Origen Xbox 360

Justin Buser · 20-08-2005, 06:07 AM

A very strange new Xbox360 website has popped up on the internet. In fact, the only reason we know it is related to the Xbox360 is by way of the domain name, OrigenXbox360.com, and the site name "Origen Xbox 360".

The actual website itself is very simple, and more than a little strange. It depicts a countdown timer in the background (counting down from roughly 37 days, 11 hours), a tree overlaying the timer, and also the shape of a green rabbit!

So what makes this website special? Well, if you take a look at the whois details, you will see the following:

Registrant:
Microsoft Corporation
Domain Administrator
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
US
Email: [removed]

The registrant details, all the other domain contact details, and also the DNS servers that the site is hosted on, all match the same details for the domain xbox.com - therefore we can conclude this domain and the website are owned and hosted by Microsoft!

The only question that remains is what does it all mean? After a quick google search, it appears that "Origen" was some sort of Christian Theologist, so your guess is as good as mine. Check out the site here.

Thanks to Kr1sh for the news.

MasterGouken · 20-08-2005, 06:30 AM

mmm...interesting.
It would appear to be a bonsai tree too...possibly to do with the japanese launch date? I dont know, its just an idea.

Justin Buser · 20-08-2005, 06:34 AM

Yeah true, well spotted

And maybe the rabbit has some Matrix type meaning (follow the rabbit) - unlikely, but really have no idea

Justin Buser · 20-08-2005, 07:01 AM

This hidden image has also been discovered

Citruso · 20-08-2005, 07:17 AM

Funny, it's just numbers behind two pictures which will be the new I love bees craze.

Or that other one... can't remember the name but it had an orb on the main page.

bennyboo03 · 20-08-2005, 07:25 AM

lol it would be annoying if right when the countdown is done, someone thats just a xbox 360 fan made the site will turn himself in

Justin Buser · 20-08-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyboo03

lol it would be annoying if right when the countdown is done, someone thats just a xbox 360 fan made the site will turn himself in

Thats impossible - the site is being hosted on the same servers as Xbox.com - it is definetely a MS site

Beats · 20-08-2005, 07:55 AM

I have found the following code in the SWF file on the site. Could the data inputted by "target_mill" be the date that the site is counting down to? 27th August? But this does not coincide with the time that the site is counting down to.

Perhaps you guys can figure it out?

target_mill = date.utc(2005, 8, 27, 12);
getNewTime = function ()
{
now = new Date();
now_mill = date.utc(now.getfullyear(), now.getmonth(), now.getdate(), now.gethours(), now.getminutes(), now.getseconds());
deficit = target_mill - now_mill;
if (deficit < 0)
{
clearInterval(intvl);
gotoAndStop("end");
} // end if
trace (target_mill + " " + now_mill + " " + deficit);
var _l3 = int(deficit / 1000 / 60 / 60 / 24);
deficit = deficit - _l3 * 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24;
var _l2 = int(deficit / 1000 / 60 / 60);
deficit = deficit - _l2 * 1000 * 60 * 60;
var _l1 = int(deficit / 1000 / 60);
deficit = deficit - _l1 * 1000 * 60;
var seconds_left = int(deficit / 1000);
if (_l3 < 10)
{
_l3 = "0" + _l3;
} // end if
if (_l2 < 10)
{
_l2 = "0" + _l2;
} // end if
if (_l1 < 10)
{
_l1 = "0" + _l1;
} // end if
if (seconds_left < 10)
{
seconds_left = "0" + seconds_left;
} // end if
countdown.days0.text = _l3.toString().charAt(0);
countdown.days1.text = _l3.toString().charAt(1);
countdown.hours0.text = _l2.toString().charAt(0);
countdown.hours1.text = _l2.toString().charAt(1);
countdown.mins0.text = _l1.toString().charAt(0);
countdown.mins1.text = _l1.toString().charAt(1);
countdown.secs0.text = seconds_left.toString().charAt(0);
countdown.secs1.text = seconds_left.toString().charAt(1);
};
getNewTime();
intvl = setInterval(getNewTime, 1000);

Beats · 20-08-2005, 08:00 AM

The counter is counting down to midday on the 27th September 2005.

Beats · 20-08-2005, 08:05 AM

The "target_mill" line should really say "target_mill = date.utc(2005, 9, 27, 12);". The code seems to be adding a month on.

Year: 2005
Month: 9 (September)
Day: 27
Hour: 12 (Midday)

So we should be expecting something to happen around this date and time.

Justin Buser · 20-08-2005, 08:14 AM

Wow - nice work Beats. I have no idea what it means, but sure is interesting!

rogerpe · 20-08-2005, 08:15 AM

That rabbit ( or kangaroo

)... doesn't it look like australia?
Just a idea...

bxgladiator · 20-08-2005, 08:25 AM

Maybe the timer tells is when the 360 comes out

Beats · 20-08-2005, 08:44 AM

Well, I have just had a look around the world on Google Earth and I could not see any countries, or American States, that look like the "rabbit". I wonder what else it could be?

Beats · 20-08-2005, 08:57 AM

Two anagrams of Origen are Ignore & Region. You must think I am a really sad bas**rd!

Beats · 20-08-2005, 09:22 AM

I have also noticed that the amount of time left on the counter on the Planetxbox360 website is almost double the amount that is on the Origenxbox360 Site?!

rogerpe · 20-08-2005, 12:34 PM

I think that timer counts to opening that site...

Liquids · 20-08-2005, 02:39 PM

Great this seems to be another ARG from MS. I wans't really around when I Love Bees was popular so I missed out.

BTW Beats you rule.

bethling · 20-08-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Thats impossible - the site is being hosted on the same servers as Xbox.com - it is definetely a MS site

The site's DNS is the same. The actual origenxbox360.com server looks like it's in London instead of Washington State.

supermexican · 20-08-2005, 04:44 PM

origen means origin in mexican....ehhh spanish.......so originxbox360...? if you were to translate the website name..it would be Xbox360 Origin....just thought i'd throw that out there.