"For Sam Thomas, times have never been so tough. His partner, Sonya, was a flight attendant aboard missing Oceanic Flight 815. Sam, a talented IT technician for Oceanic Airlines, is determined to find out what happened. But Oceanic would rather be ‘flying again’. They have abandoned the official search for Flight 815. Sam is distraught, afraid he will never have answers. But then he receives a strange email... Sam has followed the mysterious message from the Maxwell Group to Jakarta and has located the Christiane I. It is just about to embark on an expedition to an undisclosed location. But getting on board might not be as easy as Sam thinks... Sam's desire to leave the Christiane I at the next port comes across an unexpected obstacle, leaving him curious about the identity of Talbot’s employers. Sam's attempt to outwit Talbot and pinpoint the exact position of the coordinates brings unexpected results. Sam's determination to reach the mysterious coordinates risks the lives of all aboard the Christiane I. Will Sam find answers? Or has he made a life threatening mistake? "
Welcome to the new section of the site which will attempt to keep track of the new Lost ARG - Find 815. If you would like to join the Find 815 team, please feel free to email me and I'll get you hooked up.
Quickstart Guide
Check out Lostpedia's Find 815 page here as it provides an excellent recap of everything that has gone on to date.
If you have any questions check out the Chat room where there is normally someone there who will be able to help you.
Have fun and happy hunting!
Jan 1, 2010
Apr 11, 2008
New Arg being worked on
Maybe they should rename it "Lost, Inc."
It's still a hit TV show, first and foremost. But "Lost" has also spawned mobisodes, videogames, books, viral videos, interactive Internet sites and much more.
For the exec producers who run that enterprise -- Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof -- the show's timing couldn't have been more perfect. "Lost" came along right when the ability to create video for multiple platforms exploded. Among primetime series, few shows are better suited than "Lost" to embrace the brave new world.
But there have been a few bumps along the way.
"We've learned some things worked better than others," Cuse says. "We've enjoyed the opportunities 'Lost' has given for us to try to expand the brand on other platforms. (But the) skill set involved in running a TV series does not translate directly to success in other platforms."
Lindelof and Cuse say their experience with ancillary products and platforms has varied depending on whom they've collaborated with.
They loved what Australia-based Hoodlum, for example, came up with for the show's recent "Find 815" interactive campaign. But the duo was less thrilled with some of the products that emerged early in the show's life, including a series of studio-commissioned "Lost"-themed novels that had little to do with the actual show.
"Us realizing we were managing a brand started early in season one," Lindelof says. "ABC business development came to us ... but we said all those conversations will be moot if we don't have a hit show."
A year later, after getting rid of those novelizations, the "Lost" team came up with the idea for "Bad Twin," a book discovered on the show by one of the characters. Created for the show and distributed in bookstores, the novel wasn't about what was happening on the show, but it tied into the world of "Lost."
That's become the mantra for all of "Lost's" extracurricular activities, be it mobisodes or videogames: The other platforms can't be considered canon, or required for "Lost's" TV audience.
"Our criteria is, everything you need to know about 'Lost' is contained in the mother ship," Cuse says. "There are definitely large segments of the audience that want more. And the ancillary media platforms give us opportunities to put out stories that might be interesting to some but not all."
For example, the show's first alternate reality game centered on the Hanso Foundation, the shady "Lost" organization responsible for the show's "Dharma Initiative." Rabid fans -- particularly those on the Internet -- feasted on that more in-depth mythology.
Those off-season interactive experiences also specifically feed into that season's plot points. This year's focus on the mysterious discovery of Oceanic Flight 815 at the bottom of the sea was foreshadowed by the "Find 815" campaign.
Lindelof and Cuse are already busy plotting the off-season interactive campaign for season five of "Lost." But they also employ a brand manager to handle at least 30 different outgrowths of the show, including mobile games and player platform games to more obscure licensing.
"We're very involved in certain things and uninvolved in others," Lindelof says. "Just running the show takes an enormous amount of time."
That's one reason "Lost" won't be producing another batch of mobile episodes in the near future.
The "Lost" producers are proud of the fact that they managed to strike a deal between ABC and the labor guilds in order to produce the short-form segs with "Lost's" top stars, scribes and helmers.
"They came out great," Lindelof says. "But the process of breaking those 13 two-minute stories and editing them was enormously time consuming. In terms of doing them again, creative has to drive it."
Lindelof says he's also aware of the show's saturation point.
"We spend the majority of our time saying 'no' to these things," he says. "There's something about the less of the show that exists, the more valuable it is. It makes it sexier to want to watch it on Thursday night if it isn't everywhere."
