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NBC creates alternate reality game for Heroes

primatechpaper.com — During the latest Heroes, Claire's father hands Mohinder a card with this address on it and an unknown code on the back. See if you can figure it out.

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  • bab7880, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2The 'unknown code' you speak of was the telephone number on the back

    Has anyone called it? 1-800-PRIMA16
    • gravylookout, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23The code to the jobs section is MT36. If you text apply to the number on the front page they send you back the code. I'm not sure if it's determined by your phone #. It asks for a lot of information..... A LOT

      Plus it references "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K. Dick, More commonly known as "Blade Runner". That Rocks!
    • lazrus18, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The Voight-Kampf reference is very cool. I wonder if they are going to build this up like the Lost Experience last summer.
    • SundayTrain, on 10/12/2007, -37/+3I called it. The message...
      "YOU NEED TO FIND A GIRLFIREND WITH PU$$Y POWERS "
    • sleepwalkers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8If you call the number, then go through the third option (the jobs section), if you enter in your phone number saying that you want texts from "Primatech" when there are openings, you get a text with the message "Would you like to hear more about Primatech Opportunities via text message? Reply YES now."
      Once you do, you get another message that simply says "You'll be hearing from me again soon. We have a lot to do together."
      Oh snap.
    • timdorr, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2I put in mt36 and it worked. Perhaps they have both in case people mis-hear it.
    • sleepwalkers, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Anyone notice how it says to "visit us on your cellphone" on the front page? Do it...
      I'm going to try not to post too many spoilers here, but if you do indeed do it, just... do it. Fill out any forms you can, and see what it leads you to.
      Then there might be some extra things next week. Anyone know of a forum where this is being talked about? The Digg comments aren't the best to get a running discussion about this stuff going.
    • fishbert, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"Anyone notice how it says to "visit us on your cellphone" on the front page? Do it...
      Fill out any forms you can, and see what it leads you to."
      -------
      Hurry! Hurry! Now giving away personal information to the corporation that makes me feel the coolest for doing so! Limited time offer! Step right up!
    • yeahbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I went to the website last night after seeing the business card displayed 2 times (3 second camera focus, I knew the producers wanted the audience to call/visit the website).

      All you need to know about primatech paper:

      http://heroeswiki.com/Primatech_Paper_Co.
    • djAnakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Check out http://www.HeroesARG.com for more info!
    • PunkRampant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's http://ilovebees.com/ all over again.
  • trp642, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1Does anyone have and MD5 reverse lookup that can figure out what 'f90ad64d3e6fc85b784c2b11595c1sa0' is?

    I did a view source on http://www.primatechpaper.com/career.shtml and it points to http://www.primatechpaper.com/jobs, but I guess they check the referrer. If anyone can crack that MD5 code, you will have the passcode to the career section.
  • chumprock, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Someone already posted the code.
    Kinda spoils it though, half the fun is supposed to be figuring out these things (and it was pretty easy to find the code)
    • epiccollision, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5you didn't have to figure anything out! they send it to you!
    • JangoFett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Damn, I was hoping the message was "Drink more Ovaltine"
  • gravylookout, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Here is the privacy policy of all the information that they are collecting. You have the chance to opt out of the marketing crap.

    3. Our Use of Your Data:
    Personal Data: We will use your Personal Data for the purposes for which it was provided. For example, if you provide Personal Data to register for a newsletter or a text messaging service, to enter a contest or a sweepstake, or to purchase goods or services, we will use it to register you for or provide you with those goods or services. We may also use your Personal Data to provide you with information about features, services and other offerings that may be of interest to you. If you provide your phone number, you may be contacted at home by individuals associated with Primatech Paper. You may receive email or wireless messages from various individuals connected to Primatech Paper. Other entities or individuals connected to Primatech Paper may also send you emails or other communications. We also may send information or offers to selected groups of Site users on behalf of other businesses. When we do this, we do not give those businesses your name or address. Under certain circumstances (for example if you win a contest) we may post your Personal Data on the Site. We will notify you of this possibility when you provide the Personal Data and, if possible, when the Personal Data is posted.

    Cookies and similar tools may be used to relate your use of the Site and AA Data to Personal Data obtained from you. If any AA Data is linked with Personal Data, the linked AA Data will then be treated as Personal Data.

    AA Data: We may also use Personal Data in aggregate form for purposes of research or analysis. In order to better understand and serve the users of the Site and Other Services, Primatech Paper often conducts research on its customer demographics, interests and behavior based on Personal Data we gather. Although this aggregated data may be based in part on Personal Data, it does not identify you personally. Primatech Paper may share this type of AA Data with a variety of third parties, including its affiliates, agents, and current and prospective business partners.

