The Cyphers

Studio Cypher's first independent project was a series of month-long Multi-Player Novels, stories told on websites through exploration and puzzle solving, focused on strange and supernatural events.

Chapter 1 – Out in the Cold

Out in the Cold told the story of the secret life of Charles Lehner and his two protégés. Lehner was missing and players quickly discovered evidence that indicated he had been murdered. Soon after, they discovered that there was no murder, but Lehner had gone into hiding after one of his protégés accidentally released an otherworldly creature from its prison. Players made contact with Lehner's protégés and aided them in reinacting a ritual to put the creature back into prison.

Most of the story in Out in the Cold was hidden behind in a series of webpages. In the second week, players were also asked to take a more creative role in combating the run-amok supernatural elements. They were tasked with deciphering a mystic ritual and reinterpreting it through photography. Out in the Cold also featured an additional real-world component: some of the puzzles revealed hidden caches in Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Chapter 2 – Perfect Friends Forever

The Cyphers’ second case introduced players to the city of Bay Horse, Missouri and a one-person company that was starting up a website named Perfect Friends Forever (PFF). PFF, run by Madam Z, claimed to be able to unite people with their perfect friend with the aid of spirit guides. Someone threatened Madam Z the moment she started the service, and the players were contacted to help Madam Z with her troubles.

In order to help Madam Z, the players developed connections to the spirit world through a series of weekly puzzles designed to reveal the character of the ghosts and provide the players with an entertaining and regular method of interaction. This website also allowed the players to gain their own personal information on the case, as a "connected" spirit would answer questions that the player posed to them.

Chapter 3 – Descry.us

Descry.us is the website of three Paranormal Investigators who long to gather hard evidence in support of their "other worlds" theories. Those three investigators got their proof in the form of a murderous spirit and its brethren. Players were called in to search through websites for the key to accessing the RUMI engine and severing the link between worlds.

The stand-out feature of Descry.us was revealed in the finale of the story, a day-long problem solving challenge inside the RUMI engine, a gauntlet of intellectual mazes and word-puzzles.

Chapter 4 – High Stakes

The fourth chapter of the Cyphers' saga was High Stakes, a light-hearted romance centered around an every five year poker tournament for the fate of Parare city. Players were invited to participate in the tournament and defeat the a man who had rigged the tournament to win and gain control of Parare forever!

High Stakes featured Boat, a mutation of Texas Hold 'em Poker. During the course of the game, players attended Boat Tournament practice sessions, and in the final rounds played for the fate of the city itself.