Source: Variety
It's still a hit TV show, first and foremost. But "Lost" has also spawned mobisodes, videogames, books, viral videos, interactive Internet sites and much more.
For the exec producers who run that enterprise -- Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof -- the show's timing couldn't have been more perfect. "Lost" came along right when the ability to create video for multiple platforms exploded. Among primetime series, few shows are better suited than "Lost" to embrace the brave new world.
But there have been a few bumps along the way.
"We've learned some things worked better than others," Cuse says. "We've enjoyed the opportunities 'Lost' has given for us to try to expand the brand on other platforms. (But the) skill set involved in running a TV series does not translate directly to success in other platforms."
Lindelof and Cuse say their experience with ancillary products and platforms has varied depending on whom they've collaborated with.
They loved what Australia-based Hoodlum, for example, came up with for the show's recent "Find 815" interactive campaign. But the duo was less thrilled with some of the products that emerged early in the show's life, including a series of studio-commissioned "Lost"-themed novels that had little to do with the actual show.
"Us realizing we were managing a brand started early in season one," Lindelof says. "ABC business development came to us ... but we said all those conversations will be moot if we don't have a hit show."
A year later, after getting rid of those novelizations, the "Lost" team came up with the idea for "Bad Twin," a book discovered on the show by one of the characters. Created for the show and distributed in bookstores, the novel wasn't about what was happening on the show, but it tied into the world of "Lost."
That's become the mantra for all of "Lost's" extracurricular activities, be it mobisodes or videogames: The other platforms can't be considered canon, or required for "Lost's" TV audience.
"Our criteria is, everything you need to know about 'Lost' is contained in the mother ship," Cuse says. "There are definitely large segments of the audience that want more. And the ancillary media platforms give us opportunities to put out stories that might be interesting to some but not all."
For example, the show's first alternate reality game centered on the Hanso Foundation, the shady "Lost" organization responsible for the show's "Dharma Initiative." Rabid fans -- particularly those on the Internet -- feasted on that more in-depth mythology.
Those off-season interactive experiences also specifically feed into that season's plot points. This year's focus on the mysterious discovery of Oceanic Flight 815 at the bottom of the sea was foreshadowed by the "Find 815" campaign.
Lindelof and Cuse are already busy plotting the off-season interactive campaign for season five of "Lost." But they also employ a brand manager to handle at least 30 different outgrowths of the show, including mobile games and player platform games to more obscure licensing.
"We're very involved in certain things and uninvolved in others," Lindelof says. "Just running the show takes an enormous amount of time."
That's one reason "Lost" won't be producing another batch of mobile episodes in the near future.
The "Lost" producers are proud of the fact that they managed to strike a deal between ABC and the labor guilds in order to produce the short-form segs with "Lost's" top stars, scribes and helmers.
"They came out great," Lindelof says. "But the process of breaking those 13 two-minute stories and editing them was enormously time consuming. In terms of doing them again, creative has to drive it."
Lindelof says he's also aware of the show's saturation point.
"We spend the majority of our time saying 'no' to these things," he says. "There's something about the less of the show that exists, the more valuable it is. It makes it sexier to want to watch it on Thursday night if it isn't everywhere."
Source: Variety
Mar 28, 2008
Find 815 Coming Back?
Thanks to the 20+ people who have emailed me to inform me that the The Find815 site has been updated. Could the ARG be coming back?
Feb 14, 2008
Final FIND 815 Podcast
Thanks to Josh here is the final Find 815 Podcast that we did to wrap things up.
Download Podcast
Read Show Notes
Thanks to all involved.
Download Podcast
Read Show Notes
Thanks to all involved.
Feb 8, 2008
Season 4 Clues--Updated: Clue Words Added
Updated: 11:52 PM EST
I thought I'd make a post summarizing all of the Clue Hunt Season 4 Clues after I noticed the Tunisian Newspaper in tonight's episode, it makes it easier than hunting back through posts.
This was the Chapter 1 Season 4 Clue. The Oceanic Hotline. I believe that was the number Frank Lapidus called in tonight's episode to point out that the pilot was totally not the pilot. This goes along with my theory on how its a coverup and not a time warp. (How cool was Frank, btw?)
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Matthew
au.yahoo.com/lost: Abaddon
This is the Chapter 2 Season 4 Clue. Penny's number. I don't believe we've seen this yet.
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: 423 Cheyne Walk
au.yahoo.com: Daniel Faraday
The Chapter 3 Season 4 Clue was the Tunisian newspaper. This appeared in tonight's episode episode when Charlotte was on the Dharma Polar Bear dig.
