Four Cats Bar Game

[Haraldo]

(This is an offshoot of the "Four Cats Bar" User Critiques thread. Seamus Finn has generously allowed me to take his image and make a "spot the difference" game out of it, or as I like to call them: "Differenz")



SOME BACKROUND: Difference games are a classic category of photo or visual gaming. You can find them all over the Internet (and earlier in hardcopy in books, magazines, and articles). When I started my photo gaming site (Phoozl), I knew that I had to have some of these so I picked up a couple from other sources and created an original Differenz game of my own. You can play it here:
http://www.phoozl.com/30025-Differenz:-Pink-Bow.html
And the category has proven its popularity again on my site as this game usually alternates with "Photo IQ" as THE most popular game (out of 30) on the site. So there is clearly something that draws people to this type of visual-discernment challenge. So are you ready to be challenged with a photo game based on an image from one of our very own LuLas? Come on, give it a try.

FORMAT: A "picture pair" is the typical way to show the images, either side-by-side or top-and-bottom. I posted the image two ways just in case. [***NOTE: they do look a bit small. They are 900x wide. What happened?]

YOUR INSTRUCTIONS: There are two similar images above. Your challenge is to find and describe TEN (10) obvious differences between the two photos. Either just write out the differences in words very clearly or post another image(s) with circles or arrows or something to indicate the differences visually (my preference and more fun). Please post in this thread.

AWARDS: The first 5 folks to get ALL 10 Differenz correct win a free trip to Barcelona in 2043. All other correct submissions get to order a drink from the Four Cats Bar (toll telephone and shipping charges may apply).

When enough people have found the correct 10 Differenz or errors, or when enough time has passed (I decide), I'll give you the correct answers. And you'll be slapping your forehead!

For an extra challenge and bonus points, tell me what image-editing techniques were used for the "changes."

Ready. Set. Go!

Haraldo

[Haraldo]

Hmmm... the [IMG] placed image at top is coming in at 640 pxls but it's actually 900. It's harder to see when it's reduced like this. Any reason why it's reduced or how to get it to it's actual size?

[Patricia Sheley]

Stuck at seven....now eight..now nine...

[Haraldo]

Keep trying. And if you (or anyone) can tell me how to get a 900x image to post here as 900x, it would make things easier on your eyes. (I sent a message to Chris but haven't heard back yet)

[Patricia Sheley]

Ok, I've got ten...nice work Haraldo...I'll credit you with an additional few months of shelf life for my brain....I won't post the locations so that others can do some distracted procrastinations from other tasks at hand too...who thinks of these things?   Pat S.

PS   I wouldn't mind if I find myself living in the southwest of Portugal when I turn 100...so 't'wouldn't be far to Barcelona...

[Sheldon N]

I did it the cheating way.

Copy, paste onto new layer. Toggle layer on and off.

[Haraldo]

Ok, I've got ten...nice work Haraldo...I'll credit you with an additional few months of shelf life for my brain....I won't post the locations so that others can do some distracted procrastinations from other tasks at hand too...

Great! And yeah, give the other folks a chance.

who thinks of these things?

Me!

PS   I wouldn't mind if I find myself living in the southwest of Portugal when I turn 100...so 't'wouldn't be far to Barcelona...

I'll drive you myself (if I still have my license).

[Haraldo]

I did it the cheating way. Copy, paste onto new layer. Toggle layer on and off.

Yes, that is cheating. Although an ingenious form of it. Everyone else: just use your eyes! 

[seamus finn]

Uh-huh, Heraldo, is there anything in this for......like ...  eh ...you know...... the photographer?   

[Patricia Sheley]

Uh-huh, Heraldo, is there anything in this for......like ...  eh ...you know...... the photographer?   

Curiously Seamus I was searching files for any sign of sensor dust I might have missed before uploading them to my large gallery wrap provider for a small one woman show I have coming up during the month of October...to take a break , rest my eyes, refresh my vision forensics, I played with his swap out file...just like searching for cleanup areas on a file...I've missed your image posts...hope that means you are out there shooting...Pat

[Haraldo]

Uh-huh, Heraldo, is there anything in this for......like ...  eh ...you know...... the photographer?   

The photographer? Always the last in line, eh? But of course! Have already arranged a private party in your honor at 4 Cats Bar. Don't pack yet. It's still 2043.

Any other game completors out there? I'm counting two so far: one regular and one who likes to look at the answer key in the back of the book (you know who you are!).

