Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files - io9 Comments

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

DK-SmAsH — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:38:50 PDT

i like how the "alien plans" are printed on paper...wouldnt they use some sort of high tech program to view it?

DK-SmAsH

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Emperor — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:35:01 PDT

That angle doesn't seem to stand up, as I say in the comments there a The Daily Grail:
[www.dailygrail.com]

Forgetomori also picked up the same angle but conclude: "All suggests Alienware is indeed only using the public domain hoax as a marketing tool, with no involvement with the original creation. As they claim themselves."
[forgetomori.com]

The simplest reason against this being an Alienware viral is that they'd have revealed this at the launch of those PCs, which would have generated extra press and publicity.

Considering all the effort put into creating the material and skilful spreading the story, it would seem odd that they'd drop the ball at the final moment - letting the story go off the boil before the launch and then failing to capitalise on the interest at the time of the launch.

Something is going on but it is either not viral ad or this is just setting up the backstory for some future push on a product we've yet to see (and given the fact this has been called, wrongly, as a viral for about 3 or 4 things already we should be careful about crying wolf again when the next alien-related work comes down the pipe).

Emperor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

josephkelly — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:02:49 PDT

It's from an Alienware marketing campaign:

[www.dailygrail.com]

Lots of sources reported this a while ago. Search for "drone ufo alienware".

Check out the music video that goes with it:

[geekskillz.com]

Good times!

josephkelly

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

AmishJohn — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:18:34 PDT

Iwouldn't mind having the 'glyph page' as a wallpaper, or a laptop skin.

AmishJohn

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

btgoss — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:58:48 PDT

I will say upon looking at the CARET documents, they do appear have been rendered from LaTeX. I know from my profession that a large part of research is published in LaTeX.
However I also know that most "crackpots" do not use LaTeX. They prefer Word and hand drawings. Some in crayon.
And I am not making that up.
Crayon. The sign of a crackpot, or a 5 year old.

btgoss

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Jeff-Minor — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:50:31 PDT

These drones are the work of Guild technology. But they are always supposed to be invisible. Somehting has gone seriously wrong!

Jeff-Minor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Jeff-Minor — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:49:10 PDT

@btgoss: Great video. The think was not advanced enough to avoid a slow little jet?

Jeff-Minor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

The Brain — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:52:59 PDT

It's not from a movie or any other promotion. When it first got press, there was tons of FUD that it was a promotion for Halo 3. It obviously wasn't.

Doesn't mean it's real, but it's not an ad.

The Brain

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Dr_Wally — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:30:15 PDT

I agree. If it's not a shiny wobbly disc taken either out of focus or at night, then it's just not kosher.

I mean really - can we have some classic old-school UFOs please? Those are the only ones I have been conditioned to feel are the real ones.

Dr_Wally

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

lonewolf333 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:37:53 PDT

@btgoss: I don't know what to believe. I do believe in UFOs but this drone thing just doesn't feel right to me.

lonewolf333

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

AmishJohn — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:42:29 PDT

I like it because it's complex... not just a simple geometric solid with a few added bobs. I also like the idea of 'printed propulsion'; it really reminds me of Wen Spencer's 'printed spell circuits' in his Tinker series.

AmishJohn

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

btgoss — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:32:25 PDT

I meant missed that bit about him doing this AFTER seeing the pictures....
I have to get used to a regular keyboard..

btgoss

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

btgoss — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:30:08 PDT

@lonewolf333 I may have nissed that bit, if that is true. But the amount of work needed for the CARET document animation is extreme, and then making fairly exact models, working only from pictures... I don't know.. I think I see a man behind the curtain...

btgoss

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

lonewolf333 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:03:47 PDT

@btgoss: The guy that did this claims he made this AFTER seeing the pics.

lonewolf333

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

YouSurfTubes — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:49:31 PDT

[www.youtube.com]

YouSurfTubes

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Annalee Newitz — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:36:35 PDT

Wow, no aliens AND no viral marketing campaign? It's just somebody with talent making shit for fun? What a disappointment.

Annalee Newitz

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

geekzilla — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:15:45 PDT

@Annalee Newitz:
Hi Annalee - I think this has been "solved", and is unfortunately not a viral marketing campaign. Self-proclaimed "CG Guy" Kris Avery (he's awesome, BTW) claims to be the owner and creator:
[www.kaptive.co.uk]
(this URL is from the end of the video that btgoss posted above - thanks btgoss!)

