SGP
Halo ODST => ODST General Discussion => Topic started by: Atarigen on September 11, 2013, 02:48:24
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I am looking for any help available to use in game number/ lettering codes to further the search for secret content in ODST. If anyone can help point out in game codes for me to use in a hint search it would help greatly. These codes could be found in Campaign, or FF. I do not yet know if license plates apply. I will give them a look also. My progress is made in spurts due to scheduling. I will make an effort to report our findings. I will also introduce others to the EE hint system. I really is great fun! I hope to see you here.
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Please explain what you mean by this "EE" system you keep posting about.
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Ok dude, you need to slow down a little bit. Sorry for this, but my maternal instincts are kicking in.
Don't abbreviate things until we are all on the same page, because too much is getting lost in compression. We have no idea what this EE or ERR thing is. Please explain what these are.
If you reference something, provide a link if its the first reference in the thread. The SGP isn't just gathering this research for ourselves, but also for anyone who browses this site. While you do post the links later, this post (http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=76.msg12258#msg12258) would be a lot less confusing if you had posted the links in the first place.
Watch out for necroing. Unless you have some major work to post, it usually isn't worth it. This thread is a repeat of what you say here (http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=11.msg12269#msg12269). However, that post is in a thread thats nearly four years old. See what I'm saying?
I'm personally glad you're here. Your ideas, research and work are valuable, and we want to hear it. However, none of it will be shared unless you communicate a bit more clearly.
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Sorry for the late response. I actually tried to respond earlier today, but Lap top battery died.. I have not had much time yet to revisit ODST yet. I do remember number searches that were being done in relation to ODST. I remember Vehicle license plates were discovered to be Spartan service numbers. There were cut scene numbers/codes/times that were speculated about as to their meaning. While searching Halo 4 for Easter eggs I noticed one particular code that repeated throughout the game. This code was NER 1204. When I searched NER what I found was Named Entity Recognizer. Link http://nlp.stanford.edu/software/CRF-NER.shtml. I am not a computer science major but basically NER is a system for information storage, and retrieval. In this Easter egg hint system there are several prefixes that I found in Halo 4. Several prefixes may be used with a number suffix such as NER, RR NR,ER., and ERR. For example, When I searched ER 1204 I found a hint for a Halo 4 Easter egg solution for the campaign level Composer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/36293152@N03/4595787735/ Now if I change the search prefix to NR 1204 it takes me to a Easter egg hint for ODST which I have not talked about yet. Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfV5JBQui1o. In this case NER 1204 takes you to a Youtube channel in which the real hint is video NR 1205. So with this first example I feel that this system if not an ARG itself, is meant to be used with existing ARG's. This system may be found to connect all Halo Arg's
So before I'm asked the video NER 1205 may be referencing an rainbow ray ODST Easter Egg speculation I am working on. My speculation is that the Halo rainbow around the sun in ODST's Tayari Palza mission can be altered by activating switches for that part of the mission. I have not been able to confirm this yet since my last run. What I believe I activated was 2 rainbow rays emanating from the central Halo Rainbow. I do have video of this that is not yet rendered. I just have not been able to confirm that the rays are not present before my tinkering. If there was any activation it was not finished due to time. If the Halo was represented by a compass the rays were pointing west, and south. It kind of reminded me of Requiems interior beams.
Update: Bingo! I have taken a second look at the Halo Rainbow on Tayari Plaza without tinkering, and there appears to be no rays eliminating from it. I will post a vid of them soon.
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I can't tell if I'm too behind to understand any of this, or if it's all just random speculation. Like how on earth is a wedding related to halo?
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EE probably stands for Easter Egg, but a system to find them? What it seems that you've done is google up something and find a wedding photo and a random timelapse, that seem to have no connection to Bungie, 343i or Halo in any way..what exactly is there in these pieces that makes them so relevant? Also, where exactly have you been seeing this NER 1204? An ubiquitous thing like that is interesting even by itself, shed some light into that!
And you must be talking about the actual halo of the sun, even though I don't think it's exactly the halo in question here..anyway, why would someone be able to alter something like that? Just for an easter egg?