The clue words for this Chapter were:
abc.com: 36-15-28
au.yahoo.com: Charlotte Lewis
The Chapter 4 Season 4 Clue was the Santa Rosa pill bottle, which I guess was cluing us in to Hurley's stay during last week's season premiere.
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Frank Lapidus
au.yahoo.com/lost: Miles Straume
The Chapter 5 Season 4 Clue was a metal container printed "Queens College Department of Physics." We know Daniel Faraday is a physicist. With the information overload in tonight's episode, I don't know if it was mentioned that he was at Queens College or not. I'm assuming he was.
The Clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Southfields
au.yahoo.com/lost: Red Sox
I don't know about anyone else, but I thought it was really cool having played this whole game, hearing them mention the Christiane I in tonight's episode, and then seeing these clues pop up in the show. It really makes the whole thing worth it, even if it was a little tangential.
I thought I'd make a post summarizing all of the Clue Hunt Season 4 Clues after I noticed the Tunisian Newspaper in tonight's episode, it makes it easier than hunting back through posts.
This was the Chapter 1 Season 4 Clue. The Oceanic Hotline. I believe that was the number Frank Lapidus called in tonight's episode to point out that the pilot was totally not the pilot. This goes along with my theory on how its a coverup and not a time warp. (How cool was Frank, btw?)
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Matthew
au.yahoo.com/lost: Abaddon
This is the Chapter 2 Season 4 Clue. Penny's number. I don't believe we've seen this yet.
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: 423 Cheyne Walk
au.yahoo.com: Daniel Faraday
The Chapter 3 Season 4 Clue was the Tunisian newspaper. This appeared in tonight's episode episode when Charlotte was on the Dharma Polar Bear dig.
The clue words for this Chapter were:
abc.com: 36-15-28
au.yahoo.com: Charlotte Lewis
The Chapter 4 Season 4 Clue was the Santa Rosa pill bottle, which I guess was cluing us in to Hurley's stay during last week's season premiere.
The clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Frank Lapidus
au.yahoo.com/lost: Miles Straume
The Chapter 5 Season 4 Clue was a metal container printed "Queens College Department of Physics." We know Daniel Faraday is a physicist. With the information overload in tonight's episode, I don't know if it was mentioned that he was at Queens College or not. I'm assuming he was.
The Clue words for this chapter were:
abc.com: Southfields
au.yahoo.com/lost: Red Sox
I don't know about anyone else, but I thought it was really cool having played this whole game, hearing them mention the Christiane I in tonight's episode, and then seeing these clues pop up in the show. It really makes the whole thing worth it, even if it was a little tangential.
Christiane 1 featured on Lost episode: "Confirmed Dead"
There was a direct tie-in to the "Find 815" ARG in tonight's episode of Lost. The show opened with ROV footage from the Christiane 1 and the boat was mentioned by a TV reporter in a Daniel Faraday flashback.
Screencaps to come. (send any in if you have them)
Screencaps to come. (send any in if you have them)
Find 815 - Stock Prices
Thanks to Orchid who points out that the stock prices displayed on the TV when Sam was Interview are Exactly the same as when Talbot was interviewed about Flight 815 being discovered some time later.
Feb 6, 2008
New Email
Thanks to The other's master who noticed Sam has a New Email
Is the game really over ?
Update: My Progress 10 blocks screenshot
Update:
JDMCMAMC said... I have added up the blocks and get (by chapter) 10+9+6+6+4=35. However, it says on the laptop that the number of total emails is 36. The only place for a 36th box to hide would be if it was the eleventh chapter 1 email.
Is the game really over ?
Update: My Progress 10 blocks screenshot
Update:
JDMCMAMC said... I have added up the blocks and get (by chapter) 10+9+6+6+4=35. However, it says on the laptop that the number of total emails is 36. The only place for a 36th box to hide would be if it was the eleventh chapter 1 email.
Feb 4, 2008
Find 815 Wrap-Up Live Podcast - (*Update*)
Update: 5th February Thanks to Everyone involved in last nights great podcast reliving all the events of Find 815.
Listen to the full podcast HERE.
Thanks to the JoshMeister, Big-O from Cranky Fanatic, Curt Yanko from the Black Rock Podcast, and Amanda from The Lost Flashbacks get together and a big thanks to Congested to for helping to organise this event.
Hi Everybody! We are now in the final stretch for both Find815 to conclude and Lost Season 4 to commence. There is probably no better time to discuss Find815 in podcast form than now.
