In anticipation of next week's release of The Lost Symbol, I've been playing the Symbol Quest game (found on the official Lost Symbol site).

While not of the scope and length I'd expected after playing other Dan-Brown-esque games, it was a fairly interesting game which may well hold some secrets to the theme of the upcoming novel.

Here's how it works:

We're presented with a flash-movie of an empty dial surrounded by floating symbols. The aim of the game is to drag the correct symbol into the centre of the dial based on the textual clues which appear below.

Each success turns the dial one degree - we're aiming for 33 in total - and have only three "lives" (unsuccessful attempts) to complete the game.

When we reach the targets of 11 and 21 successful matches, the screen refreshes to load a new set of symbols. When we reach 33, we're presented with a congratulatory screen, and a secret message if completed with no mistakes :)

Need some help?

To complete this game, you needn't be a symbologist by profession! Google helps a lot, and once you know roughly what you're looking for an image search may be handy too.

Still stuck? While I won't offer the answers here (that would just spoil it!) I'll post some friendly tips instead.

The hints are randomly generated, so you're unlikely to receive them in this particular order.

Without end

Find the word for which the definition is "without end". Or simply guess by finding the symbol which seems to have no beginning or end.

The "S" in Mozart's D.S

This one was difficult to Google for. It's a musical notation, not necessarily one used only by Mozart. Big hint (highlight text to view): from the sign.

Leo's chaste neighbour

Look for Leo in a daily newspaper/magazine. Who is he next to? Her symbol should be easy to find from there.

IESOUS CHRISTOS THEOU YIOS SOTER

Not too difficult. Google this term and you'll easily find some symbology text which explains it.

Quicksilver

Find another name for this element, and locate the symbol ;)

Scribe of Sidereus Nuncius was the first to see rings around it

"Rings around [??]". Big hint: it's a planet.

Silence for Berlioz, Bizet and Bartok

Don't forget we're looking or symbols here. What do these three figures have in common? Once you know, Google for a symbol which would represent silence for these men.

Circle's circumference divided by its diameter

Think math, and a symbol you may have learned about in school.

Octothorpe

This is a wonderful name for a symbol found on a very everyday device. Google the word to discover what it is.

Sounds like a resident in the Garden of Eden

This had me flummoxed for AGES. Google does not help unless you already have some clue. We're not looking for the female inhabitant here. Change the middle two letters of the other's name to find the symbol required.

Hood ornament for Emil Jellinek's daughter

Google the last three words if you can't guess this one easily. You'll find the name of a hugely recognizable brand, which is named after this man's daughter.

French Monarch's lily

Are there any symbols which appear like flowers on your page? Look at the dial for inspiration.

Robert Langdon's favourite symbol

I knew this one from having played the Da Vinci Code Quest. Offhand, I can't remember where this appears in the Robert Langdon books, though I'm sure it must. In any case, this symbol is a symbolic representation of both Physical and Eternal life...

Meditative chant

Think of what you could chant while sat cross-legged and meditating... Extra hint:there are only two letters in the word which this symbol represents.

Opposing, yet unified

The symbol for this hint is easily recognisable as one which combines to opposites to complete a whole. You may guess this more easily if you think along the lines of Feng Shuei or Asiann symbology.

Greek Goddess of Triumph

Despite having a fascination with Greek mythology, I did have to Google this one! Think of a goddess who may like to run very fast ;)

Venus' Hand Mirror

Can you see a symbol which looks a little like a hand mirror? Of course, this symbol is representative of something more. If you're still confused, search for the symbol of Venus.

The Golden Ratio

Search online for the Golden Ratio to find the word which this symbol represents. To confuse us, this symbol appears at an angle unlike those we may find quickly.

Proofreader's mark from the Latin "Delere"

Look up some Proofreaders symbols or marks to link this symbol with it's Latin meaning. An image search works particularly well for this one.

Anagram of "Madras Pen"

One word. And use this anagram solver if you're still confused.

The cross of Bogart's Falcon

Discover where Bogart's falcon may have flown from, then simply match this to a symbol on the screen. It doesn't look much like a bird, but think of wartime and you may well guess (as I did).

Who uses this symbol

This is not a question. More of a statement. So the question really is "Who is WHO?". Find out and you'll have your answer.

An age in the hair of Broadway

Okay, I'll admit I made a good guess on this one and thankfully was correct. I considered "the age of [??]" and located an astrology site for my answer.

