Monday, August 6, 2012

Part 11: The Plan

Dan was a bit of an oddball.

As you can imagine, his story made him a bit of a superstar within the Princess Society.  He'd been there to witness the start of it all.  If there were any answers about The Princess' true identity, we knew they had to lie in those few strange years Hero and Princess was in development.

Dan, however, kept to himself a lot more than you would expect for someone with information as relevant as his.  He would answer questions when asked, but he never seemed to want to volunteer it.  If you think my update schedule is bad, it took Dan a full year to tell his story.

As it turned out, there was a good reason for this.  Dan...kinda had his own thing going on.  A little over half a year ago, completely out of the blue, Dan created a new thread on the Society's main discussion board.  It was just titled "Endgame."  It would lead to an event which would change The Princess Society forever.

The following is an exact copy-paste from the OP.  Again, forgive the spelling errors, as they aren't mine.

Hello.  My name is Daniel.  You know me as the lead tester of Hero and Princess, the first person to see The Princess manifest.  You know this because it's what I've told you, but it isn't the full story.  It's time to tell you the rest, because if I don't get it out now, there's a good chance I'll never have the chance again.

Testing a video game is a very clinical process.  You're not just getting paid to play games.  You're getting paid to break them, push at the edges and find the cracks.  You methodically try everything you can think of, then you do it again, and again.  You get really good at lateral thinking, the manipulation of disparate mechanics and recognizing subtle flaws that can completely crack a game in half with the right application.  I've heard, for some, the testing process can slowly drain your ability to enjoy playing games for leisure.  You become so focused on breaking games that you lose your ability to play them as a consumer.  You want to explore every mechanic, push everything as far as it will go and experience that perverse little rush you get when the whole thing snaps in half between your fingers.

When it all started, The Princess was just one glitch of many.  An incomplete character model loading in the wrong place was nothing incredible.  There were several similar glitches in that build of the game, actually.  The difference was that those glitches, however slowly, were fixed.  The Princess would not be fixed.  Every time we thought we found her, thought we'd reached the root of the problem, she'd pop up elsewhere even weirder and more nonsensical.

Maybe it was something about me.  She almost never manifested when I wasn't in the office.  I was the first to see her, and throughout Hero and Princess' dev cycle I was by far the one to whom she appeared the most.  I think she knew I was the lead tester, and was getting a kick out of messing with my head.  After all, I was the one pushing hardest to get her out of the damn game.  I told you about those times she would look directly at the camera.  That was during times I was testing.  She was staring at ME!  She wanted ME to know she could see us!

I hated her.  I hated her blank face.  I hated that she did that stupid T-pose just to drive home what an embarrassment she was.  And when Hero and Princess was canceled, I hated her for putting me out of a job.  The best job of my life.  Why did she do this to me?  What the fuck was she?  Why couldn't she just disappear like a good little mistake?  It wasn't enough for her to break our game.  She had to break us.  She had to break me and Gina and all the other people who just wanted to make a great game.  Then when it was done, she had to go break every other game out there.  It wasn't enough for her to be a black mark on our game, she had to go become an unsolved glitch in every game in the world.

I'm a tester.  It's my job to experiment and suss out the root cause of glitches and aberrations in video games.  Perhaps The Princess thought putting me out of a job would force me to give up, but I didn't, and I still haven't.

Over the past decade I've had over two hundred encounters with The Princess.  I've played a wide variety of games at least 40 hours a week, often running multiple consoles at once to maximize my chances.  I've conducted all manner of experiments to determine her precise capabilities, methods of operation and (most important of all) potential weaknesses.  As I write this, I'm surrounded by pages of handwritten notes which I hope are readable enough to be useful to others if I don't survive.  There's too much here to type in the short time I have. 