He even has some hi-res divx encoded ones:
[www.kaptive.co.uk]

It's from a music video he did for "Drone".

I think it's really cool, and the music is pretty good too. No real aliens this time though.
(Or is that just what they WANT us to believe...)

geekzilla

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Evil Tortie's Mom — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:33:13 PDT

@E0157H7: Did Alex Trebek say anything?

Evil Tortie's Mom

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

E0157H7 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:38:30 PDT

Jesse Ventura told me that they're pictures of Venus, and that Venus is the celestial body that is most commonly mistaken for alien craft.

E0157H7

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Upsilon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:05:39 PDT

Wait, wait, y'all are just finding out about the CARAT ships? I've known since... I think last July-- and even then I was extraordinarily late to the party...
They do indeed look real, and really, anything is possible through quantum theory...

Upsilon

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

NeoVidar — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:04:03 PDT

Everyone seems to have missed btgoss's comment.

[io9.com]

NeoVidar

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Annalee Newitz — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:17:25 PDT

I will not rest until I know what this is a viral marketing campaign for! Who would make these unless they were being paid by a a giant media corporation? It just doesn't make sense.

Annalee Newitz

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

jesustonight — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:48:55 PDT

A new x files film ?what ?Some one really knows how to jump on the that bandwagon ,wow strike while the irons hot I say unlike the filmakers??

jesustonight

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Foggynotion — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:07:23 PDT

Dammit. Real Aliens are going to come and land a ship in Times Square and we are all going to think that it is a Halo 4 campaign.

Foggynotion

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Klappstuhl — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:54:25 PDT

Seen that one a year ago. So fake it hurts.

Klappstuhl

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Seth L — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:11:06 PDT

@CargoCult:

Stellerator!? That's fantastic!

Ph and I hope my demo reel gets this much play someday. Just need to make sure I put my name on it somewhere.

Seth L

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

foofer — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:02:00 PDT

venusians from the planet Xenu?

foofer

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

HerrIssyvoo — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:26:54 PDT

@Zantor: No claws here. I was just saying what you reminded me of. I would have responded the same way if you had prefaced your original comment with "Hi, my name is Richard-James Dawkins-Randi, and this is known as the CARET project...." etc.

HerrIssyvoo

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

bob_d — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:12:57 PDT

@Zantor:
I bet the Japanese are kicking themselves for not realizing earlier that just writing katakana backwards could make things fly. I also have it on good authority that writing roman characters backwards can turn people into frogs. The whole backwards Thai/talking cats thing has been discredited, however.

bob_d

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Zantor — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:39:44 PDT

@HerrIssyvoo:

Retract those claws kitties!
I'm not championing this stuff, I'm just sharing fringe info.

Frakin' Me-ow!

Zantor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Zantor — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:36:22 PDT

@Ghede:

I didn't say I believed it. In fact, to me it sounds pretty questionable at best. From the description, I suspect it to be flown by Pixies or something. I'm just sharing available information and the love!

"We report, you decide"

Zantor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

tuckerch — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:59:21 PDT

Oh, dear Jeebus! Earthfiles.com?

What next, a link to zetatalk and the latest info on PLANET X that's going to screw up the inner solar system any day now?

tuckerch

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

HerrIssyvoo — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:50:05 PDT

@Zantor: You're reminding me of the healing artifact things that the Gentle Wind Project cultists use. I didn't know they had spaceships, too...

HerrIssyvoo

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

btgoss — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:19:25 PDT

Drone.
Strange Craft

://spookyparadigm.blogspot.com/2007/10/caret-drones-music-video.html

There is a link to a CGI company, Kaptive. So while I would love for this to be real, I think it is ajust a reel...as in demo... But it is very proof that SciFi sucks, since these effects effin' rock. Not like the typical SciFi Saturday crap... Rock Monster BS CGI... but I rant...

btgoss

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Timeshredder — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:59:30 PDT

Y'know, that would be a great viral marketing campaign: find something that's been around for years but never really caught on, work it into your project, revive it, and you have a campaign with a sense of history.

I can't wait to see the movie those mysterious "Toynbee Tiles" are promoting.

