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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
[UPDATE] Sentinel - 22 Jun 06 - Mind Candy Puzzles, Link
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cassandra
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
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 		[UPDATE] Sentinel - 22 Jun 06 - Mind Candy Puzzles, Link
Quote:

Mind Candy Launches New Puzzle Site
By CHO KAPLAN

Academy Master Sente Kiteway announced today that Mind Candy have launched a new puzzle site to assist Cube-seekers looking to improve their personal acuity. The small games site, called Mind Candy Puzzles, will include a variety of activities specifically calculated to improve reaction times and cognitive clarity. They will be similar to any number of key-based games already familiar to Perplexians -- an unsurprising fact, as each game was developed with the guidance and co-operation of the Academy's Cube Retrieval Team.

"We want to use every available tool to encourage the people of Earth to find the Receda Cube, and to better prepare them to do so," Kiteway said. "Short of somehow shipping many tonnes of Ceretin to Earth in order to sharpen the seekers' wits, exporting this variety of brain exercise is the next best thing."

Currently only one game is available: a timed arithmetic challenge called 'Win Sum Lose Sum.' Mind Candy representatives indicated that they expect to launch additional games periodically. Players can play an unlimited number of practice games, but can only play one challenge-mode game per day; overall standing in challenge mode will be emailed once per day.

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Retrieval Team member Von Lubik waxed enthusiastic about the new games. "This is just another simple way to help the Cube-seekers hone a nice, sharp edge," he said. "And the best part is, it's a lot of fun -- especially when you get a better time than your friends!"

Some were less pleased with the news, however. "If this is the best Master Kiteway can come up with, it just proves how much the Academy needs more stringent Council oversight," said City Council member Elisabeth Stein. "While it is true that these games will sharpen the wits of our Cube-seekers, it's also very likely to pull their focus away from searching. ... Too much time will be spent trying to best rivals. ... The last thing we should be doing is encouraging a spirit of competition among people we wish to share a single goal."

Mind Candy is the Earth company hired by the Perplex City Academy to help recover the Receda Cube, which was stolen from the Academy Museum in early 266. The Cube was subsequently traced to an undetermined location on Earth.


Quote:
Academy Mum on New Link

While the Academy is refusing to answer regarding specifics of the mid-August celebration to initialize a second data link to Earth, some insiders have leaked tanatalizing clues. Sources say that Cube hunters in attendance at the San Francisco event will be treated to a special puzzle designed specifically for the day, in order to activate the link. Official Academy spokesmen have declined to confirm or deny this information.


Quote:
Earth Interviews...
Oliver Keers
By SCOTT MYERS

Scott MyersIt was a lukewarm evening in both London and in New York when I caught up with Oliver Keers, or OliverKeers13 as he is popularly known. Despite our great distance, and our electronic conversation vehicle of the internet, I found the leaderboard-leader both personable and expressive.*

I thought it best to get to know one of Earth's star athletes, to try and understand the way in which a champion thinks. I wanted to get inside his brain a bit and see what made him who he is. Starting simple, why the 13 in his moniker? The reasoning is surprisingly insightful. "13 is a lovely number," he informs me. "Some people believe it brings bad luck; I seek to change its reputation. Also, it's a prime number, which is lovely."

And as we on Earth have been learning about the city, we have been set upon with wonders and spectacles galore. Where in the city would Keers first like to visit, should the opportunity present itself? "I'd love to see The Academy. We've heard it described so much, it must look magnificent in real life."

There are so many cards, and so many layers of puzzling throughout our search on Earth. Has any particular solve stood out as an exceptional achievement? "I think most people felt the greatest when Elucidate fell," Keers says, refers to card #240. "We'd been staring at it for months, not getting anywhere. Then, suddenly, in the space of about a week, we made a load of progress. It was a really satisfying solve."
Oliver Keers

Oliver Keers

Ollie, as he is known among some of his closer fans, has been on the top of the leaderboard for quite a while now. To what does he most attribute this success? "A combination of effort, intelligence, and rugged good looks." Indeed. But surely he has received some assistance in the many solves. And it's no secret that a certain number of puzzle card solves may have been at least inspired by the work of others. Keers dismisses these accusations with a somewhat enigmatic "Rah, I say, Rah. Rah Rah." And thoughts on the upcoming Wave 4? Will Ollie remain at the top? He replies, perhaps over-confidently, "Of course, he's omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent."

Returning, for a moment, to the early wave 2 cards Keers managed to get in late October of 2005, the details of which have always been a bit ambiguous: According to rumour, Keers beat up a number of small children to acquire cards #150, "A Journey in the Desert", and #142, "Photoshopped". But surely there is more to the story than that. Keers speaks like a champ when he says "I have no intention of confirming or denying any rumours. I did what I had to do to get ahead."

More recently, leaderboard successes aside, Keers was part of the "Pirates vs. Ninjas" film submission. I press him for some insights on working on the set.

"It was very, very wet. Luckily, I had a few people working under me. They would run about like headless chickens, I'd shout the odd obscenity, and they'd do my bidding. Holding an umbrella, climbing a tree, that sort of thing. It was a good day, albeit one filled with commoners."

And does the pirate crew ever get together now and again? "Yeah, the crew and I go out swashbuckling every month or so, we drink some grog, pillage, take some wenches, and bury some treasure. You know: good, clean, piratical fun."

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In seriousness, this isn't the first time Keers worked with some of the crew. He was also on Team Jazz Hands in London's PCAG event. Does some of the rest of the crew get a bit jealous when they see the continual successes of Oliver Keers? "Not at all. Gibbet, a member of the crew, was in The Cube ReCoventry team, which beat our team by about 15 points. There's a great deal of mutual respect between us. We all get along - heck, I'd even say we're friends."

