Google's Da Vinci Code puzzle quest launching soon

by Jennie Lees on Apr 16th 2006 7:00AM

We've already seen the Da Vinci Code spun into a video game and a mobile game; starting tomorrow, it will also become an online puzzle trail, an Alternate Reality Game-style code quest run by Google and accessible from your Google homepage. This movie tie-in game fits with the book's themes of brain-bending puzzles, and it should hopefully be an enjoyable ride, with puzzles being issued daily until May 10 -- coincidentally, the start of E3 -- and a prize draw for those who answer all 24 puzzles correctly.

There's something of a discrepancy in prizes, thanks to regional sponsors -- the US grand prize winner will be flown on a first class trip to England, Rome and Paris with three guests, bagging over $120,000 of goodies along the way, whereas the top UK winners get a trip to Paris on the Eurostar. It's an interesting move to add this kind of daily ARG-style play into a personalised homepage service such as Google provides; people using the service already will find it easy to play the game, whereas those who haven't tried the service have a new incentive to do so.

[Via ARGN]

Source

Tags: arg, args, code breaking, CodeBreaking, da vinci code, DaVinciCode, film tie-ins, films, FilmTie-ins, google, movies, online games, OnlineGames, puzzle, puzzle trails, PuzzleTrails

Reader Comments (43)

oi...

This quest should be very interesting and fun. I found a picture on the google site that seems to imply six categories for the puzzles: symbol, restoration, curator, chess, geography, and observation.

Something similiar to this has been going on since the books launch at danbrown.com (the authors homepage). It got pretty in depth and even had you calling numbers on your cell (free calls).

Ok so the yanks get 3 1st class flights to european super-cities, and us Brits get a train ticket, which only goes to Paris.

Super!

Meh, Canadians get nothing. Can participate, but can't win.

It doesnt matter anyway, after u finish the first Uk puzzle it asks you to name a symbol. Its a triangle but it wont accept "triangle" or any tirangle based shapes (like "prism" or "pyramid") as the answer

Nevermind the question is another test, click on the link below the question and look near the bottom of the pop up to find the solution

Mat, the puzzle tells you to visit the film's website -- on that site you find out the "Da Vinci" names for the symbols. The triangle isn't called just "triangle" :)

i noticed that just after i finished posting that the window wasnt showing the full page to find the clue

hey that triangle is "blade" its old egyptian symbol.
clear day1 quickly and let me know in day2 what that cross symbol means....i m trying cross but it saying wrong...let me know if somebody know abt it

i have tried to get to the quest, but it just starts the flash loading screen, gets halfway across, and stops. i have tried using firefox, internet explorer, and safari all on a mac and did not work. then i tried using internet explorer and firefox on a pc. still nothing. does anyone know how to solve this?

I've had no problems with Firefox, but you do need Flash 8, so check you've got the latest plugins and check you've not got ad blocking or anything running (including on your firewall) that might stop the flash file getting to you.

Does anyone have any clue about the geography question...i dont know where to start

Geography: Try googling one or more of the names in the image copyright...

I am keeping a blog that provides daily hints and explanations for each puzzle: http://www.wapredfromthepipe.com

I have played each day but it skipped the 2nd geography quiz. Did it skip everyone's?

The answer to the second puzzle is greek cross

Deos anuone have answers for the day 3 questions?

The answers to Day 3 challenge 1# crown, 2# Mona Lisa, 3# 0

I cant see any words i HAVE THE LATEST FLASH READER (8) installed I dont know what to do with the symbols as I cant see the instructions please help

Sasha i can help u out...
contact me rahul_star007@yahoo.com

I don't remember what day I'm on but it's the chess challenge. The one that you have to checkmate in three moves. I'm not a chess player and have tried looking up chess moves on google. but it's all greek to me. Any idea where I can find the answers to the questions instead of the chess moves that have to be made?

just to let everyone know, the questions are not all the same, the answers to question 3 may have been crown, mona lisa, and 0 for you, but while im still working on the first part my last 2 answers are vitruvian man and 5. So try to figure it out on your own first before you try to get everyone else's answers. this is fun

First answer is fleur-de-lis, post 23, and yes, not all questions r same... I tried crown mona and 0 2 and it didn't work.