I think your being maybe a bit too hasty in your conclusions Atari, but maybe your answers will clear things up a bit?
[Typo Police Were Here - CG 2013.09.14]
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I assume hes referring to the Hints that 343i gave for Eggs in Halo 4. And trying them out in Halo ODST.
I give him credit like if that's what hes trying to do. Some things in Halo 4 appeared after a certain amount of time, and after you killed a lot of stuff. Something that could be applied if we find the correct position.
I believe that's where maps come in.
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I assume hes referring to the Hints that 343i gave for Eggs in Halo 4. And trying them out in Halo ODST.
I give him credit like if that's what hes trying to do. Some things in Halo 4 appeared after a certain amount of time, and after you killed a lot of stuff. Something that could be applied if we find the correct position.
I believe that's where maps come in.
I've been very inactive on 343i's site (halo.xbox.com), so what kinds of hints are we talking about, and what kinds of eggs? I'm sorry, but I'm just totally ignorant about this stuff...and I do feel like I should've been more active there. Oh well..
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I will see if I can find for you examples
http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/04/24/The-Halo-Bulletin-42413.aspx (http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/04/24/The-Halo-Bulletin-42413.aspx)
All the eggs that were hinted were found... just I cant remember them ;-;
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yeah, I've followed through on the links and some of the info provided by Atarigen.
And from the info and the links in the posts I can kind of see, some of it.
However it would go along way if you could put together a structured post explaining in more detail how you are making the connections??
For example. I too have found the photo of the wedding and understand how you got there, but to which Easter egg it relates and how, I do not know??
Also I am intrigued as to the switches you mentioned in Tayari Palaza I must have missed them?? And why that video specifically??
So this is a polite request, Atarigen, please give us some more to go on, so we can get our heads around your theories and be as helpful as we can?? please.
Atari you have my full attention :)
And I know this is a bit naughty but please can anyone help with this
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=1821.msg12293#new
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New example: While looking at the super glyph thread which I cant find now, and the new decoding thread I was inspired to use the hint system. I started with Sadie's story circle 1 Arc 2. (http://halo.bungie.net/images/games/halo3odst/community/sadie/index.html) This is the process I started with Makupa 40786. I dropped Makupa and added prefix NR to 40786. The web search for NR 40786 lead me to interesting Avatars. I was unable to revisit the glyph thread to compare. Maybe someone could help me, as I am still learning to navigate here. Here are Avatar 1 (https://github.com/ppatrice) ,and Avatar 2. (https://github.com/Jonovono) To me they resemble components to the Engineer glyphs. Please tell me what you think.
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New example: While looking at the super glyph thread which I cant find now, and the new decoding thread I was inspired to use the hint system. I started with Sadie's story circle 1 Arc 2. (http://halo.bungie.net/images/games/halo3odst/community/sadie/index.html) This is the process I started with Makupa 40786. I dropped Makupa and added prefix NR to 40786. The web search for NR 40786 lead me to interesting Avatars. I was unable to revisit the glyph thread to compare. Maybe someone could help me, as I am still learning to navigate here. Here are Avatar 1 (https://github.com/ppatrice) ,and Avatar 2. (https://github.com/Jonovono) To me they resemble components to the Engineer glyphs. Please tell me what you think.
I don't think there's any connection...even of they look similar in a way, neither ofthem seem to have anything that would connect them to Bungie or Halo. Also I'm still not convinced of this NER or NR or the system anyways: has it lead to Eggs in Halo 4? And most importantly, I'm truly interested to know, where have you found it?
And, uh, kind of off-topic, but...I dunno. About hinting Eggs, that is. It's something that Bungie did very scarcely (the two times I remember being the Dancing Marty and the Pelican on Reach, but even those were just "it's in this level"), and I think it was just fine. I mean, isn't it nice to find them yourself, by accident or trough hard work? Then again, I think that by far most of all the easter eggs I've seen were shown to me by my friend or youtube..I guess it's just "uncool" for a game developper to go around a and be like "Look guys! Look what cool hidden stuff here is!"
