New J.J. Abrams flick promoted with ARG

by Justin McElroy { Jul 7th 2007 at 8:00AM }

Don't ever say we never gave you a good way to waste a few hours on a Saturday morning. From our friends at Cinematical comes the story of this strange ARG, one that is apparently promoting new J.J. Abrams movie currently codenamed Cloverfield. If you're into surprises, just click this link to a blog called "Ethan Haas Was Wrong" and you're off to the races.

For those who prefer a more direct approach, the meatiest part begins here, at EthanHaasWasRight.com. What you'll find is a series of games (within a game?) leading up to an even bigger mystery that will begin to unravel itself on August 1, so now's your chance to get in on the ground floor. If you need a little more help, try clicking on the blue star and asking for it. If you really need it, you can track down a few walkthroughs on the internets, but you didn't hear it from us.

[Update: Apparently, our friends at Cinematical were a bit off-base, as they're now saying that the site isn't related to Abrams' movie. But hey, it's still a game and still weird.]

[Via Cinematical]

Tags: arg, cinematical, cloverfield

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SoxFan13 @ Jul 7th 2007 8:09AM

For anyone who's wondering, this is that crazy trailer with no title that appeared before Transformers. Looks cool to me.

Sedeas @ Jul 7th 2007 8:15AM

Yeah, I was already through the 5 puzzles yesterday, but it was a pretty good setup. At least they give the date for the next day of interest, unlike the ARG for The Secret World. Damn yous, Funcom!

Ian Von Porter @ Jul 7th 2007 8:15AM

wtf is arg?

Vince @ Jul 7th 2007 8:46AM

C'THULU

Marcus Beard @ Jul 7th 2007 8:58AM

Im not sure what I clicked, but on the EHWR, Outlook opened up, wanting to send an email to:
"van@ethanhaaswasright.com"
with a subject of
"I'm one of you... help me!"
Im not a big fan of alternate reality games.

synce @ Jul 7th 2007 9:03AM

I can't imagine how pathetic you have to be to enjoy ARGs. Granted the movie looks like it will kick total ass. I got chills from the trailer.

Jason @ Jul 7th 2007 9:12AM

How was it determined that this web site is related to Cloverfield, the unnamed movie teased before Transformers?

Kn1ves @ Jul 7th 2007 10:20AM

@3 ur on the internet and you dont know about google?

ARG = Argaminium.

Kn1ves @ Jul 7th 2007 10:21AM

Arginine i mean

must be an alternate reality, i coulda sworn it was argaminium...

okenny @ Jul 7th 2007 10:32AM

Doesn't ARG stand for Alternate Reality Game?

The Ninth Doctor @ Jul 7th 2007 10:36AM

How do you beat the second puzzle?

Jason @ Jul 7th 2007 11:05AM

If you absolutely do not care about solving anything...
Level 1: Push the buttons in order.
Level 2: Spell HAAS. One of the stars will show 26 symbols which correspond to the letters of the English alphabet.
Level 3: It's a peg game. Good luck.
Level 4: Use arrow keys to move the blue pebble UP, LEFT, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, UP, RIGHT, UP, LEFT, LEFT.
Level 5: Spell out THEENDISTHEBEGINNING.
Write down your code.

Caedo @ Jul 7th 2007 11:06AM

I saw the trailer for this movie during Transformers and while it tells you nothing about what the movie is the trailer made me want to see this movie. It looks that good.

Jason @ Jul 7th 2007 11:08AM

By the way, a user named Labyrinth figured out Level 4. This puzzle sucks, and we are grateful to his simple solution.

Jason @ Jul 7th 2007 11:13AM

http://www.ethanhaaswasright.com/helpme

Jason @ Jul 7th 2007 11:16AM

Some lore from the page source.

...war came, no longer from the elemental nor from the star's rain of fire. The world was again remade, and the glow was as the coming of the sun upon the Earth. The children of the gods were again too few, scattered and divided and among them walked the ancients and those whose thoughts were not as to the towers and the marvels, but to the End and the destruction of the Earth and to the fires from which nothing could escape.

Ryan @ Jul 7th 2007 11:27AM

I solved the puzzles this morning. You can find the trailer on youtube. The payoff isn't much. You don't get anything from the videos except there is something crazy going on and to meet back on august 1st.

Someone1001 @ Jul 7th 2007 11:47AM

It's the Day of Lavos! Chrono Trigger movie on the way! (Well, I can dream)

sheila @ Jul 7th 2007 12:07PM

Check out http://www.ParasiteMovie.com

samfish @ Jul 7th 2007 1:52PM

Too bad J.J. Abrams is a complete hack. At least I know to skip out on this movie when it comes out.

Deaddy @ Jul 7th 2007 2:32PM

That's pretty weird, Ethan Haas was a character on that sitcom The Class.

JJ Abrams is awesome.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jul 7th 2007 4:09PM

JJ Abrams is the master of mystery! The LOST ARG is just as difficult to crack.

T-Man @ Jul 7th 2007 4:43PM

it's a new godzilla movie.

PiratePete @ Jul 11th 2007 11:03AM

I thought so too. 0_o

Chris @ Jul 7th 2007 7:23PM

RE: The Class Connection.

I saw someone mention that Ethan Haas is a character from the sitcom 'The Class'. Did you happen to ALSO read that Lizzy Kaplan who played 'Kat Warbler' on 'The Class' has been listed as one of the actors in this new JJ Abrams flick. ALSO, interestingly enough, 'Jason Ritter' has reportedly been seen in this trailer that appears before Transformers..Jason Ritter's character on 'The Class' was name, Ethan Haas.

Interesting? Very! Coincidence, I think not..but what does it all mean?

rami @ Jul 7th 2007 7:48PM

Correction of Jason's answer to puzzle 5....

its THEBEGINNINGISTHEEND ..... not the other way around like he has written.

Mike @ Jul 7th 2007 10:29PM

There is also this link for the movie: http://ethanhaaswaswrong.blogspot.com/

Jason @ Jul 8th 2007 12:21AM

Hehe, thanks rami. I had just solved it like a minute before, too. Oh, well, sorry if I wasted anyone's time with that mistake.

dyer @ Jul 8th 2007 12:32AM

What's up with the fucking rimbaldi device, that's what destroyed alias

Tom @ Jul 8th 2007 1:04AM

Isn't JJ Abrams too busy working on the super top secret "The Dark Tower" movies to be leaving cryptic clues about this other super top secret movie? Unless.... *gasp* could THIS be it?!

Ed @ Jul 8th 2007 5:37AM

hahaha, found this site:

http://ethanhaaswasadouchebag.blogspot.com/

FSK405K @ Jul 8th 2007 7:56AM

Damn! I thought this article was about Star Trek XI. Doh!

Kinsella @ Jul 8th 2007 11:14AM

I think the only way to win at ARGs is to ignore them completly. Did you go to the Seadoo jetski site to watch those short movies? Or go to endless other commercial sites that "finish up" the advertisment that was shown on tv?

If the answer was yes, its time to unplug that internet cable and start wrapping it around your neck...