Edit:
I'll add this here until the OP is updated..
https://www.mindmeister.com/nl/628152815/northpole-noir
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l1Ojpyu2NAw8oLk0Hqmm91sgLQG91lEb_Weowf8R98g/preview?pref=2&pli=1#
A visual chronology of things that are known:
https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1bsioDCdqZO5fLCWdZUxQh3uvTvLCoIrSeTCK3-A6CMg/preview?usp=sharing&pref=2&pli=1&sle=true
imgur mirror:
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What what what what?
whut?
What's going on here? When I type search, nothing special happens. Maybe because my Steam is German? What is supposed to happen? :O
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don't type it in the search field, just type it when you have an app page up and press enter
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what browser are you using?
im using the german webpage and its working fine for me
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Yeah, I tried it in my German steam client first, but nothing happened. I just tried it in my Danish edge browser, and it worked =D.
Goodbye sleep ;_;
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Just go to any game page on steam such as http://store.steampowered.com/app/6900/
Then type the word search and press the Enter key.
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what does that mean - i´m using firefox ?? nothing happens when i enter 9405999014715
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you put that code in the dialogue box that pops up
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yep. The window opens, i enter the code and nothing happens.
I have read the content here so i have heared the .wav but i dont understand anything here :(
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it worked for me, reload the page just type search and press enter.
interesting stuff :v
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"Search box" on Far Cry 4 page... HUHMMMMM
Look at the game image.
Theres a mountain.
The mountain create a triangle on its top.
▲ illuminati ▲ is the password.
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go to Hitman: Codename 47
type search; push enter
input 9405999014715
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update 2: inputting the code you get from update 1 into winter comic url gives you this
Holy craps
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Theres 2 hidden voice message in that sound file (explore artist maybe is my doubt too strong and it says this is even the 2nd or 3rd or even the 5th round)
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haven't checked anything yet, and I'm not sure if it's been suggested, but could it actually be from a game? This is what dialogue (usually) sounds like before it's put in the game, and it doesn't mention any specifics about Christmas etc., so it could be from some detective game (next game to try search on?)
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This is what you hear from the file :
"I was on the right track, I could feel it. Tomorrow, I was going to search again"
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I guess that means we have to wait till tomorrow for the next part maybe?
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Someone said on Reddit that the file was last edited on the 25th so...
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yeah, maybe we're supposed to find something on every page? ("come back tomorrow for the next thing") Found some weird letters on page 2, but I don't think they mean anything. I think I'll just leave this to the "professionals" and see what they find ^^
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Yeah, my guess is that every day there will be a hint and probably on the final day of the sale you get to the end. (Only guessing here)
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That's a secret way to get Half-Life 3 Beta access.
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Does the number 559549051487795 mean anything to anyone? Google fails to find it.
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How– whaat?
How do people even find that kind of stuff?
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Don't you ever compare web pages source to check what they changed?
And the bar code from the comic was the same as the one tattooed on Agent 47 head. Bar code is only a number and this one says 9405999014715.
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because it was kinda obvious that there is some minigame during sale. And the line 59 on every steam store page source code is kinda provoking.
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I have no idea, but it's pretty damn cool to see people figuring it out hahaha
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what I really wanna know is how someone figured to type "search" on a game page
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Steam store web page source line 59. What do you see there?
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Exactly. So what do you do with file named like that?
Come on, just a little further...
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that was the javascript that popped up the dialogue box on all the apps in the store
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Yes. And if you take a moment to look at the code inside this file you would find a function which reads which keys are pressed. if you press any key it will add this key to the string type variable g_strBuffer , with the exception of the Enter button, which if pressed will check if the g_strBuffer is equal to "SEARCH".
Not so difficult if you know where to look.
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that's pretty awesome xDDDDD
I would never think to check for that haha
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I ignore everything labelled "Very important", "Urgent" and "Must read". nothingtoseehere is for me somewhere between "you just won a 1 000 000$ or free Brest enlargement surgery!" and "funny cat photos".
The next question is if the number 559549051487795 means something or not.
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I think this 1fce82a72c633 from Base 16 to Bas 10 , Right ??
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Hmm I dunno if they would bring in hex coding.
