perplexcity videos

Your questions answered

2006-06-07T10:48:00.000+01:00

1) Who are you?
My real name is Chris.

2) Why did you start this review page?
I was trying to come up with an interesting way of marketing my brother's video without doing loads of forum/blog message spam which I find really depressing.

3) Who's your brother then, and which is his film?
His Perplex City name is Lear. His youtube name is MONNIW. His film is 36 Puzzles in 64 Seconds

4) So you dissed all the good films to try to improve his rating, did you, you scoundrel?
Well, no. Once I got going, I just stuck to real opinions. I might have been a bit hard on Tiggz because his view count was the highest at the time, but I really thought his film was poor. And you might detect a slight bias towards my brother's film, though that again is a genuine opinion, albeit enhanced by the fact that my mum and dad are in it, and it has some classic footage of an infamous hair-burning episode, plus some unique King's College Chapel footage.

5) What was the point trying to solve the puzzles in the film when you could have asked him for the answers?
I quite like solving puzzles.

6) Couldn't he have done his own marketing?
Sadly, he's hopeless at it. He sent one e-mail, then went hitch-hiking. He had no idea I was doing this, though he did ask me to do publicity on a crossword forum.

7) Did it work?
No. Probably the opposite. I spent time doing this rather than spamming forums. But I got quite into it, and retained the will to live. Publicity isn't my natural habitat. And hopefully it gave a bit more profile to a few of the films that weren't getting so much coverage.

8) You know nothing about Perplex City, and your reviews are worthless, aren't they?
OK, you got me. I don't follow the story, and I've only ever solved about 20-30 cards. I have a Perplex City username (rad), but I've never used it, so my score is 0. I prefer crosswords. Does that make the reviews worthless? Probably. You can decide, depending on whether you agree with me or not.

9) Which film do you want to win?
In an ideal world, my brother's. I think it's good. But, failing that, Great Perplexations... the Mooovie, which satisfies all the criteria I can think of: advertises Perplex City, appeals to newcomers, is brilliantly made, and has Galadriel in. With a mention for Private Eye and Ashley in Wonderland (both woefully underviewed). Plus a special off-the-wall prize for Vitayemo!

Marketing credits

2006-06-06T11:19:00.000+01:00

I've done some (basic) research into the way people have marketed their videos. What I did was Google searches for the video ids (eg YGuBx6Xj-PE).

Some of these searches don't work, because the id starts with a hyphen (which Google treats as a negation operator). This means I can't give a result for the kids film or the london bus film, for example. Clearly it's not a very advanced research technique, but here are the results anyway:

3rd= The Hitch-hikers guide, South Park and the 36 puzzles films. Clearly made an effort, but no blanket coverage. [There are probably a few more that belong in this category. Sorry if I've missed you]

2nd The Catchup film. Got a link onto slashdot (credit where it's due: that's impressive), and had the bright idea of using wikipedia. Not sure either fetched many hits, but good work.

1st (by a mile) The Pirates/Ninjas video. Clear winners of the marketing prize. Try a Google search for QiMRE_uSPlQ to see what I mean.

A lot of the films produce only one hit (their youtube page) in this test, so null marketing points for them. Several others have been marketed only on forums.unfiction.com and nowhere else visible.

For info, at the time of writing, the South Park film is way in the lead with 35,000-odd views, with the Pirate/Ninja film in second place with 23,000-odd, and the rest of the field miles in the distance.

In case it's not obvious, I'll say it again: this "google test" is an extremely crude technique. But it's kind of interesting anyway.

More late(r) entries

2006-06-02T21:44:00.000+01:00

Difficultly Lethal http://youtube.com/watch?v=9QvF0zghPbo Is 7 minutes 30 seconds long, so doesn't qualify, and I'm afraid I haven't watched it all so I can't really review it.

Sequence-a-go-go http://youtube.com/watch?v=vHrs6ciljG8 is a silent (the author's sounds card has broken) series of pictures of puzzly things containing words, spelling something along the lines of "have a go at perplex city". Only 30 seconds long.

Ashley in Wonderland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnvemCegCT4 is a series of trippy shots of Ashley (who is credited as the author's sister) roaming around a rather modern Wonderland following a white rabbit, and eventually waking up from the dream with a Perplex City card by her side. Doesn't sound like much when you put it like that, but it's fabulous to watch. Very nicely produced. I think beguiling is the sort of word real reviewers would manage to find a place for. Goes into my top 5.