Okay, 343i is not like that, tey're cool, and in the end it's not a big deal. I just feel a bit uncomfortable about it.
Yeah, let's really leave it there. It's not a big deal, I'm just not used to it. There. /rant /offtopic
Alright, so:
Tell some more background about this NER 1204! I really am eager to know!
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I'm sorry to hear about your doubts, but not having used this system your self I can understand. This NER/ ERR has been around at least since Halo3. I actually have stumbled onto it a few times not knowing it was a search tool. Your right Bungie made us scratch our heads for a good long while before any egg assistance would be delivered. I imagine it works like this. On some level I'm sure game designers want you to find their crafty gems. On the other hand I sometimes imagine it's kind of like bragging rights for developers if we never fine a well hidden egg. I just recently viewed some old Bungie employees H3/ ODST screenshots, and found eggs have been waiting there for sometime. Or just eggs I have never seen before. I have seen many, but I still find eggs that are new to me . This happened in my recent ODST runs. For instance I knew there were Cortana AI chips that could be found in certain Reach maps. I never noticed that there was at least one in ODST. I don't think I picked up on that before. Any way back to NER 1204. The hints just don't spell it out for you, it still requires a little twirl of your noodle with your chop sticks . I do not know if this search system was meant only to be used by gamers, or was also a tool for ARG MODs. What I do know is this. There are still numerous unsolved eggs in Halo 4 with a level high level complexity to them. Which is where I became fully aware of the search tools value to the Hunter. I do not know of anyone other than myself Bungie, 343 and ARG Moderators who use the search tool. When I first found this tube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8qUH-MlzTs&list=PLC2A8F91B443C82CB I know I was onto something. To find the hint /ARG content your going to have to surf around. This channel has a song called Cyborgs Never Die. The channel has been edited since I first found it, but did have a reference to Frankie goes to Hollywood. This was a joke about Frank O'Conner going to Hollywood to film his cameo as Beamish in FUD. I really hope Beamish will find his was into Halo5,6,7,8. LOL The Easter egg hint on the channel was a skydive vid with music obscured by rushing wind. You see I had found several musical Waypoints in Halo 4 campaign level Dawn. These musical waypoints could be turned on, and off. Sometimes the music was very faint making it difficult to make out. The vid affirmed I was making progress with the musical progression. These waypoints are now active in DLC maps and also indicate proper locations for Easter egg activations. There are loads of unfinished eggs in H4. I also suspect that learning H4 Easter egg teqnique was essential for a return to ODST.
Sometimes I imagine that Sadie would look like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahandsean/sets/72157607411033667/
This was also found in the photos of the same flicker account http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahandsean/5857693292/in/set-72157627015644490 Does this remind you of anything?
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Atarigen, in SGP we want to go with the labcoat approach. This means that if there are finds, they have to have something they are based upon, screenshots and some coordinates preferrably, if we're talking of something in-game. They need proof, solid evidence.
So, could you, for Science, show or at least explain in detail, where Exactly did you find NER 1204?
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Also, you mention a Cortana chip being found in ODST. Can you describe where this is so others can find it?
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Sometimes I imagine that Sadie would look like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahandsean/sets/72157607411033667/
So you're telling me that Bungie is using some code reference system made by Stanford, creating links between Halo and some guy's youtube channel that's dedicated to posting live performances, manifesting easter eggs into some guys windy video, and ultimately posting pictures of someone who looks like Sadie?
First off, what makes you think that's what Sadie would look like? I don't think there are ever any references to her appearance. You can't compare someone to a imageless character just because they share the same race.
Also let's be realistic, Cyborgs Never Die isn't even Halo related. If I remember correctly, it was something like "Cyborgs First, etc" as a cutscene narration after you meet Keyes. I think you're pulling things way out of context here, especially since some of the dates of these "hints" are just really far from ODST's release date. This is all speculation, none of it can actually be confirmed as any sort of ARG. I believe all the past ARGs were at one point or another confirmed as being related to Bungie with each ARG's respective evidence.