I haven't learned much.  I've only learned fragments of things.  Whatever she is, she's not a part of the game, at least not exactly.  When she infiltrates a game, dumping the ROM shows nothing out of the ordinary.  Saving the state (via emulator) does not guarantee she will be there when that same state is loaded.  She's interceding somewhere as an extra packet of data not readily traceable.  I think the increased load times have something to do with this, but I'm not sure.  It's all so damn cryptic, or maybe she's just changing the readings to fuck with me.

I've tried to talk to her.  Voice, text, binary.  I get reactions sometimes, but none of it makes sense.  It's all just more cryptic shit.  I think sometimes that she wants to talk but can't, or doesn't know how, or doesn't know what talking is.  Other times I think she says mysterious things to keep me going.  She likes toying with me because it keeps me coming back.  It keeps me asking questions.  She doesn't want me to find answers because she doesn't want me to stop.  She's a problem, and she doesn't want to be solved.

I've tried to kill her.  My closest attempt to success was when I shocked my N64 with a stun gun as she stood before me in Super Mario 64.  Speakers let out the most ungodly, pleading scream I'd ever heard as the screen flickered to black.  It was beautiful.  I thought I'd really done it, really beaten her.  In the end, the only casualty was the console.  I still think I was on to something there, though.  Maybe another time.

However, there's one very important thing I've learned.  It's vital.  It blows this whole thing wide open.  If I die, I want to at least make sure I pass this along.

She HAS a weakness.  I found it.  It's tiny, subtle, almost impossible to catch but she has it.  It's what I've been looking for for years, that one tiny exploit I can push on and push on until she snaps in half.  It was staring me in the face this whole time.  It's been staring all of you in the face this whole time.

She can enter games, but she can't leave them.

Has anyone ever seen her leave a game without it being turned off by the player?  No.  That's because she can't.  It's the one thing she can't do.  It's the one bit of power WE have over her.  Me, you, everyone.  We can use this.  It's our weapon.  I've already used it against her, personally, and that's why I'm writing this.  That's why I've come to you all.

I've trapped her.

I booted up her favorite game, Ocarina of Time (the Gamecube port, mind).  I knew she'd come.  She always does.  She loves me.  That's another weakness.  When she showed up I did the one thing I'd never tried before, the one thing no one's tried.  I didn't turn off the game.  I turned off the screen.

It worked.  It totally worked.  She's in there, now, and she can't get out.  She hasn't tried to kill me.  However that works, I think the screen is involved.  Without it, she can't do anything to you.  It's like turning off the game, but better.  She can't get you, and she can't get away.  Brilliant.  So glad I thought of it.

I'd leave her in there forever, but I can't.  I keep hearing these...noises coming from the Gamecube.  Grinding, buzzing, screeching.  I think she's trying to overload the console, destroy it from the inside so she can get out.  If she does burn it out, she'll be free again.  Clearly mine is only a temporary solution. 

She experienced such pain when I zapped my N64 with that stun gun.  With the way she's slowly frying that Gamecube's chips, I imagine it must be like Hell for her in there right now.  Maybe I should leave her in there for a few more days.  Of course, I know I can't risk it.  I can't take the chance she'd get out.  Now that she knows I know how to catch her, she may not come back again.

I'm not going to let her get away.  We're ending this.  Now.

Below is a link.  At 11:00PM EST I'm going to begin streaming my webcam at that link.  I want everyone on this board to be there and watch.  We're going to confront The Princess, all of us, together.  You'll also see my home address and cell number included below.  If, or perhaps I should say WHEN The Princess inevitably tries to kill me, I want you all to call 911 and get every available law enforcement officer to my location.  I don't hold any delusions that I can fight her off, but if there's a remote possibility I can hold her off long enough to get people, WITNESSES here to see her, I'm willing to take it.

I will solve this.  I will fix this problem I've been working on for over a decade.  I need your help.  Please.  We need to do this.


Indeed the link, address and cell number were all included.  I was wary about this, but the temptation to see what might happen was too great.  That night I clicked the link.

I shouldn't have.

