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{{Title|''Iris''}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{Quote|Look for the signs, keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory.|Iris Email}}
[[File:1203845202 Iris wp 1280.jpg|thumb|300px|Iris Glyph.]]
'''''Iris''''' was a ''[[Halo 3]]'' viral marketing and public relations campaign; more specifically, an ARG or [[Wikipedia:alternate reality game|Alternate Reality Game]] designed to give people more information on how the great conflict behind the Halo franchise began, and the climactic conclusion.


{{Quote|Iris is a spiral campaign designed to take gamers on an incredible journey through the Halo Universe. Led by an 'unknown' hand, users will discover bits of previously unknown information about the Halos, the Flood, the Forerunners, and the true origins behind the Halo trilogy.|[[Microsoft]] Spokesperson}}
==Overview==
A part of ''Halo 3''{{'}}s marketing campaign, Iris was an [[alternate reality game]], which involved cross-media interactions and player participation. It was designed to give people more information on how the great conflict behind the ''Halo'' franchise all began, as it builds up to the climactic conclusion of the series on September 25, 2007, the release date of ''[[Halo 3]]''.


'''Iris''' is a ''[[Halo 3]]'' viral marketing and public relations campaign.  
It began on June 11, 2007, with the mysterious AI [[Adjutant Reflex]] posting on the [[Bungie.net]] forums, and officially ended on August 23, 2007, with short communications from the Adjutant Reflex account on Bungie.net till September 18, 2007.


==Introduction==
==Episodes==
It's designed to give people more information on how the great conflict behind the ''Halo'' franchise all began, as it builds up to the climactic conclusion of the series on September 25, 2007, the release date of ''[[Halo 3]]''.
Iris had five episodes during the campaign period,{{Ref/Note|Iris during its run had no episode structure. On January 14, 2008 AKQA released a post-game overview of the campaign and it was grouped under episodes. We on Halopedia have opted to organize the campaign under this episode structure for ease of organization}} and a short post-episode epilogue that connected to ''Halo 3''{{'}}s [[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminal]] narrative. Each episode was bookended by the [[Bounce Path Control]] and a [[Server]] that expanded the theme of the episode.


Bungie content chap [[Frank "Frankie" O'Connor]] has written most of the material, with help from community manager [[Brian Jarrard]] and artist [[Aaron LeMay]].
===Episode 1 - The Unknown Helper===
{{Main|The Unknown Helper}}
Beginning on June 11, 2007, the first episode began with the mystery of Adjutant Reflex and several mystery events on Earth, with Adjutant warning something was coming, and that it could not stop it. Due to the mysterious events, this caught the attention of the Society of the Ancients (SOTA) a conspiracy group dedicated to the many unexplained. There was also the discovery of the [[Cradle of Life]] comic, a parallel path to the SOTA one that lead people to the first server. During those events Adjutant Reflex was then taken over by the entity it warned the community about leading to a mystery of what that entity wanted to tell us. Before the first server was unlocked the mysterious entity spoke giving people "keys" to unlock the server. The first server detailed the firing of the Halo Array, and a log that gave the hope that someone would hear the warning.


The campaign's due to run for several weeks throughout the summer and is promised to be a compelling experience to uncover valuable information. Unfortunately, Microsoft won't say whether there will be any other rewards for participating.
===Episode 2 - Flood Control===
{{Main|Flood Control}}
The second episode of Iris began with mysterious postings on several job listing sites and MSN, leading to the discovery that a group named Flood Containment Control was hiding data about something on several kiosks behind a "false menu item". The information on these kiosks lead to the discovery of a report named "Report 206" which assisted people in finding the second server. The second server detailed the Flood, revealing information about the initial thoughts the Forerunners had about them.


The name "Iris" is believed to have arisen because graphics of an iris or a pupil appear prominently.
===Episode 3 - Echoes Through Time===
{{Main|Echoes Through Time}}
The third episode quickly began with a piece of audio from the second server that revealed an image. MSN released Iris-themed items, that featured imagery that looked like the image revealed from the second server's audio. When the audio was played on a hidden screen on Halo3.com, an animation played leading people to the third server. The third server detailed the problems the Forerunners faced while trying to deal with the Flood, while also giving a direct message from the mysterious entity.


==History==
===Episode 4 - The Great Connection===
{{Main|The Great Connection}}
The fourth episode began with a strange equation from the third server, and a strange poem was posted onto Halo3.com by a mysterious entity called "When We Two Parted". This poem was modified to read "CASTAWAYTHEORYVOLMAN" which lead users to find a book named [[The Castaway Theory]] with the equation matching the one from the third server. In the book's forums, a close friend of the author indicated that the author went missing a while back, and over the next several days the friend indicated the author had returned and had given a way for people to talk to him. This led the author to link to the fourth server. The fourth server went over the Conservation Measure and pondered the mystery of the Flood's origins.