Join us Live on Talkshoe Monday, February 4th at 10:00PM EST/7:00PM PST for a special DarkUFO/find815.blogspot.com podcast where a wonderful group of Lost podcasters will sit down together and discuss everything we are still trying to make sense of. The best part about doing the show live is that any of you are welcome to call in and chat with the hosts of the show. Talkshoe even has a chat room function that lets you interact with the show through text if you are unable to call in. We will also post the show on the blog for all of those who will not be able to make it (partly due to the fact that many of you will be asleep, I'm sure.)
As of now the podcasters that will be hosting the show are:
To join the show simply go here the night of the podcast. There will be an option to listen to the show live. We will start gathering prior to the start time and you will have a chance to follow the instructions on how to call in. Hope to see you there next Monday.
Listen to the full podcast HERE.
Thanks to the JoshMeister, Big-O from Cranky Fanatic, Curt Yanko from the Black Rock Podcast, and Amanda from The Lost Flashbacks get together and a big thanks to Congested to for helping to organise this event.
Hi Everybody! We are now in the final stretch for both Find815 to conclude and Lost Season 4 to commence. There is probably no better time to discuss Find815 in podcast form than now.Join us Live on Talkshoe Monday, February 4th at 10:00PM EST/7:00PM PST for a special DarkUFO/find815.blogspot.com podcast where a wonderful group of Lost podcasters will sit down together and discuss everything we are still trying to make sense of. The best part about doing the show live is that any of you are welcome to call in and chat with the hosts of the show. Talkshoe even has a chat room function that lets you interact with the show through text if you are unable to call in. We will also post the show on the blog for all of those who will not be able to make it (partly due to the fact that many of you will be asleep, I'm sure.)
As of now the podcasters that will be hosting the show are:
- JoshMeister of The LostMeister Podcast (JoshMeister has already done a bit of podcasting about Find815, have a listen.)
- Curt of The Black Rock Podcast
- Big-O of The Cranky Fanatic Podcast
- Amanda of The Lost Flashbacks Podcast
To join the show simply go here the night of the podcast. There will be an option to listen to the show live. We will start gathering prior to the start time and you will have a chance to follow the instructions on how to call in. Hope to see you there next Monday.
Feb 3, 2008
Oceanic Airlines is giving away the goods
Update: 5th Feb Thanks to Josh who has found a way for non XBOX owners to enter.
You can enter by mail by hand printing your first and last name, address, city, state / province, ZIP/postal code, phone number and e-mail address (if any) on a 3x5 piece of paper and mail it to:
Taking You Places You Never Imagine Sweepstakes
P.O. Box 1403
Lombard, IL 60148-8403
Limit one (1) entry per outer mailing envelope. Mail-in entry(ies) must be received by February 17, 2008.
We will only accept one (1) entry per person/ email address (regardless of method of entry or whether one person has more than one email address or more than one person use the same email address).
We are not responsible for entries that are altered, delayed, deleted, destroyed, forged, fraudulent, illegible, improperly accessed, inaccurate, incomplete, interrupted, late, lost, misdirected, multiple, mutilated, non-delivered, postage-due, stolen, tampered with, unauthorized or unintelligible."
“NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (includes the District of Columbia) 18+. Game ends February 10, 2008. For details including free, alternate method of entry, see the Official Rules.”
Prizes
Six (6) First Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:
· Xbox 360 Pro console (Approximate Retail Value, ARV,$349.99)
· 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription (ARV, $49.99)
· 1600 Microsoft Points (ARV, $19.99)
· Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of LOST on DVD (ARV, $179.97)
· LOST baseball hat (ARV, $17.95)
Three (3) Second Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:
· Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of LOST on DVD (ARV, $179.97)
· LOST T-shirt (ARV, $19.99)
· LOST messenger bag (ARV, $45.95)
· LOST baseball hat (ARV, $17.95)
· Total ARV of all prizes: $ 4498.92
If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted. We will only award one (1) prize per person. All prizes will be awarded provided a sufficient number of eligible entries are received.
Source: XBOX
Thanks to everyone who emailed this to me.
Xbox Live subscribers in the United States have a chance at winning an Xbox 360 bag-o-goodies with Oceanic Airlines' Taking You Places You Never Imagined sweepstakes.
If you haven't noticed already, Oceanic Airlines has partnered with Xbox Live to give away Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft points, Live subscriptions and special surprise packages to nine lucky peeps who download their theme. No Play & Win, no registration via Xbox.com, you have to download the theme to enter and that's it. Entry into the sweepstakes ends on February 10th, so make your way to the XBLM, locate the Oceanic Airlines theme and give it a download for a chance to win. Because even though they are out of business, Oceanic Airlines wants you to love 'em.