Second look

2006-05-31T19:39:00.000+01:00

I've had a second look at the videos. Basically, my views haven't changed. I still find that good video editing, funky tunes and inbuilt puzzles are what I like best, but I'll make a second mention of these three, which are worth another look:

1) The one with the none-too-glamorous girl doing the home-made music video. It's just so youtube.

2) The one with the kids. It's cute, it's very English, and it's very home-made (though it's well scripted). I still don't really like the music, though.

3) The Ukranian one. Try watching it a few times. If you don't love it then... well, there's nothing I can do to convince you. Chances of winning? Worse than Greece in Euro 2004.

Late entries

2006-05-28T21:55:00.000+01:00

3 late entries:

1) Cubed (http://youtube.com/watch?v=p6ScMv6B8TQ)

Someone finds the cube, but it turns nasty and attacks. A bit of a Blair Witch Project? No mention of Perplex City, but there are some cards on view briefly.

2) Perplex City, Meet South Park (http://youtube.com/watch?v=T-TJidKeO0Y

Adrian Hon (Mind Candy's Director of Play and "leading voice in alternate reality gaming") gets battered by some Yanks who fly to England when they realise that there's money in these "Pokemon cards". For some reason, no-one kills Kenny. Might appeal to Americans and South Park fans, but I'm afraid I'm neither.

3) perplexcity (http://youtube.com/watch?v=X8LlKmbx18I Well, it's only 14 seconds long, so you won't lose much of your life watching it, but (to quote the blurb) "a short comercial [sic] for perplexcity no audio" about sums it up.

WHAT THIS IS

2006-05-27T21:42:00.000+01:00

This is a list of reviews of all the Perplex City video competition entries. You can see the list here. I reviewed them in the order they appear on that list, so they appear here in reverse order... which is fair, really, isn't it?
You want to know which are my favourites? OK, I'll tell you. Great Perplexations...The Moovie and 36 Puzzles in 64 Seconds. So now you know.

DISCLAIMER: What is contained in this web site is my opinion only. I don't pretend to be the judge of the competition, and I'm not a particular expert on Perplex City. I like interesting ideas, good production quality and appropriate bafflement. I'm not so keen on highly obscure in-references, or classical music in advert situations. I've enabled anonymous comments, though, so feel free to have your say.

Xena's challenge to Perplexcity

2006-05-27T21:27:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-dQCYPIIiJc

Is this the most basic video of the lot? A series of still photos of london buses with a classical score. There's a hidden message (presumably in the number sequence), which Xena is offering a prize for.

Perplexcity Competition

2006-05-27T21:20:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UJYaKsSA3JM

My ears hurt. A very cheap mind-candy-designs-with-voiceover job, plus some morse code that's too piercing.

This video seems to have the highest number of views so far. The producer has put his funds into marketing rather than quality of film, and that seems to be paying off at the moment.

Losing My Marbles

2006-05-27T21:18:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m-rfLn589zQ

You know that card with the marbles... which one reaches the end first? Well, here it is modelled very nicely by a computer. It's A. So now you know.

brainfood, by Sherbet

2006-05-27T21:15:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g95a-ZRqw7c

Short and sweet... a public service ad warning about the danger of Perplex City (pronounced quirkily here) on your mind. Cheap and cheerful on the production front.

Team Berdoingg's Perplex City Movie

2006-05-27T21:12:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-sb9MCYyV2c

Never work with children or animals. Or classical soundtracks. What were they thinking of? Cute, though.

The joy of perplex city...

2006-05-27T21:09:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fR2YcrXyOTk

Some poor camerawork is made up for a bit by the editing and the sense of achievement, but the whole plot is: someone solves a perplex city card. You can guess what city it was filmed in, if you like. I suspect somewhere in mid-Europe, but that's a guess based only on the name of the credited actor.

Join The Quest! - Perplexcity

2006-05-27T21:04:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2HWNOgUh0VA

Mainly a montage of Mind Candy design with backing music. Nicely done, but has been done better. There's a hidden message that I think is impossible to decipher due to the video resolution of youtube, which is a pity.

Mysteries of the Cube

2006-05-27T21:00:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RerF8wLKDhQ

An advert for perplex city using cgi with background music. Nicely put together, but the same idea has been done better.

A hitchhikers guide to perplex city

2006-05-27T20:38:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EbX3jHkd_0E

Looks like the cgi was done on a ZX Spectrum and has a voiceover by Jonathan Ross on acid. But it contains the neat idea of an internal puzzle, this time a hidden URL. It isn't http://www.darkflame.co.uk/trademanstwit - I tried that.

