The Runaround

The final runaround was a series of mini interactive puzzles themed around each AI's final metapuzzle answer. These mini puzzles were designed for interactivity and fun for a larger group, rather than puzzliness.

We start with Wyrm (INFINITE LOUPE). We are given 6 hexaflexagons, with patterns on each triangle. There are 12 types of pattern that are on the triangles. We are also given a fixed center hexagon. The goal is to arrange the 6 hexaflexagons around the center hexagon such that any 2 adjacent triangles share the same pattern. The hexaflexagons can be flexed, rotated, flipped, and rearranged, so there are a lot of possibilities for arrangement. We are also told that each pattern is used in a match exactly once, which is a useful constraint. We can observe that certain patterns appear more rarely than others, which is a good breakin point. Once the hexaflexagons are correctly arranged, we receive Wyrm's gear.

Arranging hexaflexagons

Next is Conjuri (ROGUE LITE BULBS). This is a game of Red Light Green Light, where we start on one end of the room and have to reach the other end. If anyone breaks a rule, they are sent back to the start line. The lights begin with standard red and green, but soon other colors appear, which we have to figure out the meanings of and remember for the future. Here is the list of rules:

• Green: go forwards
• Red: stop
• Yellow: one foot
• Purple: move left to right
• Blue: touch a teammate

Once we learn these basic rules, the lights start to get more complicated, combining different colors. For example, purple+green means to move diagonally, and yellow+blue means to touch a teammate while standing on one foot. Finally, the lights turn green+yellow+purple+blue, and we have to hop diagonally to the finish line while holding onto other teammates, to receive Conjuri's gear.

Hopping to the finish

After that is Admiral Boötes (import antigravity). This is a game of charades, where a few people at a time will come up to act out a space-themed scene, while the rest of the team guesses. In addition, we need to be continuously tossing balloons back and forth without letting them hit the ground. A few of the prompts were "Sun and Moon", "R2D2 and C3PO", and "Space Invaders". After acting out several of the charades, we receive the Boötes gear.

Playing charades with balloons

Next is Eye (VOCAL CORD). In this mini-puzzle, we have to pass messages in various languages through a paper telephone line. The first person is given an image of the word "Eye" written in various languages (Korean, Sanskrit, Greek, etc). The first person verbally describes how to write the word to the second person. The second person attempts to draw what the first person is describing, then passes the drawing to the third person. We then repeat this two more times. Finally, we compare all the original and final images to see which successfully made it through, and receive Eye's gear.

Some results from Eye's puzzle

The final AI is MATE. We reach the puzzle factory (teammate HQ), but it's locked shut with a 4 digit combination, along with a gear for MATE. MATE's puzzle is like a meta for the other 4 AIs. We need to realize that there is a number written on each of the first four gears, and recall that MATE's feature request was to SOLVE FOR THE GREATEST COMMON FACTORY. Taking the greatest common factor of the numbers written on each of the other AI gears gives us 2023. Entering 2023 in the lock unlocks MATE's gear and allows us access into the puzzle factory.

The locked HQ door

All 5 gears

Inside the puzzle factory, we see some puzzle conveyor belts, the AI monitor bank, and a large machine with a crank attached. We attach the 5 gears we've collected to the machine, and turn the crank several times. This represents creating our own puzzle in the factory, and a puzzle box drops out of the machine. For the winning team, this box contains the coin!

Conveyor belt of puzzles in the factory

Puzzle boxes in the factory

The machine

Front of the coin

Back of the coin

Many thanks to Byron Xu, for his invaluable help designing the machine, and the MIT Edgerton Center, for providing space, equipment, supplies, and throughout during the construction process.