User talk:AndrewNeo/Analyzing ApertureScience.com

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HELP

Upon just loading the page, instead of merely typing login, try typing "help" for more hidden text. Nothing excessively interesting though. --clampstand


You done a whois yet? It's obviously Valve - 'Network Solutions Private Registration' be damned. —Cargo Cult (info, talk) 07:13, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT) 

Registrant:
Valve Corporation
   ATTN: APERTURESCIENCE.COM
   c/o Network Solutions
   P.O. Box 447
   Herndon, VA.  20172-0447


   Domain Name: APERTURESCIENCE.COM

   Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
      Valve Corporation         [email protected]
      ATTN: APERTURESCIENCE.COM
      c/o Network Solutions
      P.O. Box 447
      Herndon, VA 20172-0447
      570-708-8780


   Record expires on 20-Jul-2016.
   Record created on 20-Jul-2006.
   Database last updated on 6-Sep-2006 10:11:00 EDT.

   Domain servers in listed order:

   NS1.VALVESOFTWARE.COM        207.173.176.200
   NS2.VALVESOFTWARE.COM        207.173.176.203
   NS3.VALVESOFTWARE.COM        68.142.64.168

This listing is a Network Solutions Private Registration. Mail
correspondence to this address must be sent via USPS Express Mail(TM) or
USPS Certified Mail(R); all other mail will not be processed. Be sure to
include the registrant's domain name in the address.
  • I had no need. If the domain points to one of Valve's servers, it's obviously uh, Valve's. --AndrewNeo 13:25, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)

Hmm, this is pretty interesting. Tey typing in different things. I got a response for just plain "?". Also type "user" and it will ask you for a name and password. I'm going to keep fooling around with this. :) --Cartosis 09:31, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)

The password is "portal". That was a real tough one :/ Typing "Lib" or "help" after logging in will give you some commands, still playing around with these --Cartosis 09:35, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)

I've got an unique identification number now :P --dutchmega

Ok after this point typing "apply" will run some sort of computerized testing with problem solving questions. :o Wow it gets pretty creepy at the end, it may be a good idea to wrtie down that really long number that flashes across the screen, you need to enter it again at the end. "Relaxation Vault" :( --Cartosis 09:41, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)

  • And thanks everyone for this stuff but I've already looked at it's ActionScript and know everything it can do. --AndrewNeo 13:25, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)
This application/program/weird stuff is really making me crazy.. the questions are just, well, let's say "from another world". I'm wondering what's the purpose of this thing and if it's in relation with Portal or not. (it seems but in what kind of way ?) --NykO18
  • It certainly could be from another world.. say, the same way the G-Man is.. but yes, it is definately Portal related. If the being hosted on Valve servers, the name of the site, and the password to access it weren't enough of a clue. --AndrewNeo 14:54, 6 Sep 2006 (PDT)
Other-worldly? It wasn't all that dissimilar from the Belgian residency permit forms I was filling in earlier this morning. You, Sir, need to learn about bureaucracy. ;-) —Cargo Cult (info, talk) 02:47, 7 Sep 2006 (PDT)
  • Whatever ;) Anyway, please don't edit the page. It's my personal research, which is why it's under my User page and not on the main namespace. In any case, I don't want to state simply that the UID changes, I need to find why and where first. I do know where it comes from the first time, but there isn't anywhere explicit in the code that causes it to change at that prompt. The only problem is they're using loadVariables and I'd have to debug the app to see that stuff. Hmm... next step: Flash debugging! --AndrewNeo 08:19, 7 Sep 2006 (PDT)
I suggest you have a note at the top of the page telling authors and editors to not edit the page as its your own research, anways, great job so far. --Brad Newsom
  • In regards to the odd questions, I believe it's just to cover up the "THECAKEISALIE" command. Throughout the questions, certain characters are blinking (or fading in and out rather) - and it spells out "THECAKEISALIE". So if you've gone through all the questions, and spotted and written down these blinking characters.. you have the secret command. --Mace 22:32, 5 Oct 2006 (PDT)


It's probably something to keep fools like us busy... :P --dutchmega 03:08, 7 Sep 2006 (PDT)

  • Probably! But it's fun. Valve's still creative as always. --AndrewNeo 08:19, 7 Sep 2006 (PDT)
  • THEY ARE WATCHING US!--RP 07:41, 9 Sep 2006 (PDT)

On page five, I noticed something that looked like an ASCII candle or something pop up. I didn't have a capture running or anything, and when I refreshed it didn't happen again. Hope that helps?--User:MrBunny

  • I guess I didn't mention it in the article. A cake pops up randomly in the corner, yes. --AndrewNeo 16:41, 12 Sep 2006 (PDT)
  • The big ASCII cake seems to pop up at random questions throughout the quiz. There's a screencap of it here "ApertureScience (Portal) Website!" thread --Mace 22:32, 5 Oct 2006 (PDT)

