SOLUTION:

So, here's the detailed solution to this little puzzle:

  • first of all the starting link wasn't getting you to a single giveaway, it was actually 4 distinct links each getting to a bundle giveaway.
  • hidden in the description of each bundle giveaway was a link to a fragment of a QR code. The full code could be assembled without flipping, rotating, twisting, turning or bopping the pieces. The reason why many of you couldn't read the resulting code was because the 4 pieces had OVERLAPPING SECTIONS. It was easily spotted in a wrongly assembled code because you would have in the center of the image a repeated pattern. The right code would give you this string: NB2HI4DTHIXS653XO4XGI4TPOBRG66BOMNXW2L3TNAXWINTXM42TOODCNJZGI5LEGVQS6SKLHFHGIMRVGRCUW===
  • the string wasn't encoded in BASE64 as many of you thought, but in BASE32. The difference is easy to spot once you know it: all the characters are uppercase and there are 3 equals sign at the end (BASE64 allows a maximum of 2). When converted you'll get this link to a dropbox folder: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d6wg578bjrdud5a/IK9Nd254EK
  • the seven files contained in the folder contained three intruders. The file 4.wav, reported as broken, was actually a text file that contained a link to the Blacklight giveaway and the hints for the next step. It told you that not all of the music files contained actual music, and in fact the files 5 and 6 were actually images converted to sound with a little program called Coagula; they can be viewed with any Spectrogram analyzer. In the file I suggested Sonic Visualiser, but there's one in Audacity too. On one image you had the word PASTEBIN, while the other had Morse code that translated to 3jPE9aZS, giving you http://pastebin.com/3jPE9aZS.
  • the pastebin link contains a binary text. When translated you'll get a morse code, that translates in more binary code, that gives a BASE 64 code, that finally contains the links to the three Legacy of Kain giveaways.
  • The last step was quite easy: in the three LoK giveaways I put the final giveaways code for Alan Wake. The catch was that the codes were on a comment, not in the description.

I hope you enjoyed this puzzle and I hope to see you all for my next one. See you soon!


Hello fellow SteamGifters!

How are you today? Do you feel a lack of puzzles in your life?
What do you say? NO? Well, I couldn't care less! Here's another one, all special, all MINE!

Rules as usual: no sharing, no leaking, no hinting, SOLVE IT BY YOURSELF!!! (pleeeease)
If you're stuck wait for the hints I'll drop here(maybe), and if you're REALLY stuck you can contact me on Steam, any hint I'll give this way will also be reported on this thread.

If you think there's a problem, contact me ASAP, I'll check it out.

The puzzle runs for a week, good luck!

You can start here!

Please bump the thread when you've solved the whole puzzle!

A NOTE FOR NEW PUZZLE SOLVERS: did you know that you can make an "invisible" link by using this syntax: {}("yourhiddenlink.here")(with square brackets instead of curly brackets) ? This way the link is on the page, but you can only see it by accessing the HTML source of the page! The more you know

ANOTHER NOTE FOR EVERYONE: since many didn't notice, there's a total of 10 giveaways in this puzzle!

HINT 1: yes, there's a QR code. NO, there's nothing wrong with it, you just have to be careful.
HINT 2: Look at what you've done! LOOK AT IT! (the QR, I mean)
HINT 3: The note for new puzzle solvers may be the most important advice for solving the whole puzzle, or maybe not.
HINT 4: what you get may not be what you immediately think, but BASEically they work in a similar way.

11 years ago*

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11 years ago
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The you've not been careful enough

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Any would do, it's a valid QR code if you did what you're supposed to do

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Then the problem must be in the image... whistles innocently

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Take your time, there's still a week left to solve it.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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I haven't figured out what to do with the result just yet, but I will say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the QR code; it took me a little bit, too, but you are missing something. :) Good luck! On to figure this bit out.

11 years ago
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As Kappei keeps saying, must be careful!

11 years ago
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Should I change anything in QR code?

11 years ago
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nothing to change, you should just work with what you have

11 years ago
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Ok, I will waiting for a new hint ;)

11 years ago
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I shall not say one way or the other, sorry! You'll figure it out :D Good luck. I'm stuck on what to do after the QR code, myself.

11 years ago
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+1

11 years ago
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Same here, took me a while but now...will take even more lol

11 years ago
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New hint added.

