2012 Summer ARG Summary [Updated TL;DR]

[Marshazzle]

2012 Summer ARG Summary*

An updated summary of our current knowledge on the ARG

Click if you don't know what ARG stands for

Valve's Portal 2 ARG





TF2 Wiki ARG Page:
http://valvearg.com/tfhunt/Main_Page



6/19/12, random items were added to the game;

not mentioned in update files.

Level 1 Banana Peel
Where did the banana go? Sit down for this next part, because WE HAVE NO IDEA. Admit it, that's kind of mysterious."

Level 1 Plank
This barn door plank doesn't look mysterious at all, until you view it at an atomic level. Hey, there's a horse there next to all those atoms. They're taking turns riding the horse. Man, how did a horse get there? Pretty darn mysterious.

Level 1 Secret Diary
Unlike other games we could mention, owning this won't trigger a sound file narrating secret diary entries. Why? Because we RESPECT THE PRIVACY of our characters. What are they hiding? Truly we live in MYSTERIOUS TIMES.

Level 1 Capacitor
How did it get damaged? Who damaged it? What is a capacitor? Better get your tickets ready, because the mystery train is leaving the station. Or did it already leave? Another mystery!

Goldfish:
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...762030853d.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...5ffcd3eb24.png

Pocket lint
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...669f32cb84.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...85d17b2013.png

Cheese Wheel
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...585c7c318b.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...1db3e8ec3f.png

Banana Peel
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...a418b0a92f.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...2c98881d57.png

Barn Door Plank
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...b5ecc9dd91.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...12309132a7.png

Secret Diary
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...7dc9d75c31.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...c5176259be.png

Damaged Capacitor
http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...4fcb3a4c65.png

http://media.steampowered.com//apps/...74f12bbc53.png

Numbers/letters on the capacitor represented 6/22 (June 22nd) and

V1500 representing V = 5, 1500 divided by 5 = 300 = 300th TF2 Update.

6/20/12, Medic/Spy set equipped (Nine Pipe Problem + Private Eye)

reveals partial coding on random item icons in backpack.

Added MD5 hash records to mystery solving time attribute.

http://steamcommunity.com/id/Marshaz...736?tab=public

http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/El...The_Impossible

The set is based on the fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The name is a reference to the detective's famous phrase: "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Sherlock Holmes unfinished item quote: "... the ... .hi.h ..." "... yea. in, .e.r out ..." "... may ... .n ..."Thi.k o. ..." "... deed. of he.l.sh .rue. .y ... noic : .y ... non. .he w.se.." "... such .lace., .a.d …"

Sherlock Holmes finished item quote: "Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser."


6/21/12, the same day, an update occured allowing craft of 2

Banana Peels to recieve an error message.

Banana error #1

Banana error #2

Banana error #3

Banana error #4

Banana error #5

Banana error #6

Banana error #7

Banana error #8


Minutes later, these codes were being surveyed on Ned_Ballad's

official thread and used to decode the HEX and QR images into portions of text.

Direct Exerpt:

Submit banana codes here http://xpaw.ru/tf2-magic/


Central Steam group http://steamcommunity.com/groups/tf2summerarg


First Image

Combining 7 and 8 QR codes

http://tf2.com/cajtaypvdbyl.jpg


The errors spit out a unique code, this code seems to be connected to a png that we have to decode. The png seems to form a QR code.


Quote:
<+Lagg> Guys, there is a 100% reliable way you can see how many PNGs there are 14:20
<+Lagg> Assuming you collect all the codes, search for 0x89 0x50 0x4E 0x47 0x0D 0x0A 0x1A 0x0A 14:21
<+Lagg> For every one of those that appear, there is one PNG image in the stream.

Error numbers vary, and the code is different always, but the error code stops at 8.
Error number changes every time.



Code Survey Info:
http://xpaw.ru/tf2-magic/list2.php



The Official Steam group for the ARG then posted various other QR

codes.


QR Site: http://xkeeper.net/private/portal/tf2.php


http://tf2.com/cajtaypvdbyl.jpg

http://tf2.com/tn125a5ym6sn.jpg

http://tf2.com/9rpragt86n3p.jpg

http://tf2.com/h5r1bxdt9sg1.jpg

http://tf2.com/w8cs1ednpphy.jpg

http://tf2.com/42jv1wiiacu6.jpg

http://tf2.com/cajtaypvdbyl.jpg


List of speculated possiblities with these .pngs:


http://puu.sh/CIYu (Credit to Rammite)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7723097/compiled.png

http://i.imgur.com/J7KaP.jpg (Credit to Shradow)



Complete Image: http://i.imgur.com/GdMVg.png



6/21/12 at almost midnight, the TF2 Blog

updated with a Steam Workshop tutorial. This gave information on

how to create and model a TF2 item.

http://tf2.com/post.php?id=8045


This post gives a sneak peak at the new

weapon, the Scorch Shot. Speculation tells us it's for the Meet

The Pyro update possibly coming soon.

