Summary of Finalists Comments
First off, let clear up any confusion by saying, nobody has recieved the official email from Google. I personally think sending an email would have been a boring way to disclose the winners, and I am pleased that Google notified the 10,000 finalists via the U.S. Postal Service.
Let me digress for a moment to say, if you haven't read The Fred Factor, by Mark Sanborn with a forward by John C. Maxwell, pick up it from amazon for 9.72 cents. It is a true story about Fred, and his life and work as a U.S. Postal employee.
Here goes my synopsis of the 300+ posts we've had today:
Jayshree was the first GoogleFactor to notify us of the cryptex distribution via U.S. Mail.
Phi told us know that using a PO Box does not eliminate you, despite what the rules stated. You will still receive a cryptex if you are one of the 10,000 finalists.
tait2001 let us know that if you didn't finish it (The Da Vinci Code Quest), it's your own fault.
Net Man was the first to find a cryptex on ebay here currently selling for 55.95 with 1 bidder.
A number of GoogleFact readers have accused a number of other GoogleFact readers of lying, only to find out later they wern't actually lying, and consequently apologizing profusley.
I've hypothesized that no one will no how many of the mailed cryptex prizes mailed were lost (cough, cough, stolen ehhemm) in mailing.
We've all concluded that Google has sent absolutely zero emails confirming the finalists.
Idreamincode supplied us with some great images at his website. Here is one of them, copied without permission.
Now everyone go over and start the Eurostar quest with me. The url for the blog is http://eurostarquest.blogspot.com. Congratulations to everyone who received a cryptex. For those of you who didn't get one, feel comfort in the fact that at least one other person didn't get one, that person being myself. Cheers!
posted by G00GLEFACT @ 5/15/2006 10:01:00 PM
37 comments
37 Comments:
Just GOT the email...at 10:14P EST.....and I DID NOT get the Cryptex today.
Subject: FINALIST - The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google
The Da Vinci Code
CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed all 24 puzzles and are one of the 10,000 finalists for the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google.
Your journey does not end here. You have also qualified to compete for the grand prize which includes trips for four to New York, Paris, Rome and London, a colossal Sony® Electronics package and more valued at over $100,000! See official rules.
Beginning on or around 1pm EDT May 19th at www.google.com/davincicode, the final challenge, which is a time trial, will be made available to you for 48 hours. You can begin whenever you like, but prepare well, for once you begin there is no turning back. The player who completes all five tasks in the shortest amount of time will be declared the winner.
As for your previous accomplishments, your skill and perseverance will be rewarded with a limited edition replica cryptex arriving in your mailbox in the coming days.
cryptex
While you wait, Click here to watch a congratulatory message from Sir Ian McKellen and a sneak peek of The Da Vinci Code and then continue on to view special offers and discounts from our Quest partners.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited by law. Open only to legal residents located and residing in the 50 United States and D.C., 13 years or older as of 4/17/06. Phase 1 of Contest ends at 1:00 pm EDT on 5/11/06. Final Phase of Contest ends at 1:00 p.m. EDT on 5/21/06. Eligibility, prize and travel restrictions apply. Contest subject to Official Rules.
I also got the email. Don't know if this is for later reference, but some of the text of the names of the characters/actors are bolded...Haven't had time to put it all together yet.
Email arrived:
Your journey does not end here. You have also qualified to compete for the grand prize which includes trips for four to New York, Paris, Rome and London, a colossal Sony® Electronics package and more valued at over $100,000! See official rules.
Beginning on or around 1pm EDT May 19th at www.google.com/davincicode, the final challenge, which is a time trial, will be made available to you for 48 hours. You can begin whenever you like, but prepare well, for once you begin there is no turning back. The player who completes all five tasks in the shortest amount of time will be declared the winner.
As for your previous accomplishments, your skill and perseverance will be rewarded with a limited edition replica cryptex arriving in your mailbox in the coming days.
cryptex
While you wait, Click here to watch a congratulatory message from Sir Ian McKellen and a sneak peek of The Da Vinci Code and then continue on to view special offers and discounts from our Quest partners.
Did anyone get a you are not a winner email? no email here yet.. *chain smoking*
hmmmm
MR
I just received the finalist email (10:15 pm EDT) and the Ian McKellan video congratulating finalists.
Good luck y'all.
Those jerks. I have to give it to them, this marketting thing is top notch:
http://sonypictures.com/movies/davincicode/dvcqog/offers/finalist/
I received the Cryptex today and I also received the finalist email about 20 minutes ago! Thanks googlefact for the help!
PLease, anyone who HAS gotten the finalist email can you tell us what time you submitted your registration/entry/puzzle completion form?
thank you!
and congratulations to everyone who is a finalist!!!!!
MR
I got one too. The cryptex is quite heavy....
Wait till May 19th, the website says.