74 comments:

  1. Ooh, got a cliffhanger here. You got me all impatient, heh.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Princess learning. HELP

    Daniels plan

    It didn't work

    I need advice

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello there, I know the next installment won't be out for a while, but I just want to tell you how amazing this creepy pasta is. It's maybe one of the best ones I've ever read.

    It's scary like any creepy pasta should be, but it's not over the top. I could believe that it could happen, and at first I nearly believed it was real. It also allows the reader to not be able to check it's realness, (there probably is a better word for that, however, I had trouble sleeping last night, and I'm probably not in the best mind.) Using such generic names, to make googling difficult was genius! I especially love the part where you describe how the people tried very hard to keep anyone from just stumbling upon it.

    I can't wait until this enticing story concludes!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Teej from Ivysir sent me (Ivysir is a facebook page) Anyway, this is outstanding, perhaps my favorite pasta I've read.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Holy fucking ass balls! My xbox 360 just turned itself on, I swear to god it just turned on lol this shit is crazy

    ReplyDelete
  6. <3 This is utterly brilliant. I won't be able to play any of my games for a long, long, long time. Frightening shit, man.
    Teej from Ivysir sent me, too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The true horror of this story comes not from the monster, but from the monstrous reactions of the humans. We are so used to everything in video games being breakable, fightable, killable, that when something isn't we assume that it must be broken, an alien element, a creature to be removed. And when that thing makes the game fail- makes other elements that can be broken and fought and killed not react as we want- that thing becomes the true enemy. Ganondorf's got nothing on an unfinished texture, ruining our all-important immersion.

    An innocent swept away to an unfinished world. A murderer whose rage stopped his own heart. This is not the work of a monster. This is simply a being who does not understand- who literally cannot comprehend our world.

    Daniel's own words tell the truth of his mind. He blames the Princess for things she cannot control. He projects onto her all of the things he hates. Her inability to move 'mocks' him, he says. She is a slave in shackles that were never unlocked, and he claims that her suffering is truly his torment. This 'stream' will be a lynching at best, an unfinished stoning at worst. If the Princess can still learn, she will see the truth of humanity.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The princess has visited me too through The Binding of Isaac tonight. I was skeptical at first, but this blog saved my life. Thank you. http://i.imgur.com/goC5s.png

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think i just saw the princess...creeped me out and i closed the page, it wasnt in a game though, but on a game site...

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Princess is real, and I can prove it. I might not have much time left, due to the nature of what I'm revealing.

    I always thought this blog was just some interesting creepypasta. Until I first saw her, myself. Last night, while playing my Super Mario 64 ROM, when I died and lost my last life, rather than going to the usual Game Over screen, I found myself in a strange room. That's when things started to get weird. I managed to capture the majority of my encounter before I closed the game.

    http://youtu.be/hmaQqR-idr0
    Be advised, some of you might find this disturbing. To my knowledge, this is the first in-game footage ever recorded of The Princess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a few months late, but it sounded like The Princess was saying something. What was it?

      Delete
    2. She seems pretty cute. Would hold hands with/10

      Delete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That reminds me, remember that princess sprite i did way back?
    Here's how it looks currently implemented in the wad.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszTOcH8Cxk
    The way it works is, in some levels once you pretty much clear them and reach the exit, she will start appearing between several locations, switching randomly (the few times she dramatically disappeared in the vid were just luck, she would've vanished in plain view just as happily). The locations are usually the most fantasy-like areas of a level. If she's spinning in place, there's a high chance she will outright kill the player.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just thought about this, I don't remember seeing this in the rules. Does it deter the princess from appearing if you're recording? Like, using fraps or a capture card? Would she just break it, or not care? Or would she avoid your game completely?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well I managed to record her just fine :P Although in-universe, I think she wouldn't appear on the recording or corrupt it or something like that. Unless Rocketlex plans to use that as a plot point, I'll just assume that recording her was well-established as not going anywhere by the community.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Given her personality, I should think the Princess would love to be recorded. She seems to really like attention. All she wants is to be loved and adored.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It seems I'm in a level of danger. I found her when I was about 9 in Crash Bandicoot: the wrath of cortex.
    I fought her. It seemed to hurt her. She sounds like Coco when she screams.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, this creepypasta is amazing! Although, I'm not sure it's just a story. Last night I was playing Super Metroid on an emulator (I do have an actual cart, but my controller's a bit busted, so sue me). I was at Crocomire's skeleton jumps out, and aftre it did I rewound the game (I was also on a Skype call, so I thought I missed something). All of a sudden, the game made this loud, static-like noise. I also had my own music playing, so I played around with my mixer, and sure enough, the noise was coming from the game. It being late at night and I being a bit superstitious closed the emulator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. from several people I've talked to....it seems the princess is quite real