It has to do with the comic I think
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Yes, it is file name in decimal instead of hex. It might be a dead end, but I am pretty sure that file got it's name for a reason.
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update 3:
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=blitzen yields Grim Fandango
type search; push enter
input the club code from winter sale comic: "HOT TODDIES AND MASERATIS"
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got sent to Undertale :O
What now? ^^
(not sure if it's a spoiler for anyone, sorry)
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non of this has worked here for me ether in a browser or there desktop app
Edit: got it to work in IE firefox was a no go for me.
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Loving this hunt. Doesn't seem like anything new has been found in a little but here's a bump for now.
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everyone is stumped atm xD Maybe a breakthrough tomorrow.
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Wait i thought of something that might be a code what is the 1 thing undertale is based around
Yes DETERMINATION it may be that i dont know just a theory
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new possible breakthrough: typing bullet hell in the search on undertale gets you to Ikaruga.
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Maybe even Valve doesn't know what they are doing with this yet ^^ 'Lets just put the users on wild goose chase on the different store pages... maybe they even buy some of those games in the process!'
Or this is a secret trial to get a recruitment mail from illuminati.
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they already did something like this for the announcement of Portal 2 :v
Maybe they are gonna announce something, or just they like to see us run in circles.
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Were they not developing a new source engine? Maybe they'll anounce a new game that runs with that...
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New thing found again:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/FireSlash/badges/24
profile has a hash : 2cdeda75c0afb5c4a7a45dfe978315f6
and a link : http://comeonandsl.am/
edit : hash reads "Chris[space]Kadar" ?
edit2 : thats just the guys name, so the hash isn't a clue...?
RED HERRING?
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hm, last played: Undertale -> Ikaruga -> Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex First Assault Online, two of which were part of the ARG so far ...
Edit: Checked archive.org, the hash and link were already there in September :/
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The eye with the red background on the image of H1Z1 is part of this? Or is it something else I haven't noticed yet?
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oh man.
:o
A few sleuthy people have discovered clues and hints in this year's winter sale
and have found breadcrumbs left behind by Gingerbread Jake.
Follow along to see what was decrypted!
(Now with Red Herring Badge)
Gotta say, it's pretty damn impressive how people are decrypting the clues;
even more impressive is seeing people work together to solve them!
update 1:
go to Hitman: Codename 47
type search; push enter
input the code from the winter sale comic cover's barcode (now removed): 94050999014715
update 2:
inputting the code you get from update 1 {ic/4f21ca7} into winter comic url gives you this
4f21ca7 {filename 1fce82a72c633.wav}
A man saying "I was on the right track, I could feel it. Tomorrow, I was going to search again" The .wav is from the 24th
update 3:
"The Blitzen Incident"
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=blitzen yields Grim Fandango
type search; push enter
input the club code from winter sale comic: "HOT TODDIES AND MASERATIS"
now we're in Undertale Hmmmm.... o_o
update 4:
"Bullet Hell" is a tag on Undertale's app page.
on Undertale's page
type search; push enter
input "bullet hell"
now we're at Ikaruga
update 5 interesting Valve employee activity:
The Valve employee ChrisK/FireSlash has the "Red Herring" badge with the description "ARG?"
On his profile there is a (presumed) hash: 2cdeda75c0afb5c4a7a45dfe978315f6.
His last played games are: Undertale, Ikaruga and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online
update 5a:
ChrisK's profile went private for a little while, then went public again- this time with his badges all hidden/wiped xD (maybe GitS is the next pitstop)
update 5b:
ChrisK's badges are back now - he has modified his profile to say "This is just a profile" lol. Red Herring, perhaps, but Undertale -> Ikaruga is still pretty intriguing
update 6:
Trading Card 7 (Taffy) has Dungeon Master Symbols "Lo Ya Gor Ku"
Inputting it into a winter comic url gives you this:
LoYaGorKu {filename: loyagorku.wav}
rough translation:
忘れられた道が障害と報酬につながります" (wasurareta michi ga shougai to houshuu ni tsunagarimasu)
"Forgotten road will lead to failure and reward "
update 7:
Spectrogram analysis of LoYaGorKu {filename: loyagorku.wav} yields 1v7531
On Ikaruga
type search; push enter
input "1v7531"
Red Herring ARG? Badge unlocked.
via combatbeard: what is this
Doesn't seem like we're through
Seems like this is the failure (dead end) and reward for following the forgotten road (Blitzen incident)
direct link to badge: http://store.steampowered.com/actions/d3708146fc0c5d593
If you're having problems getting the badge, you might have to disable enhanced steam
update 8 theories:
holiday profile backgrounds have changed with possible hints to some islands and we might have some coordinates.
