Another Surreal Computer Event - Page 2

Miros1 · 12-14-2007, 03:48 AM

With flags, so we could turn hints on and off individually (and quickly)? Like we did on the last hunt?

Sita · 12-14-2007, 03:05 PM

Downer from my angle - I never DID manage to work out all the clues for the treasure hunts on Simshost, and it was an irritation to see it. To have it distributed all over the net... /me shudders.

Miros1 · 12-14-2007, 03:11 PM

That's why we had the hints forum....

Sita · 12-14-2007, 03:19 PM

haha I know... but even with hints I was too stupid.

Greg · 12-14-2007, 04:13 PM

I suspect that means that the hints were still too obscure. We have learned that we really need to work on the hints. They shouldn't be as hard to solve as The Da Vinci Code!

Let me think on this. I suspect that there is a way to set it up so that we don't have to constantly check up on participants or worry about someone yanking our chain. And I suspect that if we wrote to lots and lots of webmasters we could find folks who would be interested.

We might be able to make it work if we use the search feature of the Ultimate Sims List to find key words, site names, and links to sites. I'd need to do some coding, though.

shorty943 · 12-15-2007, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miros1

Um, Shorty... you do know we used to run SimsHost, the paysite from hell?

We need a Treasure Hunt. I miss Treasure Hunts.

Umm, nope. Sorry.
Pay site? From Hell? Simshost, shall look.
Not much chance of me having anything from any paysite.
Hmm, nope, can't see any in my browser bookmarks folder.
I even checked my old Net Downloads Archive. Nothing.
Closest I come to a paysite, would be TSR freebies.

Treasure Hunt?
Hmm, leaves me lost, I don't get on well with cryptic clues.

Greg · 12-16-2007, 03:25 AM

I rather take humbrage with the characterization of SimsHost as "the pay site from Hell." If anything, it was the Heaven-sent site that held the line on hosting costs and subscription rates for the five years that it lasted.

Unfortunately, I drew the line a little too close to the brink and the site became financially untenable.

shorty943 · 12-17-2007, 09:56 PM

I didn't call it that.

Miros1 · 12-17-2007, 11:22 PM

Nope that was me. I still miss Treasure Hunts.

Greg · 12-18-2007, 12:29 AM

I still think it would be fun to organize a web-wide treasure hunt.

Maybe we could provide a code to each site that participates, and every time you enter a correct code, you get clue about another treasure. The clue becomes part of your reward!

The clues could be handed out randomly, which could encourage people to communicate with each other and trade clues.

I think we'd only need a few rules:

No adult stuff or adult sites, so that kids can play.
Only real Sims sites can participate, and we'll be the sole judges of whether a site is a Sims site. (Meaning no sites that are just advertising, and no cybersquatters.)
No sites that engage in or link to illegal activities.
If you promise to participate, you have to show up at the party.
Treasures need to be free and should be visible even without registering for a site. (It's OK to require that people register for your board to download treasures, as long as the registration is reasonable and does not require that the user supply any personal information more than an email address.)
The treasure download page needs to display the secret code for a clue token, a brief explanation of the treasure hunt, and a button image linked back to the treasure hunt forum. (We can host the the treasure hunt forum on Sun Sims.) Treasures will numbered so that people can say, "Congratulations! You have found treasure number XX in the World Wide Sims Treasure Hunt!"
Treasures and their download pages must be kept on line at least for the entire length of the treasure hunt; say 90 days.

Miros1 · 12-18-2007, 04:29 AM

Sounds reasonable to me!

To ensure #7, maybe we get zipped copies of each site's materials?

Greg · 12-18-2007, 11:56 AM

Hmm... we'd need to add something about having permission to distribute the goodies if something goes awry with the site.

12-14-2007, 04:13 PM	#25
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	I suspect that means that the hints were still too obscure. We have learned that we really need to work on the hints. They shouldn't be as hard to solve as The Da Vinci Code! Let me think on this. I suspect that there is a way to set it up so that we don't have to constantly check up on participants or worry about someone yanking our chain. And I suspect that if we wrote to lots and lots of webmasters we could find folks who would be interested. We might be able to make it work if we use the search feature of the Ultimate Sims List to find key words, site names, and links to sites. I'd need to do some coding, though. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

12-16-2007, 03:25 AM	#27
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	I rather take humbrage with the characterization of SimsHost as "the pay site from Hell." If anything, it was the *Heaven-sent site that held the line on hosting costs and* subscription rates for the five years that it lasted. Unfortunately, I drew the line a little too close to the brink and the site became financially untenable. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

12-18-2007, 12:29 AM	#30
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	I still think it would be fun to organize a web-wide treasure hunt. Maybe we could provide a code to each site that participates, and every time you enter a correct code, you get clue about another treasure. The clue becomes part of your reward! The clues could be handed out randomly, which could encourage people to communicate with each other and trade clues. I think we'd only need a few rules: No adult stuff or adult sites, so that kids can play. Only real Sims sites can participate, and we'll be the sole judges of whether a site is a Sims site. (Meaning no sites that are just advertising, and no cybersquatters.) No sites that engage in or link to illegal activities. If you promise to participate, you have to show up at the party. Treasures need to be free and should be visible even without registering for a site. (It's OK to require that people register for your board to download treasures, as long as the registration is reasonable and does not require that the user supply any personal information more than an email address.) The treasure download page needs to display the secret code for a clue token, a brief explanation of the treasure hunt, and a button image linked back to the treasure hunt forum. (We can host the the treasure hunt forum on Sun Sims.) Treasures will numbered so that people can say, "Congratulations! You have found treasure number XX in the World Wide Sims Treasure Hunt!" Treasures and their download pages must be kept on line at least for the entire length of the treasure hunt; say 90 days. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

12-18-2007, 11:56 AM	#32
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Hmm... we'd need to add something about having permission to distribute the goodies if something goes awry with the site. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

12-14-2007, 03:48 AM	#21
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	With flags, so we could turn hints on and off individually (and quickly)? Like we did on the last hunt?

12-14-2007, 03:05 PM	#22
Sita Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 371	Downer from my angle - I never DID manage to work out all the clues for the treasure hunts on Simshost, and it was an irritation to see it. To have it distributed all over the net... /me shudders.

12-14-2007, 03:11 PM	#23
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	That's why we had the hints forum....

12-14-2007, 03:19 PM	#24
Sita Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 371	haha I know... but even with hints I was too stupid.

12-17-2007, 09:56 PM	#28
shorty943 Banned Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 805	I didn't call it that.

12-17-2007, 11:22 PM	#29
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Nope that was me. I still miss Treasure Hunts.

12-18-2007, 04:29 AM	#31
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Sounds reasonable to me! To ensure #7, maybe we get zipped copies of each site's materials?