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Also, you mention a Cortana chip being found in ODST. Can you describe where this is so others can find it?
Sorry for that I did mean to describe NER 1204, but missed the mark.
My discovery of NER started in the Halo Bulletin: 2.6.13 (http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/02/06/The-Halo-Bulletin-2613.aspx) in which cryptic Easter egg hints were provided to the Waypoint community by H4 level designers. Hence starting a great H4 EE hunt. What I ask you to notice the images drawn on the bulletin white board. These are also EE hints offered in different style. During my very fruitful H4 EE experience I actually learned how all these images were relevant to the hunt. The use of a whiteboard and colored expo markers is also critical to understanding Bungie's connection to the NER search tool. While experimenting I learned these hints were consistent with a marketing techniques Jason Jones's post reach advertising project. The image of the cooking Spartan I call Master chef is relevant to my learned understanding of NER 1204.
As in many Halo games there are numbers/codes found in numerous locations in H4. Some numbers are familiar to experienced Halo fans while others are less understood. I learned that sometimes less understood numbers, and codes are not just window dressing which is the case with NER 1204. NER 1204 appears frequently in Halo 4 with a few variations. As an avid hunter it gives me great joy to know that Bungie, and 343 game developers have taken the time to place intelligent enigmas to challenge the mind of a would be challenger.
I was convinced that there was something unfinished in the Halo 4 campaign forerunner specimen room on the level Composer. In the specimen room NER 1204 (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a6b704a2d25e3a79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21235&authkey=!AJTnC665y9sg0Z4#cid=A6B704A2D25E3A79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21239&v=3&authkey=%21AJTnC665y9sg0Z4) appears near the center glass of floor in front the specimen lattice. This glass catwalk in that area is represented in the bulletin whiteboard by the Master Chef's spoon. The central theater is represented by the Master Chefs pot. The red noodles represent the paint on the subflooring doors. The Red, Blue, Green seasonings season represent light changes that take place to objects placed at certain locations in the(pot) circular floor before the Specimen Lattice. When I understood the imagery I knew where to find a major egg. I learned that by moving available white boxes to the central floor they would change color most significantly to Blue or Green. These colors are also both represented on the bulletin white board.
A friend helper FitsHisFace posted a different variation of NER 1204 from the Composer hanger bay. (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a6b704a2d25e3a79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21235&authkey=!AJTnC665y9sg0Z4#cid=A6B704A2D25E3A79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21251&authkey=%21AJTnC665y9sg0Z4&v=3) I had already been experiment with NER web searches, but seeing the NER variation made everything click. I then changed my search to ] ER 1204[/url] and found the Flicker photo stream containing more hints for the Composer EE. Since I have found repeated instances of hints stored on Flicker. The photos in the stream are directions for object placement to complete the egg. Bride and groom are Spartans. Table location is a diagram for object placement during the egg. This pattern is also shown on the NER 1204 image variation. (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a6b704a2d25e3a79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21235&authkey=!AJTnC665y9sg0Z4#cid=A6B704A2D25E3A79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21251&authkey=%21AJTnC665y9sg0Z4&v=3) These boxes are white and 1 green crate/lid are placed in the central floor and positioned to change to their proper color represented by the tables flower bouquet color. This image represents 1 hunter, and it's position outside the central floor. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36293152@N03/4595501707/) This image represents the Lattice system and additional information concerning object placement, and a target on the Lattice. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36293152@N03/4595496715/) The box of cakes represents crate/ crate lid placement in front of the left Lattice. The green whine bottle shows targeting placement for a hunters plasma round. Box placement prevents the hunter from entering the central floor and keeps it in the correct location to be able to strike the upper left tube on the right Lattice. In order to get the hunter to shoot the correct target team work is required. One Spartan offers themselves as a target to draw the Hunters fire to the proper target. This was where I had problems for Egg completion. Drawing the plasma to it's target requires timing, and good jump skills. I am simply not as good a jumper as I was when ODST came out. LOL This takes repeated attempts to get right. Sometimes plasma rounds strike boxes wrecking box placement. Helpers must then distract the hunter while the box placement is corrected. This has been the failing point for egg completion. Eager Spartans lose focus for distracting the hunter, then returning his attention to the Spartan drawing the plasma round to the Lattice target. Directing these changes in attention of the Hunter from targeting the lattice to following a helper so boxes can be returned to proper location can be done smoothly if done properly. In order to change the Hunters focus correctly the target Spartan must get his attention. This his most easily done by firing a single round at the Hunter at the same time the distracting Spartan must hide himself so not to accidentally draw his Focus from Lattice targeting. The process of repeated focus change for the hunter is bullet damage from repeated distracting causing the Hunters death which fails the attempt. 1 Hunter is required to complete the egg and the second hunter is killed early to protect box placement setups. This hunter set up is affirmed after the first hunter is killed because writing on the Lattice floor flickers after one hunter is killed, then stops when the second is killed.