I don't have either email yet - wonder what that means?
Someone said earlier they finished at 1:28 and got a cryptex. Do you think that's true?
I am tired and would love to go to sleep, but I want to see an email either way...
Thanks all for your comments and company today - made the wait enjoyable!
I got a finalist email and I think I submitted it at 1:06 EST. A friend submitted it not more than a few seconds later and got a not a finalist email.
Hey all I got a loser email. I wanted to post up the time I submitted my form incase others are waiting,
I submitted about 11:15am PST.. Good luck and congrats to all who have gotten the lucky finalist email!
MR
Awww, I just got my "not a finalist" email. Well, it was fun to hope.
Congrats to all who finished, and to those who continue. Please let us know what it's like!!!
Goodnight!
Got a rejection letter but dont see anything about a free DaVinci Code game. Can you give some more details??
I didn't get the cryptex but did recive an email from google in last ten minutes, stating i am not a finalist with a congratulatory message from Sir Ian McKellen and some discounts from google's participating partners.
The email text reads
"Though others have finished before you, your skill and perseverance will be rewarded! Click here to watch a congratulatory message from Sir Ian McKellen and a sneak peek of The Da Vinci Code and then continue on to view special offers and discounts from our Quest partners.
Thank you for playing the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google."
I am sad and disappointed!! even though the server request failed thrice i did make it in first 10 minutes... anyhow..it was just a game.. but still i wanted the cryptex :(
Congratulations!!! to all those who could make it.
temporary, have a look here on how to change password. Only the two last letters are used, not all five.
GreenGoodness, impressive
It's a discount for 5 dollars off of the online DVC game. I wish I could afford the other 15 dollars to play the game hah... I really want that game now darnit.
MR
I am really sorry for all the people who have put the cryptex on ebay. Its a thing to keep guys!!! I wanted to win it so badly!
Missy, that is strange, I only got a cupon for 5 dollars off the game and I really want the game!!! So you didnt get 5 dollars off?
MR
Oh that would be bad missy yes.. But My email was entirely different..talking about the discount for the game on the first page before the preview..hmm you got lucky at least on the game! congratulations!
MR
Got the finalist email, and the Cryptex.
Woohoo!
You can see the email and click through to the congratulatory message on my blog.
I haven't gotten an email yet.
I got my email too :D.
Click here for some pics of the Cryptex
And an interesting observation. I wouldn't sell your Cryptex on ebay just yet...
I still haven't recieved any email.
matthew rogney..
did you get a cryptex? check your trash mail folder too.
MR
I wish you luck..
sorry darling..spelled your name wrong.
MR
Can anyone tell me if the Cryptex plays any relevent role in the second part of the quest?
It gives the URL of the web page(which is given in the e-mail), but if you know that, you don't really need the Cryptex. Is that correct?
I received the email. After waiting all day, saw it jus' now.
Congratulation & Good Luck to all. Thanks Googlefact for this nice journey.
Wait - does the email go to a gmail account, or can it be a different account (like hotmail)?
Hello friends, I completed all 24 puzzles, received info on my google page of such, was infomed i registed correctly in that last web page, never received any e mails what so ever, and did not get the cryptex in the mail, and i finished the last contest in 6 minutes, and i have a g mail account, so i suspect this contest was not fair, so i think the whole thing was a scam to get all of us to see this stupid movie based on lies and false histories,(like the movie and book) so, alas, i am not impressed with this contest or this scam of a contest on google. thats all folks! upset in florida and tired of hollywood and an author who made millions on a book based on falsehoods and lies.
Z, I must tell you that I am a Christian and yet am still able to enjoy the DaVinci Code. All novels are "based on falsehood and lies." That's why they are sold in the fiction section, they aren't true. No one complained when Jurassic Park came out because dinosaurs had not really been genetically engineered and brought back to life.
matt, this contest was rigged
Yes, I know that something got messed up on the contest. Whether it was rigged, or timestamps did not get recorded correctly, I don't know, but I filled out the registration form, got the confirmation email from sony that I had completed the challenge, but I have yet to recieve an email notifiying me whether I am a finalist or not. I can only hope that I have a cryptex in my mailbox in an hour.
i wish you luck matt, because this contest was only about that, luck, not knowledge, not anything but luck and google's failure to take into account all the mistakes they made with others getting error messages, i made no mistakes at all, and am dumbfounded at the outcome, but i hope you do indeed not only get your gift, but win it as well, and to all of you out there, good luck, you are going to need it when dealing with google
The "sneak peek" after Ian's message is the same one that has been playing in the Cinemark theaters for a month now. It plays before the trailers, and you have to get there about 20 minutes before the movie starts to see it. Since they have been playing it for so long, I doubt that the "Find the Vitruvian Man" message has anything to do with the quest. Just another way to get people to go to their site.
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