    We may use AA Data collected from the Site for site administration, advertising and promotional purposes, and we may share such information with various affiliated and unaffiliated entities for such purposes. For example, IP addresses are used for the purposes of system administration and to provide AA Data to advertisers about the volume of use on the Site, and Clickstream Data and demographic AA Data may be shared with our advertisers and business partners. We may also enter into agreements with outside companies that possess technology that allows the Site to customize the advertising and marketing messages you receive on the Site. This data (including Clickstream Data about your activities on our Site) may be shared with these companies for this purpose.

    4. Disclosure of Personal Data:
    Disclosure to Affiliates: We reserve the right to share Personal Data with our affiliates. If you do not want us to share your Personal Data with our affiliated companies for their marketing purposes, you may opt-out of such sharing by contacting us at webmaster@primatechpaper.com (see “Your Choices” below). In addition, if those sites choose to contact you, you will be given the chance to opt out of receiving further communications from those sites when you receive the communications.
    • Crossmenjeff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I will join the text thing if they tell me how much they are charging me.
    • profOblivion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6A privacy policy from a fictional company... seems safe to me, sign me up!
  • thrynn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4For future web fun:

    Look through the source to the web page very carefully, make sure you also look at the *.js files that get included. You'll see a function that overrides the one on the page. This doesn't make the target page /jobs, but something else. Also don't try to "Crack the md5", you can't. But you can do something with all those juicy hex characters. Have fun.
  • rauz, on 10/12/2007, -20/+1Thanks for the spoiler, watching the episode now :(
    • coditza, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6then why did you read the story?
    • rauz, on 10/12/2007, -13/+1I didn't. I meant the description, which is on the front page of digg - see?
    • sleepwalkers, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3How the hell is "NBC creates alternate reality game for Heroes" a spoiler?
    • rauz, on 10/12/2007, -12/+1@sleepwalkers, nooo...that would be the subject or title...the description goes below that. See? Haha, asshat.
    • Danjak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Dude, you're retarded. That's not a spoiler - first of all, it was shown a thousand times in ads for the show, and second, it's just a guy handing another guy a business card!
    • sleepwalkers, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Other than saying there's a handoff of a card, there is nothing that would dissuade you from watching that episode. There's nothing that would ruin your watching of that episode.
      It's not a spoiler.
      Deal with it.
    • rauz, on 10/12/2007, -9/+1I know that now, after watching the show. Anyway, let's move on :)
    • zeero, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1i dugg him down (rauz) just because everyone else was doing it.
  • Moysh007, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4anyone remeber the AI game (for the speilberg film) a few years back, that was fun!!
    • yeahbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yes, what was that game? I remember it...you would list your phone, email, etc, and the game would call you at all hours of the night with heavy breathing, etc. It kinda freaked me out, even though I knew it was a game. I believe the company who started it had to end it b/c people were genuinely freaking out...it took over your life!

      What was the name of it???
    • tokyomonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It was called the beast
  • mbthompson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Did anyone actually fill out the information fields etc? It's very tempting but I am wary of such things.
    • djAnakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1
      Yes, lots of people are filling it out.
    • mbthompson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You're just saying that, I know your tricks!
      :)
  • reddevil3, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2Overexposure and too much hype will contribute to the downfall of this show.
    • Blackforge, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4They need it. They have to go up against 24 now....
  • killa62, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Where can i download tonight's show right now?
    I missed it and I wanna see it today.
  • p2020, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0says someone will contact you after filling in the form. This is exactly like Lost :P
    • Satanicus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Just filled it out. I'm just hoping some automated robot or something doesn't call my house since I'm away at school. I don't think my parents would appreciate a call at 1 in the morning.
  • neilsly, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Current whois information shows that the domain is registered to "General Electric Company" GE is 80% owner of NBC.

    Registrant:
    General Electric Company
    Internet Registrations
    3135 Easton Turnpike
    Fairfield, CT 06828-0001
    +1.2033732962

    The site is currently hosted at Akamai (Akamai is a content delivery company, think of it very simply as bulk webhosting for very high traffic websites and sites that need to deliver media quickly) this would be a good move if they were expecting a lot of traffic to the site.