I have not yet been able to complete the egg simply because people lose focus when dealing with the hunter which eventually leads to it's death. However I failed to recognize the visual affirmation that the Lattice target was hit properly at least once. One of the specimen tube terminals that give information on the Forerunner specimen is empty, and dark. This darkened tube lights up when the target his hit by the Hunter. This is affirmed by a picture in the photo stream where a flower vase that was dark becomes lights up. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36293152@N03/4595336167/) I missed this change in an attempts when I noticed this change, however I also think it failed because of a death with the iron skull on. I do not know what happens after properly activating the tube. I do not know what the final egg is from ER 1204 hints. So we will have to wait a while longer.
If someone completes it before I am done with my ODST activity I would be just fine with it. I have at least 1 switch activated first find EE to my credit. I would be happy to know that another Spartan might feel the same great satisfaction that I did when I found a legit switch egg in H4. I consider that as my hunter career high point. So there is still room for doubt as the egg is not done, but please feel free to try NER experiments by using several prefix combinations (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a6b704a2d25e3a79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21235&authkey=!AJTnC665y9sg0Z4#cid=A6B704A2D25E3A79&id=A6B704A2D25E3A79%21249&authkey=%21AJTnC665y9sg0Z4&v=3) before a curious halo number that has your attention in a web search.
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That's quite a post! You might want to check if all the links are in order, as at least one seems to be missing.
But good, alright. Now we know where the NR 1204 comes from. I must admit, finding human letters and numbers on a Forerunner structure is quite interesting. And seeing that a set of numbers and letters similar to the one on the forerunner floor can be found on unrelated human structures DOES hint that there's something going on (on the second image, note how, if read from top to bottom, the note spells "NER"). Hmm.
However. Proving a system of finding easter eggs, specifically by googling NR, NER, ER or some other combination of letters with a string of numbers is still quite far away.
Atari, even if the room you described could be seen to be the same as Master Chef's soup, I am sure there are several other places the soup could refer to. The only reason you see that the room is connected to the drawing on billboard is because NER 1204 is there, and you think that NER means that there MUST be an EE. Without NER, Master Chef would be just a random drawing, which it ultimately is: you only see it important because you WANT to see it so, I'm afraid. Same goes with the wedding photos: for example, I have truly hard time seeing a reference to a hunter anywhere there (actually, the one photo is there twice in a row; is it meant to be so?), and the case is the same with the wine bottle. :/ If you can't soundly point out the connection, then I am afraid that there is no connection. That is the SGP way.
I know you want to find Eggs, and I know you're good at it: nevertheless I don't think that NER is a tool of finding them. If the hunter shooting the pipe actually turns out to be an easter egg, I will surely reconsider. Now, however, there is no proof. And anything is nothing without proof.
I want you to really think of this: could it be that what you believe in is not actually the truth?
