Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn

[Ratking15]

Awesome Video and Awesome interview!
Minimum number of purrs was 3, but was very difficult to listen while all people were talking. In the second test the BG sound disappeared for quite some time, then it appeared again (around 5:50).
There where 5 ships around, yes, but not a Wing of four, it could be that a complete wing could be important. Also, except a Python, all medium/small ships.
I'll wait for Britain video to do a deep analysis, as well.

Well I think I'd consider the test an success then as the point of it was to test having ships being around it more than before and to get more attention towards the UA and this thread for more help along with information out about the UA too.....also when in the second test the the BG dissapper or does it not even start? Because not everyone was as close as they could get in both tests but enough were there I think to help me think that some anacondas are going to be needed......as I think the amount of ships we had there amounted to over one anaconda but not two.....so maybe not players are thing but the mass of the ships instead that could be classed as a small planet though very light? To suggest that it's landed on something? MORE TESTS REQUIRED AS THIS HAS TO BE IN SOME SORT OF DIRECTION!

I mean....it's the only thing that's really confirmed a change in the purrs.....and do we have anything else (that's non distructive) to test out?

 

[NovaXeros]

Cerberus connection is by far the most solid link we have to Galnet articles and clues that are apparently in them.

Any chance you can advise where Cerberus started? Which system/station was first to be confirmed? I'll go look it over for anything attached. Long shot, but IMO, it would be perfectly in the middle of difficult enough to be challenging, but not impossible to find or require serious overthinking.

 

[knowles2]

I've been lurking on this thread for at least a month now, but haven't thought of anything that seemed worth contributing... I just watched (and listened to) the video on the wiki for the first time, though, and had a thought that hadn't really occurred to me.

From what I understand of the procedural generation engine the game uses, assets like planet textures are generated client-side on the fly for each system when you enter it. Based on the network logs, it seems like the server sends the client some seed data each time you enter a new instance and the rest is done locally. I'm not entirely sure how the system names themselves work, because it doesn't seem like the galaxy map is dependent upon constant server queries, and 400 billion ~20-character strings are probably not stored locally, so the client is probably procedurally generating the strings when it needs to display them.

Anyway, my point is this: when and where, exactly, is the UA's audio file (which is going to be unique for almost every new instance) created? Is this something that's been figured out in older threads? It seems like a pretty non-trivial thing to program, however it's done. Are there any other examples of this in the game already? I think you guys said that nav beacons transmit system names in morse, but even if the morse is being generated in the same way, there's a lot more effects processing going on to create the full UA sound. Has anyone compared their verbose netlogs when traveling with/without a UA to look for differences, probably in the "Duration" values of something?

Checking net log is cheating and no different to ripping out the files from the game, to me they are both exploits an mustn't be use

- - - Updated - - -

Any chance you can advise where Cerberus started? Which system/station was first to be confirmed? I'll go look it over for anything attached. Long shot, but IMO, it would be perfectly in the middle of difficult enough to be challenging, but not impossible to find or require serious overthinking.

BD-02 4304 Newton Dock was the first system the plague was reported in as far as I know.

“Once again we are calling on the resources of the independent pilots in the region to help ensure that these cases do not develop into a full-blown outbreak as seen here on Newton Dock.”

While he denied that the team were calling the new disease the Cerberus Plague, one technician did confirm that the name was being used unofficially and came from an unusual three-pronged structure at the ‘head’ of the phage-like organism.

 

[Ratking15]

Also sorry for keeping it all a secret from you all :s but there are people who lurk and I did want it to be a surprise for people watching the stream too so the risk of people coming in and inturrepting the test were minimal which only happened once and it was an NPC before we even started the test.

I did say I would do the test though Rizal!

 

[rizal72]

Well I think I'd consider the test an success then as the point of it was to test having ships being around it more than before and to get more attention towards the UA and this thread for more help along with information out about the UA too.....also when in the second test the the BG dissapper or does it not even start? Because not everyone was as close as they could get in both tests but enough were there I think to help me think that some anacondas are going to be needed......as I think the amount of ships we had there amounted to over one anaconda but not two.....so maybe not players are thing but the mass of the ships instead that could be classed as a small planet though very light? To suggest that it's landed on something? MORE TESTS REQUIRED AS THIS HAS TO BE IN SOME SORT OF DIRECTION!

