Beta Key Puzzle v2 Contest #9 [Finished]

Just so we're all clear;

- The key input system lock isn't permanent, it lasts about 1 or 2 hours top.
- That %!*$ hard looking block was working as intended.
- In the end, I didn't have to give out any clues for the puzzle to be solved so anyone could do it, even if it required awesome eyesight or a simple windows magnifier utility (zoom in) to make out the edge of the letters.
- This batch of beta key since the 5th contest or so always starts with CA, those who follows my contest knows it. It could have helped some of you, you might as well remember it.
- The rule that says that the beta key will be revealed after the completion of the puzzle is true, I never said it would just pop in your face easy and you'd have to copy/paste it.
- My contests don't always last 3-5 hours, many of them in the past took from 1 to 30 minutes to solve. Check them up if you don't believe me, they are all in this section of the forums.

Congratulations to PIllowpantz, well deserved.



If I wouldn't have been able to make it out myself after doing the puzzle at the same time you guys did, I would've given some clue out as to what to expect from this block. I even passed the zoom-in block part to my sister and she was able to make it out. Barely, but she did.

Will there be another puzzle?

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Alvana wrote:

If I wouldn't have been able to make it out myself after doing the puzzle at the same time you guys did, I would've given some clue out as to what to expect from this block. I even passed the zoom-in block part to my sister and she was able to make it out. Barely, but she did.

I don't think you need to explain yourself. It was a nice and fair contest. I got all the letter and digits right except for the last C in the first block which I thought was O. But for me it was really late/early (4am-6am) so I was really tired and despite solving the puzzle rather quickly could not read the code properly.

Thank you for all your help via PM, I lacked some basic knowledge about the format of beta keys.

I really enjoyed this contest. It was not easy and I appreciate this. While speed was important, it was only a minor factor. The only thing I would ask for would be to consider the ban while creating the contest. With two false clues (address of the puzzle and name of the file, each containing exactly 5 digits/capital letters) there was too much guessing.

I'm all in favour of hard contests. Not everyone has the time to check the forum 24/7 in order to snap a key.