Solution to Spy Game

Answer: FABBRIZIO DISGUISEY
by Eric Berlin, Katie Hamill, Kevin Wald and Wil Zambole

In Decrypto, two "miscommunications" ends the game -- in each case, the players lose in the fifth round. Correct gueses are shown, and miscommunicated clue words are shown in bold.

Solvers must work around the miscommunications and determine the four words in each round, which form the wordplay part of a cryptic clue. The number of hours is the enumeration of the answer.

Game 1 (Anna and Charles)

214	LASS	GEORGIA	POWER
431	ARDOR	MISSING	HEMISPHERE	x 231
124	LIGHTS	MISS	PEP
312	GONE	CROSS	YOUNG
143	COMFORT	NERVOUS	FOUND	x 123

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
SOUTHERN	GIRL	LOST	ENERGY	BELL	BELLE - E

Game 2 (Carter and Brynne)

231	DOLLY	STATIONARY	IRON MAN	x 241
142	ROVER	CORES	XEROX
123	AUTOMATIC	GENETICS	NEUTERED
341	REPAIRED	PURPLE	I
213	TWIN	PROGRAM	WIDTH	x 214

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
ROBOT	CLONE	FIXED	HEARTS	BOX	Centers of ROBOT, CLONE, FIXED

Game 3 (Ari and Calista)

243	GASOLINE	DODGE	TUSH
314	EIGHTBALL	OPTION	ELECTRIC	x 312
432	MATCHBOX	LAGGING	INCITE
142	CHOICE	RIDE	POWER
231	ROCKET	RACE	SUBSTITUTE	x 231

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
ALTERNATE	FUEL	BEHIND	CAR	CAREFUL	CAR+FUEL anag

Game 4 (Gwen and Edmond)

432	BLESSING	DEMONSTRATES	HAND
213	CHEER	BAKED	AIRS
134	SOARING	THEATER	PLAUDIT	x 234
341	ARRIVES	STAMP	HOPES
421	CONSENT	STANDING	AERIAL	x 423

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
HIGH	OVATION	SHOWS	APPROVAL	HOOKS	H + O + OKS

Game 5 (Freya and Bianca)

312	INSPECT	NICE	TOMMY
214	DOCTOR	RSVP	CURB	x 234
431	DUDS	VERIFY	CHAMPAGNE
142	RESISTANCE	OUTFIT	QUESTION
231	CARES	EXAMINE	EUROPEAN	x 234

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
FRENCH	WHO	CHECK	CLOTHING	QUICK	QUI + CK

Game 6 (Bob and Daisy)

213	DARLING	PEAK	LEMON	x 243
421	DRUM	TONI MORRISON	DIVINE
143	ITALIAN	PULSE	RAIN
241	HONEY	RHYTHM	INFERNO
314	FALLS	EPIC	EXHAUSTED	x 324

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
DANTE	BELOVED	DROPS	BEAT	RICE	BEATRICE - BEAT

Game 7 (Ben and Dahlia)

143	SHORE	SILVERY	BUCKET
324	FEET	LACE	METAL
241	OXFORD	FOIL	WAVES
413	CAN	NUDE	PUNTS	x 423
321	JOLLIES	PUMP	NORMANDY	x 324

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
BEACH	SHOE	KICKS	ALUMINUM	SAND	SANDAL - AL

Game 8 (George and Bonnie)

423	RISE	BAIT	DIRT
241	WRIGGLE	ELEVATOR	ANCESTOR	x 243
143	CHEER	FLOAT	BEEF
231	TAPE	FLOOR	CARROT
412	STAIRS	MANDRAKE	BOOK	x 432

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
ROOT	WORM	GROUND	UP	TOMORROW	ROOT WORM anag.

Game 9 (Adam and Eric)

241	INCH	EQUALITY	SENTIMENT
423	STATE	MILITARY	JOKE
213	FOOT	ETHANOL	BASEBALL	x 243
134	FLAKE	JOB	BISON
412	FRONTIER	SEEDS	PLASMA	x 432

1	2	3	4	Cryptic Answer	Explanation
CORN	UNIT	INSIDE	WYOMING	WEARY	W(EAR)Y

The first letters of the misleading clues spells ANSWERS ARE PEN NAMES, and indeed that is the case:

The answers to the cryptic clues are pen names of famous writers:

BELL: BRONTE
BOX: VIDAL
CAREFUL: FRANKLIN
HOOKS: WATKINS
QUICK: KRENTZ
RICE: OBRIEN
SAND: DUPIN
TOMORROW: PERKINS
WEARY: GOREY

If you take the initial letters of the players of a given round, convert them to numbers via A=1, B=2, etc, and use those numbers to index into the writer's real names, you'll get a letter. These letters, in the order of the roster of agents, spells the answer to the puzzle, FABBRIZIO DISGUISEY.