Follow the Angel: The Path Continues

[Anonymous]

Maybe something like the brother sister thing in the ANimatrix where he pretends to be wanting to go back into the matrix as a test to see her loyalty?

[Tbone]

Ok, here's the basic idea based on the past challenges.

Potentials find our website while researching online trying to discover what the Matrix is and what the rumors about the "Furious Angels" are about. They find http://www.followtheangel.org. It seems like this place might have the answers, but they are buried deep within. The red feather looks suspicious and the user clicks it. This starts the challenge. In the past, the Potential is slowly given clues to follow a path that leads to a secure, hard-to-hack connection with the group known through hacker circles as the "Furious Angels". We're basically taking the recruitment of Neo and making it our own. Now that we have access to the Matrix, I would like to encorporate that as well.

For this new challenge, I want the interface to be pretty cool. For instance, when clicking the red feather, I would like for it to start like the Potential is scanning for information on "Tbone". There could be a screenshot of my head and different animations showing that the Potential is scanning for any known results on this "Tbone". Like the movie, the screen could suddenly go black or frizzle out or some cool effect (not the whole screen - just our challenge window - obviously). From here we get creative. We need to make it seem like the Potential is being contacted by one of us. We've been watching them blah blah blah. Like Trinity, though, we must be careful, and we must test the resourcefullness of our contact. The first challenge should be relatively simple, and we should be careful not to give away too much information in the beginning. I agree with sending Potentials to specific places within the Matrix. We give clues and say something like "look to the back wall for access". Perhaps there is a poster at the location with a word on it. We use that word as our password or however we decide to make the challenge input. The Potential enters the word into our interface and is allowed access to the next section. I also like the idea of the Potential having to login, though I'm not sure how feasible it is. As you can see, this can potentially be a HUGE project, so we need all the helpers we can get. I definitely do not have the knowledge to do this myself - the challenge I created used simple HTML. It was simple, yet effective. If we put up a new challenge, however, people will expect more from it. We have earned a reputation, and so we must deliver.

Some of you are curious about the old challenge. Since it is gone now, I will share with you some of the things I used.

Spoiler:

The first part simply had an image and told you to look beyond the image for the key. If you looked at the name of the image, you would see that it was nameofimage.html.jpg. Take out the .jpg, and you have the next part of the challenge.

The challenge has gone through different stages. One section had text hidden in the source (not viewable unless you "View Source"). It helped you to get to the next part. Another section used computer lingo to confuse you. It was something like:

## Accessing thematrixonline.com...
## Opening Node SS214
## Data bytes extracted

It was simple directions. Go to the website. Find the ScreenShot from the date 2/14. Check the properties and see how many bytes the screenshot is. Extract it, or input it into the formula "followtheangel.org/xxxxxx.html"

The final part, which is also stumped many, was the pawn page. At first you get all this way and you are taken to a page that says "You are a pawn". Many got frustrated, but some were determined. I added more text and a scrambled word to help guide you to a Google search of the phrase. This brings up a site called Morgan's Tarot. "followtheangel.org/morganstarot" and you're done. You choose the red pill and you are given a transmission with what the Furious Angels is about. You're also given an email address to email. You email it, it auto-sends the application page, you fill it out, and we contact you.

Obviously we want to do something different than we did last time, but perhaps now you get an understanding of what we have to live up to ;-)

[Broin]

Wish I knew how to do this stuff...  :2'(  

Maybe we should set up a time (off game time) for everyone to get on T.S. and see who knows what and who can do what, and make this happen in as short a time as possible.  

I currently suggest that while you are out there in MXO that you keep your eyes open for neat areas to send people, and things that we can use in the puzzle

[Anonymous]

Thats exactly what I need to hear to get started.  Thanks Tbone.  I'll see if I can start some of the animations for searching and then see what ya'll think(Of course, anyone can do this, but Im just trying to get the ball rolling).  

Place:  Not sure how to get this to work exactly but I did a little searching yesterday like Broin was talking about and found what could be some sort of clue.
It was in Edgewater, which is an easy place to hint at; ie: Go to the east edge of the water, ...
Which would mean the east Edgewater HL.  If you turn around and look up you'll see a big sign, right there, that says 'PARK'.  I thought that could be tied into AIW somehow.  Also, some other ideas include the use of a Church or the Hel Club's npc's(suits).  So many ideas!  Anyway, like Broin said, keep your eyes open for some places we could use.

[Anonymous]

We just need to make sure that the MxO world references that are used to complete the challenge are accessible to anybody.  For instance we should only use hardlines that are in the initial hardline list given to new players.  We probably should use anything in restricted areas.

We just want to make sure that great potentials that just happen to be low level right now are not disadvantaged in completing the challenge.  When the game goes live we'll all be low level at first :-)

[Tbone]

We just need to make sure that the MxO world references that are used to complete the challenge are accessible to anybody.  For instance we should only use hardlines that are in the initial hardline list given to new players.  We probably should use anything in restricted areas.

We just want to make sure that great potentials that just happen to be low level right now are not disadvantaged in completing the challenge.  When the game goes live we'll all be low level at first :-)

I sort of disagree. I remember going through restricted areas at lvl 10, running for my life to try to get to an access node or what have you. What if we made Potentials do the same. Reach a hard to get to place to retrieve a password. That's up for discussion, though.