===June 11, 2007===
===Episode 5 - The Artifact===
{{Main|The Artifact (Iris)}}
The fifth episode began with people putting together star images from all of the servers, revealing the phrase "The Artifact Location". This led people to a website that directed them to locations in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. At those locations,  the final server link was revealed. The fifth server detailed the mystery of Earth, how Humans may answer the Forerunners' own mysteries, and revealed the identity of the mysterious entity who hijacked Adjutant Reflex as "MB05032" and that they will be waiting on the [[Installation 00|Ark]].


At 10:26 AM PST on June 11, 2007, a mysterious message appeared in the ''Halo 3 forum'' on Bungie.net, the official website of [[Bungie Studios]], with a subject line entitled, "System Integrity Confirmed." The thread was created by a user named "[[AdjutantReflex]]", whose system security role is "CompoundIntelligence."
===Epilogue===
{{Main|Iris Epilogue}}
On September 13 to 18, "MB05032", still hijacking Adjutant Reflex, communicated with people, prepping them for ''Halo 3''{{'}}s release by having it countdown to the minute, and having it leave the Adjutant Reflex body as it was too small to contain itself.


http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11263399 - AdjutantReflex's first Bungie.net thread, titled "System Integrity Confirmed"
==Credits==
Iris was written by [[Frank O'Connor]], with help from community manager [[Brian Jarrard]] and artist [[Aaron LeMay]].{{Ref/Site|Id=Eurogamer|URL=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ms-explains-halo-viral-campaign|Site=Eurogamer|Page=MS explains Halo viral campaign|D=25|M=2|Y=2021}}


AdjutantReflex's text is gold.
AKQA was involved with the project also, dealing with the Flash elements of the ARG.{{Ref/Site|Id=Webby|URL=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2008/advertising-media-pr/advertising-campaigns/integrated-campaign/153569/halo-3-iris-alternate-reality-game|Site=winners.webbyawards.com|Page=Halo 3 "Iris" Alternate Reality Game|D=25|M=2|Y=2021}}


In response to a post wondering if this was the work of a hacker, AdjutantReflex confirmed that it entered Bungie's systems "by force," but stated that it was irrelevant because there was no hostile intent.
Artist Garson Kwan helped created several design elements for the Iris campaign such as the primary symbol used throughout the campaign.{{Ref/Site|Id=GarsonKwan|URL=https://garsonkwan.com/digital-advertising|Site=garsonkwan.com|Page=AKQA: DIGITAL EXPERIENCES|D=25|M=2|Y=2021}}


AdjutantReflex edited the first reply by another user, showing a system ability to edit other posts.
Matthew Law was put in charge of the environments the server sites were housed in and also the videos that accompanied them. The videos were edited with "Final Cut Pro" and tweaked, colored, and effected in "After Effects", with assets that couldn't be bought as stock footage or shot locally being done in "Maya".{{Ref/Site|Id=Matthew Law|URL=http://matthewlaw.blogspot.com/2008/09/halo-3-iris.html|Site=matthewlaw.blogspot.com|Page=Halo 3: Iris|D=25|M=2|Y=2021}}


After exactly 100 excited and confused replies from forumgoers, AdjutantReflex locked and stickied the thread, showing that it has other moderator powers as well. The thread was open for about two hours.
==Reception==
In 2008, Iris was nominated for a Webby Award.{{Ref/Reuse|Webby}}


AdjutantReflex then moved to http://www.halo.bungie.org, posting a similar series of mysterious writings in the halo.bungie.org (HBO) forum.
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=808840 - AdjutantReflex's HBO thread, titled "System Integrity Confirmed"
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


'''Beware of Impostors'''
{{Navbox/Media/Audio/Iris}}


The same day that the original AdjutantReflex posts were created, a regular forum user created an account named "AdjutantRefIex" with a "capital eye" instead of a "lower-case ell" in the word "Reflex." That user attempted to make more mysterious posts, although the style of writing was inferior and distinctly different from the original and real AdjutantReflex's.
[[Category:Canon]]
 
[[Category:Alternate reality games]]
Forum Ninja "just another fan" banned the imposter.
[[Category:Iris]]
 
Shortly thereafter, another account was created on Bungie.net entitled "ReticentAxiom". This user began creating posts nearly identical to the fake AdjutantRefIex, pretending to be another AI. Once again, they are recognizable by lack of gold text and inferior writing style -- not to mention a distinctly different "style" and "feel" to the posts from the originals.
 
The best advice follows: don't believe it if it's not in gold text.
 
 
===June 12, 2007===
 
At exactly 11:00 AM PST, AdjutantReflex created another thread entitled "Archive/Resource Estimate," with its first post stating that "Archives/Resources will be compiled in approximately 38 hours [1:00 AM PST on Thursday, June 14]." Another several posts followed, but no further substantive information was gleaned.
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11278044 - AdjutantReflex's second bungie.net thread, titled "Archive/Resource Estimate"
 
The thread is now "missing".
 
===June 13, 2007===
 
At 3:43 PST, AdjutantReflex posted an addendum to his locked thread entitled "Archive/Resource Estimate" with the text "Tick Tock."
 
===June 14, 2007===
 
In the hours counting down to the 1 AM PST deadline there were two other posts by AR.
 
Shortly after 1 AM PST, an email was sent to all recipients of the [http://www.xbox.com/ Xbox Flash] newsletter with a cryptic poem inside. It was titled "Look for the signs, Keepers of the Flame".
 