Gradster(1)

what is the name of the shape that Silas is pulling out of the ground on day 10 challenge? I can't figure it out!!! Can someone please help?? Thanks

Does anyone know the place that is slightly north of the Victoria and albert museum on day 18???

#25 - It's a fairly simple geometric shape, rather than any complicated mediaeval reference, if that helps!

#26 - Find the V&A on Google Maps and it'll help you tremendously.

i tried the google maps for puzzle 18 and it still isn't giving me any clue as to what the building name is!!! i also can't figure the geography puzzle out for day 12. It tells me to find the Palazzio de Venezia by clicking on a hidden cross but i can't seem to find it no matter how hard i look!!! am i missing something??? please someone help me...google maps is giving me no help whatsover and i really really really need help!!!

For #18, Google map the museum and then zoom in as much as u can. then scroll your map up and to the left a little and you'll see imperial college station or something like that.

The shape thing was more of a pain for me. I kept trying shapes until im 6th try worked, but i still haven't seen where it's pulled out of the ground inthe video.

i am on challenge 23 and it asks what the classical sequence is for the numbers??? i don't get it can someone give me a hint!?

Does anyone know what the classic sequence is for #23 i am so lost i have tried everything i can think of and my searches seem to bring up nothing please help!!

it is the square number..... for the classical sequence

what do you mean the square number for the classical sequence??? i still don't get it!!! and google is not helping my search one bit!!! pleasee help!!!

http://www.mathleague.com/help/algebra/algebra.htm
this page tells exactly what you will need.

I AM STUCK ON #23 TOO.

i got it!!! thanks a lot!!!

did you go to the website above to get the answer. i am serious about to put my head through the computer i have been trying to find the answer for hours. and i cant find clue#23.

never mind i finally got it

Thanks a bunch, Daniel. I was so close and yet so far away. Knowing the sequence name gave my last 90 mins some worth. BTW, would anyone know when Google publishes their new puzzle (EST or CST) ?

does any one no the answer to question 4

please guys can anyone save me from insanity?.
I am stuck on day 23,tired and fed up please help.......................

Square Number

Just got it... i'm in!

Your journey does not end here. You have also qualified to compete for the grand prize which includes trips for four to New York, Paris, Rome and London, a colossal Sony� Electronics package and more valued at over $100,000! See official rules.

Beginning on or around 1pm EDT May 19th at www.google.com/davincicode, the final challenge, which is a time trial, will be made available to you for 48 hours. You can begin whenever you like, but prepare well, for once you begin there is no turning back. The player who completes all five tasks in the shortest amount of time will be declared the winner.

As for your previous accomplishments, your skill and perseverance will be rewarded with a limited edition replica cryptex arriving in your mailbox in the coming days.

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 108 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments

Google's Da Vinci Code puzzle quest launching soon

Reader Comments (43)

Posted: Apr 16th 2006 8:40AM Bedpanjohn said

Posted: Apr 16th 2006 8:55AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 16th 2006 9:34AM Kinmar said

Posted: Apr 16th 2006 10:46AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 17th 2006 9:07AM ProfKOS said

Posted: Apr 20th 2006 5:08AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 20th 2006 5:14AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 20th 2006 5:14AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 20th 2006 5:16AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 20th 2006 6:45PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 21st 2006 9:43AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2006 7:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 23rd 2006 10:24PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 24th 2006 2:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 25th 2006 9:59PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 27th 2006 10:42PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2006 7:20AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2006 2:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 28th 2006 3:59PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 29th 2006 7:40AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 30th 2006 12:40PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 1st 2006 7:18AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 4th 2006 12:16PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 4th 2006 4:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 5th 2006 3:40PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 5th 2006 5:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 5th 2006 5:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 7th 2006 4:48PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 8th 2006 6:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 1:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 2:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 3:17PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 3:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 3:44PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 4:21PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 4:24PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 4:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 9th 2006 4:44PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 10th 2006 2:11AM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 10th 2006 2:45PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 10th 2006 6:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 10th 2006 8:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 15th 2006 10:30PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

Rhythm Heaven Fever review: Crazy into you

Remedy not done with Alan Wake

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days