remote keypad easter egg?

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Level 1

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remote keypad easter egg?

Obviously there have been a LOT of posts about easter eggs in general, but most if not all have pertained to invisible buttons or overlays. I recall that on some DVDs there have been easter eggs that require the user to punch in a certain number sequence on the remote. My question is whether making this work is going to just entail a bunch of specially-prepared, visually identical menus, or is it just a matter of putting the right number of buttons on the menu.

I'm kind of thinking that while a menu is being displayed, the keypad simply moves between buttons, so that if you press "5" the fifth button becomes the highlighted one. I can't test that at the moment, so I could be mistaken. The other possibility is that if you type "12", the 12th title (or track) plays. What I want to do, and has been done on DVDs like the STAR WARS Trilogy, is to have the user punch in a date, so something like 092589 will go to my easter egg.

Obviously it would take a lot of work to have 92,589 titles on the disc, and it may even be impossible. If I'm correct about the menu button thing, I just need to set up the 10th, 9th, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th buttons on a series of menus to auto-activate and move through identical menus to my easter egg. Am I right?

Thanks, folks.

15" discrete MacBook Pro (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo), Mac OS X (10.6.6), Final Cut Studio 3

Posted on Feb 17, 2011 12:05 PM

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Answer 1

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 17, 2011 1:29 PM in response to PDTV is back

Actually, the more I think about it, I think I'd just have to leave off the zero since I don't think pressing "0" on the remote would go to the 10th button.

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Answer 2

Hal MacLean

Level 6

14,833 points

Feb 20, 2011 3:02 PM in response to PDTV is back

You are right in than many easter eggs use hidden buttons on a single menu and require arrow selections to move between them. For example, from a particular button, using right, up, down in that sequence could go to the egg, but the buttons linked to from those arrows are hidden (and possible stacked one on top of the other).

Using a number press is slightly harder, but you should only need nine screens if you avoid zero. All you do is go to the screen that corresponds to the number selected on the handset and store a value in a GPRM and keep count of how many menus have been 'seen'. If you ensure that you multiply each selection by a factor each time, and keep a counter running on the selections made, you'll be able to check if the correct sequence was entered.

For example, multiply each value by 1, then 10, then 100, then 1000 and require a sequence of '3,4,2,1' would result in a value of 1,243 being stored in a GPRM. No other button sequence will give you this value, so if it is there then the correct sequence would have been entered.

Problems arise with this if you ask for a six figure date reference, as the maximum value you can store in a single variable is 65535. However, using more than one GPRM and checking each would easily get around this. For example, selection 1 goes into GPRM1, selection 2 into GPRM2 and so on. Use GPRM0 for the math needed to keep count and then have a series of logical statements in a script that checks the value in each GPRM in turn, such that if correct the egg can play, otherwise something else shows - main menu, track linked to last button selected, etc. Alternatively, use a smaller factor than ten, or some other construct that will give you a unique value.

Are you trying to do this on a 'normal' menu that the viewer ordinarily arrives at, or are they actively opting to go to a 'code entry' menu? If the former, your challenge is to know whether they are starting the sequence of date entry, or simply selecting the button to play the content it is linked to. It might be useful to use a combination of (at least) nine hidden buttons as the first on the menu and then the normal menu buttons in view (which actually are buttons ten and upwards). You could then set the egg up by the user firstly entering a button sequence of up, down, left (from any of the visible buttons to take them into the first of the hidden buttons), followed by a number entry sequence. This is a bit more complex for the user, but will mean you can use less menus.

If they go to a code entry menu, it's easier still, but also obvious there is an egg there to be found... at which point many people might not bother with the handset, but put the disc into a PC where their DVD player lists all tracks anyway.

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Answer 3

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 21, 2011 10:38 AM in response to Hal MacLean

I appreciate your willingness to help, but you missed the key word... "remote". On DVDs like STAR WARS, you can actually punch in "1138" (actually +10, 1, 3, 8) on the remote and get a gag reel. I have seen a couple of DVDs where it's a "code entry" menu with an onscreen keypad, but that's not what I want.