Just noticed that you can see a (hidden) MySQL error in the page source. It reads the follwing: mysql_fetch_object(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in /valve/www/www.aperturescience.com/index.php on line 30 I assume that this means the page itself is generated via some scripting language. Most likely php, as that is what they are using elsewhere. Possibly, the flash video is sending the information to Valve via POST data, and using the same script to record it all? I wonder if the questions are a logic test to see who would be good to approach as a Portal playtester... --Hextic

I don't think this is for choosing playtesters since they would need both good problem solvers and bad ones not to mention people who are completely unfamiliar with games as well as hardcore guys, and everything in between --Polaris 08:24, 20 Sep 2006 (PDT)
  • Like I said in the main article, they probably are storing this information. Why? I don't know, most definately not for finding playtesters (they only have an ID number to go by, no idea who's really who). The error is just a bug in their code. And yes, they are using PHP.. if the fact it that the file extension is PHP, the error message is from PHP, too. --AndrewNeo 13:31, 20 Sep 2006 (PDT)
  • The error message is gone now. --Noia 18:23 GMT+0 07 Nov 2006

Also noticed that when it first tells you your UID in APPLY.EXE it is not static. It changes over time. Watch it, and watch individual letters and numbers change. Possibly the reason people always get the error message is because they are in fact, case sensitivity or not, providing the wrong UID? Gonna try using two windows, one running APPLY and when it asks for the UID, putting IP into the other and copying from there. --Hextic

  • No. The UID could be changed at any time (with the variable request comes back from gdxt.php) but when it asks you to enter the UID it will -never- work because it will always fail. It does not compare your entry text to anything, it simply goes to the error screen immediately. --AndrewNeo 15:10, 21 Sep 2006 (PDT)

some gdxt.php info Jeff321 21:18, 30 Sep 2006 (PDT)

  • I know that UIN changes every time, but when you are logged as "Cjohnson", password tier3, the command IP returns you a stable UIN. Maybe after taking the test, if you enter this UI, something would happen ? And one more thing : when you have to enter the UIN, there is place for 65 letters or numbers. Why ?

Cake image, where is it used?

Cake.jpg

This image is part of the SWF file on ApertureScience.com. It is not actually used anywhere AFAIK and from the code related to it seems to mimic the Windows XP screen saver (static image moved to random position at some interval). It is only activated when entrymode == 3, which the user is never able to do. Also the cakeRandom variable is something to look into. Never mind, you already had this. Noclip 09:06, 6 Oct 2006 (PDT)

I keep seeing this cake flash up when I'm filling in the application form. --AzraelUK 14:51, 14 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Boss Key Spreadsheet

This isn't well documented but as your documentation is fairly thorough, I figured you might be interested:

The image of the spreadsheet in the "THECAKEISALIE" section is designed to look exactly like VisiCalc [1]--Shroudednight 23:01, 4 May 2007 (PDT)

Hmmm... makes sense, as "Twenty year old equipment" and the "GLaDOS (c) 1982" date would point to it... which means the "CAKEISALIE" message was written somewhere around the 2000's... Yea, already mentioned. I know. --Darthkillyou 22:51, 17 Nov 2007 (PST)

Alternate Login ID

After playing through the game once. I found in the game a spot that you can wedge your way into; and after some snooping through the wall writing I found this:

Login: cjohnson

Password: tier3

By doing this and then entering the command "DIR" and or typing "NOTES" you can access a funny history of ApertureScience

  • It would appear this is Cave Johnson's login, who is cited as the founder and CEO of Aperture Science in notes.exe. Weird that the account doesn't have access to some things, huh? Also, he only came up with tier3 on the brink of death, with both kidneys failing. How'd he change his password? --Stevenhester 06:44, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
  • Nice find. This account also gives you access to another new command, "PLAY". Which doesn't do much by itself, but must be used with an argument. The only working one I found is "PORTAL" (surprise surprise). So typing "play portal" under this account plays a sound ("good luck" I think) and takes you to a youtube video which doesn't exist anymore... it probably used to be a Portal trailer. --Pac 15:39, 16 Oct 2007 (PDT)
    • I think "PLAY PORTAL" plays the same "Good Bye" sound as when you type in the 'bye' command. --SteveMcQueen 21:52, 17 Nov 2007 (PST)
  • This account also gives you a different error for the INTERROGATE command. Regular users get a 'illegally initiating disciplinary action' error. The admin user gets ERROR 07 [Unknown Employee].--SteveMcQueen 21:49, 17 Nov 2007 (PST)
    • mebe we should try to find a known employee and interrogate him/her. >:3 --RedTiki


Source Code

If anyone wants the source code I have it, also I did not need to login under the new user name to do the play portal thing. I actually found that on accident trying to see if it would let me play it.

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">

<head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <title>ApertureScience</title> </head>

<body bgcolor="#000000">


<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="100%" height="100%" id="ApertureScience" align="middle"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="refid=1"> <param name="movie" value="ApertureScience17.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="ApertureScience17.swf" FlashVars="refid=1" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" width="100%" height="100%" name="ApertureScience" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" />

</object>

</body>

</html>

That is the code it uses.

  • We all can, just right-click on a non-flash space on the page and look for the source... --Jurgen Knops 03:15, 28 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Source code...

