unforum

[Strings]

I dunno... If it's a place holder I would expect to find others somewhere on the site. The fact that this is a photo hidden underneath the photo that is all mysterious suggests to me that it's meant to be there.

Also, if it wasn't meant to be there, the puppetmasters probably would have taken it out because they know that some folk are decompiling flash.

[Obes]

If you look at the TV Ad screen you can clearly see that there is the picture behind the one shown.... it's so obvious now.

It also explains the "Whiteout" of Alvar with Alvar written over it in the Bio page.

Alvar over Alvar...

Picture over Picture.

Question is, what do we do with this image now?


Obes.

[Lyria]

Is there a way to see what the objects are named when the Flash is decompiled? Maybe there's a clue there?

Also - my guess is that this was meant to be found (whether via decompiling or a later clue, or both, I don't know) but as Aya and Obes pointed out, we have both Persephone pointing out the photo and Alvar-whiteout-Alvar (Alvar layered over Alvar, like the photos?) - two clues that do seem, in retrospect, to be indicating to look more closely at the picture...

[julian]

If the photo was meant to be found (and, on further thought, I agree that it probably was meant to be found - see below for why - sorry, I didn't realize I'd set off such a string with my speculation about it being a placeholder) then are there other images hidden beneath the other exec bios and photos? I'm not web design savvy, so I wouldn't have any clue as to how to dissect the site to find out.

As to why I think it's intentional, I think the clue to this hidden image (perhaps hidden images) was given to us when we all noticed the Mental Health guy beneath/strung with Joop's picture. What was the point of it, really? Just to disturb, a red herring, or perhaps something else? Maybe the PMs are more subtle than we realize. If so, very cool.

[brooklahn]

It's a placeholder. :^(

[julian]

Bummer...oh well, on to the next clue.

[chief]

Hanso placeholder?

[anodos]

unlikely a placeholder

[Strings]

If Alvar is to play a central role in this ARG, then it seems strange that stock photography is used... It means there's only one usable photo of him. Or at least one usable and recognisable photo.

To be honest, I haven't got a clue. It's impossible to try and compare the two photos as the original is so grainy and unrevealing... Although they do share basic characteristics. Ie hairstyle, build etc. I don't know... we'll see.

[brooklahn]

Maybe you're right. I guess they don't need to have access to the actor to have this image of Alvar be meaningful.

After all, the spec is that Alvar is either dead or has been out of the public eye for years, so they wouldn't need several pics of him.

That said, they may not be restricted to this one picture. Stock photos of a single subject are often shot as part of a series, as the designers may like the look of a person, but not the expression on their face. Or they may like a person, but not the composition of a photo.

I thought I had seen some other stock photos of the gent that was hiding behind Hanso. Just went back to Getty and did a quick scan, but couldn't find anything.

If there are additional photos of this guy, perhaps one of them matches back to the grany pic of Hanso on the bio page? Or perhaps we'll see add'l photogs in the future?

If anybody has time to scan, please feel free. I'll do more exploration once I get home from work tonight.

[Char]

Re: Hanso placeholder?

[tmerch]

I don't have the tools necessary to do it myself, but could someone check this out on my behalf? It looks like the picture under the Mathematical Forecasting Initiative marked "Pollution Maps" is similarly masking another photo...the edges seem blurrier than other photos on the site. I'm curious to see whether this is true, or just my eyes playing tricks. Pretty please?

[Aya]

Re: unlikely a placeholder

[RPGgame]

seems like we are now being invited to decompile. I was against it but now im for it.

[Hyperion]

I dunno, I think that it might be "revealed" after a certain point in the game. You might just be skipping to the end of the book to read the last sentence if you decompile.