Am I correct in my belief that pressing "6" on the remote keypad highlights the 6th button, or does it try to play the 6th track? Using the number keypad on the remote may be beyond the capabilities of DVD Studio Pro, but if I'm right it should be easily done. It's just that every time it crosses my mind I'm nowhere near a DVD player to test my theory.

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Answer 4

Hal MacLean

Level 6

14,833 points

Feb 21, 2011 11:13 AM in response to PDTV is back

You do seem to have an unfortunate way with words when you write - I didn't miss a key word, and am entirely aware you are wanting to access things from a remote handset using just the numeric buttons. My only query was whether or not you needed to do this from a specific number pad menu or not, and you have clarified that. For what it's worth the following is from the manual for DVDSP v4 where, referring to the menu tab in the property inspector for menus, you'll see the option for 'Number Pad'.

+Number Pad:+ Defines which buttons are directly accessible by a DVD player’s numeric keypad. Choose All, None, or a button number from the pop-up menu. When you choose a button number, that button and all buttons less than that number are accessible via the numeric keypad—buttons greater than this value are blocked from direct access.
Important: This feature is based on the button order as shown along the top of each button’s Button Inspector, and not the button names you see in the Menu Editor. See About Button Numbers for information on verifying and changing the button numbers.

+Btn Offset:+ You can use this setting to offset button numbers so they make sense to a viewer who wants to select a button by entering its number. For example, you may have a set of scene selection menus with numbered scenes. One of the menus may have scenes 23 to 34, with the button for scene 23 being the first button on the menu. If you enter an offset value of 22 for this menu, when the viewer enters 23 on the remote control, 22 is subtracted from it, with the result being 1—the button’s actual number.

Both of these features will probably help you achieve what you want to achieve, and combined with the extensive information given previously, I would think you'd be able to get this sorted. You definitely won't need many menus to achieve it, but you'll need to think more creatively than normal. I don't believe this feature is available in the earlier version of DVDSP that you use, as I don't think Astarte ever added it to their feature set (V1 was based on Astarte's DVD maker app). However, DVD Maestro did have it (as I recall) which is why versions of DVDSP later than 1.5 give access to the feature, as they are based on Maestro.

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Answer 5

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 21, 2011 11:40 AM in response to Hal MacLean

Well Hal, I wasn't really trying to be snippy, in fact I was holding back a bit because it's a bit frustrating to get a reply about menus when I've already pointed out that "most easter eggs use menu buttons but I want to use the remote keypad". I didn't really want to put that frustration into the message, but I guess it made it in there anyway.

Anyhow, thanks for the explanation... I will definitely use v4 if I need to, I just haven't bothered using it since I'm most comfortable with 1.5. I can see how at least the offset might help me, and it does seem that my theory is correct with regard to onscreen buttons activated with the remote.

I'm actually not sure how you got the idea that I had in any way intended to have an onscreen keypad, since that would only require the directional buttons and "Enter". That is why it seemed you had completely missed the "remote" part, but maybe you hadn't... I'm just explaining why I thought you did. The idea behind what I want to do is for someone to be on just a regular menu (a page describing the Mac Quadra series) and when they enter the release date of the first Quadra on the remote's numeric keypad, an easter egg plays with the Quadra team, similar to the actual easter egg on those machines when you set the date to the original release date.

I may just use a hidden button method, but I wanted to see if this would be possible... from what you tell me, it should work, although I may have to start in v4 instead of 1.5 if I'm going to need the offset function, etc. so that potentially saves me some frustration if I get it all built in 1.5 and have to switch over. Not impossible to do of course, but it would be frustrating.

In case I didn't say it plainly enough before... thanks! 🙂

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Answer 6

Hal MacLean

Level 6

14,833 points

Feb 21, 2011 1:41 PM in response to PDTV is back

OK - no problem... 🙂

The key issue is whether or not the menu will accept a number entry sequence without jumping out to play a track, so for example your user presses '4' and button 4 activates, sending you to the content for that button. At some point you need to be able to tell whether they wanted to get to content or if they were starting a button sequence. This is where hidden buttons may be useful, as you could use nine of those (for example) before you get to the content buttons (i.e. start the content on a button from 10 onwards). This would show the menu as 'normal' yet accept key presses for the lower value buttons, thus enabling a link to the egg.