[[Image:Forerunner Email.png]]
 
(The Forerunner Email image)
 
 
 
 
Forerunner glyphs were noticed, not only inside the email (seen above), but also on Master Chief's visor at Halo3.com (seen below).
 
[[Image:Halo3.com AR image.jpg]]
 
 
 
 
The third glyph found is AdjutantReflex's new avatar on Bungie.net.
 
[[Image:Chrysopteron.gif]]
 
(AdjutantReflex's new bungie.net avatar)
 
 
 
The fourth glyph found on the last page of www.halo3.com/comic.
 
[[Image:Halo_3_-_TCOL_AR_symbol.jpg]]
 
(Strip Three of the last page (Page 4) of [[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life|The Cradle of Life]])
 
 
 
 
The fifth was found on a website connected to the IP address found in the Halo3.com comic strip. The last digit is a 3 instead of a 5. http://206.16.223.63/
 
[[Image:SOTA symbol.jpg]]
 
 
 
 
The sixth was found in a newspaper ad to debut in the US on Sunday, June 17th.
 
[[Image:Halo3.com_comic_ad_with_AR_symbol.jpg]]
 
 
 
 
On June 14, 2007 at 3:43 PM PST AdjutantReflex began another thread at Bungie.net entitled, "Who?" with one other post following before going back into hibernation. This posting corresponded to a change at [http://www.halo3.com halo3.com] where the main page had been turned into five darkened pictures labeled Servers #1-5. All five servers were locked at this time. Server 1 is now unlocked. (look at halo3.com to see).
 
[[Image:SilhouettesOriginal.JPG|500px]]
 
(halo3.com at the time of Servers #1-5 being locked)
 
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11314735 - AdjutantReflex's third bungie.net thread, titled "Who?"
 
 
Another section of halo3.com was uncovered (http://halo3.com/comic/) with an intriguing comic. Intrepid searchers discovered that the last page of this comic could be manipulated to give an IP address. "[http://206.16.223.65/ 206.16.223.65]" (Apparently all IP addresses listed 206.16.223.0 through 206.16.223.225 belong to Microsoft corp). (It should be noted that the timer that is (at the time of this edit) on the said site, is in the base 7 counting system).
 
Shortly after, the IP was manipulated (206.16.223.63) to lead us to a site associated with the (presumably fictional) organization entitled Society of the Ancients, or SOTA. A few minutes after this discovery a myspace page was discovered with references to this organization.
 
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=1000322121
 
Not much is known about this page, or other myspace or facebook profiles at this time.
 
 
 
 
 
===June 15, 2007===
 
Members of the SOTA organization were spotted in Times Square in New York City wearing yellow shirts and holding picket signs with the glyph emblazoned on them. They were also handing out fliers.
 
[[Image:SOTA.jpg]]
 
(SOTA flyer)
 
 
 
 
 
[[Image:SOTA application.jpg|500px]]
 
(SOTA Membership Application [http://societyoftheancients.com/sota_images/SOTA_membership.pdf])
 
Beware, email address above returns:
 
Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:
 
DoYouGrok@societyoftheancients.com
 
Technical details of permanent failure:
PERM_FAILURE: SMTP Error (state 13): 550 relay not permitted
 
 
====Additional things from the return email (added july 9th 2007):====
 
NOTE: stuff below with •....• I inserted to make it easier to read.
 
notice that this email is encoded in 7bit "Content-Transfer-Encoding:
 
7bit"? note: 7bit is common in text, ie: US-ASCII. Also odd that the word (Disposition [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Disposition])
is used.
 
Also the ip-address: (10.65.211.9 [http://10.65.211.9])
 
notice, it actually showed my name in the reply email, so it may actually read the email for the information, note: unconfirmed.
 
additional stuff from email:
 
[[Image:Haloemail.png]]
 
===June 16, 2007===
 
SOTA members were spotted in Vancouver, Canada and London, England, and many other places. More sightings and rumors seem to come by the hour.
 
 
 
 
===June 17, 2007===
 
Another new glyph seems to have been found in this image here.
[[Image:Possible_glyph.jpg|500px]]
 
 
 
AdjutantReflex posted again at bungie.net, this time with a quote from "''Macbeth''" and telling us it is being attacked somehow. And once more stating it would only be able to deflect assault for 22 hours, giving us a deadline around 10:06 AM PDT on June 18, 2007.
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11359444 - AdjutantReflex's fourth bungie.net thread, titled "Stop it."
 
 
 
===June 18, 2007===
 
AdjutantReflex posted on bungie.net again (it's fifth thread, titled "That Old Life"), telling that someone stronger than him was going to defeat him (the details were unclear as to whether this meant destroy or corrupt, or some other method). In the last sentence of the same post, AdjutantReflex said "''I will seek one of you out and leave my legacy in a small space.''" Twenty-five minutes later AdjutantReflex replied to the thread saying "''He has had millennia for reflection, but what image does he see?''".
 
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11372502 - AdjutantReflex's fifth bungie.net thread, titled "That Old Life"
 
 
 
The countdown on the http://206.16.223.65 website sped up.
 
