Open your eyes, Iris ARG continues
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jun 21st 2007 at 5:30PM }
The Halo 3 ARG, Iris, is finally starting to get interesting. Yes, we've moved beyond mock websites and the requisite countdown clocks. Now we actually have something concrete ... sort of. The IP address revealed at Halo3.com/comic (206.16.223.65) now displays one of the "servers" pictured on Halo3.com. Incidentally, Halo3.com shows that the server is unlocked as well, though clicking it produces no results. On the IP address, the floating "server" (or whatever it is) rotates. Clicking on it allows you to rotate it manually and click on certain hidden symbols, which prompt you to download certain documents (including the image above). Additionally, a symbol on the front of the object causes it to unfold and display a movie which contains cryptic messages spliced with strange footage (and a few snippets from previous Halo games).
Right now, we're not certain what it all means. Hopefully, Iris will develop into a more concrete experience in the coming weeks. Check out some of the various new documents after the break, including the video.
Stars and a variation on the strange glyph. What does it mean?
Any theories? Honestly, there's too much to condense here. Head over to the Unfiction forums for the latest.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Toph @ Jun 21st 2007 6:03PM
Too much to theorize on..and my brain is well-baked on all of this stuff for now. I'll leave it go for a week and come back. Meh!
(It's two forerunner AI programs fighting it out for some reason, I feel, and warning anyone of the Flood. That's the main gist of it I think.)
Eddy @ Jun 21st 2007 6:48PM
i have NO CLUE as to what all this means only that the flood has reached earth and they will try some drastic measure to obliterate it. cant wait to see what hxc ppl dig up in the constellation picture and the "flood plan" picture.
Dusitn Everhart @ Jun 21st 2007 7:04PM
So when I was reading the file from ARG I found this line:
[ 0 seconds]
fire: -00-00-00-00-0001-
Reversion Sequence…{negative}
Array Authorized…_{Activate}
Rings online…_{Activate}
What I think it means is that someone turned on the forerunner thing we saw in the trailer at E3 last year and it activates the Halos'.
Still not sure who it is though.
Dusitn Everhart @ Jun 21st 2007 7:10PM
Had a second thought about it. I think it could be a Forerunner from the time that they were among the living. This may be a message that is discovered on Earth.
L3X @ Jun 21st 2007 7:25PM
Well the Ref # on the stars image corresponds to July 5 2007 if you think about it.. Random? Not sure..
Loosely translated (to me) the transcript is something like:
"This is a warning, many plans have failed, As strong as our will to survive is, theirs is just as strong to destroy us. That will is what we must destroy."
as for the code, its a launch sequence for "the array" Each seperate sequence is a specific "checkpoint" for procedues, like starting a plane or something.
[ 5 seconds] === T-Minus 5 Seconds
fire: -00-00-00-04-0999- === "4.0999 seconds"
== duh..
{D-com} "No pain. No remorse. Is that normal?"
Dusitn Everhart @ Jun 21st 2007 8:03PM
I believe there was something about there being some "big" news about Halo 3 on July 5. Not sure if that's accurate. Anyone else heard anything about that?
austin @ Jun 21st 2007 9:34PM
Well, I spent about 45 minutes on the website and heres what I uncovered:
It appears to be some sort of map. When I clicked on this map, I was told I clicked on "North America". I then proceeded to confirm that I do speak English, and yes, I do reside in the US of A.
The date I was born also happens to be a sort of password, and after entering it, I was granted access to a different page.
I found this out from the page:
-Im fairly sure we're dealing with the Xbox 360.
-The game game may or may not be called "Halo 3".
Hope I helped you guys.
miguel @ Jun 21st 2007 9:45PM
austin, thats why you get paid the big bucks.
Chris Nash @ Jun 21st 2007 9:51PM
I have not followed this ARG shit for three reasons:
1) At the end of it, someone will summarize it for me.
2) It will not make a major difference on how I feel when I play Halo 3.
3) I just don't give a shit about looking through codes and shit for a VIDEO GAME. Halo is fun, but seriously, come on.
Carbonize @ Jun 22nd 2007 12:28AM
I think the flood picture is of the Caldera referenced by the GPS coordinates the countdown stopped at. Possibly meant to indicate that the flood are held on every ring/fore runner construction so possibly the forerunners also created the flood.
I was playing Delta Halo on Halo 2 yesterday and I'm sure I heard Cortana say something about the buildings looking like they had been constructed to house the flood.
I do agree with a lot of what Chris Nash said except for the finding codes. I'm not going to start chasing stuff in the ARG but I'm all for finding the secrets in the game it's self.
DHalo @ Jun 22nd 2007 7:02AM
The whole purpose of this ARG is to unveil a story line NOT featured in Halo 3, or to go in depth into a story line only touched on before. Iris is supposed to reveal the Forerunner's past and the origin of the Flood, so those who are avid story followers are gunna wanna see this.
Johnny @ Jun 28th 2007 8:12AM
I watched that 'trailer movie' real close and there is a a split second message shown after
"THAT ONE DAY, SOMEONE, ANYONE IS AROUND TO WITNESS THIS WARNING"
In the log5_transcript this may be represented by {//} . Which indicates their might be a second 'hidden' message. I'm not sure if anyone has discovered this yet. So here it is regardless.
The complete message reads
"If you are that witness, and it seems we have pinned all of our hopes on this single, suicidal plan"
Fun, no?
It is illustrated by this print screen I took of the youtube video on this very site.
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/310/halo3arg2tc8.png
Thanks muchly.
John, Australia.
Johnny @ Jun 28th 2007 8:30AM
I had a look where the second "{//}" was in the transcript, and found this other message. Not too sure about the words this time, it's a bit hazy on the shot. I swear I could jump/skip to any other part of the movie then those ten seconds... :P
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9448/halo3arg2ndew0.png
"Millions of brave and honored souls have died trying to avert this desperate, terrible solution"
Something to think about, nonetheless.
Sketh @ Jun 30th 2007 4:57AM
Perhaps the one speaking and the one who activated the rings is the last of the forerunners, possibly the "Reclaimer" spoken of in the Eric Nylund novel "ONYX". The Halo novels have just as much story and insight as the ARG with the side effect of reading a book.