That's the HTML code... If you want the AS (Flash) code, you need to decompile the SWF - which is illegal so don't!

Awww... Too bad. He already did. --Baliame 06:36, 21 Nov 2007 (PST)
It isn't illegal, to reproduce it is, but i cant see why i cant pesonally do what i want with files on my computer. M1tch37 15:40, 22 Dec 2007 (PST)
Might count as reverse engineering and, besides, there are lots of files you can't legally mess with on your own computer. Otherwise, to make a game, you could just re-compile some engine and remake the plot and graphics and call it the Fo' Shizzle Engine, totally ripping off the programmer's original intellectual property. Although I may be talking out of my behind.
On that note, does anyone have portal's source code? Or some Warez, perhaps crack, or children for sale? Jazmeister 00:26, 11 Apr 2008 (PDT)

Thadeum

Reverted all non-permitted changes of User:Thadeum. --Baliame 06:37, 21 Nov 2007 (PST)

Yeah Sorry, I did not notice first that changes should be submitted on this talk page and as I am not really familiar with wiki stuff I was in trouble not sure of how to revert or not changes. As I thought I was doing it for good, I left my changes on the page, sorry again :-S. However I think that admin login stuff should be incorporated on the main explanations: this wiki devpage is provided on the first or 2nd google answer for "Aperture Science" (http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=113318) and that admin login thing is relevant enough to be incorporated in your official workaround. --Thadeum 18:36, 21 Nov 2007 (GMT)
Okay, don't worry, I get you're new, but it's polite to ask before changing user pages, however good the change may seem to be :) Welcome to VDC, by the way! --Baliame 13:50, 21 Nov 2007 (PST)

Extra Commands

Added the following stage 2 commands:

Command Result
INTERROGATE Gives an error if no parameter is provided, otherwise gives an error about 'illegally initiating diciplinary action', however providing cjohnson returns 'Unknown Employee.'
PLAY/PLAY.EXE Play's video, only responds to PLAY PORTAL which directs you to this now removed YouTube video
NOTES/NOTES.EXE Long file with company history, good read. When not logged in as cjohnson returns 'file not found'.
Added by user CarterAteABaby THECAKEISALIEtype-H Goes to some sort of a calculation sheet... maybe for cake? Only works when logger in as normal user, but who knows? I see thumbtacks mentioned? Goes to a VisiCalc screenshot when Return is pressed, otherwise displays a warning. Not displayed with HELP or DIR.

Also added Christmas Edition section.

M1tch37 15:39, 22 Dec 2007 (PST) You can type help at the Admin> prompt and get a list of all the commands you can type in. by:Ahzanti

caleb10888: When you type help go to the 5th one known as Dir, after doing that apply will come up type that into the next field, after that comes up you type continue into the field, than something else will come up than type continue again, than it asks you what you want to be called (choose what you want) , something else will come up choose which suits you, and on and on.

PLAY PORTAL

The PLAY PORTAL command is supposed to redirect you to the David Copperfield's portal illusion (which is removed). I found it out Googleing "0h50K2NVJHM", the url of the removed YouTube video.

The actual video itself can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZJVWXb92gA/

False?

Isn't it possible that the information on the website is false? GLaDDOS is obviously an outright liar, and the "program" on the website is shown to be 'run' by her. Therefore the info might have been modified to be false or possibly even created as false in the first place. The stuff does sound pretty outrageous, anyway... --Darthkillyou 21:37, 10 Apr 2008 (PDT)

Did it occur to you that being fictional in the first place, that it's entirely false already? --Kattkatt 17:50, 2 Jan 2009 (PST)
the plot thickens...

Alternate Help Text

"If this is an actual plea for help in response to a hazardous material spill, an explosion, a fire on your person, radiation poisoning, a choking gas of unknown origin, eye trauma resulting from the use of an emergency eye wash station on floors three, four, or eleven, an animal malfunction, or any other injurious experimental equipment failure, please remain at your workstation. A Crisis Response Team has already been mobilized to deliberate on a response to your crisis. If you need help accessing the system, please refer to your User Handbook." Pl0ximity 01:28, 7 November 2009 (UTC)

ports found

i found 2 ports on the website the one we aready know is 80 e.g. http.the one i found is 443 e.g. https. the https port leads you to the steam community page.I guess that is just another verifyer that valve is behind this also specifies that the website is a vhost with the hostname redirecting to it.the way i found it was by scanning the website with

Alternate aperture Science sites

I found aperturescience.net took me to aperture Science North. aperturescience.org is Aperture Science West. I'm pretty sure this comes from "Black Mesa East"... aperturescience.info gives you a GLaDOS soundboard to play with, as well as a guy in a portal at the lower right-hand corner...

website changed.

The website has changed. you should check it out.

Weird Page On aperturescience.com

So I was browsing the Steam forums and found this link:http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/ any one know what it'ssupposed to be?

It was a promo page for the countdown of Portal 2 —Mattshu 17:17, 9 August 2011 (PDT)
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