Don't know how to write in this cryptic style like some others do, but I am pretty sure I found a list of answers and can determine an unambiguous passcode from them, but this one isn't accepted. I can see the numbers in the cryptic texts, that would be included in my code.
No answer should should render a question unnecessary. Think about what information each question gives you. Some questions would render others irrelevant if you answered them in a particular way
Very cool idea and a creative take on the detective genre!
One small niggle:
V guvax gur "ab erqhaqnag dhrfgvbaf" pbafgenvag unf n fyvtug ybtvpny synj.
Gur nafjre gb dhrfgvba 5 zhfg nyjnlf or "lrf" fvapr vg'f gur bayl dhrfgvba gung tvirf vasbezngvba nobhg gur sbhegu qvtvg naq gurer vf ab qvtvg gung pbafgenvaf gur cnffjbeq gb bar fbyhgvba vs gur nafjre vf "ab". Nyfb, fvapr guvf vf gur bayl vasbezngvba jr unir ba gur sbhegu qvtvg, jr xabj gung gur "lrf" nafjre zhfg pbafgenva gur sbhegu qvtvg gb bar cbffvovyvgl. Gurersber gur sbhegu qvtvg zhfg or 9.
Vs gur sbhegu qvtvg vf 9 naq gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner "lrf", gura dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 ner erqhaqnag, fvapr jr nhgbzngvpnyyl xabj gur svefg qvtvg (gur fhz bs gur svefg guerr qvtvgf zhfg or 8 gb sbepr gur ynfg qvtvg gb or 9).
Here's my absolutely rigorous, fiercely logical and not at all intuive walkthrough for those that need a hint (rot13):
Jr arrq gb svaq n frg bs nafjref gb gur svir dhrfgvbaf fb gung gurer rkvfgf rknpgyl bar 4-qvtvg qrpvzny ahzore gung fngvfsvrf gur nafjre frg, juvyr gurer zhfg or ab erqhaqnag dhrfgvbaf.
Jr pna vzzrqvngryl frr gung gur nafjre gb dhrfgvba 1 vf Ab orpnhfr bgurejvfr dhrfgvba 4 jbhyq or erqhaqnag.
Sebz urer, yrg'f vaghvgviryl znxr rqhpngrq nffhzcgvbaf naq gel gb nffvta nafjref fb gung rnpu nafjre unf znkvzhz "vzcnpg" naq guhf gvtugraf gur fbyhgvba fcnpr sbe gur qvtvgf gur zbfg:
Yrg'f svk gur frpbaq naq guveq qvtvg naq nffhzr gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner obgu "lrf".
Jr gura xabj gung gur fhz bs gur 2aq naq 3eq qvtvg vf 5. Sebz urer, jr nffhzr gung nafjre 5 vf nyfb "lrf", fb jr gura xabj gung qvtvg 4 arrqf gb or "ovt".
Fb gur dhrfgvba vf: pna jr svaq n qvtvg 1 gung jr nqq gb 5 naq fgvyy svaq n qvtvg 4 gung'f ovttre?
Gurer ner frireny, ohg vs jr nyfb nffhzr nafjre 4 vf "ab", gura qvtvg 1 zhfg ng yrnfg or 3 (vg pnaabg or rira, naq vg pnaabg or 1). Gura jr trg 3+2+3 < qvtvg 4, fb qvtvg 4 pna bayl or 9.
Fb abj jr'ir svkrq na nafjre frg (ab,lrf,lrf,ab,lrf) gung yrnirf hf jvgu rknpgyl bar cva ahzore: guerr gjb guerr avar
To put it another way, va lbhe bevtvany cbfg lbh rkcyvpvgyl nffhzr
gung gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner obgu "lrf", ohg guvf vf whfg
na nffhzcgvba, naq gur snpg gung vg yrnqf gb *n* fbyhgvba qbrfa'g zrna
vg yrnqf gb gur *bayl* fbyhgvba. Vg pbhyq pbagvahr vafgrnq:
Vs
gur nafjre gb uvag 5 jnf "ab", jr pbhyqa'g qrgrezvar gur sbhegu qvtvg
ng nyy. Gur bayl jnl jr pna or fher bs gur sbhegu qvtvg vf vs gur nafjre
gb uvag 5 vf "lrf", naq gur bayl jnl guvf qrgrezvarf n fvatyr qvtvg vf
vs gur fhz bs gur svefg guerr qvtvgf vf 8.
