Kitz Forum

Chat => Games => Flash Games => Topic started by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 07:24:30 AM

Title: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 07:24:30 AM
NOTE - I HAVE ASKED PERMISSION TO POST THIS AND RECEIVED THE OK.

I am running an early stage authentication software company called PINoptic - see www.pinoptic.com  and we need to do some testing of our concept with as large a demographic as possible.  To that end, I have set up a game (with a £500 prize each month) that exercises the principle, whilst we can (anonymously) watch where players have greatest difficulty.  That gives us scientific feedback with which we can improve the product.

Please note that we will NOT use your login details for any other purpose than to inform the monthly winner.  We give an unequivocal guarantee that those details will NOT be used to spam, or be sold on to any company or individual for marketing purposes.

This post is NOT advertising, since we are not seeking to sell a product to individuals here.

I do hope you can help us with testing, enjoy a brain game, and maybe win the £500 prize on offer each month.

So ........... head over to www.pinoptic-challenge.com   and see how you fare.

Thanks!  Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on September 02, 2008, 11:22:44 AM
PINoptic looks to be a pretty interesting concept to overcome online security issues, and could be of great interest to many financial institutions in an attempt to overcome some of the more common fraud attempts and so far seems to have had some favourable reviews within the IT industry.  Its not a product that would be sold to the likes of you or me, but to large organisations looking at improving online security.

Even though I believe the site posted by Colin to be genuine, it wouldn't be responsible of me not to issue the obvious disclaimer here... kitz.co.uk cannot be held responsible for the content of third-party websites that are linked to from this site. Any information, personal or otherwise, that you choose to give to a third party site is done entirely at your own risk.

Having said that, I believe this is a genuine site doing some genuine market research, looking for some participation and feedback as part of that.

The game is a way of seeing how we remember symbols -v- numbers..  and aside from that it would be great if one  of our members wins one of the prizes. :)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 11:41:29 AM
Thanks - and I stand by my promise of not abusing personal details.  The only purpose that we will put them to is to inform each month's winner of their success.

Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: tuftedduck on September 02, 2008, 12:35:14 PM
It would appear that the game does not work when using Opera browser, as I do.

All I can get (after creating an account and after logging in ) is a log-in...play the game...log in loop.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 05:07:22 PM
Thanks for the heads up - will look into it.  Are you running on a Mac?  We noticed some problems in earlier testing and thought we had them sorted.

Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: tuftedduck on September 02, 2008, 05:09:34 PM
No, Windows XP Sp2

Using Opera browser version 8.25 build 10108

I registered without problem, and have received the confirmation e-mail

I can log in ok and can view the home/how to play/leaderboard/about PINoptic pages.

However when I come to play ( by hitting enter, and I have seen the little notice about possibly having to click on the icon before hitting enter and have tried both with and without the initial click ), the login page comes up again.
So, log in again..........and the same happens again.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 06:46:12 PM
Hmm - sorry about that.  Now I can see on the admin system where it went wrong .......... just off to recode that bit.  Thanks for helping with the testing - do come back when we fix it.

Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 02, 2008, 06:50:47 PM
Could you PM me with the user name you used please.

No, Windows XP Sp2

Using Opera browser version 8.25 build 10108

I registered without problem, and have received the confirmation e-mail

I can log in ok and can view the home/how to play/leaderboard/about PINoptic pages.

However when I come to play ( by hitting enter, and I have seen the little notice about possibly having to click on the icon before hitting enter and have tried both with and without the initial click ), the login page comes up again.
So, log in again..........and the same happens again.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: tuftedduck on September 02, 2008, 06:59:48 PM
Have done.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 03, 2008, 11:06:17 AM
We have tested it on Opera - 9.5 - which is the latest version - and its fine.

Version 8.25 seems to be 23 versions ago!

I can't say for sure - but as you have to go to their archive to find version 8.25 I would guess it has been 'end of lifed'

Have you any objection to updating your version of Opera?
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on September 03, 2008, 11:12:59 AM
TD

as you know I switch between Opera and FF,

Ive tried it in 9.51 and it works ok here.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: tuftedduck on September 03, 2008, 11:27:14 AM
Colin, my apologies............stating that I was using Opera 8.25 was a typo on my part..............that should read 9.25

Will try again in a wee bitty time and let you know how it goes.