    ReplyDelete
  19. If I didnt know any better, I'd say the Princess was real. I have had several instances of playing Majora's Mask where the game will just take forever to load, and the music is wierd at times. Even the game defaulting to a blank screen. It didnt crash, there was still music playing, but it was a big white screen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The question is, do you know better? And, in knowing better, is your choice truly correct?

      Delete
    2. Creepy to say the least. I confess now I never finished playing Majora's Masks. I didn't have the n64 cartridge, but my friend back then did and would let me play, so at home I only had OoT. Anyway, always found the game beyond creepy (I was 10) and would chicken out. Last year I found and read the Ben Drowned story (along with the videos) and I know I'm never playing that game again because that shit is horrifying. The day I read it, I literally woke up screaming from dreaming about some parts of the game. I just hope if she is really, I never encounter her playing in my emulator.

      Delete
  20. I don't know what to say...
    I found this just by going through creepypasta looking for a good story and it turned into one of the most horrifying things I have ever read. I'm using the word horrifying because a lot of, now very real and disturbing seeming, memories came back while reading this.
    I remember long lags and missing textures while playing RC Revenge (a racing game) on PSX once. I must've been, what, nine? It was some kind of African jungle level with a native camp in it.
    It started to lag and textures for poles and bushes in the distance were missing. In the middle of the camp there was normally a giant cooking pot, but when I got there it was replaced with, what I remember, looked like a very edged girl. All sounds and all other cars were gone by then so I freaked out and shut the Playstation off.
    So as someone who does not believe in any kind of paranormal existences, reading this story is one of the best horror experience I've ever had. What a freaky coincidence I had something like that happen to me as a child, it makes this whole story so much more believable...

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's worth mentioning...

    Even with the associated glitches, I'd love to play a game like Hero and Princess. It gives me all the warm vibes that old school point n' clicks ala Roberta Williams kinds of games. Or at least, it would. I must echo Somfin. The more pressured she becomes, the more justified she must feel in lashing out. And honestly, do we not all humans consider ours the right to self defense?

    ... But I do think she understands humanity. Understands how petty and cruel those who attempt to organize, rationalize, solve reality can be - and in return, becomes cruel herself to survive. I would say it in red, but I am not the author here... All we can do is keep reading. Excellent story.

    ReplyDelete
  22. a little while ago, i uploaded an image to tinypic. it showed this logo for the princess society as an image similar to mine. i hvae no idea who made this or weather or not it's legit but i thought someone here might know

    http://i46.tinypic.com/344czrd.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  23. Once I get to see this whole website for "the princess society", I think I might start believing this story just a little bit more...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Okay, here are two real stories, and even though I know that The Princess isn't real, still startled me.

    1: I was playing Ocarina of Time. As soon as I got through the sneaky maze part and met Zelda for the first time, the part when she turns around and sees you, the game froze, and all the sound effects and music started overlapping and making a horrible noise. I quickly switched off the N64.