Perplexian on Earth

2006-05-27T20:35:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bqFMb_XW4gM

Nearly but not quite... this is almost an excellent matrix-style sci-fi trip, but it doesn't quite hang together. When the grunge guitarist appeared, it lost me.

Its time for

2006-05-27T20:30:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zXR7eXjbL54

Nice idea to make a music video, and the only bit of original music, but it's not exactly the Spice Girls. One for fans of home-grown talent and music video pastiche.

Vitayemo!

2006-05-27T20:28:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=U-iKVDoZYqM

Loved the music and the "what the heck's going on here" effect. Not exactly much mainstream appeal, bbut definitely have a look.

Great Perplexations...The Moovie

2006-05-27T20:23:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wt7y2juYSV8

Loads of very neat cgi, a funky soundtrack, and a voiceover by Galadriel. What more could you ask for? Very nice.

Private Eye

2006-05-27T20:19:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z3rPGEAQswU

Loads of atmosphere, and very nicely shot in black and white. This is a good attempt at making a 90-second film noir. The story is a bit of a mystery... but what's wrong with that?

zoltan's perplexcity film

2006-05-27T19:49:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=U8Ab_R67h4g

Mysterious and beguiling. No attempt at a plotted story, which seems to be a wise move. Instead, quotes from, I assume, perplex city forums mixed with puzzles. I don't think there's anything made specifically for this video for viewers to actually solve, except maybe www.perplexcity.com written in ROT13.

The Perplexing History of Earth

2006-05-27T19:39:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4aCp4QtMLnI

Perplexing, yes, but the history of Earth? Not really. I'm afraid I managed to be a bit bored by this one even in 90 seconds.

The Quest for The Cube (parts 1-5)

2006-05-27T10:27:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WXjjyUjbBts

Is this the only American entry? Shot in five 90-second chunks, with a hint of Wayne's World. Gets round the problem of squeezing a plotted film into 90 seconds by cheating and doing it in 7.5 minutes. Nice idea, but not really in the spirit of the thing, is it? I suppose that one episode might be a winner, but I doubt it somehow.

perplexsims

2006-05-27T10:24:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ibt6djIZ4bE

A story of the tragedy of addiction, acted by sims. A real film with a real plot (sort of), but I don't like the music, I'm afraid.

36 Puzzles in 64 Seconds

2006-05-27T10:20:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FRtZfxeSTJg

Does what it says on the tin... 36 questions zip past, all in Perplex City style. Amazing production values, some excellent bizarre clips and lots of repeat-viewing potential with the included puzzles. A prize is offered to the person who contributes the best answers. I reckon if you can get more than 10 out of 36 you're likely to win.

A Short Film About Perplex City

2006-05-27T10:16:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ay21bmtQwx4

The blurb says "Made without any apparent talent or skill, this is the first film-type thing ever made by myf." It's better than that, with a nice quest theme and some good music, but it doesn't have any extra gimmick to set it apart.

Pirates vs Ninjas

2006-05-27T10:08:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QiMRE_uSPlQ

These guys have got an excellent network of link sharing to get their view count up, but the actual film isn't amazing. Shot in London by nutters with great background music, but no mention of Perplex City, and no plot to speak of. A hidden URL to get repeat views.

[edit] Since reading the comments, I've changed my mind. This is a work of genius. Now, please release my children - that's what we agreed, wasn't it? [/edit[

Catchup

2006-05-27T10:06:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YGuBx6Xj-PE
Laurel-and-Hardy-style silent movie with piano music. Lots of fish (not black and white). Not sure I understood the plot, to be honest. Or if there is one.

GamesU PerplexCity Video

2006-05-27T10:01:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QBZ35ozp2NE

28 seconds of perplex city photo montage with background music. Not amazingly inspired.

Scratch 'n' Sniff

2006-05-27T09:56:00.000+01:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rhBX6l66-yY
Funky music and a new idea for a Perplex city card. A bit on the long side, for what it is.

Dogs and Ninjas and Janitors

2006-05-27T09:52:00.000+01:00

First up, Dogs and Ninjas and Janitors (http://youtube.com/watch?v=T2TTtMotYWs)

Some soldiers do battle with ninjas and find the cube. I think. No music. It's entertaining if rather mystifying. Low production values.

Perplex City video competition

2006-05-27T08:48:00.000+01:00

I'm reviewing all the Perplex City video competition entries...