On a whimsical note, at one point Keers became a bit famous locally for wearing cravats. One wonders if it is a sort of fashion statement. Keers informs me he has been known for his eccentric appearance, and that the cravat is the master of all neckwear. "I do have a pipe exclusively for a 'look'. I find that eccentricity is key to puzzling-prowess." The charisma rings through his words, as he seems rather enthusiastic on this point. Has Ollie considered marketing the look, via sponsorship in Perplex City? Perhaps Keers fashions by Levenay?

"I'm glad you mentioned this." He takes a somewhat officious tone. "I hope that soon, the OK13DTFC will be able to offer a Hot Pink Cravat with the word 'SQUEEEEE!' embroidered on it for all its Perplex City members." He pauses, then seeming a bit crestfallen. "Unfortunately, the Ollietmarks were unable to be made, something about trivialising the honour, but I don't think there's anything trivial about me."

Regarding the OK13DTFC, it might have come as a surprise for one to learn he had such a following. Keers replies, seeming a bit blasé about it. "Not really, no. I am the best, so it is only natural that people should love me." Strong words, but it's easy enough to be full of vigour when one is at the top of the leaderboard. Does he have words of encouragement for those who are struggling in the lower ranks?

"But of course. If you work hard enough, you can solve any puzzle. Don't always tackle them alone. Ask people for assistance. They're usually more than happy to oblige. And, lastly, have fun, that's what puzzles are all about!"

And does Ollie have anything else to say, to fans, to critics, to the people of the city and Earth at large?

"I'd just like to remind everyone why we're doing this; to find the Cube, and unite our two cultures. Who knows, maybe someday we'll be traveling betwixt the two!"

*Although Oliver Keers was number one on the leaderboard when the interview took place, he no longer held that position at press time.



Quote:
# Earlywine Roasts Finlay
# PCBC Policy Questioned
# New Tretretretre Fashions


PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:26 pm
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Juxta
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Joined: 28 Aug 2005
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The Mean Ollie Boy wrote:

"It was very, very wet. Luckily, I had a few people working under me. They would run about like headless chickens, I'd shout the odd obscenity, and they'd do my bidding. Holding an umbrella, climbing a tree, that sort of thing. It was a good day, albeit one filled with commoners."


It's...it's....

*sniff*

...ALL TRUE....he was beastly. Simply rotten to us. I haven't had a good night's sleep since.

J
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zzzshusoharuxpfrp

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:37 pm
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cassandra
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
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 		PS. Dear Sentinel,

The Cube was stolen in 267. Just FYI.

Wink

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:43 pm
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BrianEnigma
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cassandra wrote:
PS. Dear Sentinel,

The Cube was stolen in 267. Just FYI.


SSSHHHHHH!!!!!! Don't let mere facts get in the way of reporting the news!
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Y0 Resources / VP Wiki / PXC Catalog / Metacortex

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:10 pm
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duckiemonster
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Juxta wrote:
I haven't had a good night's sleep since.

J


Juxta's only sulking because Ollie was more of a pretty pretty princess than him on the day.

Three Cheers for the Camp Pirate of Camden!
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:52 pm
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spugmeistress
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Joined: 22 Feb 2005
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City Council member Elisabeth Stein wrote:
"While it is true that these games will sharpen the wits of our Cube-seekers, it's also very likely to pull their focus away from searching. ... Too much time will be spent trying to best rivals. ... The last thing we should be doing is encouraging a spirit of competition among people we wish to share a single goal."


i like the way this woman thinks :)

but aside from that, applause to both scott and ollie for that magnificent article :) you've made a lot of teenage girls happy in perplexcity tonight ;)

rach =)

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:10 pm
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GasparLewis
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Joined: 19 Nov 2005
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 		I think I found a picture of Ollie's ego:



You can even see the cravat! Laughing

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:40 pm
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sledgecallier
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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Location: Behind the Sofa...
Quote:
I think I found a picture of Ollie's ego:


Nah, there's no cravat! Laughing
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My cards to trade at Perplexcitytrades

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:37 am
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perplexed
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 		I didn't realise Ollie was so flexible... I mean for a Pirate he sure can stick his head a *very* long way up his own arse.
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'take not my words as sacred, for in the Cube alone lies the power and each man must seek it for himself.' - Gyvaan
perplexed, moi? Definitely Razz

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:26 am
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Juxta
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Quote:
"Tongue-in-cheek. adj. Meant or expressed ironically or facetiously."


OR:-

Clearly the fact that you managed to identify the location of his head so readily (even through the medium of the written word) indicates that you are obviously speaking from personal experience. I always did think that your posts sounded somewhat muffled...

Humour people. Humour. It's, like, where something is funny and we laugh about it...

J
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:47 am
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DrKra37
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Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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Location: Colorado, USA
BriEnigma wrote:
cassandra wrote:
PS. Dear Sentinel,

The Cube was stolen in 267. Just FYI.


SSSHHHHHH!!!!!! Don't let mere facts get in the way of reporting the news!


Seriously! Haven't you learned ANYthing from Fox News?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:36 am
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European Chris
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Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 1264
Location: London's trendy Whitechapel

 		Fair and Balanced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdT9dfrb-Q&eurl=

Why she's decided to interview Brian Eno though is beyond me.


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:42 am
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tally
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Joined: 27 Dec 2005
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Location: Bedford, UK

 		Hehe! Good one Ollie! Very Happy And nicely written, Scott. Congrats ...I love the idea of pink cravats bearing the legend "Squeeeee!" I am sure you will find a market for them Smile


Tally
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:33 pm
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