Puzzle Guide - ONLINE VERSION

Below are instructions for solving each puzzle in the game. We suggest running the game first with friends or colleagues to become familiar with the game and your role as game host. 

Room Layout
Before each puzzle, players will be in a “room” where they’ll have a message to look at. The message will provide them with the context for the puzzle they’ll need to solve on the next step.

Messages
Players need to check the phone before each puzzle to get instructions. Feel free to remind players the first time they enter the room.

Players can click the “x” to close the message and return to the room view, but they’ll want to click the button below the message to access the next puzzle page.

Phone: Opening statement
“Thank you so much for agreeing to help me investigate Euphorigen. I’ve been collecting newspaper clippings from stories on the topic. Hopefully they’ll help us figure out who to trust.”

Puzzle 1: Headlines

Goal

To properly line up the tacks and their statements to reveal a password.
 

Mechanics 

Players click on and drag the newspaper headlines over the correct statements. The letters positioned in the red circles will form a complete (pass)word.

Average time

10 minutes
 

Hints/ Guidance

• The letter on each headline card is highlighted in the same color as the tack color.

• Two headlines refer to a social media policy. Suggest looking at the time cue in the statement if they get really stuck (the one with “now” refers to the new policy).

• You may need to help the players with terms such as “whistleblower” or “sensationalism”.
  
  

Answer

→ Correct passcode: DATABASE

Learning goal (for the Debrief)

Most players, because of confirmation bias, seem to pick up on the negative headlines. Actually, the headlines paint a mixed picture...some make it seem like Euphorigen is legitimate; others not. In the end, one would really need to read beyond the headlines.

Transition
Return to main room

Phone statement: “Looks like you were able to sort out what news sources have been saying about Euphorigen. It’s important to consider the source of the information that we encounter on a topic.”

Players will click on the “look at the charts” button to progress to the next puzzle. 

Puzzle 2: Charts

Goal

To match each chart with the correct statement.

Mechanics 

Each chart is using a problematic technique (e.g., inverted axis), which is listed on the notepad on the left side of the page. Players keep track of their work in the text boxes included in the notepad card.

Average time

8 minutes

Hints/Guidance

• Players typically get through this puzzle without needing hints. If stuck, suggestions such as “Look at the axis more closely” can help.

• The most challenging chart is the one showing accumulating data.

• You may need to help the players with terms like “truncated”.
  
  

Answer

→ Correct passcode: INFORM

Learning goal (for the Debrief)

The manipulated charts all suggest that Euphorigen is not legitimate. A true representation of the data would actually suggest that Euphorigen is OK. That is,

--Investment costs are actually declining (upside down chart)
--Euphorigen side effects are not very different from other products (bar chart)
--Euphorigen benefits are signficantly higher (pie chart)

--Drop out rates are actually level, not rising (cumulative data chart)

Transition
Return to main room

Phone statement: “Thanks for looking through those charts! Remember that people don’t always use data in the way that we expect. If we look more closely at the information we can often see if a source is using it in a misleading way.”

Puzzle 3: Faces

Goal

To determine which photos are of real people, and which are computer-generated images.

Mechanics 

Players examine photos and decide whether each image shows a real person (1) or a bot-generated image (0).  Each sequence of 0s and 1s maps to the investigator’s notebook, forming a passcode.

Answer

→ Correct passcode: FACT

Average time

15  minutes

Hints/Guidance

• This is the puzzle that people struggle the most with. To an extent, we want them to feel how challenging it is to determine if an image is real or not. Feel free to step in if it’s too frustrating with a comments like “you have one incorrect photo” or “take a closer look at photo X”.

• Players must click the blue buttons to view each part. 

• You can zoom in on the images!

Learning goal (for the Debrief)

This is intended to the most challenging puzzle, to reflect real-life where it has become nearly impossible to detect fake images (especially with the latest AI). The take-away is that you need other strategies to determine if something is real or not. Relying on your own eyes and ears is no longer a realistic strategy.

Part 1: 00110 = F 

Part 2: 00001 = A

Part 3: 00011 = C

Part 4: 10100 = T

Transition
Return to main room

Phone statement: “I’m so glad you could spot which of those images were computer generated. It’s amazing how good computers have become at creating images that seem real. We often need to look very closely to even notice that anything is off about them.”