    There is a post at a forum called 9thwonders.com on 11/15/2006 (9th wonders appears to be a Heroes Fan site) where someone had found the domain and at that time the page was parked at GoDaddy and the whois information was:

    Registrant:
    Heroes
    1438 N. Gower st
    Box 20
    Hollywood, California 90028
    United States

    Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
    Domain Name: PRIMATECHPAPER.COM
    Created on: 31-Oct-06
    Expires on: 01-Nov-07
    According to the 9thwonders forum the Gower St address is where the show is filmed, the entire thread is at http://www.9thwonders.com/boards/lofiversion/index.php/t34382.html

    If the information in the forum thread is correct then it is interesting that the site was transferred from GoDaddy to "Corporate Domains" and the whois information changed along with it. http://whois.sc has a historical whois information service but it requires a paid account on the site.
    • poofork1000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I've got the paid account. From a record recorded 11/15/06:

      Registrant:
      Heroes
      1438 N. Gower st
      Box 20
      Hollywood, California 90028
      United States

      Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
      Domain Name: PRIMATECHPAPER.COM
      Created on: 31-Oct-06
      Expires on: 01-Nov-07

      Grigsby, Oliver grigsby@onlinepoet.org
      Heroes
      1438 N. Gower st
      Box 20
      Hollywood, California 90028
      United States
      3234687949 Fax --
    • anonym41414, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16Wow, what sleuthing! You just found out that a fictional Web site featured in a television show is owned by the people who produced that television show!

      Dan Rather better watch out!
    • banderbe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Good work Nancy Drew!
  • ascalonx, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Could be a very interesting way to steal peoples information...or build a list to spam.
    • yeahbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I hardly think NBC would open itself up to litigation like that. It's all part of the program. Participate and don't worry about it.
  • tcquad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Am I the only one who saw the card and thought it said "Primate" on it? I don't know if the big bad had his thumb over the "ch" or something, but I initially thought they were making a really really bad pun (they might still be).

    And what's up with the "since 1962" mentioned twice on the front of the card? Smack-you-upside-the-head future spoiler? Useless red herring? Reference to the 1962 movie "Hell is for Heroes"?
    • HesNikke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1'since 1962' is also all over the website /and/ phone robot. when did sheresh start his research?
    • Shorties, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good call on the movie, and yes I noticed primate too... look at their slogan Paper, people, performance. Primatech, since 1962... PEOPLE!
    • nochilinopity, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That "primate" thing is the exact reason why I couldn't remember the URL long enough to check out...I kept going, what's "chpaper"?

      It must be a clue!
  • digitarius, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I've taken a quick look over all the source for the pages on the site (Including WAP versions), even the external CSS sheet... there does not appear to be any hidden messages of any kind. There are a number of clues that link the page to a Web Analytics firm, omniture (Which ripped off its site design from Xbox.com...) and also some references to "heroes" "primetime" and "NBC".

    I've also tried doing a frame-by-frame on the latest episode of heroes, trying to see if I could see what number was written on the back of the business card this stuff is shown on- but it looks like they whited it out or something. Guess we'll have to wait on that one. At this point I suppose someone could try accessing randomly named directories on the site or punching random numbers into the Primatech automated phone system... short of that I think we're too short on information. I'm considering going back and looking for clues in older episodes, if I can manage the time with school :

    I for one was pretty stoked when I tried the phone number and it worked. This could be pretty sweet for the devoted fan.
    • sleepwalkers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1No hidden code in any of the pages, but if you fill out the brief form (name and phone number) on the WAP site, you get a "mysterious" message, and if you call the number and "register" your phone number with them, you'll get a "mysterious" text message.
      Expect more next week.
  • TornadoTexan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1thought it was kind of funny that they say the personality test is based on the DSM-IV which, as anyone who has taken basic Psychology or does a quick google search, is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Not something you would normally use in a personality test. Either way it seems like this could be fun...
  • kickcows, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1http://www.primatechpaper.org

    another part of the arg. looks like an intranet site.
    • kickcows, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2digg down. fansite. :(
    • croush1211, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1THIS SITE IS INTENDED AS A PARODY AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH NBC OR HEROES IN ANY WAY. USE OF COPYRIGHTED AND TRADEMARKED IMAGES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARODY IS ALLOWED UNDER FAIR USE. CHARACTERS, INCLUDING MR. BENNET (HRG), EDEN MCCAIN AND THE HAITIAN, AS WELL AS PRIMATECH PAPER COMPANY ARE TRADEMAKRS OF THE TV SHOW HEROES.

      From the bottom of the page.
  • punch, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Heros is so awesome.
  • mungk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The text message number they provide (46622) could spell out a few different things, but NBC does appear in those numbers so I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Some possibilities:

    IMNBC (I'm NBC)
    GONBC
    INNBC
  • rYno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1skeptical to put in my cell number - who is nbc in bed with? tmobile... cingular... either way I don't want 'heroes' charges on my cell bill lol.

