Online puzzle

An online puzzle is usually regarded as a web based puzzle game, where the player s objective is to get from one page to the next using hints and clues provided on the previous page.

=Examples of online puzzles=

==Not pron==

Not pron, or Not pr0n as it s sometimes spelled, is a web-based riddle game. The objective is to get from one screen to the next. Each screen contains a clue - usually a combination of images and text that gives you hints on how to get to the next screen. The game currently has well over one hundred levels, and it is very hard to finish without resorting to cheating. According to the site s own statistics on September 24th 2005, the puzzle had had over 5 million visitors, but only 56 of them had solved the puzzle from start to finish.

The Not pron levels are divided in strage ways. After passing the first eighty-odd levels, the numbering changes to zero and decreases into negative numbers. After the negative numbers, in the same fashion, the levels continue into the Greek levels (the levels are numbered using Greek letters).

Not pron is administered by David Münnich, who is also the man behind most of the puzzles. The game was originally inspired by a similar online puzzle site [http://www.thisisnotpron.com/ thisisnotpron.com], but has since beaten its predecessor in popularity dramatically. The amount of the game s levels has risen constantly since its first incarnation in July 2004, and old levels have also been updated. The site does not contain a large amount of adult material, despite the puzzle s humoristic name, and the little there is cannot be found by completing the puzzles in the way intended. However, the curious may find it while attempting to solve a puzzle.

Some techniques used in solving the puzzles (done as best as possible without spoiling) are manipulating music files, utilizing hints from previous levels to help solve a later level, manipulating images, thinking laterally, utilizing pop culture knowledge, alternate images of certain riddles to aid in solving, knowledge of certain places in the world, downloading files for clues to help solving, etc. Notice this is not an exhaustive list.

Its popularity has spawned many spin-offs, the main one being [http://www.expage.com/notnotpron notnotpron]. Despite not having the budget of Notpron, it has received cult status and new levels are constantly being created.

==The Python Challenge==

The Python Challenge is a riddle game that tests the user s ability to use his computer, particularily the Python programming language, to find hidden messages and move to the next step in the game.

==Zest Online Riddle==

[http://zestriddle.fanzine.pl/ Zest Online Riddle] was created by Karol Liver and managed to gather thousands of devote riddlers mainly due to originality of puzzles and great graphic design. Unlike in notpr0n, the climate in Zest Online Riddle is dark and psychodelic and keeps you returning just for the images themselves. The riddle has a great community support and the people involved claim Zest to be the best riddle online.

=External Links=

*[http://www.notpron.com/ Not pr0n] *[http://www.pythonchallenge.com/ The Python Challenge] *[http://www.expage.com/notnotpron notnotpron] *[http://zestriddle.fanzine.pl/ Zest Online Riddle]