Splinter Cell: Conviction - codeofconviction

2010-01-02T02:49:00.000-08:00

This is a summary of various people's discoveries on the Splinter Cell: Conviction forum and special thanks go to www.SamFisher.cz for many of the sound and picture assets reposted here.

It all started with the release of this trailer on Xbox Live Marketplace on 26th December 2009. The video was entitled "Code Red."

In the video's description was the following text -

Aw&+%%++% eval SS_cRE0000 input req 4/4=T A f+rst gli&&se of the e+%+sive new &%d++e m&%++&+@y++ a&+o%r. L+ok out f&r m++e Spl+&ter C&ll:C+nv&%+ion pr+vie&s on Xb&x codeofconviction %ive so%n.

At around 0:20 in the video, this web address comes up -

codeofconviction.com

This site is waiting for four codes to be submitted and has an embedded twitter feed.

Looking into the source code of the page, some green text reads -

-- Security provided by Red Scope Security Ltd - redscopesecurity.com --

This address leads to a site that claims to offer home and business security (yet the privacy link shows it is actually owned by Ubisoft). The Red Scope Site has a section that shows CCTV feeds, but this is restricted until you register. If you do, you get a confirmation email with a password and you can access the surveillance cameras.

The first one doesn't appear to be working - it displays static.

The second one shows a desk with lots of papers and a laptop.

The third one shows some kind of warehouse.

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CODE 1

One of the boxes in the warehouse has a number on it -

This number is the first code. Entering it on the codeofconviction site makes the twitter display the name you submitted and the number you were to correctly enter the code.

>>>>>>>Input 1/4=T src FI5H3RM4N hierarchy 4263<<<<<<<

You also receive an email which says -

>>>>>>>You have successfully entered Code1<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>When enough further submissions have been processed, your asset will be unlocked<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>You have also been selected for init eval SS_cRE0000 upon ultimate system authorisation<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>Standby<<<<<<<

After 1000 people entered the code, a message appeared that said -

>>>>>>>a11 confirm 1000+ sysreq auth:???? standby<<<<<<<
Followed by -
>>>>>>>Section 1 unlocked - asset auth: XBL 010110 standby<<<<<<<

Then on Jan 1st 2010, an Xbox theme became available.

Meanwhile, a closer inspection of the papers in camera 2 leads to a number of 'conspiracy theory' blogs. Most are well known, but one called The Burrower has obvious references to the game Splinter Cell (mentioning stealth suits and a character called Kobin) and to Red Scope Security.

The Burrower blog has been updated a couple of times since this activity began, but the new posts don't seem to be of any relevance.

On Mon Jan 4th, code 1 entries were no longer accepted and code 2 opened for submissions.

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CODE 2

On the table in camera 2 there is a picture of the White House.

The Burrower also blogged a YouTube video depicting a mystery man meeting the character associated with Kobin. In it, one passes the other a Russian newspaper that also shows a picture of the White House.

UPDATE: It has been noticed that the mystery man also appears in the warehouse surveillance feed.

The address of the White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 1600 is the next code. At this point, the codeofconviction site appeared to breakdown and displayed -
>>>>>>>un@&th incurs%on - s+st&m s%utd@wn - re%oot init - stand&y<<<<<<<

Whether this is part of the activity or the site actually breaking down due to a technical error is, as yet, unclear.

On Jan 6, codeofconviction displayed the following message -

>>>>>>> Alert: Syndic compromise – mk details pending<<<<<<<
Then on Jan 9 -
>>>>>>>mk details - bit.ly/4BmygJ - op disp +auth<<<<<<<

This message contains a shortcode that leads to the Burrower's profile picture. It has also been noted that the Burrower appears on the table in security camera 2.

On Wed Jan 13th, code 2 entries were no longer accepted and code 3 opened for submissions.

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CODE 3

The code 2 reward was an Xbox Marketplace video depicting an interview with the Splinter Cell character Victor Coste.

Spliced into the video is a live action flash frame of a bound man with a bag on his head. He is wearing the same peace symbol necklace as the Burrower and the code YT>>>>>>>dtr0483 is superimposed over the image.

At the same time, a message appeared on both the Burrower blog and the codeofconviction site -

>>>>>>>Mk 4BmygJ +acquired - dtr in prog [YT=dtr0483]<<<<<<<

Searching for dtr0483 on YouTube takes you to this 45 second film of the captive -

UPDATE: The captured Burrower(?) is actually communicating the third code. His hands are making the symbols 6,9 and 10 in American Sign Language (also referenced on his blog here, by clicking give the signal).

On Wed Jan 20th, the code 3 section closed although the code 4 section did not open for submissions. Three new screenshots became available on Xbox Live.

On The Burrower's blog, a poster calling himself VCos52 left a comment which read:

Anyone got the guts to finish what he started?
Gmail me.

Anyone emailing VCos52@gmail.com recieved the following reply:

A little good old-fashioned legwork.
A little high tech gizmo splicing.
And now their own systems are letting us keep an eye on them.
The answer to all the questions you don't want to ask -

feedhack.net

V

Visiting feedhack.net leads to a looped, three-camera surveillance feed, with the same mystery man from the warehouse and newspaper handover video making another appearance.

On Jan 25th, the mystery man appeared in the same feed, wearing Red Scope Security boiler suit with a phone number visible on the back.

Phoning 008448225730, an automated call system with a robotic voice offers you the choice to request security camera maintenance by entering a 5 digit code (movie below plays sound file). There is also a fan made walkthrough video here.

The broken camera feed on the Red Scope Security site has the identification number 65462. Entering this causes codeofconviction to display how many people have correctly entered this number.

>>>>>>>RSSEC-CAM MAINT REQ - 2 LOGGED<<<<<<<

After 250 requests were logged, the a message appeared on the codeofconviction site to say that an 'Op' had been despatched.

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CODE 4

On Jan 28th, the static camera feed changed to depict the mystery man fixing it. No sooner had he done so than the feed cut to a black background displaying a version of the Third Echelon logo. And this message appeared on codeofconviction:

>>>>>>>ERROR ERROR ERROR RSSec-cam #65462 ++++auth only – init feed lockdown<<<<<<<

The pattern of stars around the logo are actually a binary sequence. Entering this into a binary to text translator results in the number 8212, which is the fourth and final code.

On Feb 2nd, the codeofconviction site displayed:
>>>>>>>4/4=T [CODE CRACKED] – SECURITY DEACTIVATING - AWAIT INSTR<<<<<<<

Then on Feb 3rd, the following video appeared on XBox Live. It shows the 'Red Eye' suit from the very first movie and reveals it is the VR AKALI skin, available to players who cracked the 'codeofconviction'.

Shortly after, the codeofconviction site displayed two final (?) messages:
>>>>>>>SYSTEM STANDING DOWN<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>4D13U<<<<<<<

Adieu, indeed.

UPDATE: This may have been more than just a cheeky farewell. If 4 represents the fourth month and d13 the thirteenth day (with U being Ubisoft?), it could be a nod to April 13th. Which has since been set in stone as the game's release date. Literally.