Gur svefg qvtvg zhfg
or bqq (be dhrfgvba 1 jbhyq or erqhaqnag) naq abg 1 (be dhrfgvba 4 jbhyq
or erqhaqnag), fb vg'f rvgure 3, 5 be 7. 7 vf gbb ovt - gur fhz jbhyq
or ng yrnfg 10 - fb bayl 3 be 5 ner cbffvoyr. Ohg vs gur svefg qvtvg vf
3, gur frpbaq zhfg or 2, juvpu pbagenqvpgf bhe "ab" nafjre sbe uvag 2.
Fb gur svefg qvtvg zhfg or 5 naq gur frpbaq 0.
Nice puzzle! I am curious about the “there are no redundant questions” part, I don’t think the puzzle would become logically ambiguous or unsolvable if that information wasn’t given, but am I missing something?
Sadly I’m stuck at the point where I’m trying to figure out how to actually play the game. I can’t find a download link. Perhaps it’s hidden somewhere? It doesn’t appear to be a browser game either: when I click on the picture, all I get is a larger version. Curious!
I was a bit disappointed that there's no further puzzle once I entered the solution haha. Would be fun to get some flavor text of what the unlocked phone is like too. Still, an interesting puzzle! I haven't seen anything like this one before and was stumped for a good ten minutes.
Liked it! A good narrative wrapper to put around a logic puzzle of this kind. I've seen these tricks used before, but it's always remarkable to me that you can find one specific 4 digit number from what seems to be so little information. Also, I expected "check solution" to show me the solution, clever idea having it require me to enter the password!
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Don't know how to write in this cryptic style like some others do, but I am pretty sure I found a list of answers and can determine an unambiguous passcode from them, but this one isn't accepted. I can see the numbers in the cryptic texts, that would be included in my code.
Hmmm, I can think of one thing you might be missing.
Not sure what this hint is implying. Redundant in relation to what?
Very cool idea and a creative take on the detective genre!
One small niggle:
V guvax gur "ab erqhaqnag dhrfgvbaf" pbafgenvag unf n fyvtug ybtvpny synj.
Gur nafjre gb dhrfgvba 5 zhfg nyjnlf or "lrf" fvapr vg'f gur bayl dhrfgvba gung tvirf vasbezngvba nobhg gur sbhegu qvtvg naq gurer vf ab qvtvg gung pbafgenvaf gur cnffjbeq gb bar fbyhgvba vs gur nafjre vf "ab". Nyfb, fvapr guvf vf gur bayl vasbezngvba jr unir ba gur sbhegu qvtvg, jr xabj gung gur "lrf" nafjre zhfg pbafgenva gur sbhegu qvtvg gb bar cbffvovyvgl. Gurersber gur sbhegu qvtvg zhfg or 9.
Vs gur sbhegu qvtvg vf 9 naq gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner "lrf", gura dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 ner erqhaqnag, fvapr jr nhgbzngvpnyyl xabj gur svefg qvtvg (gur fhz bs gur svefg guerr qvtvgf zhfg or 8 gb sbepr gur ynfg qvtvg gb or 9).
Dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 nera'g erqhaqnag: gel fbyivat gur chmmyr jvgubhg gurz!
Zl cerivbhf pbzzrag jnf zrnag gb or n fbyhgvba juvpu qbrfa'g hfr dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4.
V thrff V unir gur fnzr pevgvpvfz nf lbh. Ubj qb jr xabj gung dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner "lrf"? Naq vs gurl ner, nf gur fbyhgvba nffhzrf, gura gung vaureragyl znxrf dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 erqhaqnag, guhf oernxvat gur vagraqrq ehyr.
V pnzr onpx gb rqvg zl zrffntr jvgu fbzrguvat gb gur fnzr rssrpg, zl ncbybtvrf :) Vg bppheerq gb zr gb gnxr zl bja fhttrfgvba frevbhfyl. Vs 2, 3 naq 5 jrer gur bayl uvagf, gura gur "lbh unir rabhtu vasbezngvba" cebivfb jbhyq sbepr gurz nyy gb or "lrf" naq yrnq gb n fvatyr fbyhgvba. Va gung frafr dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 ner vaqrrq erqhaqnag. Juvpu znxrf zr ernyvmr: lbhe cbvag zrnaf gung gur npprcgrq nafjre vf gur bayl bar bs gur guerr gung'f _abg_ pbeerpg!