    2: I was playing Donkey Kong 64. I was playing as Lanky Kong, and I just got a Golden Banana. As I got it, Lanky Kong jumped in the air during a dance. The game froze, just as Lanky was in mid-air, with his arms stretched out to either side. I didn't notice the position at first, and was just mad that it froze. After a few moments, I got scared and ran to turn it off.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What if, just what if, this princess thing is legit, maybe the storyline is just a story, but what if a lot of this is actually true?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Here's hoping that as to our author - they didn't see... \0/ I'm still eager to find out what happens next. I wonder if that makes me an enabler of some of the disturbing things going on..?

    (Indigo, those stories are pretty frightening. When glitches kick in, even when I'm not thinking of well-written scary fiction, I'll admit I freak out a bit. Secondarily to the author - hope you find the time and inclination to post more some time. Really enjoy this.)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm surprised I've never met her. I played OOT so many times I cannot believe I've never met her. My hair stands up just thinking about her and I hope it won't bring her into my life.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Diary,

    It's been three months since he last updated. I'm not sure how much longer I can survive on this suspense.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey, I wanted to know if it was alright if I wrote a story from the point of view of a society member. It would be them telling the story of when they saw the princes in a game. Is that fine?

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am somewhat obsessed with this concept. I haven't seen her yet though unfortunately. Gotta keep looking. Also i was wondering has anyone actually taken a photo of or caught there incidents with The Princess on video? I would love to see what she really looks like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://youtu.be/hmaQqR-idr0

      This is a pretty good one.

      Delete
    2. Hmm i've seen that one before, it doesn't really seem legit to me. But thank you for answering.

      Delete
  31. I might have had multiple encounters with her today. I just stared to plat Soul Silver, and it seems like the music is always off tempo, which doesn't make sense because midi is pretty damn perfect. I had just read the story, so I was pretty excited and started talking to the screen a bit. Eventually, the game froze, and I couldn't move, but I could still make noises my pressing A and tapping the touch screen. Later on, I was in the tower with the bellsprout guys (honestly, who chooses to raise bellsprout, I have one right now for flash and cut, I plan on evolving him for the lulz, but whatever) and I was just getting to the last level where Silver is a dick to the old man, and when I got up there, a lot of the display was pixelated, there was a potion on the ground that was huge and not a pokeball. I picked it up fine, then I looked at the people. I can't remember what they looked like, but they were all facing away from me, which made sense, since my character looked like the princess. It was a white pixel creature lookin' thing, with red popping in and out of the top. something was sticking out of the sides, but I thought it was his feet. I could move him around, and when I would start changing direction, he would turn, but quickly face me again, still moving in the direction I demand. I was going to take a screen cap, but I think to much and didn't want this to be real enough so that she could pull some Doctor Who Weeping Angles bullshit where she can manifest pictures. The only reason I say this is because she seems to like people drawing her. Maybe it is the safest way for her to interact with us? Perhaps she doesn't want to fight, but she just doesn't know how to comunicate well. Either way, I'm still gonna beat the shit outta this game!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ya know I bet right after writing this, the Princess got him. Just to fuck with us.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Can't wait for the next installment. My favorite creepy pasta so far.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Just got done playing pokemon white, saw a new npc in the crowds of the pokmon musical that matches the Princess entirely, but when the musical ended she was gone, I was sad I just wanted to give her a virtual hug...

    ReplyDelete
  35. Been checking on this for about every week since october... Still waiting for part 12

    ReplyDelete
  36. Seriously... I've been waiting for part 12 for several months now. Let's get on with it!! Then again... maybe the Princess got him (gasp).

    ReplyDelete
  37. Please update again, this is one of the best creepypastas I have EVER read. Can't wait to see what happens next. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. The whole princess bug is quite real, rarely happens but when it does it can be in almost any video game, seen it myself in two different games, the whole "evil princess" thing may just be the myth part of it, but it kinda seems like it could be real to some degree

    ReplyDelete
  39. I've been checking this page once a week still since August! Don't leave us hanging!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I fucking hate it when creepy pastas end like this. :\ Not amused.
    Although up until now I thoroughly enjoyed it and am quite disturbed...

