Romier S Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 Gamespot is reporting an ilovebees.com ad campaign that appears to give some insight into Microsoft's next system. You can check out some screenshots that appear to give a slight view of the new redesigned controller as well as the power button of all things. Here is the report: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/04/06/news_6121811.html That said, there does appear to be more than one direct connection between ourcolony.net and Microsoft. First, one of the distorted images on the ourcolony.net home page features an Xbox power button. When compared to a current-generation Xbox's power button, the pattern is unmistakable, although it is now set against a shiny white background. But whereas Ilovebees.com was a narrative-driven mystery, ourcolony.net appears to be a competition. After successfully guessing the password to enter the site (Hint: it rhymes with "hay") a message from someone called the "Gamem8ker" asks visitors to form a "colony" or team. "It's colony against colony and to the winner, well, the winner gets all," reads a message from the Gamem8ker. How does one win? Do the still-unnamed viral-marketing firm's legwork and spread the word about ourcolony.net. After starting a colony, players of the not-an-alternate reality who recruit five to the colony game will get their first "challenge," and will receive more challenges as they recruit more members to join the ad campaign/game. "You're not going to make it to the end if you try to solo this, there's strength in numbers," reads Gamem8ker's message. The second connection to Microsoft has to do with the rewards doled out to colonies that win challenges. According to posts in the ourcolony.net forums, challenge-winners receive partial pictures of what looks like a white version of a redesigned Xbox controller. Currently, only two images are currently available--both in a folder marked "thesecret" on the site's directory. The first looks like a thumbstick above a D-pad. The second shows the D-pad in more detail, just above a curved edge in what appears to be the middle of a controller. When combined and compared to a current-generation S-controller, the images exhibit a distinctly Xbox-ian layout and feel, although the start and back buttons appear to be missing. As the ourcolony.net competition progresses, it is almost certain that a more pictures of the controller--and perhaps its console--will surface. Here are the pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 You guys want to start a 'colony'? We need people to earn points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foogledricks Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 I'm game so long as it doesn't take much time, and remains interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foogledricks Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 You guys want to start a 'colony'? We need people to earn points. I tried to create an lcvg colony, but I'm getting all types of server errors... I think the site is being hammered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted April 7, 2005 Report Share Posted April 7, 2005 I tried too. Someone already has a colony called LCVG -at least that's the response I got when trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlucci Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Um...not to be a damp towel, but every piece of computer equipment I own has that "XBox Power Button" on it.... :confused: There's other clues, too! Game Informer Article Count me in, big time! I recommend splitting this into its own thread for those who want to play along. Carlos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whooter Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 There's other clues' date=' too! Game Informer Article Count me in, big time! I recommend splitting this into its own thread for those who want to play along. Carlos. Okay. Now I'm intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foogledricks Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 I think this thing is exploding like a perfect storm. I can't get on the colony site at all now. The gameinformer article is down because of server load I think. It is possible that I may have created the LCVG team at the time I received an error during registration. If I could get into the site I'd be able to check. What type of a marketing campaign where the goal is to exponentially increase traffic to your website, has inadequate server resources? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyN Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 im in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Perhaps this is obvious but I just noticed it: The image of the "new power button". Look at the blurred image behind the glowing green power icon. To my eyes that's a controller and a console. It could be the current Xbox but I can't tell for sure. Can anyone tell if the new controller images are really of white controllers -or is that some sort of photoshop negative image? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foogledricks Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Can anyone tell if the new controller images are really of white controllers -or is that some sort of photoshop negative image? Wow, good question! You prompted me to reverse the image. And in looking at it more closely, which made me think you were onto something. But the D-pad is the tell. It is very different than the controller-s. The left analog on the other hand, although hard to tell, looks exactly the same as the controller-s. I think this type of compaign is awesome. Though I doubt it extends beyond the core Xbox-fantatics that were already going to purchase Xbox Next anyway. Though I admit to having reservations about buying Xbox Next immediately. So perhaps the hype generated from such things does affect people like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derrik Draven Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Eh, I'll admit it: I'll be waitin' in line with the other fanboys, the day the Nextbox hits the shelves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlucci Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Ok, I created a colony. The colony name is: Sh!tstormers, and the password is: 38061235 Everyone try to join in! I did hit the "Colony is growing fast" error message a few times in the process, but I finally got to a new screen. So if it looks like it errors out, your input might have still worked. Carlos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boogieman Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Nevermind. ...and I think I've joined your colony carlucci. Not quite sure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 I'm trying to get in...frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 I'd join, but I don't even get the first puzzle or whatever. Blah, ok, I'm in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted April 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I joined Carlos. Have no idea what the hell to do with the first challenge. :lmfao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 20000 CMWKTRW. Who? WTF?? Well, at least we finally got a colony together. We should be proud of that accomplishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlucci Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Just saw that 1st challenge. I guess we have 5 or more members, but I can't see who they are. I'm guessing that CMWKTRW are the first letters in the words of a phrase. Can anyone come up with a common phrase that consists of those letters? Carlos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain rising Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I joined - and am as puzzled by CMWKTRW as anyone else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I just joined. The "20000" part -- is that part of the puzzle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Here's what I have, from this page: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/CORNISH/1998-02/0887313619 "The last time the Cornish people threatened to cross the Tamar was during the reign of James II when Bishop Jonathan Trelawny of Trelawne in East Cornwall was imprisoned in the Tower for protesting against the Declarationof Indulgence regarding toleration to Catholics... "And shall Trelawny die" became a catch phrase throughout the County with its echoing reply "Here is 20,000 Cornishmen will know the reason why". EDIT:: It took Trelawney. First puzzle done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orpheus Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 joined.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlucci Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 EDIT:: It took Trelawney. First puzzle done! Just damn, Jay! What kind of search engine did you use, or how exactly did you do that? next challenge: Your memory is lost, your aura is high, your life within an inch, you have one weapon left to finish off the enemy what is it? If you read closely you should know the answer One of our old school PC gamers might know this one. Anyone? Carlos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 What kind of search engine did you use, or how exactly did you do that? Well, as you know, I'm half Cornish and half Welsh (our family name was Cwrtllfdhglfshg before it got Anglicized to the English "Monkey"). Actually I googled "our colony" and saw the quote about Cornishmen somewhere. From there the answer was a google away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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