Nice puzzle! Surprised we can solve it even if we don't know hint's answers.
Very cool little puzzle, thanks Draknek!
Here's my absolutely rigorous, fiercely logical and not at all intuive walkthrough for those that need a hint (rot13):
Jr arrq gb svaq n frg bs nafjref gb gur svir dhrfgvbaf fb gung gurer rkvfgf rknpgyl bar 4-qvtvg qrpvzny ahzore gung fngvfsvrf gur nafjre frg, juvyr gurer zhfg or ab erqhaqnag dhrfgvbaf.
Jr pna vzzrqvngryl frr gung gur nafjre gb dhrfgvba 1 vf Ab orpnhfr bgurejvfr dhrfgvba 4 jbhyq or erqhaqnag.
Sebz urer, yrg'f vaghvgviryl znxr rqhpngrq nffhzcgvbaf naq gel gb nffvta nafjref fb gung rnpu nafjre unf znkvzhz "vzcnpg" naq guhf gvtugraf gur fbyhgvba fcnpr sbe gur qvtvgf gur zbfg:
Yrg'f svk gur frpbaq naq guveq qvtvg naq nffhzr gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner obgu "lrf".
Jr gura xabj gung gur fhz bs gur 2aq naq 3eq qvtvg vf 5. Sebz urer, jr nffhzr gung nafjre 5 vf nyfb "lrf", fb jr gura xabj gung qvtvg 4 arrqf gb or "ovt".
Fb gur dhrfgvba vf: pna jr svaq n qvtvg 1 gung jr nqq gb 5 naq fgvyy svaq n qvtvg 4 gung'f ovttre?
Gurer ner frireny, ohg vs jr nyfb nffhzr nafjre 4 vf "ab", gura qvtvg 1 zhfg ng yrnfg or 3 (vg pnaabg or rira, naq vg pnaabg or 1). Gura jr trg 3+2+3 < qvtvg 4, fb qvtvg 4 pna bayl or 9.
Fb abj jr'ir svkrq na nafjre frg (ab,lrf,lrf,ab,lrf) gung yrnirf hf jvgu rknpgyl bar cva ahzore: guerr gjb guerr avar
Gurer'f n ceboyrz jvgu guvf ernfbavat, naq gb zr vg oernxf gur chmmyr: gurer'f ab ernfba lbh unir gb nafjre dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 jvgu "lrf". Va snpg vs lbh nafjre gurz "ab", "lrf" naq "lrf", "ab" erfcrpgviryl (jvgu gur bgure nafjref erznvavat gur fnzr) lbh trg gjb qvssrerag nafjref: 5039 naq 5219. Obgu fngvfsl gur pbaqvgvbaf bs gur chmmyr: xabjvat gur nafjref gb gur dhrfgvbaf tvirf lbh gur fbyhgvba, naq erzbivat nal dhrfgvba yrnirf lbh jvgu zhygvcyr fbyhgvbaf.
>Both satisfy the conditions of the puzzle
The winning condition is to have an answer set that implies a unique solution. Both of your suggested answer sets allow for multiple pin numbers:
Sbe nafjre frg (0,0,1,0,1) lbhe fhttrfgrq fbyhgvba 5039 vf abg gur bayl bar: r.t. 3139 naq 3138 jbhyq nyfb or inyvq.Fnzr sbe (0,1,0,0,1): 5219 vf abg gur bayl fbyhgvba, r.t. 3217, 3218 naq 3219 jbhyq nyfb jbex.
By the same logic, the same is true of the original puzzle!
Gur rkcrpgrq nafjref (0,1,1,0,1) qb abg ryvzvangr 3139 naq 3138 nal zber guna (0,0,1,0,1) be (0,1,0,0,1) qb. 3 vf abg 1 naq 3 vf abg bqq, fb dhrfgvbaf 1 naq 4 qb abg ryzvangr vg. Jung qrgrezvarf gur havdhr fbyhgvba vf gur fnzr va nyy pnfrf: gung lbh bayl *trg* n havdhr fbyhgvba vs gur fhz bs gur svefg guerr qvtvgf vf 8. Guvf vf jung sbeprf gur svefg qvtvg gb or 3 sbe gur rkcrpgrq nafjre frg naq 5 sbe gur bguref.