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I do understand that my theory is highly suggestive, and yet unconfirmed by scientific method . I do desire support for my theory here from experts I know as mentors, and understand that I am not the one that needs convincing. I also understand standards for reporting egg finds are set by those who make them, and by the nature of their industry are bound to upholding high standard themselves. Incomplete, or unproven reporting is considered bad form by those with such standards. My reporting often falls into the bad form category using a quality litmus test as I often do not report all the facts. At times this is intentional as many of my posts are meant to spark curiosity in those who have interest. This is done so the hunter will have enough information to go and have a look for themselves. I will not do all of the work for you, but would love to share the find as a community. I will limit my reporting to the complete facts of fully completed finds here from now on.
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At times this is intentional as many of my posts are meant to spark curiosity in those who have interest. This is done so the hunter will have enough information to go and have a look for themselves.
I see where you're coming from with this, yeah. I do agree that there's a point into that, letting people to find them themselves. For example, the puppet you once posted still intriques me, maybe even more because you didn't tell the location of it. Sometimes, especially if were talking about spmething Big, I suppose clear directions might be good.
And don't get me wrong man, I didn't mean you can share your theories and ideas, nono! That was not the point. I don't think it would be a very cool community if all the posts were just "Alrigth, I analyzed this stuff for half a year by myself, look what I got". That's no fun. You're a cool guy, and we want you here among us :)
What WAS the point was that anyone and everyone, after thinking about something long and hard enough, can easily come into funny conclusions. EVERYONE starts with some idea that turns out to be pretty much nothing (for CG it was the "Unlocking Secret Areas", that later turned out to be the Bump Glitch, for me, a totally failed but really serious attempt to decode a minor canadian ODST ARG), and believe me, most of the ideas anyone ever has turn out to be nothing. Accepting that sometimes you miss is important.
Being a researcher or a labcoaty hunter is not easy, and while being able to separate the good ideas from the other stuff is not a must-have, it's something that really eases up the process. But as said, you can never be too sure when it's just your own mind with it's own viewpoint to the matter, and getting a second opinion never hurts. That's why I don't want you to stop theorizing openly and only post complete stuff, on the contrary you should keep posting, get other's opinions and develop your own viewpoints trough that (That's what this forum is all about: getting together and sharing ideas). I just want you to see what I already noted: sometimes your thinking too far off.
I know you'd want support to your theory, but because the labcoats are on, and because I want to support you yourself, I must say: it doesn't work. Not as it is.
Having said that, you are on to something with NER 1204. Maybe not a system for easter eggs, but an egg by itself. Or something bigger. Who knows? If there were more of these similar codes to be found, maybe a connection could be formed among them...Of course, they CAN be a system after all. Who knows. See if you can find it.
Also, don't call us mentors, I'm blushing here. .P
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(http://www.gruntspajamas.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2103&g2_serialNumber=1)
I will limit my reporting to the complete facts of fully completed finds here from now on.
Thank you for your objective self-assessment! It is crucial that "theories" are clearly separated from facts. It is also important to separate the "what" from the "why".
In the context of searching for new "secrets" or "easter eggs", there is nothing more egregious than making factual statements that are not based in fact.
For example: "Bride and groom are Spartans." There is nothing supporting this. It's a wedding album on Flickr. At the very least, you need to qualify statements like this as your personal theories or postulations. For example: "Perhaps the bride and groom represent spartans." This little change in wording is the difference between stating something as a possibility and stating something as fact. You really have to be careful when you state something as fact (i.e. this thing IS this other thing) because if you can't prove it, people may interpret that statement as a lie. If you recast your statement as "I believe this thing may represent this other thing" then at least you are not "lying"- even if you are wrong!
Now I certainly don't feel that you are lying and I don't believe that you mean for your assessments to be interpreted as lies. In my humble opinion, you just need to be a little more careful about how you present your ideas. You seem to have a great enthusiasm for finding secrets, which is wonderful! I just have a sinking feeling that you may be misdirecting that energy by not being more discerning about how you make connections.
