Overview:
Based on the original arcade game Q*bert and some math, this puzzle
cache series has levels that get progressively harder. Like in the
game, Level 1 (this level) is fairly easy, but gives a good
introduction to gameplay. You don't need to have played any video
games to solve the puzzle.
Background:
Q*bert is a one-of-a-kind arcade game from 1983 where a large-nosed
orange piece of lint hopped from cube to cube, trying to avoid
enemies and advance to the next level by changing all the cubes to
the same color. The unique and simple gameplay combined with the
lack of violence makes this game highly collectable. This geocache
won't require you to hop, but instead requires you to do some easy
research before seeking the cache.
Level 1:
You need to research:(*4)
- The name of the first enemy that Q*bert faces.(*1)
- The name of the original manufacturer of the
game.(*2)
Count the letters in the enemy's name and add them to the
decimal portion of the latitude.
Count the letters in the manufacturer's name and subtract them from
the decimal portion of the longitude.
Incorrect Example Solution:
I incorrectly guess the enemy's name is SAM, which has 3
letters.
N43 01.059 + 3 = N43 01.062
I incorrectly guess the manufacturer's name is ATARI, which has 5
letters.
W087 59.240 - 5 = W087 59.235
I then head to N43 01.062 W087 59.235 and can't find the cache,
because I guessed wrong.
The third hint contains the sum of the numbers.(*3)
If 3 and 5 were correct, the hint would be 8. (One hint was given
one week after the first find and every week thereafter until all
hints were provided.)
IMPORTANT NOTES: Please be very
careful when removing the log from the cache container. The log
is very hard to get back in, so fold it properly and put it in the
lid of the container, then attach the lid. (You get an extra 1/2
star for the difficulty involved in doing this without being seen
by mugglers.) Please bring a pencil to ensure you can sign the log.
Please put the container back exactly where you find it,
to keep it from getting destroyed or muggled. If you write
something in your online log that could spoil someone's search,
please encrypt it. When you've finished Level 1, you might try
Level 2 (
GCP1MF). DO NOT touch anything electrical, climb into
trees, disassemble anything, or wander onto private property. With
all my caches, there is no need to endanger yourself nor
potentially make yourself look foolish.
You (and
your children) need to be stealthy.
Because of varying muggle flow, this can be a hard cache to hunt
depending on the time of day you hunt it.