Spoiler:

---

http://s11.postimage.org/z2z8wfovn/Scorch_Shot_1.jpg

http://s15.postimage.org/fcy2zvb6j/Scorch_Shot_2.jpg

http://s13.postimage.org/alqwjebt3/Scorch_Shot_3.jpg

http://s16.postimage.org/9f5eh6ux1/Scorch_Shot_4.jpg

http://s16.postimage.org/jf0ax366d/Scorch_Shot_5.jpg

http://s18.postimage.org/xjbu3icvd/Scorch_Shot_6.jpg

http://s7.postimage.org/5db9sghdn/Scorch_Shot_7.jpg

http://s7.postimage.org/6tmsalkaj/Scorch_Shot_8.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/h4oamolip/Scorch_Shot_9.jpg

http://s7.postimage.org/ec5xj8bnf/Scorch_Shot_10.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/uo54sdzht/Scorch_Shot_11.jpg

http://s17.postimage.org/papn6hobj/Scorch_Shot_12.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/rl4ep0kj5/Scorch_Shot_13.jpg

http://s15.postimage.org/ndcdocs4b/Scorch_Shot_14.jpg

http://s14.postimage.org/dfyln7bht/Scorch_Shot_15.jpg

http://s8.postimage.org/e7g80iv79/Scorch_Shot_16.jpg

http://s18.postimage.org/khzc5538p/Scorch_Shot_17.jpg

http://s17.postimage.org/5vevddv1b/Scorch_Shot_18.jpg

http://s13.postimage.org/5m2n2xkxz/Scorch_Shot_19.jpg

---

Posted at the bottom there's a YouTube video. At 7:08 in the

video, tabs of numerous song titles/artists are visible. This includes a song by

Goldfish and Gorillaz, relating to the goldfish from the ARG, the Pyro mask being in

one of the song's music videos and the lyrics talking about heat in portions.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9vMY...layer_embedded


Speculation brings us back to Poopy Joe, a character mentioned in

the War! Update years ago. The mystery continues.


http://teamfortress.com/war/saxtonhale/poopyjoe.htm



6/22/12 midday, Panzer posted a thread reguarding the new Valve

and Adult Swim team project dated for next week. When registering on Adult Swim, a

friendly Pyro is there to greet you, not by coincidence. Some believe this is ARG

related and others say it's Meet the Pyro itself. Time will tell.



Adult Swim/Valve Site Description:
http://www.adultswim.com/promos/valve/




Coming Next Week Adult Swim & Valve

are teaming up for something that you'll probably enjoy. To learn how their video game peanut butter will be getting in our network's chocolate, come back next week.

Also: you'll want to sign up for the newsletter. You've been warned.




6/22/12, the TF2 Blog updated again with Pyro dialogue. It was

almost immediatly discovered that the Pyro speaks in morse code; longer mmmmmphs

equal dashes and shorter mphs equal dots. Once decoded, it spelt out MONDAY.

This is when Meet the Pyro will possibly be released.


Mmmmph mmmmph, mmmmm mmmmmp mmmmmph. Mmmmmph mpm! Mmmmmph mph mm! Hm mmmmmph, hmmmmph mm mmmmmph mmmmmph! translates -- --- -. -.. .- -.--


http://tf2.com/post.php?id=8256



6/23/12 the TF2 Official Wiki updated with signs that the Pyro

had visited. Scorched piles of ash replacing class icons, besides the Pyro of

course, and burn holes in the ARG icon. This has been proven a hoax and hype for the

upcoming update. (TF2 Wiki link at top of thread)



ARG Rumors/Theories:



The decoded HEX/QR pages have hints as to where Saxton Hale sent

Poopy Joe in the rocket. This is provided on page 204 when Saxton Hale is trying to

remember the name of the location. "Or Bar. It could've started with Bar. Or Ber.


The Wooden Padlocked Beam bears a resemblance to the ones seen at Barnblitz.

Quote:

"After he got back safe and sound, of course, we sent the little guy on an all expense paid vacation for his service to America. For all I know, he's still there." - Hale

Original Thread:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=2761613

Information needed to approve/disapprove:

>Confirmed location: Barnblitz
>Multiple user exploration



6/25/12, the TF2 Blog updated with the announcement of Pyro Mania

Day 1 and the Official Meet the Pyro Countdown. The Meet the Pyro video now has been

dated for June 27th.