    I'll just wait to see what happens to you guys.. :)

    Also, the first time that biz card flashed I saw "primate" too... idk - weird.
  • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Superduper spam astroturf.

    Great show, but we can't let companies push their products into Digg, or else that's all we'll ever have is ads.
  • dreambringer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I am currently working on getting a site up for this...

    http://www.whoisonthelist.com

    (areyouonthelist.com) is being squatted.. hmpth... site should be up withing 24 hours... start spreading it...
  • yeahbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I went to the website last night after seeing the business card displayed 2 times (3 second camera focus, I knew the producers wanted the audience to call/visit the website).

    All you need to know about primatech paper:

    http://heroeswiki.com/Primatech_Paper_Co.
  • bouche, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1I don't watch the show (yet), but what's the deal with this blog site?

    http://www.primatechpaper.org/

  • scififan9009, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A Heroes forum I visit has gotten pretty far in cracking this Primatech thing.

    http://www.superhiro.org/1-800-prima16-vt1506.html

  • iceboy1500, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This come directly off of the NBC Privacy Police for all of there information.
    http://nbcuni.com/Privacy_Policy/
    or
    http://www.primatechpaper.com/privacy_link_page.shtml

    Sharing Personal Data: NBC Universal may share personal and aggregated information with pre-screened third parties for marketing or promotional or fulfillment purposes. For example, we will share your personal information, on a confidential basis, with third parties who perform a particular service on our behalf, such as sending e-mails, processing orders or credit card payments, or fulfilling orders for products and/or services. You may always opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the Choice/Opt-out section below. The contact information is also used to get in touch with you when necessary regarding your order. Financial information that is collected is used to process your request for products and services, and will not be shared with third parties who are not involved with the transaction. When credit card information is transmitted we use industry standard, SSL (secure socket layer) encryption.
  • changeling0, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1There's some info about the primatechpaper.com website here:
    http://heroeswiki.com/Primatechpaper.com
  • jlawson1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Wonder if you fill out the information that they will add your name to the 'list' on the show?
  • msgrasser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0When they send you an email and text
    after applying for the job, the address in
    the "From:" field of the email shows the
    domain:

    nbci9.console.net

    If you type that into your browser you'll
    see that this is merely a bulletin board
    run by NBC. Just in case you are still
    paranoid enough to be worried.
  • ehmjay, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It is pretty good - but no where near as cool as the ReGenesis online game.

    Last year it had us actually running around toronto and vancouver to pick up clues at phone booths!

    it was amazing!
  • djAnakin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I've just set up http://heroesarg.blogspot.com to keep track of all the information. Hopefully this will get as in-depth as The Lost Experience!
  • kkl3218, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is the email i received once I've applied:

    "Thank you for your interest in Primatech Paper. We will be in contact once we evaluate your application."
  • mtwmike, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think they are going to pic a fan to be on the show as a one time Hero
  • kkl3218, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is another message I received:

    "Thank you for your interest in Primatech Paper and taking the time to complete our employee application.

    We are always interested in unique individuals with special abilities to help us provide the best service to our many clients.

    Please retain this email for your records. A Primatech Paper representative will be contacting you in a few weeks with the next steps."
  • dawtcalm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This morning I got an email giving username and passwords to log into a "Assignment Tracker" part of the site! So looks like the site will continue to unfold
  • Mechmuertos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1*SPOILER*

    This morning I received an email from a no-reply primatech address. It is supposed to be a "hacked" email account that gives information on how to access a secret area of the Primatech web page. From the main web page go to "About Us". On the About Us page, look for the glyph on the Primatech Logo.

    Now the email says I would have to put in the username: bennet and password: claire, but I was able to click on the first file and see someone with a primatech file and her supposed powers.

    Unfortunately clicking on anyone else brings up a logon request. The user name and password given don't seem to be working to let a person view the rest of the site unfortunately. Perhaps its a little buggy.
    • kkl3218, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I got the same thing and results. However I got another password but no login name.
  • Scottbulance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1User name: bennet
    Password: HGghx11a C001
    thanks to erf on heroicartcomics.com
    • Scottbulance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1damn... forget it.. it's not working now.. nevermind that
  • bluefishtshirts, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1On the www.primatechpaper.com site go to the About Us page, click on the Logo (it will show a red helix)

    Then enter...
    Username: bennet
    Password: claire

    Click on profile C3002.
    username: bennet
    Password: MPggtn75x

    Crazy!
  • DharmaChick, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0A great site that has been following all of the details since day one of the Heroes 360 (the ARG) is Heroes 360 Clues: http://www.heroes-clues.com/
    Btw, the Heroes 360 has started up again for the new season!
  •  

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