the disruption they want to occur during the Encom Press Conference, which starts at 8pm. As part of the plan involves getting people into the Encom VIP area next to the stage, bringing your Encom badge is highly recommended. But since the event itself is open to the public, if you don’t have a badge, you will still be able to participate, just further back in the crowd.

One of the Flynn Lives forum members also said that they will be bringing t-shirts and posters for the participants. They said they are “bringing a truck load” so hopefully that means there will be enough to cover everyone who shows up, but I’d get their sooner rather than later if you want to secure yourself some goodies.

Further Information: Flynn Lives — Flynn Lives Discussion Boards — Encom International — Unfiction forum — Tron Wiki — ARGN — Movie Viral

Encom International has issued a press release about an upcoming event by Executive Consultant Alan Bradley where he “will introduce the latest addition to the Encom International product library” at 8pm on April 2nd in Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco.

There is speculation that you will need an Encom ID Badge in order to attend the event, but neither the Press Release nor the IGN interview with Alan Bradley talk about that. It could be that having a badge will move you to the front of the line in order to attend the event, but I would be surprised (and severely disappointed/upset at TPTB) if non-badge holding attendees were turned away completely. Especially since it can take 2-3 weeks to receive your badge after completing the game at Arcade Aid and the PR was issued just a few days ago. But you should be aware of the possibility in case you’re traveling to SF to attend the event.

Update: The badge question has been answered in another Flynn Lives forum thread.

Bring your Encom badges if you have them – if not – come anyway.

I think that there will be a VIP section for Encom employees (so badges needed for that), but the event is open to the general public.

So if you have a badge, bring it, especially if you want to get closer to the action. If you don’t have one, you’ll still be able to attend the Press Conference and the Flynn Lives meet-up prior.

Further Information: Flynn Lives — Encom International — Unfiction forum — Carpool Thread — Tron Wiki — ARGN — Movie Viral

Minneapolis, MN – Checked Off
600 HENNEPIN AVE
MINN, MN 55403
2/24 – 3:00 P.M. CST

You’ve got a lot of legwork to do, so find the gamer wearing a Flynn Lives t-shirt.

Password: Full Tilt

San Francisco, CA – Checked Off
1130 OAK ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117
2/24 – 1:00 P.M. PST

Your contact will be avoiding Sue while wearing a Flynn Lives t-shirt.

Password: Main Frame

Toronto, ON – Checked Off
UNION STATION ARCADE
100 FRONT ST W
TORONTO, ON CANADA
2/24 – 4:00 P.M. EST

Your contact is feasting on power pellets, plus wearing a Flynn Lives t-shirt.

Password: Andy Capp’s

Further Information: Flynn Lives — Unfiction thread — Tron Wiki — ARGN — Movie Viral