So, it recently came to our attention that the DefCon homepage lists "Lockpicking Contest: Unknown" with a link to this forum. Well, since I took over for Doc on the contest side of things and since we've been doing loads of planning behind the scenes... i suppose i'd better put something up here, eh?
So, first and foremost yes, of course we're having some great lockpicking games at DefCon this summer. Many are things you've seen before in Vegas, but there will also be some new fun goodness, as well.
Here's the rundown so far...
Points Competition
(all weekend in the LP Village)
Lock Field Stripping
(in the LP Village at a specific time TBD by Schuyler)
Speed Picking Competition
(in the LP Village at a specific time TBD by Mr. E)
Gringo Warrior
(in the main contest area Saturday afternoon with a finalist round on the contest stage at 17:00)
So, first and foremost yes, of course we're having some great lockpicking games at DefCon this summer. Many are things you've seen before in Vegas, but there will also be some new fun goodness, as well.
Here's the rundown so far...
Points Competition
(all weekend in the LP Village)
You've seen this one before... a large number of the public locks in the village are specially marked as part of this challenge. DefCon Attendees who hang out in the village can present opened locks to the staff who will record their achievement on a master score sheet which shows a running total. The individuals with the highest scores by Sunday at noon (or the individual(s) to open every point-valued lock the soonest) are awarded some swag and other prizes that we can wrangle.
Lock Field Stripping
(in the LP Village at a specific time TBD by Schuyler)
This contest was a hit last year (it was a wonderful on the spot creation by Schuyler) and it will be happening again. Contestants will be given a simple lock core and tasked with fully breaking it down to its component parts. That means (in addition to getting it unlocked and opened without a key) they will have to pull the plug, eject all the pins and springs, and keep these parts in relative order... because with that checkpoint cleared, they must re-assemble the lock in such a way that the original key still functions. We promise to have an announcement for when this will take place by Friday at noon, if not before.
Speed Picking Competition
(in the LP Village at a specific time TBD by Mr. E)
This will be a test of skill in the vein of what has been historically called the LPCon... you've seen it with KaiGoth, DC719, Doc, and the rest of the wonderful people who've hauled tons of gear with them to Vegas every year. Simple, straightforward, timed picking is the name of the game here. No special tools, snap guns, bump keys, etc... just you and your thin bits of steel. This year the contest will be officially called the "American Open" as it will follow the rules set forth by the European competitions such as the Dutch Open. Players will be reduced in heats and rounds via head-to-head face-offs in which two locks are opened, then swapped, then opened again (to eliminate any chance of uneven lock difficulty) etc etc. This will separate the men from the boys, the ladies from the lasses, and the leeto burritos from the nooby nachos.
Gringo Warrior
(in the main contest area Saturday afternoon with a finalist round on the contest stage at 17:00)
This a new happening, for DefCon anyway... some of you have seen this game in its nascent stages as i work the bugs out at places like ShmooCon, ToorCon, and next weekend at LayerOne. Thus far, even in its experimental form, people have had a fucking blast with it. Speak up here if you've seen it and give your thoughts... I want to hear them and make the game even better. Gringo Warrior is a scenario-based escape game which pits you against the clock and against hypothetical captors. Imagine you've been kidnapped south of the border. Are the people holding for ransom? Do they want to extort you for money? Do they just want to violate you anally and leave your abused body in the desert? You have no intention of finding out, because using your hidden lockpicks you will break out of the cuffs you're wearing, the door that's holding you, etc etc etc... In Gringo Warrior you make your escape to freedom picking up points and items along the way. The gringo with with the best score wins!
(The course, which can be seen here, features multiple locks at each stage in easy, average, and hard configuration so that participants can chose their own path through the challenge. It's a game designed so that even the most basic noob can still have fun, but those with strong skill sets can also really shine. Come on by and see if you can make it to freedom!)
NOTE - As of now, my understanding from the DefCon staff is that this will be the only Black Badge event. However, as you know... the more people show up and have fun and make games very popular, the more likely they are to be Uber events in the future. So come on by and try to do as much as you can! DefCon is what you make it and the contests are what they are because of your participation!
(The course, which can be seen here, features multiple locks at each stage in easy, average, and hard configuration so that participants can chose their own path through the challenge. It's a game designed so that even the most basic noob can still have fun, but those with strong skill sets can also really shine. Come on by and see if you can make it to freedom!)
NOTE - As of now, my understanding from the DefCon staff is that this will be the only Black Badge event. However, as you know... the more people show up and have fun and make games very popular, the more likely they are to be Uber events in the future. So come on by and try to do as much as you can! DefCon is what you make it and the contests are what they are because of your participation!

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