At the bottom of the Pyromania page, clicking the banana brings you

to the continuation of pages 204 and 205 of the decoded recent QR Codes/Hex. And

lastly, secret coding under the Day 3 gauge on the Pyromania page reveals the

partially visible text, 'Do No... Until You Watch The...' hinting at MtP.

http://tf2.com/post.php?id=8260

http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/doomsday/

http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/

http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/thepoopyjoefiles/

http://i.imgur.com/jc2jh.jpg (Text removed 5PM EST)


6/25/12 in the afternoon, Marshazzle and Ngulezian speculated

page 834 of the narrative backstory page. (See above links)



3/4 of the way down the article page, nearly the entire script is being blocked out

with black highlighting. 'Ms. XXXXX. Very well. For XXXXX years I have been

stockpiling Australium to XXXXX and also XXXXX thus preventing XXXXX in order to

XXXXX eighteen perfect idiots to XXXXX. (gasps)


We've translated this to, 'Ms. XXXXX. Very well. For XXXXX years I have been

stockpiling Australium to transport a suitcase nuke full of recalled Mann Co.

Australium to American monkeynaut Poopy Joe’s rocket (quoted and pieced in from

Day 1 Update description*) and also blast off and hunt down Soviet space chimp

Vladimir Bananas (same reason applies*) thus preventing the opposing team

from achieving their goals in order to undoubtedly, in the most righteous,

sophisticated respect, unify two teams (Blue & Red) as trained mercinaries, and hire

these eighteen perfect idiots (referring to the nine classes per team) to

attempt to get the necessary fuel up a preposterously slow-moving elevator and into

Poopy Joe’s Australium-powered rocket to the stars. (same reason applies)



6/26/12 noon, the Official Pyromania Countdown timer changed its background to a Pyro holding the Scorch Shot.

http://s14.postimage.org/9lrs4t7cx/P...New_Weapon.png

Minutes later, a can was added at the bottom of the screen to the

right of the banana, leaving middle space. Clicking this brings you to a small

exerpt of a Soldier book titled, 'Soldier Needs A Home.'

http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/soldierhome/

Minutes after, again, Day 2 was released. This shows new weapons

for the Scout, Sniper, Soldier, and Pyro.

http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/cityonfire/




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Got feedback/ideas? PM me:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...r.php?u=677814




*This thread will continue to be updated as more information is

availible. Currently, this is a summary for the entire process of the ARG so far. I

am in no way intending on stealing user's information; I am merely giving users the

option to get direct information from one source based off of every speculation

possible.

And on future notice...

Keep researching: For SCIENCE!

Thank you.


-Marshazzle

[bLark]

I love you right now. Keep this updated and on the front page, huh?

[zflem]

I love this.

[heinbot]

Nice good work so far guys. Has anyone combined the picture images yet to read what it says?

[Rammite]

Originally Posted by heinbot

Nice good work so far guys. Has anyone combined the picture images yet to read what it says?

I'll dig up my post.

EDIT:
http://puu.sh/CIYu

The left 2 don't match, but the right 2 do.

[heinbot]

Originally Posted by Rammite

I'll dig up my post.

EDIT:
http://puu.sh/CIYu

The left 2 don't match, but the right 2 do.

Nice, I was going to do it but you beat me to it. I noticed that the pictures don't line up exactly. The first sentence does, but then they start to have words missing. Its almost as if each picture is slanted in a way like this /\ just a tad bit though.

[Rexic The King]

where does it show gorillaz in the flare video?

I onyl saw the fort knox picture

[bomisale]

Originally Posted by heinbot

Nice good work so far guys. Has anyone combined the picture images yet to read what it says?

It appears to be a transcript of a Senate hearing regarding the Poopy Joe / Mann Co incident. I'll post a composite momentarily.

--edit-- Ninja'd

[heinbot]

Rammite, the main posted added another picture file if you would be so kind to combinimify it to your picture.

[heinbot]

Also I don't know if anyone has posted this anywhere yet but I tried crafting bananas with the fruit shoot set (sniper hat with apple). Got nothin'. Thought they would be related somehow.

[Chesham]

All of the first links are broken.

(and forgive my ignorance, but what does ARG mean? 0_o)

[Marshazzle]

Originally Posted by Chesham

All of the first links are broken.

(and forgive my ignorance, but what does ARG mean? 0_o)

Fixed.

Thanks for the notice, I'll be updating again shortly.

[EraZorX]

Originally Posted by Chesham

All of the first links are broken.

(and forgive my ignorance, but what does ARG mean? 0_o)

Alternate Reality Game

[bomisale]

If I'm reading between the lines properly (pun intended), I believe the term "nation's entire supply of Australium" is contained in the entry.

[Mart.]

nicesd