Just tried again, and this time got through to the game ok................by clicking and pressing enter whilst holding the click. :)

Will now go back and see if I can set a world record............... :no:
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on September 03, 2008, 12:33:35 PM
Glad to be of help!

That's the spirit - world record ....... just what we want.   >:D

Thank you for your continuing interest.

Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on October 19, 2008, 12:48:12 PM
Just an update ...... you can now play the game anonymously.  If you score high, and want to claim a prize, then and only then do you need to enter your email address for us to contact you.  Appreciate people's reluctance to give away their email address.

So far, there have been two winners - Aug was someone based in London and Sept someone based in Toronto, Canada - their respective £500 prize money winged its way to them asap.

We still have many (anonymous) players helping us with our testing.  Thank you!

Later prizes may include valuable gadgets gifted to us by several big-name companies.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on October 19, 2008, 03:08:37 PM
Thanks for the update. :)

I had a couple of goes last month - (I believe I probably came 2nd).
There was no way I could have beaten the winning time though... so well done that person..   I think I spent too much time "looking for the lizard".

I'll have another go this month.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 01, 2008, 08:52:04 AM
Quite obviously, behind the scenes, we can see the progress each participant makes (the whole reason for the game) and the winner played around 30+ games until they got the winning score.  A pattern is emerging - there seem to be 2 "hurdles" around levels 26 and 68 where changes in complexity are catching people out.  It is all a case of associations of the various symbols and how the player interprets them.  In our analysis we have demonstrated that certain cognitive challenges are beyond some players - others sail right through.  The aim in the final security product is to make the cognitive challenge low but maintain the level of security.

Thanks for playing and helping us with our demographic testing - and keep trying, the prize might be coming to you!

PS - several kind electronics equipment manufacturers have agreed to sponsor games next year - so keep a lookout for games consoles and other goodies as additional prizes.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 01, 2008, 01:04:56 PM
I meant to have another go sooner..  but I'd not been near the PC for the past couple of days.. and only remembered very late late night, so I dunno if I managed to catch Octobers or not.

The numbers Im normally fine with - years of processing on a numeric (rather than alpha numeric keypad).. even though I slip up on occasions due to the PC numeric keypad being "upside down" to what I used to use.  (I think I did that on one of my strikes).

I think the one that seems to catch me out is the lizard.. and of course I get slower as the game progresses  due to having to scan more shapes.

>> the winner played around 30+ games until they got the winning score

I havent played it that many times..  probably half a dozen.. so Ive got a long way to go yet  :lol:

Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 07, 2008, 09:02:15 AM
The game leader at the moment seems to be a notable member of this forum - well done and keep it up!

Go over to www.pinoptic-challenge.com and see - or maybe beat him to the prize?   >:D
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 07, 2008, 12:13:09 PM
I've not spotted this one before, excellent game
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: roseway on November 07, 2008, 12:59:33 PM
>> or maybe beat him to the prize?

Or even beat HER :)

PS Keep it up Kitz!

Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 07, 2008, 07:13:10 PM
>> or maybe beat him to the prize?

Or even beat HER :)

PS Keep it up Kitz!



OOOOPS!  Am I forgiven as a newbie?

Interesting though - all winners to date have been women - there must be some scientific evidence for our cognitive testing gurus there.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 07, 2008, 08:10:55 PM
"all winners to date have been women

That's a good omen kitz, go for it :)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 08, 2008, 01:01:53 AM
I think the one thats on there must be the one that I missed for Oct,  and did just after midnight, since thats the only one Ive played this month.

Will have another go again - but not now -  Ive had 'a glass of wine' :D

>> Am I forgiven as a newbie?

Youre forgiven.. its a common mistake encountered by me  for the past 10 years on the Internet and Im well used to it (hence the signature). ;)
Funny enough I dont have the same problem in r/l  :lol:

Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 08, 2008, 08:25:53 AM
I reset the game around midnight, but due to an "undocumented feature" the system didn't log as a "win" the games for the first hour of the new session.  Found the errant code and slapped the developer  ;)  Naturally, your game has now been recorded as leader so far.