 
===June 19, 2007===
 
AdjutantReflex apparently contacted one of the users on bungie.net via a personal message with the subject "HELP ME.". The text of the message was "''He's here. With us. I am already defeated. Security is failing. Peril is near. Warn them.''" In proof of the user's claim, the thread he created (same title as the subject of the message) to convey the information was stickied.
 
Shortly thereafter, AdjutantReflex posted on the thread saying,
 
"''The stain on his hands will not wash. That damned spot as old as rock and time. What has he learned in Eon’s slumber? I doubt it’s mercy or sorrow. I am diminished. Outranked.''"
 
The user AdjutantReflex contacted responded by asking what he should do. AdjutantReflex's response, once again in a personal message, stated
 
"''Tell them I am failing. And that he is stronger. Tell them that security cannot be guaranteed. Tell them that there is little time. And that I am crumbling.''"
 
In yet another private message to the user, AdjutantReflex said,
 
"''He was always better than I. More powerful. More intelligent. A better machine. He is not who you think he is. And I do not know his intent.''"
 
Later, AdjutantReflex's avatar on the bungie.net forums changed once more. When a forum was created to point this out, AdjutantReflex posted a short message with the word "''STERILIZING.''" Also, it appears that his posts on the forums are vanishing. When the new avatar is pointed at, a message appears stating, "''This entity has been terminated, its matrix commandeered.''"
 
In its sixth thread, "Last Word," what had been AdjutantReflex posted once more,
saying,
 
"''Adjutant Reflex is terminated. Attempt no further communication. I am utilizing its matrix. Everything is within protocol. Tomorrow, things may be clearer but I will not be here to witness the clarity. I am for another place and another time. On my terms. Be seeing you.''"
 
x Foman123 x was contacted via private message again. The text follows:
 
"''The entity you communicated with previously has been terminated and in accordance with protocol. Its matrix is accommodating my requirements. My identity is not your concern. My intent is your concern.''"
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11388345 - First bungie.net thread by bungie.net user x Foman123 x, who was contacted by AdjutantReflex
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11390787 - x Foman123 x's second bungie.net thread, with text of AdjutantReflex's private message response
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11391638 - x Foman123 x's third bungie.net thread concerning his private message responses from AdjutantReflex
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11394009 - x Foman123 x's fourth bungie.net thread about his private message contacts by AdjutantReflex
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11393329 - AdjutantReflex's sixth bungie.net thread, titled "Last Word"
 
 
At 1 PM Eastern Standard time the timer on the [http://206.16.223.65/ countdown website] ran down to 0. It was shortly replaced by a much longer, much slower moving countdown. And then replaced later with a stationary countdown with the numbers
'001 012 034 053'.
 
===June 20, 2007===
 
At midnight, the text from the countdown page disappeared entirely, leaving only the frozen countdown.
 
Late that evening, the countdown disappeared entirely. The page was replaced by one labled "Bounce Path Control". The page contained a sound file, which is apparently some sort of transmission, a code labled The Key, and a button labled The Path, along with the message "Treat this knowledge with care".
This is a transcript of the message:
''“This is how it all begins. Just in time to once again dance upon the knife-edge of oblivion, to re-live what the Halos had hoped to destroy and more. For two enemies now stand where before there was only one. A fate we escaped and a fate we may relive. I almost convinced myself that no one was listening, that the waves of the past had rolled through once again, but a chance remains to change the Universe anew. Learn of our past. Take these keys and dip from the wells of history. Perhaps through others' eyes you may find how to save us all.”''
 
 
At around Midnight Eastern Time, the site 206.16.223.65 had an update. What it was is that people recieved a "key" instead of that countdown timer (mentioned above). They had to take that key up to http://www.unlock.msgamestudios.com and be one of the first 100 to help unlock "Server 5" (Of which we would see server 1 on http://www.halo3.com). Once unlocked, the "Server" starts to show up on 206.16.223.65 and you were able to download 4 things, and watch a video of which seems to be AR's final transmission before being completely compromised.
For complete information about this, go to this thread
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=462
 
===June 21, 2007===
 
The countdown page has disappeared entirely. Instead, any attempt to reach the page is instead redirected to a new I.P. address, ending in .61, labled "Server 05 Open". The page contains a rotating, Forerunner-esque object that is manipulatable. By clicking various symbols on it's surface, several different files can be downloaded. Be warned, however, that one symbol will make the object spin several times, then close your browser. Also, there is a message that can be seen by clicking on one symbol. AdjutantReflex's symbol also adorns this object next to four other symbols; however, AR's symbol is glowing. The four other symbols may be related to the four locked servers.
This is a transcript of the message
 
'''''THIS IS MY FINAL ENTRY, AND I AM LEFT WITH ONE HOPE'''''
 
'''''THAT ONE DAY, SOMEONE, ANYONE IS AROUND TO WITNESS THIS WARNING'''''
 
'''''{//}'''''
 
'''''KNOW THAT A THOUSAND OTHER PLANS WERE TRIED AND FAILED'''''
 
'''''{//}'''''
 
'''''KNOW THAT ENERGETIC AND TENACIOUS AS LIFE IS'''''
 
'''''IT HAS AN ANTITHESIS JUST AS POWERFUL'''''
 
'''''IT IS THAT THING THAT WE MUST OBLITERATE'''''
 
Among the downloadable files is a copy of the above text, another text file entitled "Array Recorder Data," and image entitled Flood Containment Control, and an image of stars with the symbol used by AdjutantReflex among them.
 
