Answer submission is complete! Come to the Building 99 atrium for wrap-up, answers, and to chat with authors!
The Microsoft Non-Intern Puzzleday is an annual collaborative puzzle competition that challenges teams to solve a large number of original puzzles of all different kinds. These puzzles include wordplay, cryptograms, jigsaws, logic problems, and more. It is originally created for and played by interns, most of whom have never played in a puzzle event before. Think of it as a lighter version of Puzzlehunt.
Non-Intern Puzzleday is for full-time Microsoft employees, their family, and friends, but NOT Microsoft interns. It's a team competition open to novice and hardcore puzzle solvers alike. Rule number 1 is "HAVE FUN!" More information about registration is available on the Rules page.
NIPD begins at 11 AM PDT on Saturday August 26th, 2023 in Building 99. We'll have a few announcements, introduce the story, and then let solving begin! Solving will end at 5PM, followed by a closing presentation and a chance to go over the answers back in Building 99.
Each team can have a maximum of 6 people. Out of that 6, at least 2 need to be Microsoft FTEs. While guests are allowed on campus, remember that you will also need members with Microsoft badges to get into buildings.
Every member of your team should have access to a computer since all puzzles are playable online. A pair of headphones or speakers should be brought by at least one member. Building copy rooms will have all other office supplies you may need.
No food will be provided.
All puzzle webpages can be solved online, and many puzzles have interactive components that will require them to be solved online. If you would like to print any puzzle, just click the link at the top of each puzzle's page to print it straight from the browser! If you need help installing the printer, look near the printer in the nearest copy room for instructions. Some buildings have rolled out a new Universal Printing driver that requires you to install that building's specific printer.
See the Rules page for more information.
Each puzzle has a simple final answer, either a single word or a short phrase. In some puzzles you are explicitly told how to get the final answer. In others, figuring out how to extract the final answer is part of the puzzle. When you think you've found the answer, enter it into the website and it will immediately tell you if you are correct. Sometimes, you can get a long phrase while working through a puzzle. That phrase is probably a clue to a shorter answer. Try entering the phrase into the website. If the word/phrase is recognized, you may get a "Keep going" or similar message. This means that you entered a valid partial answer and are on the right track.
A metapuzzle is a special puzzle that takes the progress you've made from solving other puzzles and combines them in some way. It is not necessary to solve all other puzzles before solving the final metapuzzle, but solving more puzzles often makes progress on the metapuzzle easier. The metapuzzle will be clearly labeled, and it is highly recommended to start looking at it early.
Data Confirmation, or DC, is a feature that certain puzzles have. When you see the DC logo next to the puzzle's title, that means the answer system will tell you if a particular piece of data is part of the puzzle or not. For example, if a puzzle has crossword clues, you could type in the answer to a particular clue and system will tell you if you're correct about that clue.
The implicit instruction for all puzzles is "Figure out the final answer." Puzzles without instructions are either classic puzzle forms, perhaps with a twist, or puzzles where the challenge is figuring out how to solve the puzzle. In the latter case, the key is usually to look for patterns or common bonds between the parts of the puzzle. For example, are many of the words spelled wrong? Have all the vowels been left out? Sometimes there may be a hint hidden in the puzzle. You may also find inspiration by looking at the list of Encodings or Tools.
The best way to win is to solve puzzles quickly so that you get to the final metapuzzle. The best way to accomplish this is with teamwork. Many teams prefer to work individually on the easier puzzles and work as a group on the harder puzzles. If you get stuck, ask for help or switch to another puzzle. Make sure you keep track of which puzzles you've already solved and confirmed using the answer submission system.
Not having fun. If you're not having fun working on a particular puzzle, switch to another one.
Solving puzzles is its own reward!
Haha. No.
Yes. If you do miss the registration deadline, send mail to NIPD staff at puzzhunt.
No! This event is fully completable and fully enjoyable remotely. There are a few puzzles that you have to be physically present for on campus to interact with people or items only available on campus, but the event is still fully finishable even if those puzzles are skipped.
Since all of the in-person components take place in Building 99, you'll probably want to stay west of 520. Additionally, Studios B, C, X, Buildings 92, 112, 114, 120, 123 - 127, 25, 34, 35, 41, 42, 87, and all construction areas are OFF LIMITS and should not be entered under any circumstances.
Yes! As in any event like this, some teams and some players will be very dedicated. But the event is designed so that less dedicated teams will also have fun. It's also OK to have teams that consist of some hard-core participants and some casual participants. There will be a variety of puzzles, so there's a good chance there will be puzzles that you enjoy (and that are easier than others).
Send email to puzzhunt.