Video #1: Share

Goal

To receive a message on what’s next.

Mechanics 

Players watch the video. Then, click “next” once the video is complete

Average time

30 secs

Hints/Guidance

• Ideally, the screen sharer has turned on audio sharing. If not, it’s best to proceed and let players watch the video with the captions (taking the time to change the settings may take up time).
  
  

Answer

Here is the direct link to the video if needed: https://youtu.be/NxMa6BaAAIM?feature=shared 

Video transcript that you can read if needed:

Hi everyone. Dr. Jones here to report on the Government’s long awaited report on Euphorigen. This product has failed the critical trials with an only 8% success rate. This is a major disappointment because initial data indicated that Euphorigen was effective and safe. We are sorry to conclude that after 10 years of investment and hope, we cannot recommend that this product be introduced into our public water systems.V

Puzzle 4: Emojis

Goal

To determine which influencer has the most likes.

Mechanics 

Players must first solve the math equations to figure out the number associated with each emoji. Once they have the emoji code of numbers 0 through 9 they can determine which influencer has the highest number of likes. 

Average time

8 minutes

Hints/Guidance

• Often a player will say that the winky face is a “1” (1 x 1 = 1). If this becomes a stumbling block later on, you might have to say that there is another number that also works.

• The only one that doesn’t appear in the equations is the only unused digit 0-9, which is the number 9.

• Each number is only used once.
  
  

Answer

→ Correct passcode: 9817 

Learning goal (for the Debrief)

This is just intended to be a fun puzzle that supports the story.

Transition
Screen appears with instructions to now share the video.

After Share: Deepfake message

Goal

To share the video with the influencer
 

Mechanics 

Players watch the video. Then, click “next” once the video is complete.

Average time

30 secs

Hints/Guidance

• Often, players debate whether they should share the video or not. Let them have this discussion for a little bit as it will be important for the debrief.

• The “Like” button doesn’t do anything

• Players have to click “share” to proceed with the game

• Image appears with social media message popping up on screen, showing that the video has gone viral. Approx. 5-10 seconds required to advance the players to the next step. 

Transition
Image appears with social media message popping up on screen, showing that the video has gone viral. 

After players click on the screen (or 15 seconds), the following message appears: 

This is the plot twist! Players now know that they’ve been fooled! When a player clicks “Next” they’ll progress to the final puzzle. 

Puzzle 5: Sharing Paths

Goal

To figure out how the deepfake video spread so that they can undo the damage.

Mechanics 

Players trace each story’s path along the map, revealing a different letter of the alphabet. The five stories spell out the passcode. 

Average time

7 minutes 

Hints/Guidance

• If players are struggling, they can be advised to focus on only one path at a time. They can also use a pencil to trace the path.
  
  

Answer

→ Correct passcode: MEDIA 

Learning goal (for the Debrief)

It's usually pretty easy for players to complete this puzzle. But is it realistic? Can you really track down and retract information that is already on the internet? 

In the Debrief, players are usually quick to say this is not realistic. The take-away is to think before you share. 

Video 2: View & Share!

Mechanics 

Players watch the video. Then, click “share” once the video is complete.

After watching and sharing the real video, players will be directed to a page with a congratulatory message, along with a final passphrase to enter onto the final answer card, to turn in along with their team name.

Average time

30 secs

Hints/Guidance

• Note that they cannot proceed until 30 seconds elapse.

• After watching and sharing the real video, players will be directed to a page with a congratulatory message, along with a final passphrase to enter onto the final answer card, to turn in along with their team name
  
  

Answer

Here is the direct link to the video if needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFeu5ueo7d0 

Video transcript you can read if needed:

Hi everyone. Dr. Jones here to report on the Government’s long awaited report on Euphorigen. This product has passed the critical trials with an amazing 98% success rate. This is a major breakthrough confirming initial data that Euphorigen is effective and safe. We are excited to conclude that after 10 years of investment and hope, we confidently recommend that this product be introduced into our public water systems.

Transition
After the player clicks “Share” the game has been solved!