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The Challenger Dispatch is your source for all news and information about WIRED UK's Enigma Challenge.

The Enigma Challenge is a series of puzzles, tasks and games designed to test your ingenuity, brainpower and creativity.

From June 7-19th we'll have daily game updates, so make sure you follow @WiredUK and check here regularly. The Challenge ends on July 7th, with the top 10% of players eligible to win a brand new, shiny 32GB 3G iPad.

How To Play

Find a task. They're in the Wired UK Magazine July issue, on this site, and via @WiredUK.

Complete the task. Solve a puzzle. Make a video. Whatever it is, get it done.

Tweet your answer. Each task has a unique #hashtag. Tweet this hashtag, along with your answer to @WiredUK. The instructions for each task will specify what form your answer should take. You can also use our quick-submission boxes on this site for each task.

Earn points. We track your points via Twitter on our live leaderboard. Be the first player to solve a puzzle, or submit one of the best entries to a task to earn extra points.

Play in teams. To create a team to play with your friends, just add any hashtag - like #london or #teamblue - to your answers.

Miscellany

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  1. June 10, 2010

    Daily Task #4: Songs

    Cultural Understanding

    An essential aspect of fostering an harmonious and fulfilling relationship between our two great nations is nurturing a deep understanding of each others’ cultures. To this end, our most renowned cultural critic, Mr James Read, has begun a series of short summaries of your cultural touchstones.
    Published by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Socialisation’s “Titbits” service, his pithy precis are proving popular. We have reprinted here some of his best-loved pieces - all popular songs in your Britain - without their titles. Can you match the summaries to the songs? Send the song title to @WiredUK with the indicated #hashtag.

    Mr James Read’s Humorous Summaries

  2. This gentleman promises not to abandon, disappoint or otherwise harm the listener #song1
  3. A song in which financially self-sufficient ladies are celebrated and invited to make themselves known #song2
  4. With one unspecified exception, this singer assures you that he will perform any act for your affection #song3
  5. This singer is proud of her inscrutability during the act of coitus #song4
  6. A defence of the artist’s mental health against charges to the contrary; He is merely enjoying himself #song5

  • June 10, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt Recap

    What Kind of Task Has It Been?

    Candidates, I was astounded last night to witness the full breadth of your creativity and humour in your responses to our Scavenger Hunt task. Clearly, we will be privileged to have you amongst the proud citizens of His Majesty’s Empire!

    Highlights

    I now present to you some of the more entertaining picks from last night’s task. It is a pleasure to supervise candidates who bring such mirth into my work. I hope you enjoy these entries as much as I have.

  • A blog focussing on recycling discarded items, particularly barbie dolls, into artworks. Inspirational.
  • If your traditional Irish cottage is lacking a roof, I highly recommend this blog.
  • This lovely piece of Ballykissangel fanfiction reminded me of a Reprophonic Drama I enjoyed with my Mother on a recent holiday.
  • Time-travel is a subject close to my heart, as my own brother worked for the Chronomatics department at International Babbage Machines until its quarantine. As such, I find this piece a refreshing take on a genre which is so often maudlin at home.
  • This video includes one of my favourite things: Cheese.
  • And this includes the only thing I find more soothing than a hot tea; a sleeping feline.
  • A cryptic clue which proved popular amongst candidates; “Poetical scene has surprisingly chaste Lord Archer vegetating (3, 3, 8, 12)”
  • And another which proved popular here at the Ministry;
    “Of of of of of of of of of of (10)”
  • This classic game was part of my cultural induction course at the Ministry, and amused me greatly.
  • Whereas this one was not, but my attache here has assured me it is amongst his favourites. As such, I post this for Neville.


    • Once more, congratulations to all candidates who took part in last night’s Scavenger Hunt. I thank you for an enjoyable evening of supervision.

    I am, as ever, your supervisor and faithful servant,
    Charlton Rice-Laurie

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt Result!

    A Winner!

    We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to candidate chainzster, who was the first to successfully find answers to all our scavenger hunt demands. Congratulations, Chainzster!
    Other candidates’ answers have been scored, and we will present a round up of the best answers tomorrow afternoon, along with other highlights of the week.
    Until then, I am, as ever, your supervisor and faithful servant,
    Charlton Rice-Laurie

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Service Update

    An Assurance

    Due to the current problems being encountered with twitter’s service, our Judgement Technicians are experiencing a significant delay in receiving and therefore grading your answers to today’s live task. We respectfully request your patience in this matter, and would like to congratulate you all on the high quality of your responses.

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt 5

    Hunt!

    Find a walkthrough for a computer game published prior to 1995. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt5

    Tags: daily task hunt

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt 4

    Hunt!

    Find a cryptic crossword clue by Araucaria. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt4

    Tags: daily task hunt

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt 3

    Hunt!

    Find a YouTube video with between 50 and 250 views. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt3

    Tags: daily task hunt

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt 2

    Hunt!

    Find a piece of fan fiction about a BBC show from the 1990s. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt2.

    Tags: daily, task hunt

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt 1

    Hunt!

    Find a blog about an obscure craft. Send the link, via twitter, to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt1

    Tags: daily, task hunt

  • June 9, 2010

    Daily Task #3: Hunt Instructions

    Introduction

    Please be aware: This task is live and time-sensitive. Answers will only be accepted between 17:00 BST and 19:00 BST today.

    Instructions

    Candidates, I now present to you today’s citizenship task. To demonstrate your resourcefulness and quick wits, you will be taking part in a live, online scavenger hunt.
    Between 17:00 and 17:40, I will be releasing five descriptions, one at every ten minute interval. You must return to me, via twitter, with the indicated hashtags, a webpage which matches each description. Points will be available for each correct answer submitted within the designated time period. Additionally, the first player to correctly answer all five descriptions will receive a sizeable bonus.
    The first description will be posted here in thirty minutes’ time - 17:00 BST, and echoed on twitter. Be ready, candidates.

    I am, as ever, your supervisor and faithful servant,
    Charlton Rice-Laurie