To put it another way, va lbhe bevtvany cbfg lbh rkcyvpvgyl nffhzr gung gur nafjref gb dhrfgvbaf 2 naq 3 ner obgu "lrf", ohg guvf vf whfg na nffhzcgvba, naq gur snpg gung vg yrnqf gb *n* fbyhgvba qbrfa'g zrna vg yrnqf gb gur *bayl* fbyhgvba. Vg pbhyq pbagvahr vafgrnq:
Yrg'f svk gur frpbaq naq guveq qvtvg naq nffhzr gur nafjre gb dhrfgvba 2 vf "ab" naq dhrfgvba 3 vf "lrf".
Vs gur nafjre gb uvag 5 jnf "ab", jr pbhyqa'g qrgrezvar gur sbhegu qvtvg ng nyy. Gur bayl jnl jr pna or fher bs gur sbhegu qvtvg vf vs gur nafjre gb uvag 5 vf "lrf", naq gur bayl jnl guvf qrgrezvarf n fvatyr qvtvg vf vs gur fhz bs gur svefg guerr qvtvgf vf 8.
Gur svefg qvtvg zhfg or bqq (be dhrfgvba 1 jbhyq or erqhaqnag) naq abg 1 (be dhrfgvba 4 jbhyq or erqhaqnag), fb vg'f rvgure 3, 5 be 7. 7 vf gbb ovt - gur fhz jbhyq or ng yrnfg 10 - fb bayl 3 be 5 ner cbffvoyr. Ohg vs gur svefg qvtvg vf 3, gur frpbaq zhfg or 2, juvpu pbagenqvpgf bhe "ab" nafjre sbe uvag 2. Fb gur svefg qvtvg zhfg or 5 naq gur frpbaq 0.
Fb abj jr'ir svkrq na nafjre frg (ab, ab, lrf, ab, lrf) gung yrnirf hf jvgu rknpgyl bar cva ahzore: svir mreb guerr avar.
I'm not sure I know what you're getting at because:
>But if the first digit is 3, the second must be 2
Why?
>So now we've fixed an answer set (no, no, yes, no, yes) that leaves us with exactly one pin number: five zero three nine.
This is not correct, because with (no, no, yes, no, yes) the pin 3039 would also be valid, so five zero three nine is not a unique solution.
Nice puzzle! I am curious about the “there are no redundant questions” part, I don’t think the puzzle would become logically ambiguous or unsolvable if that information wasn’t given, but am I missing something?
Xabjvat gung gurer'f ab erqhaqnag dhrfgvbaf yrgf lbh nccyl fbzr vagrerfgvat ybtvp jvgu ubj dhrfgvbaf 1 & 4 nssrpg rnpu bgure - vg'f abg erdhverq gb fbyir ohg vg'f zber fngvfslvat.
Originally I wanted the puzzle to be heavier on that kind of logic, but I couldn't find a set of questions that worked well.
Jura V svefg ernq guebhtu vg V gubhtug gur svefg guerr uvagf jrer tbvat gb or gur onfr pnfr sbe fbzr xvaq bs vaqhpgvba chmmyr. Pbby fbyhgvba gubhtu!
I love games like this!
Sadly I’m stuck at the point where I’m trying to figure out how to actually play the game. I can’t find a download link. Perhaps it’s hidden somewhere? It doesn’t appear to be a browser game either: when I click on the picture, all I get is a larger version. Curious!
It’s a puzzle wrapped in another puzzle…
There's no download link! The description is the game.
I was a bit disappointed that there's no further puzzle once I entered the solution haha. Would be fun to get some flavor text of what the unlocked phone is like too. Still, an interesting puzzle! I haven't seen anything like this one before and was stumped for a good ten minutes.
Liked it! A good narrative wrapper to put around a logic puzzle of this kind. I've seen these tricks used before, but it's always remarkable to me that you can find one specific 4 digit number from what seems to be so little information. Also, I expected "check solution" to show me the solution, clever idea having it require me to enter the password!