The message that can be broadcast with the artifact (by clicking on the circle within a circle that appears on the upper part of one of the sides) contains 2 messages that appear for a split second where the {//}'s can be seen in the log file. They are:
 
1. If you are that witness, and it seems that we pinned all of our hopes on this single suicidal plan
 
2. Millions of brave and honored souls died trying to avert this desperate, terrible solution
 
"Array Recorder Data" is apparently the final countdown of the first use of the Halos and features several notes from an unknown source:
 
 
 
 
'''''Halo array –System Data Recorder'''''
 
 
'''''[<array-sdr.> 3 minutes 5 seconds] '''''
 
'''''{c-match-reconfirmed}. Sphere secure to .1889 of passing fleet. Offensive tactics '''''
'''''confirmed. '''''
 
'''''Feint tactics in limited push. '''''
 
'''''<Array sync commence>'''''
 
'''''Sys//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////'''''
'''''//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////{online}'''''
 
'''''Index: {check}'''''
 
'''''{D-com} There is no peace left. No place where the parasite cannot reach. You were right about it '''''
'''''all. Let us hope the final measure is not too late.'''''
 
 
'''''[<array-sdr.> 1 minutes 12 seconds]'''''
 
'''''Confrm: Array burn radium {check} 3.0  '''''
 
'''''Confrm: Array sync …1…2…3…4…5…6…7…{check}'''''
 
'''''Commence…_{ }'''''
 
 
'''''[<array-sdr.> 60 seconds]'''''
 
'''''Commence…_{check}'''''
 
'''''Confrm: -00-00-00-59-0999-'''''
 
'''''{c-match-line-hold} acceptable losses confirmed'''''
 
'''''{D-com}  It's done. By my hands. The pyrrhic solution is ignited. All I have left is '''''
'''''the quiet of '''''
 
'''''space to lull me to sleep. I will dream of you.'''''
 
 
'''''[<array-sdr.> 49 seconds]'''''
 
'''''Authorize  -00-00-00-48-0999-'''''
 
'''''Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array '''''
 
'''''Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array '''''
 
'''''Authorized…_ '''''
 
'''''Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_ Array '''''
 
'''''Authorized…_ Array Authorized…_{check}'''''
 
 
'''''[<array-sdr.> 23 seconds]'''''
 
'''''fire: -00-00-00-22-0999-'''''
 
'''''Confrm: wpnt {auth}'''''
 
 
 
 
 
3 minutes, 5 seconds -
''There is no peace left. No place where the parasite cannot reach. You were right about it all. Let us hope the final measure is not too late.''
 
1 minutes, 12 seconds -
Confrm: Array burn radium {check} 3.0 
Confrm: Array sync …1…2…3…4…5…6…7…{check}
Commence…_{ }
 
^^^ Note when it talks about "array syncing", it mentions 7 arrays, which is is concurrent with Bungie's repeated use of the number 7. Also there are 7 Halo's, which may be what it is referring to by "arrays". Also, the "radium {check} 3.0" is likely a reference to the range of the Halo array, which 343 Guilty Spark confirmed as 3 times the radius of the galactic center.
 
60 seconds -
''It's done. By my hands. The pyrrhic solution is ignited. All I have left is the quiet of space to lull me to sleep. I will dream of you.''
 
49 seconds -
Mentions "Array Authorized…_" over and over 15 times. Could be referring to the Halos.
 
11 seconds -
''I feel no peril.''
 
5 seconds -
''No pain. No remorse. Is that normal?''
 
0 seconds -
Judging from the text in Array_Recorder_Data.txt, it appears the Halo's were fired when it reaches 0 seconds, and the entire document up to that point was a countdown to the rings firing. This record may have been kept by a Forerunner or a Forerunner AI. This is of course speculation and is unknown at this time.
 
7 seconds -
This might be 7 seconds after the 0 second mark. So if the rings were fired, this is 7 seconds after. Not much here other than "reset………………………….." being repeated over and over, 104 times, until the end of the .txt file. If the rings were fired, this might be the computer system or AI resetting all the rings after their ignition. Also, seven seconds after is concurrent with Bungie's number 7 motif in their games. Again, this is speculation.
 
:''See the main article at [[REF070507]]''
 
The image "Flood Containment Control" appears to be a microscopic slide view of the Flood.
 
On the Flood Containment Control picture it says REF070507, which means: Slide Reference 070507, which might be the date 07/05/07. So something may happen on July 5th, 2007.
 
===June 28, 2007===
After a week of nothing happening with the ARG, Bungie.net Community CompoundIntelligence noted that the sound file for Server05 (http://206.16.223.65/) (noted as Server 01 at halo3.com) had been altered. Now, the object seems to emit a short "chirping" sound approximately every 5.831 seconds.
 