FYI: Sheldon brings up an interesting twist. Most people or groups are not sophisticated enough to figure out a way to "game the game" presented in this simplistic and static way. In the real games (including mine), which are Flash-based, you don't have time to do what Sheldon did as every second counts and things get a bit crazy as the levels increase. You'd be doing a LOT of Photoshopping and replaying the game over and over.

[Haraldo]

And no one's answered my question of why a 900x1124 image ends up being 640x on the forum. Is there some kind of auto-algorthim that shrinks images over a certain total pixel dimension?

HINT for those still stuck on this: Check the tiles.

[mguertin]

And no one's answered my question of why a 900x1124 image ends up being 640x on the forum. Is there some kind of auto-algorthim that shrinks images over a certain total pixel dimension?

HINT for those still stuck on this: Check the tiles.

It shows as 900x1124 here ... what is happening is your browser is shrinking the image when it displays in the popup window.  The forum only resizes to make the thumbnail for the attachments.  The web browser auto shrinks the image to show in the size of the popup window ... clicking on it within the popup window should expand it to full size.

[Haraldo]

Aha! Clicking the pop-up window works (when using "Attach" method). THanks.
But the other method [IMG] does not work; it shrinks and embeds it at the smaller size.
I guess I'll use the Attach method next time!

Thanks Mark.

H

[mguertin]

Aha! Clicking the pop-up window works (when using "Attach" method). THanks.
But the other method [IMG] does not work; it shrinks and embeds it at the smaller size.
I guess I'll use the Attach method next time!

Thanks Mark.

H

Yep you're right, it's a limitation that's set in the forum software (because of window widths).  In the BB Code it actually comes up as:

img width=640 height=800 - http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd357/Haraldo7/4catsbar_seamusfinn_900x_PAIR.jpg - /img

I tried manually removing the width and height but the forum automatically reduces it again.  Attach is the better choice in this case as it won't mess with the image.

[Haraldo]

Well, look at that. They must have done that to keep people from breaking the column width. Interesting. We learned something! (and "Attach" it is)
Thanks.
H

[Haraldo]

OK, not much more activity on this game. Two people say they've completed it. So let's see the proof! Pat S and Sheldon N: post your solutions (in words or pictures).

If no one posts after a while (and I'm still trying to avoid Hurricane Danielle and Earl), I'll post the master solution image.

H

[Patricia Sheley]

OK, not much more activity on this game. Two people say they've completed it. So let's see the proof! Pat S and Sheldon N: post your solutions (in words or pictures).

If no one posts after a while (and I'm still trying to avoid Hurricane Danielle and Earl), I'll post the master solution image.

H

Top/4CATS,** Bottom/4CHATS **  Top/horiz4plates, Bottom/horiz5plates **  Top/vert1plate, Bottom/vert2plates
Top/4pins in sign, bottom/3pins ** Top/next to left arm 2bottle, bottom/no bottle next to left arm  **
Top/tile@left ear, Bottom/tile @ left ear  ** Top and Bottom Tiles at right of that row ** Top/name tag, Bottom/no name tag ** Top/ back pair of plates/left high, Bottom/ back pair of stacked plates/left low ** Top/trim around square of tiles crossed left, Bottom/ trim on right around square of tiles crossed right...keep that license valid...though we'll be shape shifting to new locations by then...



PS Timed out, but hope copy paste works because won't do this again...now I know what is meant by invisible writing...need vinegar and a light bulb

[Sheldon N]

Here's the answer... all eleven differences overlayed on the second image.

[Haraldo]

And we have 2 WINNERS! ... Pat S. and Sheldon N.
(I'll assume that Pat did it the "hard way" -- yes?)

See Official Solution attached at bottom.

The swapping of the bottom two tiles I saw as 1 error, Sheldon saw as 2. Could go either way.

So Pat and Sheldon win the free trips to Barcelona; the rest of you get to stay home.
Photographer seamusfinn gets chauffered to celebration party in Barcelona by me (assuming valid license to drive); pick your departure location! Heck, let's all go at the same time together; it's a limo.

So if I can think of a way to keep you guys from beating the system, I might do another one at some point. If you're interested.

(And Sheldon, can I hire you to be my Game Security Analyst? You know, like the FBI hires former bank robbers to advise on bank security. Name your price; sky's the limit.)

Thanks for playing, y'all.

Haraldo