Casanova, Mozart and Houdini had this in common

Googling may not find answers quickly for this one. You need to think of something which may secretly unify these three men. I suspect also this is a major theme of The Lost Symbol.

Zeus' Games

There is a particular event which has it's origins in ancient Greece. Can you find the symbol to represent this?

The fork of Zeus' younger brother

A fairly straightforward answer, as the "fork" hint really sums up this symbol! Alternatively, you could discover Zeus' younger brother and find his watery symbol.

Centaur archer

Another astrological symbol. What is the missile an archer fires? And who might this archer be?

One eyed man + two ravens

This represents a particular Nordic god. Search using the words on screen to easily locate your answer.

Alpha's antithesis

Alpha is a symbol of the Greek alphabet. It's antithesis is at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Demisemiquaver

Consider musical notation, and look at the symbols on screen. This one is not difficult to guess.

"Fourth rock" from the sun

If Earth is the third rock fro the sun (to quote the title of a popular TV show!) what would the fourth rock be? Google the symbol for this to see your answer.

Hieroglyph of seven body parts in one

These seven body parts are not necessarily limbs. They could even be seen as one particular part of the body.

Latin "recipe" offered by doctors

This is a symbol your doctor may write when filling out a form after a visit. Letters are included in this symbol.

Did you complete this quest?

I am intrigued by the message we hear after solving the Symbol Quest. Unfortunately I'm unsure if this Easter Egg will be applicable for us in the UK. Will we have the same appearance to our book as those reading in the US?

In any case, I'm sure this particular aspect of the book will hold many more puzzles for those of us intrigued enough to solve them!

Let me know what you think by leaving your comments below - but no answers to the symbol quest please!

Puzzles are awesome. They assist to exercise our grey matter, developing our sense of logic and memory, as well as being downright fun!

Therefore, I challenge any avid puzzlers to indulge in a little quest - help me solve these final puzzles from the almost extinct Da Vinci Puzzles collection.

Now, for those of you who have never had the privilege of experiencing Da Vinci Puzzles, let me inform you that these are not affiliated with Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. These puzzles are much more difficult, and center around a unique and interesting storyline that was developed through a series of magazines a couple of years ago.



Those of us lucky enough to discover this series before it's untimely demise were mesmerized to the point of addiction by these puzzles and indeed the wider story presented through our findings. These puzzles were like nothing we had seen before - and indeed, I have barely found a rival since (though several online riddles and the Professor Layton games cane close!).

Sadly, Da Vinci Puzzles is no longer in publication. Though a group of us were devout enough to offer our own funding system to maintain publication and sustain the accompanying site, the magazine was sadly under-budget and was forced to close just over a year after release. The website was maintained for several months, yet the sense of community and reluctantly our shared interest was not quite so piqued.

A few days ago, I curiously visited the site to find it was no longer there, save for a few lonely puzzles which remain to tease and entertain us.

There are 26 pages of puzzles in total, ranging from Sudoku to Cryptograms, map quests, logic problems and incredibly cryptic messages. Not to mention the brain-searing code found at the base of each page - just what is the underlying message presented to us in this final chapter of the most excellent puzzling magazine?

Unfortunately for me, I'm out of practise - looking at the complexity and sheer mindfulness of these puzzles is enough to make my brain hurt!



But I'm determined to crack them, and reveal for myself the final secret offered by the great minds behind Da Vinci Puzzles :)

If you're up to the challenge, feel free to download these puzzles and join me in solving these final riddles. I promise you will not be disappointed!

View and download the 26 pages of Da Vinci Puzzles (Adobe Reader required).

Just a few days ago, I discovered The Riddler had created a sequel to my favourite "find the answer" game of all time, Dracula's Riddle.

I'm rather disappointed with myself: this game has been out well over a year, and I hadn't known about it. Still, it was a worthy distraction while I waited for my copy of Professor Layton and the Diabolical box...

A week later, and I'm still struggling through it.

I'd hoped I could manage to complete it in a single, intense weekend, but alas - I had underestimated the sheer genius of the creator. He's outdone himself, both in terms of puzzles and the lengths we must go to solve them!

Professor Layton is on the backburner while I try to make my way to the elusive ending. Surely I'm only a few answers away, but right now I am completely stuck on the Dead River lines... Any help out there?