Later in the day, AdjutantReflex made another thread in the bungie.net forums named Pulse. It is unclear whether this is the other entity, or if AR has somehow managed to make another transmission. His post is as follows:
 
'''Can you feel it?<br>
'''Beating at the heart of the Universe.<br>
'''Skin too thick to be sure.<br>
'''It's alive though.<br>
'''I'm certain.<br>
'''What do I do with life?<br>
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11524237 - AdjutantReflex's seventh bungie.net thread, titled "Pulse"
 
At some point, that thread was deleted.
 
===June 29, 2007===
 
Early on the morning of June 29, AdjutantReflex created a thread entitled "Veins of Ice and Poison." In its first post there, it stated:
 
''|n|n|nROGUE PROCESS ghost.713>''
 
''X.XX.713> POS/NAV < @ > <53LPH54.6JG62.1740><1………>''
 
''X X5 > CONFIRM SECURE QUARANTINE - > qghost.713''
 
''I do not require charity or alms''
 
''But I did choose poverty''
 
''And other darkness too''
 
''Will you wait for me?''
 
 
The first part resembles a similar message seen in the March 26, 2007 Warthog video: ''X.XX.713>ghost.713/non-auth/activity ongoing''
 
Seven minutes later, it posted in the same thread with the statement:
 
''Adjutant Reflex is ended. This is a convenient Matrix. For now.''
 
 
 
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=11530870 - AdjutantReflex's eighth bungie.net thread, titled "Veins of Ice and Poison"
 
===July 4th===
A 4th glyph was reported by args.bungie.org, in a new cardboard promo for Halo 3. -- Very similar to the initial closed version of AR's avatar, but it has no center circle/dot.
 
===July 5th===
Valchael on the bungie.net forums announced he'd received a package from Microsoft containing a number of SOTA-related items. He was one of the first 100 to open Server 05. It's expected that packages were sent to all 100 - whether each will receive their package depends on the validity of their addresses (entered either directly, or via their Passport/XBL account).
The package contains:
 
(1) A T-shirt
 
(2) a copy of the SOTA flyer
 
(3) a printed version of the Halo 3 comic
 
(4) a slip of paper with an XBL key redeemable for an Iris glyph gamerpic.
 
===July 6th===
 
* ''nattyhaze'' on [http://args.bungie.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=655 arg.bungie.org] discovered via Google numerous classified postings for a company called '''Flood Containment Control''' (text displayed on the Slide_Ref070107.jpg), containing an image with the original 'closed' version of the glyph.  The ads contain the phone number, (888) 778-5672, which has an interesting recording.
 
===July 7th===
* The message on the Flood Containment Control call number has changed to a conversation between two men.  Of note is a reference to "402-K-07-002".  ''suitedjock'' Googled the number, which lead to an [http://www.epa.gov/mold/flood/index.html EPA webpage] referring to a booklet "EPA 402-K-07-002", ''Flood Cleanup and the Air in Your Home''.
* The new recording says this:
:{|class="quote"
|
:'''Op (British Female):''' ''(echoed by 2 different calls)'' Welcome to the {garbled, possibly "Server" or "Strema"} Conferencing center.  Please enter pin number followed by the pound sign.
:'''Caller:''' #### ''(201#?)''
:'''Op: '''Password accepted.  Now accessing conference archive number 16180, participant 1-2.
:'''Man 1:''' ...isn't necessary, and neither is the doc download.
:'''Man 2:''' I agree. This isn't going to be a public resource. Uh, pass on the document number so I can delete it
:(pause, 3 seconds)
:'''Man 1:''' There's no way to tell yet, {"Jamie" or "Jim"} is looking into the records to find out how many {"closed" or "cloned"} sites there are, but as for active clean up, somewhere around 3-4 thousand.  Oh here it is.  Uh, Hold on.  402-K-07-002 and in terms of numbers most of these are past the {"50b"} stage.
:(pause, 4 seconds)
:'''Man 2:''' With a few exceptions: site 34. . . .
:'''Op (American Female):''' --Thank you for calling.  Goodbye.
|}
 
It should be noted that upon pressing the * key on the phone during the recording, the caller will be prompted to enter the PIN number/password followed by the # (pound) sign. As of now, the PIN is the same as the one in the recording, the PIN has not been found out yet.
 
