unforum

[greyberger]

[SPEC] Interaction theory

[hamatoyoshi]

I'm definitely agreeing that if the payphone thing is true, people should have their questions ready.

[GunsmithCat]

Well, while the Operator thing would be REALLY COOL, I'd have to doubt it on meta reasons. I don't even know what kind of court order that would require.

I do agree with the interaction theory. We're assuming Melissa is just going to make a wav file, my assumption is that it would be an audio clue to start the next "phase" of the game.

But if we need no clue, if the next phase doesn't start with a puzzle...

We know Melissa wants a voice.

She's mentioned a voice is handy to interact.

I'd still bank a pre-recorded message is more likely, but agree people who going to these points should have some questions handy. Darn good spec.

[gaelenb]

to hold itself apart

[gheritt]

If phones are involved on Tuesday, a lot of us will be recording the conversation. I believe Melissa will be as well. And soon, we'll be hearing incredibly creepy messages on the site, built out of our own voices.

[GunsmithCat]

More thoughts on this:

- If it's not interactive, what is Melissa's most likely message? All roads point to a mayday or some kind of SOS.

- Unless she is confused about how phones work, they seem like a poor choice for a mayday. Like calling a random stranger and asking for help.

- So if it's not a mayday - is it possible she is going after another of her goals? Maybe she's looking for the truth? Doing a little recon?

I'd say people might not only be prepared to ask some questions, but possibly ask questions themselves. I'd be prepared not to say too much

The other non-interactive message I can think of is a warning, but that seem very redudant to the website. I suppose not much more than mayday text though.

Man, if the payphone theory holds till Tues - and there are two or more people at one site, I'd hate to have choose who answers

[Revealer]

[GunsmithCat]

That's a really good point Revealer. It might also lend to an interactive conversation, not a recorded message. Easier to be equal about it if someone could pass the phone around, or tell people what is being said/etc.

Course, it will probably be really short conversation by the time table, and might not be so easy.

Maybe if it's a recorded message it will be repeating?

[Maestro]

I'm leaning away from the "payphone" theory, partly because I'm in England and I don't like the idea of being left out... but also because, if I remember correctly, some of the co-ordinates were in fields and things. Can the PMs be sure that people will be able to find these places to the correct degree of accuracy? (Not such an issue in cities and things, but out in the sticks a few degrees out can make a hell of a lot of difference.)

But then again, if they're not co-ordinates, what are they? I thought maybe IP addresses, but the format is all wrong for that (I think). Interesting side note: if you type the "co-ordinates" into Google, it counts them as a calculation: xxxxxx minus xxxxxx, and brings up the answer. There are no hits for the co-ordinates, but there *are* hits for the mathematical "answer"...

(Apologies if this is all rubbish, first post, just musings.)

[GunsmithCat]

Most of them are by the side of some road. One of the things that was leading me away from a physical event was that some just didn't seem to be much of anywhere. But there are still phonebooths along some highways and in some neighborhoods.

It seems as more people re-scout with the intent of finding a payphone, they find one that may not be precise, but is pretty close to the target.

[greyberger]

[Jade Cat]

First time poster. Man, I was surprised to see just how many coordinate points were near-ish to where I live (Hot damn! SIX in Baltimore?! And another in nearby Pikesville.), but I'm going to be another one of those lumps that's going to stick to staying home and watching the website like a hawk.

Me? Chickenwuss? Naaaw.

[HitsHerMark]

[jellyfish_green]

In CYOA format

1. So how will you answer the phone?
"Hello?" (go to 2)
"I Love Bees!" (go to 4)
"Yo, I'm looking for a couple grams." (go to 5)
"HALO!" (go to 2)

2. The voice asks
"Do you love bees?"
You answer
"Yes!" (go to 4)
"No" (go to 5)
"WTF?!" (go to 5)

4. The voice launches into a story segment, almost exactly two minutes long. Do you record it?
Yes (go to 6)
No (go to 5)

5. The call disconnects. You stand there puzzled for some time then go home. THE END

6. You rush to the forum after the call disconnects and post your transcript in the existing threads. You realize some of the transcripts are the same, as the PM's were using data redundancy. Some genius works out what the total message is and posts it to the Wiki before the final axons have even activated. You read the message and puzzle over it for some time. THE END

Edit: adding the Halo fanboy option.

[jellyfish_green]

(pats self on back)
'cos 3 out of 5 ain't bad.