Timeshredder

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Ghede — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:36:31 PDT

@CargoCult: That is some awesome stuff. I wish I could read the German one.

Ghede

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

JoelEurodork — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:28:10 PDT

Comment on Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files The lettering looks similar to a viral marketing project from a while ago that (initially, at least) was thought to be for Cloverfield but turned out to be for some new D&D-style game. http:// www.ethanhaaswasright.com/

JoelEurodork

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Ghede — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:24:18 PDT

@Zantor: When you strip out the meaningless technobabble, what you just said boils down to: It utilizes magical physics. It flies because of magic runes. It draws energy from the surroundings through magical shapes.

If you believe what you just said you are a tool.

Ghede

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Vance69 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:39:01 PDT

The upper and lower elements are obviously handless whisks.
Bet that muther could whip up a mean omelette.

Vance69

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

aliencontactee — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:21:33 PDT

Those pictures were presented in May and June and no it is not a hoax. Nobody has been able to state hoax just yet. Google ALIEN CASEBOOK - HOME and you can educate yourself on the drones, which are far from a viral marketing campaign as well. There isn't one or two drones, there are 14 that have been sighted around the U.S.

aliencontactee

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

jord — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:59:29 PDT

Those pics are over a year old.

jord

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

wingbatwu — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:53:52 PDT

@strider_mt2k: Swamp gas? Please adjust your spectacles, my good sir.

This is a weather balloon!

Indeed.

wingbatwu

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

mrrobotanger — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:39:15 PDT

What they said.

mrrobotanger

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

b0tterman — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:47:55 PDT

As a special effects professional who's been involved with designing and compositing similar pictures/footage, I can tell you that this is definately a hoax. First of all, a subjective but edutcated opinion...the drones appear to be very carefully and deliberately "art designed"..that is they have a clear art-directed style to them. But the real damning thing is this: notice that some of the photos are taken from the perspective of someone on the ground pointing their digital or even film camera straight up overhead, pointing into the sky as the probe hovers overhead. Notice that the underside of the probe, the side in shadow, facing the photogrpaher, seems clear and well exposed. This is impossible since the sky behind the shadow side of the object being photo'd is at least 15 stops brighter. you would either have to expose for the shadow, in which case the sky would overexpose to white or the sky background would be way too bright and you'd never see anything but a silouette of the probe details. conclusion: beautiful, clever but obvious hoax.

b0tterman

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

I voted for Kodos — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:15:01 PDT

These images have been around for a couple years now. I don't think they were part of any viral campaign, just enthusiast noodlings.

I really doubt that it has anything to do with the xfiles

I voted for Kodos

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

cupojava1 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:45:13 PDT

These are not from the X-Files.

This is CGI purported to be reverse engineered alien technology built by the (fictitious) CARET Project. (Commercial Applications Research for Extraterrestrial Technology)

Read MUFON's PowerPoint presentation on their investigation into this hoax.

[www.mufon.com]

cupojava1

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

aliencontactee — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:32:35 PDT

A viral marketing campaign was ruled out many months ago. These drones are from 1997 to June 2007 except for another in September 2007.

If you want to educate yourself on the subject go here.
[aliencases.conforums.com]

Go into the board called ISAAC AND THE DRONES and then the thread called ISAAC AND THE DRONES SAGA CONTINUES.

There's more here that you really don't know. And, there was just a new discovery yesterday where those two private investigators have located one of the drone locations. That is in the same board called, CHAD DRONE LOCATION DISCOVERED.

aliencontactee

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Jeff-Minor — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:55:27 PDT

I think it's a spare parts thingamajig from Stargate. It looks like Ancient technology to me.

Jeff-Minor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

LysanderBabazoid — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:45:34 PDT

ufo This has been out for ages! There is a new Michell Gondry piece in the works that is about a UFO hoax run amok. Could be that, although this has been around for years. Gondry's 3D guy also did this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw Looks like the same artist and hardware to me, tough to be sure. Here is one I am working on. This is not complete, (rerendering it, camera shake, etc etc) http://soaringbrain.com/ufo2.html James Coddington Freelance 3D Artist -- ('-'*) ! (Be sure to check out my site below!) http://soaringbrain.com 312 525 0188 ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT 2008 _ | | | | __ _ _ __ ___ ___ _ | |/ _` | '_ ` _ \ / _ \/ __| | |__| | (_| | | | | | | __/\__ \ \____/ \__,_|_| |_| |_|\___|

LysanderBabazoid

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Comish — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:45:35 PDT

Those pictures are years old. And there were videos that went along with them. So unless the X Files movie is also planning to touch on time travel, I doubt that this is a viral marketing campaign.

