unforum

[Hornet]

while i was checking this thread for updates (heh good timing i guess) the character signed on and I have been conversing with him for a lil while now.... very interesting (especially since this is my first time doing this )....gonna post the transcript as soon as the conversation is over....

[Gemini]

(23:05:47) Cory Birdsong: hello?
(23:05:53) YX455: hello
(23:07:59) Cory Birdsong: do you know anything about the battle sphere?
(23:08:31) YX455: The battle sphere... of Orbis Labs?
(23:08:36) Cory Birdsong: yes
(23:09:49) YX455: I know that Orbis Labs has created a self-contained armored machine which appears to be well past the planning stages.
(23:10:25) YX455: As for anything else... how do I know you aren't one of the Powers That Be, striving to silence me?
(23:10:43) Cory Birdsong: how could i silence you?
(23:12:10) YX455: We all know that the Powers That Be have a vast array of assassins.
(23:12:43) Cory Birdsong: but i'm speaking to you over the internet, there's no way i could assassinate you
(23:13:40) Cory Birdsong: i am like samantha, merely curious to reveal the truth
(23:15:15) YX455: Then we may be twins.
(23:15:32) YX455: But this can be hard to know for sure. Surely you, in your quest, have experienced such unsurity.
(23:15:45) Cory Birdsong: certainly
(23:17:31) YX455: So how do I know i can trust you?
(23:17:43) YX455: How can you prove that you are, as you say, a truth seeker?
(23:18:10) Cory Birdsong: you don't have a test you could perform on me?
(23:20:07) YX455: A test? Now, that might be... difficult.
(23:20:57) Cory Birdsong: okay
(23:22:07) Cory Birdsong: i have a theory, regarding the battle sphere. samantha notes that the only problem with the sphere is that it is too small for the average male soldier
(23:22:13) Cory Birdsong: perhaps it is designed for a woman?
(23:22:17) YX455: Perhaps.
(23:22:41) Cory Birdsong: you can't reveal any more information to me until i prove myself?
(23:23:12) YX455: I'm afraid not.
(23:23:24) Cory Birdsong: how could i do that, exactly?
(23:23:37) YX455: There lies the question that we all must face.
(23:25:14) Cory Birdsong: are you involved in the program? is that why you're cautious who you trust?
(23:26:18) YX455: Perhaps I'm involved.
(23:26:42) YX455: Or perhaps I merely have contacts, operatives, within the program.
(23:27:15) YX455: Or perhaps I have gathered the information without contacting anyone in the program. Truly, the answer is hidden.
(23:28:27) Cory Birdsong: what if i told you a story, about when i showed i could be trusted? or when i went looking for the truth?
(23:32:16) YX455: Perhaps we could orchestrate a trade.
(23:32:20) Cory Birdsong: okay
(23:33:33) Cory Birdsong: what will I need to trade?

Now it's gone away, with the message "Orbis Labs has created a self-contained armored machine which appears to be well past the planning stages. To learn more, you must first prove yourself."

I think it must've gotten overwhelmed with conversations. It responded pretty slowly, but was always shown as typing and then stopping, which usually means typing to someone else.

Pretty sure they're a beekeeper too, notice the Pious Flea reference was returned.

Anyone got any ideas?

Edit: Talking a bit again...

(23:34:37) YX455 has gone away.
(23:40:10) Cory Birdsong: will you let me know the terms of a possible trade?
(23:41:02) YX455: You submit information I find satisfactory, and I return the favor.
(23:41:14) Cory Birdsong: to this screen name?
(23:41:46) YX455: Possibly. We may have to work out the details later
(23:45:46) YX455: For now, I must go. We'll have to continue this later.
(23:45:50) Cory Birdsong: okay
(23:46:08) Cory Birdsong: i will try to prove my trustworthiness.

[Hornet]

dammit i had the transcript, but AIM crashed....but i do remember a lot of it
--()-- are my additions
heh i took the cautious approach:

ME: hello
HIM: hello
ME: i came across your name on a very interesting website. do you know what site i'm talking about?
HIM: Possibly
ME: can you speak more on the subject mentioned on that site?
HIM: It depends on what site you are referring to.
ME: i am referring to the conversation you had with Samantha Manus on Channel51
HIM: Ah, yes
HIM: I can tell you that OrbisLabs --(made this a link)-- is working on a Battle Sphere, and it is well beyond the planning stages
ME: is there any more information you can share about the Battle Sphere?
HIM: Yes, but first I would need to know that, like Samantha Manus, you serve the people, and --(don't remeber exact wording here)-- are not out to get me.
ME: is there something i can do to prove this to you?
HIM: Not necessarily.
ME: All I can do is give you my word that I server the people, and will not harm you or anyone like you.
ME: Is that acceptable?
HIM: Not necesarrily --(sp error mine)--
HIM: Perhaps we could orchestrate a trade of information
HIM: But for now, I must go.
ME: thank you for taking the time to speak with me
HIM: Think nothing of it
ME: I look forward to speaking with you again.

seems to imply he's mentioned on more than one website from beginning of conversation.

EDIT: remembered a question/answer at beginning

[TridenT]

That's hilarious. I found an image gallery in the Week 10-17 area that contained 10 or so images ripped directly from Metroid Prime: Echoes, black 'n white'd and distorted to look like ridiculous farmer-taken photos of aliens. The thumbnails look obscure, but upon close-up inspection you can easily see the Power Cannon Samus wields, and her HUD is visible on either side.

I love it.

But not as much as I love bees.

Personally, if Nintendo were to delay MP2 till sometime around February, delay this "ARG" (if it is indeed one) and just let Halo 2 settle in and become stale-ish. That way, they could capitalize on a downed market, and maybe get some purchases from people who at this point don't have enough time or money to get both games in the same month (like me).

EDIT: Also, I'd like to note that I STILL think this ARG is nothing more than a rip on I Love Bees, and the whole message is concurrent with the spoof pages they put up upon which it reads "Never send a man to do a woman's job."

[sapagoo]

[Baelfael]

[Gemini]

Someone on another board suggested

[Hornet]

Where does that name come from?

[Gemini]

It was the code to play the first Metroid with Samus in a bikini...

It's actually Just In Bailey, which is apparently slang for a swimsuit somewhere.

[Hornet]

ohhhh right....having never played the original metroid, i had no experience with this (though i've played the crap out of all the others)...
anyway, i tried it, and it doesn't work

[Barryh]

[fugitivesoldier]

I would be so happy if this was like the Perfect Dark viral marketing campaign.

I remember going to http://www.datadyne.com and http://www.carringtoninstitute.com (now both take you to Rare's site) and watching the "security camera tapes" that showed Joanna Dark breaking into dataDyne HQ.

That and all of the username/password hacking needed to find the tapes.

Good stuff. Glad to see Nintendo seems willing to revisit it's old bag of tricks.

Plus, the not-so-subtle jab at Master Chief on those "All your bees" pages is hilarious.

[fugitivesoldier]

Haha, i couldn't help but notice that one of 2advanced's images is named NeuroAxon

[Gemini]

Current away message: The tolling of the bell calls me away. Where will you search?

What's with that?

[whocares]

has anyone tried destegging the pictures? i'll try when i get off of work (i word the grave yard shift)