Code A

Texture of the cipher (converted from .vtf file, including alpha channel, colors inverted)

"I have hidden four codes, ABCD,
for access to my site. Do Konami.

Code A: one zero zero one"

Discovery/Decryption

• This code was initially discovered by Spupy behind a locked door in Questionable Ethics (map bm_c2a4e; noclip; setpos 768 1703.39 260.3).

• Checking the texture files for the game it's labelled as qe_pigpen_decal.vtf

• Before the filename was found, it was cracked by MrMuffins as the pigpen cipher to read as:

I HAVE HIDDEN FOUR
CODES ABCD FOR ACCESS
TO MY SFTE - DR BONAMI
CODE A
ONE ZERO ZERO ONE

• Some time later after receiving the first IRC clue, it was decided that the message had been purposefully misencrypted by making small errors on three of the pigpen symbols. It should correctly read as:

I HAVE HIDDEN FOUR
CODES ABCD FOR ACCESS
TO MY SITE - DO KONAMI
CODE A
ONE ZERO ZERO ONE

An illustration showing the differences between the original and the corrected messages.

Uses from the clue + potential leads

• We were able to gain access to terminal.blackmesasource.com by entering the Konami code on Stormseekers homepage. Note that in Mozilla and possibly other browsers, the Konami code will only work when the "search on page by typing" feature is turned off (because otherwise the browser searches for "BA" instead of passing the key press events to javascript).
• http://www.thestormseeker.com/thepizzaisalie
  • username : drhorn
  • password: 1001085139140914 (combination of Codes A-D)