PlayStation®Home - Xi

[NoResistance]

A break from the code cracking of puzzles 1 and 2, this one is more of a Xi treasure hunt, a webcrawl to find the answer. Following are 6 quotes, found on websites that have been used or discussed over the course of the ARG. Each is missing one word, marked with an ellipsis. Take the first letter of each word and rearrange them to give the final answer - which has a Greek link. I apologise for the lack of line breaks beforehand, as I am using the PS3 browser. Ready? #1 'International ... are now being sought' #2 'Opinions matter more if you have ...' #3 'Long walks on the beach, fine wines, ...' #4 'i don't know, call me ...' #5 'Normally, this only applies to shiny ...' #6 'the creeping moss of Aristarchus and ... was not the only life she had brought forth'

[Benjap]

Thanks for sorting all of these puzzles out Hopefully you can pass the torch before you get too worn out . Okay, I think I have all of the answers, but I'm struggling with the simplest bit - the rearrangement. Is it a very famous Greek thing?

EDIT: Right, now I'm confused. Some Wikipedia scanning leads me to think that this is the answer (highlight to reveal):

Semele 

However, the answers I got would give these letters (again, highlight to reveal letters and explanation):

 1)L 2)E 3)S 4)N 5)E 6) E

And I'm guessing number for should be an M. Did I get the answer wrong? I thought it was 'naive' but I have been known to make stupid mistakes when puzzle solving... 

That's the end of the spoilerness. 

Thanks for the puzzle NoResistance. 

Message Edited by Benjap on 09-07-2009 10:02 PM

Message Edited by Benjap on 09-07-2009 10:02 PM

[NoResistance]

You had all the letters right before your Wikipedia trawl. The answer is especially relevant concerning where you found #6 as well.

[Benjap]

Ah, I think I've got it! Highlight ONLY if you've given up because this is my final answer and sort of gives away how to get it (NoResistance, if you want me to delete this post then I will, as I realise it might be a bit early to give out answers). Anyway, highlight below if you dare.

My final answer is Selene  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selene  As Google Reader showed from where the answer to Number 6 was that one of the characters was into selenology, so I followed the trail from there.

Spoilers over. 

[NoResistance]

Yup, that's the answer. Don't worry about deleting it though - having it highlight-only is enough. Congrats on being the first on this one.

[Benjap]

Thanks The disturbing quietness of these boards is a bit of an advantage. If this was mid-Xi I would probably be one of the last. but thanks, anyway I should have another look at your second one later too.

[Tommytoes]

Yep, well done Benjap. I confirm now that I came to the same answer!

The first five letters were simple enough, the sixth I actually found on a chess website because someone there quoted the line!

Then I wondered what the hell I'd done wrong because I couldn't rearrange the letters in any meaningful way, then I double checked them, then I smacked my forehead when I realised the answer...

[Benjap]

Thanks Tommytoes (I wonder how many times I'll end up saying that in the puzzle threads ) 

I found the same site. Either I mustn't have been around when the answer was relevant or I need to brush up on my Greek mythology, but I would never have guessed that answer because it was new to me.

Kinda off opic, but I just realised that we signed up on the same day  

[Tommytoes]

The final answer is indeed relevant to question 6, and for your interest here's why:

*major spoilerific, don't highlight below unless you've solved the puzzle*

The quote in question 6 - 'the creeping moss of Aristarchus and Erastothenes was not the only life she had brought forth' - is a line from Arthur C Clarke's The Sentinel as you know. Early on in Xi, Miguel's blog suggested that we read The Sentinel. The story takes place on the Moon, and the answer to the puzzle - Selene - is of course the Greek Goddess of the moon. All neatly connected. I like it. Nice work NoResistance!

*end spoiler*

[Benjap]

I *knew* I recognised it from somewhere...