So what we need is an animator, a coder, a creative team, and an exploration team. Hmm...

[Anonymous]

Well thats a good point.  However, I'm still unclear as to the number of recruits we'd like to get.  If we want to be the biggest faction than, yes, we would want it to be accessible to all levels, but also think about this... After a month or two in full release there will be alot of 20s and up, so thats still alot of recruits.  

If we want the best and most devoted then I think travel to the restricted areas shouldn't be a problem.  If someone wants into FA they will just need to keep playing(which they should do anyway) until they gain access to these areas.  Then they will have shown that they are devoted, they are going to be active in the game, and have some basic knowledge of the game.

[Anonymous]

We just need to make sure that the MxO world references that are used to complete the challenge are accessible to anybody.  For instance we should only use hardlines that are in the initial hardline list given to new players.  We probably should use anything in restricted areas.

We just want to make sure that great potentials that just happen to be low level right now are not disadvantaged in completing the challenge.  When the game goes live we'll all be low level at first :-)

I sort of disagree. I remember going through restricted areas at lvl 10, running for my life to try to get to an access node or what have you. What if we made Potentials do the same. Reach a hard to get to place to retrieve a password. That's up for discussion, though.

So what we need is an animator, a coder, a creative team, and an exploration team. Hmm...

I see what you're saying T.  Yeah I guess we could ask potentials to seek somewhat inaccessible things as an additional test.

Good idea.  This would help us determine if they can find their way in the MxO world.  It would also help to weed out the less "adventurous" potentials.

Also Beleev, may people mentioned that they privilege quality over quantity.  I tend to agree with this.

What's better ?

A) A faction with a high number of members with a majority of mediocre players.
B) A faction with a small number of members with a majority of good players.

My take on it is the following.  If we lower our standards and accept people in the clan just to increase the head count, the clan as a whole will be lower quality.  This will make it less attractive for the best players, in and out of the clan.

What do you guys think ?

[Anonymous]

Well that's a good point.  However, I'm still unclear as to the number of recruits we'd like to get.  If we want to be the biggest faction than, yes, we would want it to be accessible to all levels, but also think about this... After a month or two in full release there will be alot of 20s and up, so that's still alot of recruits.  

If we want the best and most devoted then I think travel to the restricted areas shouldn't be a problem.  If someone wants into FA they will just need to keep playing(which they should do anyway) until they gain access to these areas.  Then they will have shown that they are devoted, they are going to be active in the game, and have some basic knowledge of the game.

Well, you can get access to an area at any time. If you die trying to get to our operative in a restricted area, it just shows that you're dedicated enough to want to be a member of FA.

[Anonymous]

i think we should have both, we start with our main picture, somehow they extract a set of coords and a destination (downtown, int, slums). then must go into the matrix and find a sign that went along with the clue or something like that, they go to the website and must do something else. something like that?

[Ketamininja]

Yes! The coords idea is good hehe... I do like the idea of having to run my ass off when I was lvl10. I have a working flash map as well, so if each user gets a different set of coords (or a random set from a predefiend range we assign), we can incorporate this, which is nearly ready -- T I'l show you this later.

As for the logins, this is simple - the hovercraft signup I uses a similar method, you create new hvcft... instead just create new users (table) instead, no need to worry about that side. Not only this, but just create new "missions" (table) too, and have a lot of different, but similar, challenges. The user (table) is assigned a mission "id" (from the missions table, and contains coords, keywords, questions and answers for example), and therefore gets a sort of unique path. THE POINT IS its pretty much useless posting the answers on the internet

The searching for TBONE suggestion after the red feather click - EASY you could almost have a animated GIF running through it... but flash, whatever.... folks so far this should be easy enough.
CAN EVERYONE take a SCREENSHOT of themselves in the LOADING AREA please!.
I say in the loading area, becase the image of your rotating character is always the same distance away, isn't it? That way, if you submit that to Tbone (me, or whoever wants to do it), we will have a choice of the same size pictures to "scan" through on the animation, so it should look quite nice (rather than different sized heads and angles etc). PrintScrn button probably in Loading Area? Never tried a SS in there before.

[Anonymous]

CAN EVERYONE take a SCREENSHOT of themselves in the LOADING AREA please!.
I say in the loading area, becase the image of your rotating character is always the same distance away, isn't it? That way, if you submit that to Tbone (me, or whoever wants to do it), we will have a choice of the same size pictures to "scan" through on the animation, so it should look quite nice (rather than different sized heads and angles etc). PrintScrn button probably in Loading Area? Never tried a SS in there before.

I actually have several pictures of myself in the loading dock from different angles,  different clothing, etc. So if you want them just ask.

Regular in-game screenshots do work in the loading area.

[Ketamininja]

Sweet, in game SS's are best then. Side profile (left and right) and a front please

## Init Intercept Program-01
## Transmission Redirected: BETA

[Anonymous]

I know this will sound really newbie, but can someone please explain the process of taking a screen shot to seeing it in a viewing program? I would really apreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Default In-game Screen shot key is F12

In order to view all of your Screenshots you'll have to go to:

C:\Program Files\Monolith Productions\The Matrix Online

Then find the files that say, screenshot_1. screenshot_2, etc. and preview them.