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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You are so generous.

11 years ago
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That's nice dear.
I'm sure other's appreciate the giveaways, even if they're not good enough for you.

11 years ago
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They are inferior to your supreme generosity.

11 years ago
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You're looking just at the surface...

11 years ago
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So many 'nice' giveaways on your profile CLACK

11 years ago
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Solved...Well, atleast most of it.

11 years ago
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[Puzzle] Insert clever title here <<< What about wicked twisted brain puzzle :)

Beside that joke, i'm pretty new to puzzle solving, and yours isn't good for a rookie lol, but i'm having fun till now (tryin to figure what i've to do after reading that QR code^^)

11 years ago
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Quick update: we have 6 solvers at the moment, with another one at the last step.

Don't give up!

11 years ago
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Did I miss something after the triple games award ?
Don't know where to go from there, would be nice to have a hint which direction to choose now :)

11 years ago
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Will there be more hints for the code from the qr code? Im stuck and i dont get the hint :D.

11 years ago
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I do hope so lol i only succeed in doin one thing with what i got from it but didn't seems to be what i was supposed to do lol cause it leads nowhere :(
Maybe i'll try to add Kappei tom for a lil chat if he have spare time...

11 years ago
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Everyone's talking about QR code but I couldn't even find it :)

11 years ago
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i'm waiting for better hints ;D still don't know what to do after solving qr

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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Glad you enjoyed it :)

11 years ago
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I finally solved QR code, but what is this? My brain burns! :)) Thanks for really interresting puzzle :)

11 years ago
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Lol same here. I solved the QR Code and scanned it and just went "wait, what?"

11 years ago
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You're welcome!

Take your time, it's solvable :P

11 years ago
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ZáU¶ÔªÕEV¸UJ­µµQU®!

11 years ago
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OK, so I found the QR code and solved that. Then I found another thing, which looks slightly off, I know what is this that looks off, but have no clue on how to approach it from there.

EDIT: Solved!

11 years ago
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Added another cryptic hint. How's it going? Stuck?

11 years ago
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Still stuck at the code

11 years ago
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I'm stuck trying to figure out what to do with what the QR code gave you. Still no idea.

11 years ago
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Indeed sir, no idea whats up with that qr-result...

11 years ago
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Same goes here, but i haven't really worked on it, i trained myself on another puzzle...the more i learn, the more i'll become an efficient puzzle solver :)

edit: done that part...movin on to the next part XD even if i always sucked at blind test...

11 years ago
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Unnnnbelievable. Whenever i see a comment from you, you seem one step ahead of me. Grrrrr. ;)

11 years ago
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Stuck :(

11 years ago
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Where to look after getting the Kain's ?

11 years ago
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Bump for solved. Thank you!

11 years ago
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that qr... :|

wait a sec...

nope..

11 years ago
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Kappei, when online, would you mind adding me...i'm having what seems to be an issue with the music part and i'd like to know if it is a real one or if it was intended that way...thanks.

11 years ago
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Quick bump for those that are still stuck. Always keep in mind the "Note for new puzzle solvers".

A more specific help for those stuck at the QR image: hints 1 and 2 are for you, don't forget them while you try to solve it. The result is a readable QR.

For those stuck at the step after that: sorry guys, still too soon for hints about that :P

11 years ago
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Completely stucked after that music part, I am, knowing the path but Hmmmmmm.

11 years ago
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I swear that it's easier than you can think...

11 years ago
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New Hint! Wait, no...

Something has changed, but what? wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more, say no more

11 years ago
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Finally solved the music part (and thus the rest of the puzzle), thanks for the very enjoyable puzzle, Kappei!

11 years ago
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You're welcome :)

11 years ago
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Bump for solved :)
Great entertaining puzzle, i'll watch out for your next one.

11 years ago
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Solved, thank you for a great puzzle :)

11 years ago
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That's the really good puzzle! Solved almost everything spending like maybe 4-5 hours! Thanks! Need to figure out what's after kain.

11 years ago
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I gotta admit I really don't see any next steps.

11 years ago
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I guess we need a hint here...

11 years ago
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Everything you need for the last step is already there...

11 years ago
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I understood your hint! ANd thank you alot mate, the puzzle is now completely solved! One of the best puzzles I've completed so far!

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Kappei.