I mean....it's the only thing that's really confirmed a change in the purrs.....and do we have anything else (that's non distructive) to test out?

I totally agree with you Ratking!
Let's bring some Annies close to the UA!
BTW do not forget to Wing with them... Wo knows...

We know that the UA generates some kind of space/light distortion around it, so it's very likely that the MASS could interact with it.
Let me say that the cloud the UA generates it's maybe the range inside which the mass should be, to cause some effect.
That explains why the ships must be so close.

 

[LordZoltan]

I'm thinking those were local news stories, which are not archived on (or even appear on) the official site. The unofficial site might pick them up, not sure. I remember TheSpaceTexan posting them as appearing only in the system news now that I think about it.

Might also explain where the first plague story went (the non-cerberus story that kicked off at a similar time to wings was it? Or around when the first UA started).

On that though - I'm guessing if the clues are on GalNet, then that should exclude any stories that are disappearing in this way.

I think the missing moon idea is a good idea.

I'm wondering if orbit lines might help with this in SC.

Obviously, we know a body that shares orbit with another doesn't get an orbit line around the star/planet, so of you saw one without a natural sister then that wou;d be indicator.

Equally, elliptical orbits around a star/planet might suggest a large body...

 

[clavain]

Might also explain where the first plague story went (the non-cerberus story that kicked off at a similar time to wings was it? Or around when the first UA started).

On that though - I'm guessing if the clues are on GalNet, then that should exclude any stories that are disappearing in this way.

I think the missing moon idea is a good idea.

I'm wondering if orbit lines might help with this in SC.

Obviously, we know a body that shares orbit with another doesn't get an orbit line around the star/planet, so of you saw one without a natural sister then that wou;d be indicator.

Equally, elliptical orbits around a star/planet might suggest a large body...

Back to the good old days of using parallax to find something perhaps, ADS or no ADS...

 

[SpyTec]

I totally agree with you Ratking!
Let's bring some Annies close to the UA!
BTW do not forget to Wing with them... Wo knows...

We know that the UA generates some kind of space/light distortion around it, so it's very likely that the MASS could interact with it.
Let me say that the cloud the UA generates it's maybe the range inside which the mass should be, to cause some effect.
That explains why the ships must be so close.

I've got an Anaconda if more is needed. If one is wondering to trust me or not might look in the footer to get some trust

 

[LordZoltan]

Back to the good old days of using parallax to find something perhaps, ADS or no ADS...

Oh man... As a Rift user, the parallax technique has never worked well for me - resolution not high enough! Might be come next January/February - but if we still haven't cracked this by then, then I reckon I'll have vacuumed my eyes out of their sockets in protest!

 

[Popov Le Magnifique]

Nice vid Ratking, and nice surprise hehe! I'd like to get my hands on the other POVs, to compare the audios and all. Even if dynamically generated, now I'm not sure the extra weird sounds mean anything. My tinfoil is starting to get all worn out...

 

[clavain]

So, finished reading through the official Galnet site. Just for the record, first reference to any sort of illness is on February 6th:

Sickness Spreading Through Ngaliba

A wave of sickness has spread through Ngaliba, leading the Federal Centre for Disease Control to issue an amber alert warning all pilots to avoid Fullerton Horizons until further notice.

Anyone who has visited Ngaliba in the past five days is advised to seek immediate medical attention and avoid controlling machinery, flying starships, and travelling through hyperspace.

Early signs of infection include dizziness, nausea, stomach pains and a loss of concentration.

The Crimson Major Solutions have declined to offer any comment in regards to how many people are known to be infected.

If the above was Cerberus Plague, Newton Dock was not the first outbreak. And of course there may have been similar stories in local system news that are not on the Galnet site.

No sign of the "My Husband is a Thargoid" storyline, so it must have been local news only. Which is too bad as it was quite good.

 

[rizal72]

I've got an Anaconda if more is needed. If one is wondering to trust me or not might look in the footer to get some trust

APPROVED!

