Google, Sony team for 'Da Vinci Code' promotion

Google and Sony Pictures Entertainment have partnered to promote "The Da Vinci Code" and Google Homepage through a time-sensitive, interactive contest.

Beginning Monday at 1pm EDT, Google will release one Da Vinci Code-style puzzle or riddle each day through May 11, and the last puzzle for finalists on May 19, the worldwide release date of the film.

While other Internet giants such as America Online, have typically used synergies with parent companies or other partners to create media promotions of this nature, this marks a significant move for Google.

According to Google spokeswoman Eileen Rodriguez, this is the first time the search giant has ever done a cross-promotional venture tied to the film industry.

The film adaptation of "The Da Vinci Code," based on Dan Brown's best-selling historical-mystery novel, could give Google access to an entirely new base of users.

Participants must enter the contest through the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google Web site, and they must have a Google Gmail account and Google Homepage.

Participants must download the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google content module to their Homepage as part of contest registration. Each new puzzle will be directly linked to the user's Homepage and added to it each day at 1pm EDT.

Since the contest puzzles are time-sensitive, Da Vinci Code enthusiasts will be induced to visit their Google Homepage daily.

The first 10,000 participants who correctly solve all 24 daily puzzles and submit a puzzle completion form will be finalists. Finalists will win a replica of the cryptex described in Dan Brown's book and use the tool to compete in the final phase of the contest, another five time-sensitive puzzles.

The U.S. grand prize winner receives a first-class trip with three guests to each of the prominent locations featured in the movie: Paris, London, Rome and New York. The winner also receives a Sony Electronics package that includes a Bravia LCD television, Sony VAIO laptop, Sony Cyber-shot digital camera, NAV-U portable satellite navigation system, home theater system and four Walkman Core MP3 players.

Google and Sony are holding simultaneous contests for residents of the U.K. and Australia.

[tabaks--2008]

WHAT Monday?

Has an author of this literary masterpiece even tried to CALCULATE
24 days backwards from May 19? I'll guess not, or else, we may
have been given the information that MAKES SENSE, as opposed to
the gibberish in this write-up.

[snorider]

Business days... you fool

24 business days from now is May 18. Hence, the contest ends a day before the movie opens. Think before you post nonsense please.

[psipher]

2 phases

There are 2 phases of the contest...Phase 1 runs for 24 days, then Phase 2 starts after that.

[dujy44]

Da Vinci Promotion

I think Google is making a big mistake in getting in volved with the very controversial book/movie, Da Vinci. I am very sad to hear this.

[mbharr]

I agree...

I feel I must reconsider my use of Google site and services. Though I am not sure I will yet. This is a somewhat perplexing problem. Do I object to Google associating with this film because of the strong anti-Christian beliefs of its supporters that beleive the stories to be true? Yes, I know the "Da Vinci Code" is fiction. But too many people are claiming the fictional elements are true, and using it to support anti-Christian and anti-religious views. Does Google support that? If so, I must refrain from using their services. But if I condemn Google for merely cross-advertising on an entertainment event, where the controversy is with those that misuse and misunderstand the entertainment, then I am just as guilty of creating false and unrelated associations.

[KsprayDad]

Anything

can be controversial...

If everyone remembers that the Da Vinci Code is in the FICTION area of your bookstore we should be able to hack it...

Or are Christians going to go all 'Comic Strip'/'Prophet'/'Salman Rushdie' on the world?

[booboo1243]

Bad write up

"could give Google access to an entirely new base of users."
--very next paragraph--
"they must have a Google Gmail account and Google Homepage."

Gmail is still invite only. Maybe I read it wrong, but I see little in access to new users.

[KsprayDad]

Great catch

That is an Excellent point....

I checked out the T&C and you DO need a Google Homepage but NOT a GMAIL.

[naugles2]

Da Vinci Code and Sony

I also think that it is a shame that Google teamed up with Sony for this promotion. If there was any truth in the book that would be a different story. Too many people are taking this as the truth. But this is a fee country and anyone can write about anything even if it not the truth. People need to realize that this is completely fiction. I for one will not be reading the book or having anything to do with it.

[psipher]

Read it or post no comment

So let me get this straight...you are commenting on a book that you have not read????

[AgeOfPenguins_com]

Da Vinci code is popular -- but still garbage

It is blasphemy of the most disgusting variety.

Sure, the author gets off the hook by claiming "it's only fiction" but then proceeds to treat the material as if it's fact. FAR TOO MANY people are treating this book as a sort of expose', revealing the "truth" about the Catholic Church.

Only in an ignorant age such as today could a book like this confuse so many people. 100 years ago Dan Brown would have been booed off the stage.

Dan Brown certainly has at least some sympathies with the Gnostics, a heretical sect from the early centuries of Christianity. He is repeating many of their same lies in his book. It's not new -- this particular heresy is as old as the hills.

Sad to see that Google is promoting such a filthy work.