Comish

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

PaulyD — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:32:01 PDT

First it was the viral marketing campaign for Halo 3, then Transformers, now X-Files?

The reality is that these are being flown secretly by our government -- simply yet another craft (like the Stealth Bomber) being tested and sometimes seen in public. Nothing alien or marketing about 'em.

Then again, this could be a truly viral campaign for this weekends new movie "21". Vegas, Blackjack, UFO's.

PaulyD

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:20:53 PDT

@eirenicon: Maybe they're like the Footage from William Gibson's Pattern Recognition.

Annalee Newitz

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

eirenicon — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:37:44 PDT

I hate to spoil it for everyone, but... those pictures aren't just old, they're obvious fakes. Back when they first made the rounds the lettering on them was matched to a crappy 'Katakana'-style font. Nice CG, but that's all. And too old to be a promo for anything coming out this year, unless some marketing exec was not just fiendishly patient but absurdly optimistic.

eirenicon

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Guitaratomik — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:55:40 PDT

I remember seeing this right before Halo 3 came out. I was of the understanding that it was part of the viral marketing campaign but I don't know if they ever confirmed it. I know for a fact that it's been around at least that long. pretty sure there are some youtube videos too.

Guitaratomik

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Silver_Back — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:16:27 PDT

That would be coolest juicer ever...

Silver_Back

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

TheElectricMonk — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:58:08 PDT

I saw this on UFO Hunters too. Watched the entire episode and didn't learn a thing. I doubt theyre for a movie though, seem to have been around too long for that.

TheElectricMonk

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

doubledumbassonyou — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:20:25 PDT

I saw this on UFO hunters the other day. I wasn't really paying attention at the time ...

doubledumbassonyou

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

CargoCult — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:10:52 PDT

If you want to fart with physics through the shape of objects, you don't arse around with sacred runes and other mystical shite like that.

Better shapes most definitely exist.

(What's that? Real life scientific hardware looking drastically more alien than the chintzy baubles provided by someone's advertising ARG? Oh noes! ;-) )

CargoCult

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Zantor — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:39:34 PDT

This is known as the CARET project, and it is claimed to utilize a new form of physics.

From what I understand, the "symbols" on the surface of the drone act as some form of a program or type of circuitry. It is supposed to be a form of "sacred geometry" that actually enables the drone to connect to and draw energy and purpose from the environment by way of some sort of hyperdimensional physics.

Really cool.

Zantor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

strider_mt2k — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:32:04 PDT

That's just some swamp gas.

strider_mt2k

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Zantor — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:31:11 PDT

For an extensive report on this, go to

www.earthfiles.com

Linda Moulton Howe has some of the best information available on these "Drones"

Zantor

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:22:00 PDT

@castewar: Yup. Supposedly the new images are the schematics.

Annalee Newitz

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:21:44 PDT

@Chris Wren: All the metal and gears.

Annalee Newitz

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

Chris Wren — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:19:53 PDT

How are these "steampunk-looking"?

Chris Wren

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

flexiverse — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:16:20 PDT

well last time everyone said this ARG was for HALO I wish people would make their minds up. Seems they have no idea how to run a successful ARG/VIRAL campaign.
We know it's all fake bullshit, but for once I would like to know what film/tv/game it's bloody for.

flexiverse

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

castewar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:15:25 PDT

Here we are - this is a year old.

[www.neatorama.com]

And there are others - everybody looks to the nearest sci-fi product and says it's viral marketing. Halo 3. Transformers.

castewar

Mysterious New UFO Pics Probably from X-Files

castewar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:12:14 PDT

X-files movie is about werewolves, isn't it? A spaceship wouldn't seem to fit the marketing push very well.

This looks like a companion to that other mystery spaceship footage a few months back (which was also thought to be a viral campaign, but nobody knew for what and no clarification ever came to light.)

castewar