Left of the penguin: http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/items/425280/af2ef83209f1503662d1b95939abeea8ca415c59.jpg
http://imgur.com/039ikx7
http://i.imgur.com/gphhdh6.png
http://i.imgur.com/x69M31r.png
http://imgur.com/w1K1q5t
There is also the "Twinkle" train theory (search twinkle on steam) http://store.steampowered.com/app/222621/
Watch video. From description: "Save Christmas
Take on a series of fun and entertaining missions, over the mantelpiece, under the Christmas tree and across the piano, uncovering secret routes and finding hidden treasures."
Other thoughts: http://i.imgur.com/xc1b2zm.jpg
update 9:
Looks like this might squash some HL3 rumours:
https://i.imgur.com/jURjHBq.jpg
update 10 theories:
Binary code in the last comic page. Look at the lights
The backgrounds used on the main store page match some of the pages in the comic:
http://imgur.com/a/OsgJY
http://8ch.net/v/src/1451761967660.mp4
https://a.pomf.cat/dyoihy.mp4
https://a.pomf.cat/eekwpk.mp4
update 11
Via bruteforce, a new wav file was found using Trading Card 6 (Sending a Message)'s clue
(In retrospect, "F" is the 6th letter in the alphabet - adding it to Trading Card 6's clue gives us 794E2CEA991F)
http://store.steampowered.com/wintercomic/794E2CEA991F {794e2cea991f.wav}
"I've been to Lima four times, stayed at all the best hotels. I used to go to dance halls and tango with Mary Carmen until the sun came up. thud The bravos and accolades would echo and echo until the boys in uniform shut us down."
Filter for NATO phonetic alphabet clues and you get LLLLHTBEEU (anagram of BULLET HELL [the code word that led us from Undertale to Ikaruga])
update 12 theories
Possible link to The Holiday Express?
https://i.imgur.com/170yL6x.png
Zippy's body
http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/clusters/sale_winter2015_comic/397a5a0d/fbe2b441_day_2_english.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SuiMZQL.png
http://i.imgur.com/7YnQ3UQ.png
update 13 theories and "What We Know So Far"
The last wall paper yet to be revealed is called "Kind Lies And Goodbyes"
Is Holly the culprit?
We also have theories linking the card 2 artwork to the Orion constellation.
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3za311/the_stars/
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3zaejm/the_stars_part_2/
Card 2 art for reference:
http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/items/425280/52a2cf1ccae204c6c035eada743f224a4384bc76.jpg
http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/items/425280/f21020505f5ecd896fa63dd8691edfbf64a2d5d7.jpg
What we know up to this point:
https://youtu.be/uxPTsj5iHMM
update 14 theories
Signature links to Andy Warhol:
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3zcltn/possible_lead_on_the_signature/
update 15:
With the Winter Sale over, nothingtoseehere.js and
http://store.steampowered.com/wintercomic/are gone ...Wonder what the solution to the ARG was :(http://store.steampowered.com/wintercomic/ is still alive! :D
There may be hope yet; but without the nothingtoseehere.js secret search script, I wonder if a solution is still possible
update 16 theories:
Potential link between Gingerbread Jake's clue map and a map of the North Pole
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/368533069678560219/DD60621E3A7379BABE5F2D18FF3D608A67AB152A/
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3zdqnr/day_5_map_with_pin_locations/
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3zexk0/the_reallife_aurora_borealis_icebreaker/
update 17 theory
https://www.reddit.com/r/steamsaledetectives/comments/3zg9ug/shiny_murder_theory/
What a tangled web they weave
Subreddit
Steam Sale ARG Wiki
Summary
A visual chronology of things that are known
NorthPole Noir MindMap
Known & debunked hints/clues
Bruteforce page
Thank you for helping with the updates:
combatbeard
m3rc
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