BTW, I do not own an Anaconda myself, and as I'll be AFK for the next week, I suspect I will be eagerly waiting for Ratking & Friends to do the test in the next few days...
refreshing the thread again and again, waiting for news about it

The missing Moon of Lave is another very interesting road to take...
I wonder if an UA could locate it just with its "nearest body morse detection" capabilities...
Don't you think?

Test safe CMDRs!

 

[clavain]

And for posterity, here are the "My Husband is a Thargoid" local Galnet stories, which appeared at Jotunheim, complete with nod to Iain Banks, kudos to GlyphGryph and friends who submitted these stories:

http://imgur.com/gallery/MpIKg

 

[Ratking15]

Nice vid Ratking, and nice surprise hehe! I'd like to get my hands on the other POVs, to compare the audios and all. Even if dynamically generated, now I'm not sure the extra weird sounds mean anything. My tinfoil is starting to get all worn out...

Hehe though doing it and coming up to doing it was.........

Also Kerrash's view is see-able on twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/kerrashlanding/v/10912918

Bitstorm should have his view uploaded soooooooonnnnnnn TM who also nearly went into the UA at the first test but went underneath/to the side of it which did make me want to say about but.....I trusted and it didn't happen :s

Oh yes nilreb may have a recording as well

 

[clavain]

Oh man... As a Rift user, the parallax technique has never worked well for me - resolution not high enough! Might be come next January/February - but if we still haven't cracked this by then, then I reckon I'll have vacuumed my eyes out of their sockets in protest!

Huh, that's good to know, as I actually enjoy parallaxing with the basic and intermediate scanners. Was thinking of making the jump to the Rift down the road, but given the latest Dev update I think I will be holding off to see if it actually will continue to be supported in ED or not.

 

[Vasious]

Might also explain where the first plague story went (the non-cerberus story that kicked off at a similar time to wings was it? Or around when the first UA started).

Worth a trip to the Cereberus Plague origin station to see if there is any local news that might add to the picture.
"Local Pilot returns from Trip" or "Old research facility uncovered" or "Identical Quadruplets open free clinic"

 

[EAGLE 5]

In addition to looking at Galnets posts in game it would be interesting to check out the condensed newsfeeds on the weekly newsletters and do some cross referencing with what's in the game. It seems like those feeds only cover the important stuff so maybe that can be a starting point. Also consistency and fact checking may be a worthwhile time investment.

 

[Tallsword]

Someone mentioned the missing moon. Lave has it? I'm not entirely sure, but we could check if the UA's cloud reveals it or not. It's easy for those who know what to search for. It's not a difficult trick in manners of programming / visuals either. It would also fit the purpose of the UA. We'd know when we're nearer to the moon than the planet thanks to the Morse, it'd expire to make sure the moon stays hidden from those who shall not see. It'd also fit into the story with the clone and etc.

If that's not fulfilling enough, how does this little data sound: count the number of UAs and compare to the amount of systems infected by the Cerberus plague... There might be correlation?

 

[CMDR Alonso]

Tomorrow I'll rind a bit more to fit my Clipper decently and start going after the UA. If the UA is actually in Xbox One and the different platform is not a problem to solve this puzzle, then I might get lucky. I play a lot so I could perform lots of tests.

If I get an UA, the first test will be the "Tour of Gates" one, seems pretty solid.

 

[EAGLE 5]

Someone mentioned the missing moon. Lave has it? I'm not entirely sure, but we could check if the UA's cloud reveals it or not. It's easy for those who know what to search for. It's not a difficult trick in manners of programming / visuals either. It would also fit the purpose of the UA. We'd know when we're nearer to the moon than the planet thanks to the Morse, it'd expire to make sure the moon stays hidden from those who shall not see. It'd also fit into the story with the clone and etc.

If that's not fulfilling enough, how does this little data sound: count the number of UAs and compare to the amount of systems infected by the Cerberus plague... There might be correlation?

Yeah but how do you hide a whole moon? You'd think it wouldn't be so easy. Also we'd need Horizons to explore it. Still I think I have an idea where it might be hiding if it is hiding. Doesn't Warinus orbit alone without a celestial object? Could it be nearby?