9 Experiment: Peace Through Science - Overview
It has been brought to my attention that some folks have been having issues with the site, and since it is probably a good idea to have some additional record of it outside of the wayback machine, just in case. So here we go!
The Main Site:
I would have liked to have a proper panoramic view but the foreground and background scroll at different speeds so we would have had awkward cuts so this is a slightly neater way of viewing. As you can see we have a sweeping view of the Scientist's lab with 10 interactables. I have numbered these for convenience.
You may notice 4 letters in the background as well, this is used in a puzzle in our first section:
1. Typewriter
Clicking on the Typewriter reveals a set of four rapidly spinning reels of alchemical symbols (difficult to capture), below are twenty keys matching these symbols. To solve this puzzle you must find the four letters hidden in the panoramic view of the Scientist's Lab, clicking on them will reveal the symbols that must be entered on the typewriter. I've included the solution on the reels below:
The order of the symbols spell out 'HOPE' and is possibly a reference to the original ending scene. The reward for this puzzle is a congratulations from Elijah Wood and exclusive content in a pop-up as follows:
Yeah, I can't see it. Keep your secrets, Elijah. Based on other information on this site, there may have also been a second code to be found as part of the "9 Movie Talisman Challenge" but at this point I can't tell if it was a different code or if they just changed what the HOPE code linked to after the challenge was completed and added the hidden letters to keep the solution on-site. We don't have an earlier version of the page during the contest to check or any of the off-site images but we do know what this contest consisted of and what prizes were offered: The user had to find 9 different partner sites that each contained an image file that all had to be arranged together to create the secret code that would be entered on the typewriter. They would then enter their personal information for a chance to win in a random draw. This was only available in the US. The Grand Prize: Limited edition “9” Pony shoes and a “9” prize pack consisting of select “9” items (thats… very vague, right?) worth $100. 8 other winners would only recieve the very vague "9" prize packs worth $25. If you are the owner of the 9 shoes, please put pictures of them online, I really want to know.
2. Chalkboard
The chalkboard has two functions: you can click on the character names at the bottom to get a chalk drawing of them, and by hovering over you get a few additional details of their design. Unfortunately, it seems only the drawing of B.R.A.I.N is functional at this time and the wind-up box doesn't do anything. The second function is activated by clicking on the chalk at the lower left of the chalkboard. This allows you to make your own drawing. This seems to have been part of a facebook-based "draw your own invention" challenge but clicking on the rules instead sends you to the rules page for the 9 Movie Talisman Challenge, not the Chalkboard Challenge. So it is unknown what the prize for this one would have been.
3. Documents
Very basic, three pictures of the B.R.A.I.N concept art, click on each to enlarge the art.
4. Letter
A letter to the Scientist from the Chancellor. Now, according to the 9 Wiki this is meant to reveal that the Chancellor's surname to be 'Ferdinand' however as you can see it is just signed as 'The Chancellor' so I'm not sure where this name came from and the wiki has no other sources for it.
5. The Transfer Device
Sadly, it is non functional, clicking on the talisman opens a new page but requires flash player so I am unsure what this page included. the title of the page "9 Talisman: Save Your Memories" is interesting especially if you pair it with the Scientist's Facebook post "Create your own talisman..."
6. Research Journals
Interactive books that are just most of the Scientist's facebook posts but in cursive, It at least gives us the in-universe explanation for his posts. you can drag to flip the pages and click to zoom in and out.
7. 9 Cognitive Challenge
Another non-functional page, it seems to have been a game.
8. Radio
Non-functional. Clicking on the radio reveals three dials, an on/off dial, a tuning dial and an a/b dial. I assume tuning it to the correct frequency and mode would reveal audio information but this feature is completely mute for me.
9. Wind-up Box
You can use this to view art of the Scientist's creations or other images that are also found in the Scientist's journals, the images won't enlarge on the screen, strangely.
10. Film Box
This would have played trailers and other promotional videos, clicking on one of the eight videos will only play the audio and not the visuals but all but the welcome are available from the official Focus Features youtube channel. The titles are as follows: WELCOME FROM ELIJAH TRAILER THE SEAMSTRESS TEASER GOOD VS. EVIL LITTLE BROTHER THE COUNT 9 INTENSITY
We are nearly finished! but there is one thing you may have noticed in some of the screenshots that I haven't mentioned yet:
The Alchemical Banner
At the bottom of the screen you may have noticed a line of alchemical symbols, by hovering over them you will get a title and clicking on them will allow Elijah to provide some of the backstory of the film, as they are audio only I have transcribed them all. The Great World War: "After ten long years the Great World War had ended. Many nations of the world were left bankrupt, their cities in ruins, their natural resources depleted." Chancellor's Mission: "To rebuild his nation and spur the economy, the Chancellor declared that the way to the future is through science and technology." A Way To The Future: "The government hired many scientists and intellectuals to do research into peaceful innovations." The Scientist: "The Scientist: A former toymaker recieved funding from the Chancellor for his research into an artifical brain, the scientist believed in the limitless potential of his invention" The B.R.A.I.N: "The Scientist worked tirelessly to invent The B.R.A.I.N: an autonomous machine capable of creating new machines in its image." A Dangerous Oversight: "But the Chancellor seized The B.R.A.I.N from the scientist before it had been tested properly. The Scientist knew the dangers of this and warned the Chancellor." The Fabrication Machine: "Using The B.R.A.I.N, the Chancellor created a Fabrication Machine. He promised the world that this new creation would labour for the people, protect the nation, and allow all to live prosperous and leisurely lives once again. The nation rejoiced, rallying behind the Chancellor." A Mechanical Army: "The Chancellor built a factory to house the Fabrication Machine and surreptitiously began creating a mechanical army" Another War "Unprovoked, the Chancellor declared war on the other struggling nations." The Scientist Hides: "The Scientist denounces the Chancellor deeming him corrupt. And, warning the nation of this dangerous power of his invention, the Scientist went into hiding" Chancellor Against The World: "The new world war was bloody. The other nations joined forces to fight the Chancellor and his war machines." Going Too Far: "The Chancellor scaled up production of the war machines, driving the Fabrication Machine to make more and more." A Bloody Turning Point: "Tortured and angry, the Fabrication Machine lashed out. It began to self program the machines to indiscriminately kill any sign of life it encountered. The machines went beserk, slaughtering millions of humans and poisoning the earth with gas bombs." Chaos: "The dictatorship crumbled and the world fell into chaos." A New Experiment: "The Scientist, full of regret for his part in all of this, began to create us." Life: "One by one, we came to life." The Cost of Life: "With each new creation the Scientist's lifeforce diminished." Goodbye: "And then it was over. The Scientist was gone." The Next Chapter: "We are all that remains."
(the last symbol is a site mute button, ignore that)
Conclusion
There are many interesting things on this site, but also many things lost to time. So if you remember this site back in 2009 and can recall some of the features that are now missing then I would highly encourage you to share. Anyway what a long post! Hope you all found it informative, visit the site for a more authentic experience.