Matthew

[abcd3fg]

The bible is blasphemy

For those of us who don't see this as "blasphemy", I see nothing wrong with Google promoting the movie adaptation of a popular novel. Your comment shows that you don't understand the age which you live in. Thanks for posting your opinion. Here's mine: In the same way you see the book as blasphemy and a "lie" to the public, I see the bible as an even bigger lie that has been perpetuated throughout the ages, tricking more and more people into believing the made-up campfire stories of people years ago. However, I still have the respect to not call it a "filty work" just because I think it has a negative impact on society. Everyone thinks they're beliefs are "right" but that doesn't mean you should insult the beliefs of others. The book may be fiction, but I think it is great in that it allows many religous hardliners to question their beliefs, something we all should learn to do.

[dieterderamoudt]

US, UK & AU ???

And the rest of the world ?

The french can not even participate in a game about a movie which is situated in France for most of the time... sad...

[Cyrus_K]

Excellent point!

Yes, you are so very right about this (obvious) point!

[Earl Benser]

It's rather simple.....

Sony is a company whose output in the past five years or so has
turned to garbage

DVC is a book that is garbage as any sort of historical 'truth'.
(it's not a bad action thriller, however, once you get past the
badly flawed logic)

So it's appropriate that Sony and DVC join forces to become the
ultimate garbage collection and purveyor.

My condolences to Ron Howard and Tom Hanks who, with
others, got shackled into this mess. Sometimes, 'art for art's
sake' is a bad axiom.

[Earl Benser]

It's rather simple.....

Sony is a company whose output in the past five years or so has
turned to garbage

DVC is a book that is garbage as any sort of historical 'truth'.
(it's not a bad action thriller, however, once you get past the
badly flawed logic)

So it's appropriate that Sony and DVC join forces to become the
ultimate garbage collection and purveyor.

My condolences to Ron Howard and Tom Hanks who, with
others, got shackled into this mess. Sometimes, 'art for art's
sake' is a bad axiom.

[Cyrus_K]

Message has been deleted.

[Sea of Cortez]

Why Big media never portrays Judaism in the same negative (evil) light?

It is amazing that the Big media never publishes any books/movies portraying Judaism in the same negative (evil) way as they portray other
religions such as Catholicism in the case of the "Da Vinci Code"!
Or Mohammed/Islam as a terrorist!
I wonder Why is that?

Now I am all for portraying all religions in as many negative light as possible, that is to criticize them freely, but why is it that the Big media only portrays other religions and their followers in negative lights and it never it portrays Judaism as being an evil/bad religion?
And why is it the Big media the moment someone opens their mouth to say something negative about Jews calls them "anti Semite" etc. while it (correctly) says that people have the right to say what they want when people criticize Islam or Catholics, etc.!
Why this amazing double standard!!!
Is it because Jews control the Big media in US & UK!

After all just look at Wall Street Journal, Washington post, Google, Yahoo, etc.

[Earl Benser]

It's something of a double standard.....

The 'anti-Semitic' cry does give the edge to Judaism. Criticize it
and you are 'anti-Semitic', guaranteed. Taking on the Israeli
political decisions with any sort of negative flavor makes you
anti-Semitic. And they are the ones who started the whole
jewish-christian-islamic fog of religion.

There's a fair chance that Jewish media control does set the tone
of the stories. If not true control, then it's effective control via
the loudest squacking......

[jimparsons]

They do! Orthodox Judaism, anyway.

They do! Orthodox Judaism, anyway. And just as they portray more liberal Jewish movements in a positive light, they also portray more liberal Christian denominations in the same positive light.

They issue isn't Judaism vs everyone else (and that DOES qualify as anti-semitism). It's tranditionalists vs those who disparage traditionalism.

[heystoopid]

I get the distinct feeling!

I get the distinct feeling, that this movie is no better or no worse than your usual below average Hollywood blockbuster run of crap movies released so far, in this new century by this particular studio!

I think I'll wait for the chinese/russian pirate version on DVD, for that is about what it's real worth is, and not get sucked in with all PR hype and tripe!

Say even those turkeys, like Tom Cruise's "Mission Implausible III" or "Charlies Harpies at Full Throttle" would be funnier than this movie!

Oh well, let the rubbish and garbage that purports to be entertaining movies, continue to be released by that has been of a studio!

Then again, perhaps this movie would be cheaper than a bottle of sleeping pills to send one to sleep during the day!

Choices, can be rotten for some, for the adage, "the greater the hype, the crappier the movie!"

[bobj123]

ITS JUST A MOVIE

People that are complaining over not using Google because of this "partnership" go ahead and do it and not tell us. Why delay yourself and just start. Its only words and if you let words get the better of you I really feel sorry for you.

Human exsistence is nothing and everything. You take leaps and bounds on faith -- but no one is perfect. And this book reguardless that it is fiction is here merely to remind us that do not take everything face value from the church or for that matter the government. You have a brain so please use it and stop crying.

[xur17]

Solving each puzzle

I am keeping a blog that provides daily hints and explanations for each puzzle: http://www.wapredfromthepipe.com