We are getting some very good data for our cognitive testing analysis - the whole reason for running the game.

Winners to date have been in London, Toronto and Vienna and players have been from 23 countries - a good demographic for testing a product that will serve a global audience.

I am in Riga, Latvia next Friday doing a workshop for Baltic bank IT security people - 150 in all.  This is because they acknowledge that Chip N Pin is cracked - we offer them Chip N PIC in a similar fashion to the game.

Keep playing - the prizes are going to get more valuable next year with several items from manufacturers who have appeared on BBC Click and the QVC tech shopping channel.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 08, 2008, 03:57:55 PM
"all winners to date have been women

That's a good omen kitz, go for it :)

Seems that after multiple plays, "somebody" is ahead of Kitz - Mindie - who can that be?   ;)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 08, 2008, 04:34:23 PM
I hope it's okay but I've spread it round my extensive family, we're all clicking like mad at the moment
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 08, 2008, 10:15:28 PM
Mind?  I am ecstatic!   ;D  The more people play, the better results we get for our analysis.  Please, please, tell as many people as you can - we need a large demographic (global if possible) to test our security system in the background.  Have a look at my first post at the head of the thread and that explains all.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 09, 2008, 10:33:20 AM
I've sent it as a suggestion for game of the week at the MSE site, since you said you want lots of players.  I expect you to be inundated if they choose it :)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 09, 2008, 10:48:48 AM
Thank you so much - you're a star.   :thumbs:

We have also donated a version of the game to both the Alzheimers and Parkinsons Societies to help their members with cognitive exercises.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 09, 2008, 05:36:31 PM
Now the chapess has moved ahead - is it turning into a grudge match between fudgem and kitz?   ::)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 09, 2008, 06:03:18 PM
no way, just a bit of friendly rivalry  ;)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 09, 2008, 06:07:37 PM
lol yes I did have another go this morning :D
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: roseway on November 10, 2008, 06:48:59 AM
Now the chapess has moved ahead - is it turning into a grudge match between fudgem and kitz?   ::)

They're both chapesses. That may explain it. :lol:
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: UncleUB on November 10, 2008, 09:24:47 AM
Now the chapess has moved ahead - is it turning into a grudge match between fudgem and kitz?   ::)


Could be handbags at 10 paces.    :D
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 13, 2008, 08:11:02 AM
Seems like handbags have been swung ....... Mindie edges ahead again.  Despite reassurances, it does look like a grudge (rhymes with fudgem, almost) match!

Colin
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 13, 2008, 08:43:15 AM
I'm just encouraging her to try again  ;)

It took me ages to overtake her this time::)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 13, 2008, 01:07:20 PM
 :D

Believe it or not.. Ive only had a few goes...  wont have time to challenge you today Anne so youre safe  :lol:
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 15, 2008, 08:31:42 AM
I gave it to my Grand daughter yesterday when I visited her, and the brat has taken over the leaderboard :-X

and she had the cheek to e mail me to tell me
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: roseway on November 15, 2008, 03:02:52 PM
I think it's time for the males to reassert themselves here. I've suggested to my grandson (aged 7) that he might like to try it.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: mr_chris on November 15, 2008, 03:03:40 PM
I'm trying... it's hard though!!!
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 16, 2008, 12:42:48 AM
damn there goes the new desk!  :lol:

Ive only tried it a few times - guess i need to try harder :(
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 16, 2008, 01:43:18 AM
Ive just had another go, and give it my real best shot..  dont think I could beat my last score :/

Looks like your grand-daughter is on a winner Anne :)
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 16, 2008, 07:37:25 AM
not if I can help it :P

She should have more respect than to beat me >:(
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 16, 2008, 10:58:47 AM
I think it's time for the males to reassert themselves here. I've suggested to my grandson (aged 7) that he might like to try it.