For example:
I did a search for "ER" on Flickr and I got this bear (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36110535@N06/6904548344/in/photolist-bw8BEY-7L5kf9-5poKy5-a35nsF-4xDoJa-8Z6CN5-8Z8CgK-7x9gNx-ryKn1-7HE4Wd-MfoYj-coVgq7-5VmTsF-5PyrgT-5Pyrd4-97EuWF-4AAa8R-ryKA4-ryLb2-8DGt7C-ryJuQ-2p5Djd-ryLwv-ryLxX-6T9Gys-c8yHYy-bZNYC-ryLG2-ryMCU-ryLCJ-ryLfr-ryMu9-ryMz3-7pkYdm-8TXGpd-7t4BFQ-a23GGR-863QFg-9vCDHy-4aGaex-9MWDRR-cf3cE9-4fLQ5h-9Wq3Ns-8YRKpb-8XX8k9-8YdAiM-8Yxn4Y-8YT9TK-a1NSDo-ci3RnA). If I am inclined to find a way to make this photo mean something to Halo fans, I might make these possible connections:
- The brutes are (sometimes) furry humanoids. The bear is a furry humanoid. I think the bear represents a brute!
- The bear is waving. Your player in Destiny can wave to other players. I think the bear is acknowledging other players! Aka us!
- The Epcot Center in the background is a big sphere. The Traveler from Bungie's upcoming Destiny game is a big sphere. I think the Epcot Center represents The Traveler!
- The Epcot Center is not too far in the distance. Destiny will be released in the not-too-distant future. I think this is a reference to the impending release of Destiny!
From these "connections" I could conclude: I believe the image represents Bungie calling on game players to say farewell to Halo as they move toward the future of Destiny!
Obviously, none of this is true. Not only do I lack justifiable reasons for associating a furry bear costume with a brute, I lack any tangible result in Halo as a product of making these associations. In other words: It's Just A Bear. (IJAB!)
Likewise, I Googled "Atarigen" and found this gentleman playing the Super Mario Bros theme on piano (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgnn7u_mario-muzigini-piyanoyla-caliyor-atari-gen-tr_videogames). Should I conclude that you are that gentleman? Or did I just get this search result because the page contains a reference to the website "www.atari.gen.tr/"
Occam's Razor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor) will not always be true, but it's a great guideline.
When something unexplainable actually happens either in-game or in real life, we consider it a "phenomenon". Scatcycle discovered such a phenomenon in ODST which we dubbed "Zombielites (http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=853.0)". There were many theories bandied about regarding "what this meant". We were hopeful that there might be some cool secret in ODST involving an Elite standing up and coming to life, perhaps being "repaired" by a Huragok. We though there might be some merit to this, since there is apparently some code which is making these guys stand up.
Nope.
To date, it's a cool little phenomenon that you can try and test yourself. It's a proven phenomenon. It may possibly be a "glitch". By itself, it is not an "easter egg". In my opinion, the first criteria for a phenomenon to be considered an easter egg is that it must be hidden. Easy enough. I posit that the second criteria for a phenomenon to be considered an easter egg is that it must have been intentionally placed.
There is nothing supporting the notion that the Zombielite behavior was intentional. I believe the simplest explanation is that the physics engine is affecting an object that would normally be blown across the map, but was coded to stay in a generally fixed location- resulting somehow in a little of both. No clear intention. Ergo, it's not an easter egg.
On the other hand, the morse code in Data Hive (http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=728.msg11852#msg11852) discovered by Sep7ember is an easter egg. It was clearly placed intentionally: the morse code needed to be recorded by the audio team and placed in the level. Furthermore, when you decode it (per a standard convention: morse code), the results are long-standing references to Bungie lore. It was hidden. There is a clear demonstration of intention; furthermore, the results indicate a clear association with Bungie/Halo. Ergo, it's an easter egg.
As far as NER 1204 goes, I have not yet devoted any time researching this Halo 4 phenomenon other than to read your posts. The barricade texture contains the following text:
N.R.- 0709
E R - 1204
R R - 1015
The first thing that stands out to me is that it looks like a list of initials for people and their birthdays (July 9, December 04, October 15). I'd go down that simple path a lot sooner than I'd look at table placement in a random wedding photo on Flickr!
Thanks for joining, and thanks in advance for your continued enthusiasm and willingness to share ideas with the community. I hope we can have a positive affect on your Halo exploration!