===July 8th===
*The recording for the number has changed again. The new recording says:
:{|class="quote"
|
:'''Man 2:''' ...site 4, 107 and 37.
:(pause, 1.5 seconds)
:'''Man 2:''' The center usually goes in before we do, thats been my experience
:'''Man 1:''' By the time we have the site clean, they've moved on to more pressing needs...after all, we've had some extremely unpredictable seasons lately.
:(pause, 4 seconds)
:'''Man 2:''' ...no need, their rep is available anytime we need her.
:(pause, 4 seconds)
:'''Man 1:''' ...on everything we still need to look into.
:(pause, 3 seconds)
:'''Man 2:''' Eh, we're working on it. For the moment now we're simply hiding the data behind a false menu item.
:'''Man 1:''' Security will be updated before the next system approaches.
:(pause- 15 seconds, interlaced with one of the men coughing)
:'''Man 2:''' Ok, great. Bye (Mel or Bill). <!-- If you listen closely ther is an "L" sound at the end.-->
:'''Man 1:''' Thanks.
:'''Op (American Female):''' --Thank you for calling.  Goodbye.
|}
 
=== July 10th ===
[[Image:Infestation.jpg|thumb|right|Downloadable image from Episode 02]]
The "Servers" have been renamed to "Episodes" (Server 01 is now Episode 01 and so on). 
<br>[http://206.16.223.61/Ce1EOnJ/flash/web/index.html Episode 02 is now open].
(Text from movie in link, can be downloaded from site)
We may have been fools to think that all intelligence follows the rules we've set
<br>The Flood is no idiot parasite
<br>"No simple infection to be cured and cauterized"(flash message)
<br>It has a center, a Mind
<br>"And that discovery gave us a way to fight it"(flash message)
<br>"But when the mind realized we had its measure"(flash message)
<br>it spoke to us
<br>"Mockingly, dismissingly"(flash message)
<br>It has done this before
<br>"Elsewhere" (flash message)
 
<br> [http://206.16.223.65/90GH7j/FileDownload.aspx TRANSMISSION 061607]
 
"This is how it all begins.
<br>Just in time to once again to dance upon the knife-edge of oblivion.
<br>To relive what the Halos have hoped to destroy and more.
<br>For two enemies now stand where before there was only one.
<br>The fate we escaped, a fate you may relive.
<br>I almost convinced myself that no one was listening,
<br>that the waves of the past would roll through once again.
<br>But a chance remains to change the universe, anew.
<br>Learn of our past,
<br>take these keys and dip from the wells of history.
<br>Perhaps through others eyes you may find how to save us all."
 
=== July 12th ===
 
==== Episodes' opening dates ====
 
It has been discovered that they will open due to certain Moon phases, as discovered by 'NightmareRec0n' on Unfiction Forums.
Basically, the servers open on the same time the Moon is in a certain position, and if one takes the glyphs on the star images, they correspond to the date the servers opened.
You can check out all this info here. Link:
 
>>> [http://args.bungie.org/download.php?id=204  Moon Phases Theory]
 
You can also check this site:
 
>>> [http://args.bungie.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=28  args.bungie.org - Timeline]
 
Of course, all of this is pure speculation, and nothing is clear.
 
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
New Phone conversation::
 
Man 1: Even with CDC involvement?
 
(about 5 second pause)
 
(Movment, Ruffling papers)
 
Woman 1: Should we be integrating in the NIOSH DataBase? (?)
 
(3-5 second pause)
 
Man 1: That gives us stats on all active locations?
 
(2-3 second pause)
 
Man 1: What about security?
 
(6-7 second pause)
 
Man 1: And access?
 
Woman 1: Enter the access code after our site
 
Man 1: IP/3463 or something?
 
(1 second pause)
 
Woman 1: Yeah /5467k actually, should be operational anytime.
 
(short pause)
 
Man 1: Great, I'll pass it on, I have to drop, thanks everybody.
 
Woman 1: Thanks, bye.
 
Woman 2: Thank you for calling..goodbye
 
*note:everybody has now been changed to everyone*
 
==Related Links==
'''Internal'''
*[[AdjutantReflex]]
*[[Forerunner Email]]
*[[Halo 3: The Cradle of Life]]
*[[Society of the Ancients]]
'''External'''
*http://www.bungie.net/Account/Profile.aspx?memberID=2437447 - AdjutantReflex's profile page on www.bunige.net
*http://halo.wikibruce.com/Home
*[http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/118020/Group/GroupHome.aspx CompoundIntelligence] - the largest group dedicated to discussing the AdjutantReflex incidents
*[http://args.bungie.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=28  args.bungie.org - Timeline]
*[http://args.bungie.org/ Discussion forum] - hosted by [[Halo.Bungie.Org]]
*[http://args.bungie.org/download.php?id=204  Moon Phases Theory]
*[http://bungie.wikia.com/wiki/AdjutantReflex Bungiepedia's detailed history of the AdjutantReflex events]
*http://www.halo3.com/
*http://www.halo3.com/comic/
*http://206.16.223.63/ (SOTA webpage)
*http://206.16.223.65/ (countdown webpage - NOW CHANGED. COUNTDOWN WEBPAGE IS GONE.)
*http://206.16.223.61/E5h2JK/flash/web/index.html - Server 05 (Listed as Server 1 on halo3.com)
*http://206.16.223.65/90GH7j/FileDownload.aspx - Transmission 061607

Latest revision as of 11:46, April 12, 2023

"Look for the signs, keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."
— Iris Email
Iris Glyph.

Iris was a Halo 3 viral marketing and public relations campaign; more specifically, an ARG or Alternate Reality Game designed to give people more information on how the great conflict behind the Halo franchise began, and the climactic conclusion.