Since the rules exclude members of the company's immediate family, I had to create a separate site for my grandkids - we have 8, 6 of whom are old enough to play meaningfully.  Now each child has ordered a laptop from Santa so that they can play Grandpa's game!  The leader in our family braingame is Eloisa who is almost 6 - the boys all accuse her of cheating!  Seems the female brain is set up fo rthis sort of thing?
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 22, 2008, 08:20:55 AM
not if I can help it :P

She should have more respect than to beat me >:(

Kitz just had a near miss - top level, but not quite fast enough ...... in fact only 12 seconds slower ........ we could see the lead change hands before the end of the month.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 29, 2008, 09:34:30 AM
I may have another go this weekend if I get chance.    I was going to last week, but somehow did manage to get around to it.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 30, 2008, 12:00:57 AM
Well I set a lil bit of time aside tonight to have another go, but even though I did slightly better, my position hasn't changed.
I guess theres some real pro's on there now, including another name thats taken the lead.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 30, 2008, 07:05:48 AM
I think I've given it my best shot as well Kitz, I seem to be going backwards now ;D
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on November 30, 2008, 03:58:15 PM
No longer backwards ------- you're in the lead!  Midnight tonight this month's competition ends.  With the score you got, it will be quite something for anyone to beat you.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on November 30, 2008, 04:00:32 PM
that's something to hope for, be a nice little pressie for Christmas that will ;D

I'm keeping going in case someone comes up on the rails
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on November 30, 2008, 07:59:17 PM
Youre safe with me Anne.
Not had time to play it today - nor will I tonight.

Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on December 01, 2008, 07:05:31 AM
OH - pipped at the post (20:51 to be exact) by a player in Austria!

Thanks for playing and helping us with the testing - keep playing, safe in the knowledge that winners can't take part for a 3-month period.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on December 01, 2008, 08:06:37 AM
when I beat my previous best by nearly a full 20 seconds, and still failed, I knew it was time to admit defeat :( went away and drowned my sorrows ;D
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on December 01, 2008, 09:20:21 AM
Looking at the stats, your best was beaten by only 20 secs as well.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on December 01, 2008, 04:43:56 PM
Is the score board not working?
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on December 01, 2008, 05:52:04 PM
Dont have time to play a game - but I did a dummy run with 3 deliberate strikes.
Updated here ok.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on December 01, 2008, 06:13:56 PM
I've played twice, my personal scores are recorded but they aren't going on the leaderboard, though yours appears.  Have I been banned? :P
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: kitz on December 01, 2008, 07:31:21 PM
 :(

Not sure Anne.   

Just out of interest did you play last night at about the time when the scores would have been recorded?
I did that last month and for some reason they didnt show up because I was playing when they were reset.

Colin will probably be able to check for you.
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on December 01, 2008, 08:04:53 PM
No, I gave up about 10.30 last night, I didn't think I could do better than 465 seconds, I don't think I could even equal it.  It seems the winner managed an extra 20 seconds off that time

I know he checks in here regularly so I hope he comes up with a fix
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on December 01, 2008, 08:49:19 PM
Not sure what happened - I can see the two games you played Anne, as we log ALL games.  Did you wait until the games were logged at the end?  (Takes about 5 to 10 secs).  I shall have another go at "motivating" the software guys   :shoot:  Don't despair though, 'cos I go through the results with a fine-toth comb at the end of each month when it closes, before finally declaring a winner.

Colin

PS - been out all day topping up the pension so that my dog can eat.   :help:  [18-month old chocolate labrador - she eats her way through the budget quite quickly]
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: fudgem on December 01, 2008, 09:13:51 PM
Thanks Colin, yes I waited until the games logged, they are marked okay on my personal scores, just not on the leaderboard.

Did you not research before buying a lab?  they're well known for eating you out of house and home :lol:
Title: Re: A game with a chance to win £500 prize every month
Post by: camallison on December 01, 2008, 09:37:31 PM
Maisie is my umpteenth lab and so I deserve everything - I just love her to bits, especially the growing up bit - puppy behaviour until they are at least 5 years old.  My previous lab was 14 before he passed away.  The ones before that never got beyond 12.  Her pic is attached.

[attachment deleted by admin]