Intercoastal Altercations V: Major League Brainball

Frequently Asked Questions | Home page

Q: What the heck are "Intercoastal Altercations?"
A: The original Intercoastal Altercations was an extravaganza (by Hudu and Trazom) held simultaneously in New York and Berkeley, sometime in the late 1980s. In 2002, at the urging of Hot, several puzzlers revived the concept. In 2003 and 2004, several more puzzlers continued the tradition.

Q: When exactly does the game happen?
A: It will take place on Saturday, October 15th, starting at 2PM Eastern Daylight Time (11AM Pacific). The puzzles and the website will continue to be available after the event is over.

Q: So how does the game work?
A: Much like other puzzle hunts, you'll receive a series of puzzles. Each puzzle will have a single, specific answer. Each of these answers can be combined to help solve meta-puzzles. See the MIT Mystery Hunt, DASH, P&A Magazine, the Google Puzzle Hunt, SUMS, CISRA, MUMS, the Microsoft Puzzle Hunt, any of the Bay Area Night Games or Puzzle Boat for similarly set up events . This event will be much smaller though, and ideal for teams of 3-6 to solve in a single sitting.

Q: Cool. How do I join in the fun?
A: Unlike past Intercoastal Altercations, this event is more intended to be enjoyed with your on-line friends. Sign up on this website as yourself. A team leader can then create a team and add everyone to it. Even if you are playing by yourself, you must create a team first.

Q: Wait, what? Teams? Can't I do this by myself?
A: Sure, but we want to encourage people to solve together. More important, solving progress will be tracked by team, although individual solvers will be credited with correct (and incorrect) answers.

Q: I want to host a gathering. What do I need?
A: Have Wi-Fi, and a well-stocked printer.

Q: I'm busy on the 15th. Will I be able to play later?
A: I'm a firm believer that these events should be playable well-after the day of the event. Solutions to the puzzles will likely be posted within the week after the event.

Q: Who are you, anyway?
A: Foggy Brume (a/k/a Foggy), Eric Berlin (a/k/a Story), Mark Halpin (a/k/a Zebraboy) and Nathan Fung.

(Want past Altercations? Check out IA 2, IA 3 and IA 4.