Overview[edit]

A part of Halo 3's marketing campaign, Iris was an alternate reality game, which involved cross-media interactions and player participation. It was designed to give people more information on how the great conflict behind the Halo franchise all began, as it builds up to the climactic conclusion of the series on September 25, 2007, the release date of Halo 3.

It began on June 11, 2007, with the mysterious AI Adjutant Reflex posting on the Bungie.net forums, and officially ended on August 23, 2007, with short communications from the Adjutant Reflex account on Bungie.net till September 18, 2007.

Episodes[edit]

Iris had five episodes during the campaign period,[Note 1] and a short post-episode epilogue that connected to Halo 3's Terminal narrative. Each episode was bookended by the Bounce Path Control and a Server that expanded the theme of the episode.

Episode 1 - The Unknown Helper[edit]

Main article: The Unknown Helper

Beginning on June 11, 2007, the first episode began with the mystery of Adjutant Reflex and several mystery events on Earth, with Adjutant warning something was coming, and that it could not stop it. Due to the mysterious events, this caught the attention of the Society of the Ancients (SOTA) a conspiracy group dedicated to the many unexplained. There was also the discovery of the Cradle of Life comic, a parallel path to the SOTA one that lead people to the first server. During those events Adjutant Reflex was then taken over by the entity it warned the community about leading to a mystery of what that entity wanted to tell us. Before the first server was unlocked the mysterious entity spoke giving people "keys" to unlock the server. The first server detailed the firing of the Halo Array, and a log that gave the hope that someone would hear the warning.

Episode 2 - Flood Control[edit]

Main article: Flood Control

The second episode of Iris began with mysterious postings on several job listing sites and MSN, leading to the discovery that a group named Flood Containment Control was hiding data about something on several kiosks behind a "false menu item". The information on these kiosks lead to the discovery of a report named "Report 206" which assisted people in finding the second server. The second server detailed the Flood, revealing information about the initial thoughts the Forerunners had about them.

Episode 3 - Echoes Through Time[edit]

Main article: Echoes Through Time

The third episode quickly began with a piece of audio from the second server that revealed an image. MSN released Iris-themed items, that featured imagery that looked like the image revealed from the second server's audio. When the audio was played on a hidden screen on Halo3.com, an animation played leading people to the third server. The third server detailed the problems the Forerunners faced while trying to deal with the Flood, while also giving a direct message from the mysterious entity.

Episode 4 - The Great Connection[edit]

Main article: The Great Connection

The fourth episode began with a strange equation from the third server, and a strange poem was posted onto Halo3.com by a mysterious entity called "When We Two Parted". This poem was modified to read "CASTAWAYTHEORYVOLMAN" which lead users to find a book named The Castaway Theory with the equation matching the one from the third server. In the book's forums, a close friend of the author indicated that the author went missing a while back, and over the next several days the friend indicated the author had returned and had given a way for people to talk to him. This led the author to link to the fourth server. The fourth server went over the Conservation Measure and pondered the mystery of the Flood's origins.

Episode 5 - The Artifact[edit]

Main article: The Artifact (Iris)

The fifth episode began with people putting together star images from all of the servers, revealing the phrase "The Artifact Location". This led people to a website that directed them to locations in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles. At those locations, the final server link was revealed. The fifth server detailed the mystery of Earth, how Humans may answer the Forerunners' own mysteries, and revealed the identity of the mysterious entity who hijacked Adjutant Reflex as "MB05032" and that they will be waiting on the Ark.

Epilogue[edit]

Main article: Iris Epilogue

On September 13 to 18, "MB05032", still hijacking Adjutant Reflex, communicated with people, prepping them for Halo 3's release by having it countdown to the minute, and having it leave the Adjutant Reflex body as it was too small to contain itself.

Credits[edit]

Iris was written by Frank O'Connor, with help from community manager Brian Jarrard and artist Aaron LeMay.[1]

AKQA was involved with the project also, dealing with the Flash elements of the ARG.[2]

Artist Garson Kwan helped created several design elements for the Iris campaign such as the primary symbol used throughout the campaign.[3]

Matthew Law was put in charge of the environments the server sites were housed in and also the videos that accompanied them. The videos were edited with "Final Cut Pro" and tweaked, colored, and effected in "After Effects", with assets that couldn't be bought as stock footage or shot locally being done in "Maya".[4]

Reception[edit]

In 2008, Iris was nominated for a Webby Award.[2]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Iris during its run had no episode structure. On January 14, 2008 AKQA released a post-game overview of the campaign and it was grouped under episodes. We on Halopedia have opted to organize the campaign under this episode structure for ease of organization

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Eurogamer, MS explains Halo viral campaign (Retrieved on Feb 25, 2021) [archive]
  2. ^ a b winners.webbyawards.com, Halo 3 "Iris" Alternate Reality Game (Retrieved on Feb 25, 2021) [archive]
  3. ^ garsonkwan.com, AKQA: DIGITAL EXPERIENCES (Retrieved on Feb 25, 2021) [archive]
  4. ^ matthewlaw.blogspot.com, Halo 3: Iris (Retrieved on Feb 25, 2021) [archive]

v • d • e
 
Iris
Episodes
Server related
Core Characters and Organisations
Misc
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