    ReplyDelete
  41. This is an amazing creepy pasta, Some Ordinary Gamers have GOT to do a You Tube special on this!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I just came across this today. Continue this story!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Please finish this. I really want to know how it ends.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I'm pretty sure it's over, guys. This is the end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It can't be over! It just can't. There are too many questions left unanswered for this to be it.

      Delete
  45. I think the princess got him.

    ReplyDelete
  46. If her weakness is entering games, but being unable to get out of them, you should let her enter a copy of Majora's Mask, and let the moon crash. Unable to escape the game, and unable to escape the moon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honestly, after reading Ben Drowned, if I ever got the courage to play MM again and saw the princess there, I'd probably set fire to whatever device I was running the emulator on. And of course, run away screaming in sheer terror.

      Delete
  47. Thanks for providing good information,Thanks for your sharing.

    ทองดีฟันขาว

    ReplyDelete
  48. Ive been playing all sorts of games everyday shitly so if shes real ill think about her and let her come in my game i want to fuck with her mind too if shes there but if its fake ok then uh the story was good you should definitely publish a book.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Rent a car Pakistan offers one of the most professional car rental services throughout Pakistan. Our services extend to all the major cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Sialkot. You can use our cars to visit holiday destinations in addition to commuting from one place to another.

    ReplyDelete
  50. On the other hand, if you think you are knowledgeable about the city’s structure, you can opt for rent a car in Pakistan without driver and enjoy the ride around the city with your family on your own.Karachi to Islamabad rent a carSUV Prado car hire in Pakistan


    ReplyDelete
  51. Thank a lot for this informative post ,keep posting such type of wonderful post. Keep it up. If you are searching for reliable We will also offer Quickbooks Error 6123 solution Contact us +1 877-751-0742 for instant help.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Are You Looking for the Best Escorts Provider than it is the Right Place? Hare, you find all types of call girls and escorts for your sexual needs. Call us now for Booking: 03001266969 Karachi call girl number

    ReplyDelete
  53. Welcome to Escorts Girls Provider. We Provide Cheap Escorts, Models, Call Girls, Housewives, Sexy, VIP, Hot, and Luxury escorts. Call us now for Booking: 03001266969 Escorts in thokar Niaz Baig Lahore

    ReplyDelete
  54. We Provide Best Escorts and Call girls in all Cities, Hotels and Local areas of Pakistan. Call us now for Booking: 03001266969 Escorts in Hilton Suites Lahore

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thanks for Sharing information this information is very helpful and useful for me and other persons. I like your work. when you feel free to check my webpage. hair packaging boxes deluxeboxes.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. You will never regret your decision after choosing our VIP Call Girls In lahore as we have the most sexually active high quality call girls who are really engaged in providing full satisfaction to all your erotic needs.Call girl Pakistan number

    ReplyDelete
  57. The information you have provide is very helpful and thanks for sharing. I have good experience with Escorts in Karachi too I hope you want to try their services. Karachi Male Escorts

    ReplyDelete
  58. Are You Looking for the escort in Karachi ​than it is the Right Place? Hare, you find all types of call girls and escorts for your sexual needs. Call us now for Booking: 03001266969

    ReplyDelete
  59. Welcome to Escorts In Gadap Town Karachi. We Provide Cheap Escorts, Models, Call Girls, Housewives, Sexy, VIP, Hot, and Luxury escorts. Call us now for Booking: 03001266969

    ReplyDelete
  60. We comprehend that our customers have a broad scope of necessities and want. With such countless escorts to choose from. We ensure that you can discover someone that you always wanted. Above all, we would make you encased. Our lovely and Professional Lahore Escorts ​will satisfy you. The entirety of your sexual longings. As the best agencies and Company, our Naughty and Independent Escort in Lahore. We have the ideal ladies. We would offer you the Big Boobs and hot bodies at a low cost

    ReplyDelete