Source: XBOX 360
You can enter by mail by hand printing your first and last name, address, city, state / province, ZIP/postal code, phone number and e-mail address (if any) on a 3x5 piece of paper and mail it to:
Taking You Places You Never Imagine Sweepstakes
P.O. Box 1403
Lombard, IL 60148-8403
Limit one (1) entry per outer mailing envelope. Mail-in entry(ies) must be received by February 17, 2008.
We will only accept one (1) entry per person/ email address (regardless of method of entry or whether one person has more than one email address or more than one person use the same email address).
We are not responsible for entries that are altered, delayed, deleted, destroyed, forged, fraudulent, illegible, improperly accessed, inaccurate, incomplete, interrupted, late, lost, misdirected, multiple, mutilated, non-delivered, postage-due, stolen, tampered with, unauthorized or unintelligible."
“NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (includes the District of Columbia) 18+. Game ends February 10, 2008. For details including free, alternate method of entry, see the Official Rules.”
Prizes
Six (6) First Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:
· Xbox 360 Pro console (Approximate Retail Value, ARV,$349.99)
· 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription (ARV, $49.99)
· 1600 Microsoft Points (ARV, $19.99)
· Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of LOST on DVD (ARV, $179.97)
· LOST baseball hat (ARV, $17.95)
Three (3) Second Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:
· Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of LOST on DVD (ARV, $179.97)
· LOST T-shirt (ARV, $19.99)
· LOST messenger bag (ARV, $45.95)
· LOST baseball hat (ARV, $17.95)
· Total ARV of all prizes: $ 4498.92
If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted. We will only award one (1) prize per person. All prizes will be awarded provided a sufficient number of eligible entries are received.
Source: XBOX
Thanks to everyone who emailed this to me.
Xbox Live subscribers in the United States have a chance at winning an Xbox 360 bag-o-goodies with Oceanic Airlines' Taking You Places You Never Imagined sweepstakes.
If you haven't noticed already, Oceanic Airlines has partnered with Xbox Live to give away Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft points, Live subscriptions and special surprise packages to nine lucky peeps who download their theme. No Play & Win, no registration via Xbox.com, you have to download the theme to enter and that's it. Entry into the sweepstakes ends on February 10th, so make your way to the XBLM, locate the Oceanic Airlines theme and give it a download for a chance to win. Because even though they are out of business, Oceanic Airlines wants you to love 'em.
Source: XBOX 360
Feb 2, 2008
Code in the Talbot Interview
Update: 02/02/08 From comments posted by a number of members
It seems like this is nothing more than a a digitial watermark
Thanks to taiphun who e-mailed us about the mp3 audio Talbot Interview
I was on chat and noticed that Gigora
found that the audio file (mp3) that comes from the UCLA radio website
has properties that contain hexadecimal numbers in the Comments
section. This is highly unusual, so it was of great interest to me
when I found my copy of the mp3 and cried purging tears of joy!
The conversion of these hex numbers to binary are as follows:
00000062 01100010
00000073 01110011
00002140 0010000101000000
00001429 0001010000101001
000000B6 10110110
000138F5 00010011100011110101
00007DB1 0111110110110001
00006151 0110000101010001
000000D0 11010000
000138DB 00010011100011011011
The binary, when converted to ascii translates to this:
bs!@)¶WÛ8Û
This doesn't make a whole lot of sense for now, but I think we are
taking steps in the right direction to figuring if this means
anything... perhaps a lead into TMG's website?
Source:taiphun
It seems like this is nothing more than a a digitial watermark
Thanks to taiphun who e-mailed us about the mp3 audio Talbot Interview
I was on chat and noticed that Gigora
found that the audio file (mp3) that comes from the UCLA radio website
has properties that contain hexadecimal numbers in the Comments
section. This is highly unusual, so it was of great interest to me
when I found my copy of the mp3 and cried purging tears of joy!
The conversion of these hex numbers to binary are as follows:
00000062 01100010
00000073 01110011
00002140 0010000101000000
00001429 0001010000101001
000000B6 10110110
000138F5 00010011100011110101
00007DB1 0111110110110001
00006151 0110000101010001
000000D0 11010000
000138DB 00010011100011011011
The binary, when converted to ascii translates to this:
bs!@)¶WÛ8Û
This doesn't make a whole lot of sense for now, but I think we are
taking steps in the right direction to figuring if this means
anything... perhaps a lead into TMG's website?
Source:taiphun
Maxwell Website change
Thanks to Alexandre El-baze & Amaebi & Etoilee who noticed that The Maxwell Group has a new look
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