Today we've compiled a number of interesting e-mails from readers who took it upon themselves to do a little investigative work. Here's what they turned up:

Yesterday IGN64 posted a story about a new website at www.DataDyne.com that, eerily enough, seemed to have not only the same name, but identical interests and company goals to the evil corporation DataDyne in Rare's upcoming Perfect Dark . We asked the question, is it a strange coincidence or a clever marketing ploy by Nintendo ®?

DataDyne Advertising

I've also seen a full-page ad in The Collegian (Penn State's student daily) recruiting for the DataDyne corporation. They are supposedly looking for graduates who are intelligent, have computer skills, and are willing to travel the world. Also, the ad said, "self-defense skills are a definite plus." I must admit, it was pretty effective, since when I got home from class several of my roommates had already checked out the website, and, not having heard any info on Perfect Dark, were debating on whether or not the ad and site were a hoax.

Michael Byrne

Marketing Blitz Like None Other

The DataDyne website is absolutely brilliant! I have a couple ideas about it:

1. Restricted Access: Maybe the only way to get here is by unlocking a password in Perfect Dark. The thought of this makes me fantastically juicy inside. This could be a whole new way to enjoy our video games, and give them more variety then ever before! In any case, I can barely wait to see what comes of this!

2. "Representatives will also be touring North America looking for suitable recruits soon." The last sentence on the website makes me giggle with anticipation (among other things). Could Rare and Nintendo® be planning one of the largest/most creative advertising campaigns in video game history? This makes sense with the PS2 on the horizon.However this turns out, the discovery of this website renews my need for Perfect Dark. Delays be damned! Nintendo® isn't out yet!

Scott Martineck

Proof

All I have to say is that I have proof that Rare is behind this. Here is my proof:

Every web site had an IP address (covered by a site address -- eg www.DataDyne.com) which comes from the system it is stored at (a server). This is unchangeable and is usually bought or registered prior to the site being set up in bulk (ie lots of address domains one after the other). An IP consists of four numbers separated by dots(.).

If you buy the addresses as most companies do you get them one after the other for example - 1.1.1.1 ---1.1.1.2 --- 1.1.1.3 and so on.

Taking this into account, I got the IP address of the computer that www.DataDyne.com is stored on and IP address is 216.32.18.189. You can see this for yourself by clicking on the IP address and you will find it takes you direct to the DataDyne site. Similarly it has a mirror site on the previous IP address as explained above, 216.32.18.188 and so on down to 216.32.18.186 now for the interesting bit..

If you go one lower than the mirror site 216.32.18.185 you just happen to appear at the Donkey Kong 64. Who makes DK 64 site? Who makes DK 64?

Go lower and where do we end up? How about the Pokemon site? These are sites are all owned by Nintendo® or Rare who are affiliates. DataDyne we can assume is also owned by Rare. This could of cause be one huge coincidence. But what are the chances that a company who has the same name as the evil corporation in one of Rare's biggest games to date also having a linked IP address? Also, the site has been put up three months before the game is released and does the same work as the DataDyne Corp. in Perfect Dark. Plus the website has no contact addresses or any other information and the names it is registered under are obvious puns. The restricted area is completely fake so don't even try to enter and names as this is an easily programmed java script code that reacts not on what is typed in the box but merely displays the ALERT when the button is pressed) They happen to get the IP address straight next to DK64 and a whole host of other N64 sites.

DataDyne.com's IP: 216.32.18.189

Mirror site :216.32.18.188

Mirror site:216.32.18.187

Mirror site :216.32.18.186

Donkey Kong 64 :216.32.18.185



Keep reducing the last number (185) by one and typing it to the location bar on your browser and you will find more Nintendo®/Rare sites. See how the IP addresses reduce by 1? This means they are more than likely owned by the same company. Thank you.

Mike Biuso

Registered To...

I was checking through the database on Network Solutions' website and found that DataDyne.com was registered on February 9th 2000. Kind of late for such a large corporation. Also, it was registered by a one [edited out]. This [edited out] gives his e-mail address to be "[edited out]@Marksman.com". Marksman.com is an Internet acquisition company.

Rare Sighting



Ok I think I've figured out this whole mess. Well at least I think I have found the clue that proves the fact it is a Rare hoax rather than a real website that just coincidentally has the same name of DataDyne. Go to the "community" section of the page and look at all the bullet points and following text. The first letters of each bullet point (always capitalized) spell out the unmistakable word 'RARE' backwards!

Mitch

For Real?

A quick av.com check gave me this URL:

https://www2.s390.ibm.com/s390da/program/memlist.html

It's the official IBM site and DataDyne Corporation is listed as a member. I don't think Nintendo® or Rare would go this far, so DataDyne is for real!

spamthej@JRV.zzn.com

DataDyne in the Paper

After that article on DataDyne and going to the website, I remembered seeing an ad that had caught my attention in "The Daily Aztec", the school newspaper at SDSU. I searched through some old issues I still had and found the ad below. [Click on the image for a bigger picture]

"DATADYNE, a private global technology corporation, is looking for trustworthy individuals of all backgrounds interested in the opportunity to reshape the future.We are looking for risk takers to handle highly sensitive technological information who are able to accomplish a variety of tasks while maintaining an open mind.Offering excellent pay, flexible hours, full benefits, travel, stock options, on-the-job training and more.Ability to work well under pressure and adequate self-defense skills a definite plus. Visit our Web site for more details. Look for recruitment trunks on your campus soon.www.DataDyne.com"

Nintendo® either has one heck of a marketing department or I need to keep my eyes open for that recruitment truck.

Dave

Also, credit goes to Daniel Abrego for the advertisement image.

Links that Prove it's Legit?

The DataDyne Corp page appears to be authentic, if the following links/references are any guide. Each page contains a reference to a "DataDyne" (not DataDyne) company.

https://www.cbi.umn.edu/inv/prodlit.htm

https://www.s390.ibm.com/products/s390da/program/memlist.html

https://acomp.stanford.edu/siliconhistory/WolfeT/TinkeringsRobertNoyce.html

https://www.bcdonline.com/1385/

The last one actually links to the www.DataDyne.com site. It appears that there is a DataDyne Corp, but not a DataDyne Corp (of Perfect Dark fame).

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, "Deoxyribonucleic Acid Examination" translates into DNA Examination.

Still, the fact that this page exists and that it reads as it does is weird. The company now worries me. Brrr.

David Dayton

Readers have definitely unearthed some very interesting new details, but the mystery is not entirely solved. Keep your eyes open for more DataDyne advertisements in your area and be sure to drop us a line if you uncover any more information.