You would still need to script the menu jumps and use a series of menus so that several key presses can be entered before the egg plays. Tracking the values of SPRM8 in a script, and keeping a count of how many user choices were entered each time, it should be possible to get the feature running.

Hope you get this sorted... good luck!

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Answer 7

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 21, 2011 2:56 PM in response to Hal MacLean

Yeah, I think I'll be okay, though... there won't be a lot of options on that menu. It's for a DVD of Mac commercials, and what I'm thinking is kind of a "spec sheet" menu for those who want to go through the clips individually with some additional data on the products advertised. I think I only have one Quadra commercial, but you're right in that I'll probably have to pad the menu with some hidden "dummy" buttons so that "9" will jump to another identical menu. I doubt I'd even have to use any variable space, although I guess if I did script it, I might be able to keep coming back to the same menu.

What I was thinking was having multiple identical menus, and the functions (and placement) of a unique hidden button on each menu would determine whether to proceed on toward the egg or drop back out to the standard menu due to invalid input. It might be easier to script it as you suggest, so I'll look into that option. I figure that buttons 9, 2, 5, 8 and 9 will be easy enough to hide without compromising the "previous, next, play, main" functions of the menu, especially if I use multiple menus. Using the offset will make it that much easier.

I'm pretty sure very few people actually expect to use the numeric keypad on the remote to activate onscreen buttons... that's sort of a holdover from the VCD days when they all had numbers and you had to press a number instead of moving around with directional buttons. Even so, I will definitely try to preserve that functionality if I can, and your advice will help in that effort.

I suppose that since a lot of my posts have been of a rather snarky nature, that has become my "voice" regardless of what I write, and my words are filtered through the preconception "this is PDTV, he's probably ****** about something". Largely my fault, but this forum ****** me off a lot, and unlike most people I don't really hold back when someone is being stupid or annoying me. I'm getting better, though... I actually recognized the value of TF's words that you reposted recently rather than launching into a tirade against him, even though I am definitely tired of reading his name and discussing on a DVD Studio Pro forum what the program can't do. There's value in that sometimes, and of course I'm also mellowing with age, so I didn't pounce on that as I might've before.

So... hooray for me, I guess. 😉 I'll definitely report back with results of my efforts, and I'm sure a lot of folks here might be interested in the resulting DVD so any other Mac-philes out there can contact me to possibly trade or something.

P.S. As for "thinking more creatively than usual", I'm all about that... did a project a while back with no menu whatsoever... just a continuous looping track displaying the options, mostly as a challenge from some menu-centric thinkers here. My next challenge is to try and incorporate some Blu-ray-esque features into future projects... that should be interesting.

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Answer 8

Feb 22, 2011 12:48 AM in response to PDTV is back

I always thought the numbered buttons were meant to go to a particular title but that doesnt sound like its the case with the Star Wars disc.

Why not trace the Star Wars code with a DVD editor like My DVD Edit or After Edit and mimic it as best you can with DVDSP? Of course, Star Wars wasn't authored in DVDSP, but it would give you an idea on the original author's structure and go from there.

Trai or Larry Applegate would know the exact answer to your question but at least its a start.

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Answer 9

Feb 22, 2011 2:46 AM in response to Hal MacLean

Oh for God's sakes! 😟 Oh Gee! Thanks Mr Anonymous for not being snippy and holding back with your true frustrations. * Hand slapping Forehead *

Yes Hal, I was a tad bit frustrated too with your, somewhat short sighted, response to this discussion.

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Answer 10

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 22, 2011 9:57 AM in response to Eric Pautsch1

Um... because I don't want to hand over piles of money for software and "support fees" to a glorified wedding videographer in order to add functionality that I'VE ALREADY SAID I didn't absolutely NEED to a project I'll be giving away for FREE... THAT's why

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Answer 11

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 22, 2011 10:06 AM in response to Eric Pautsch1

Eric, if you don't have anything to add to the discussion, shut the **** up. Hal and I were have a completely civil discussion and I EXPLAINED why I initially thought he was suggesting to create an onscreen keypad.

Pardon me if I get a bit frustrated when I ask a question and someone's answer is way off because they didn't bother reading the question. I don't think this was the case, but initially I didn't understand why Hal brought an onscreen keypad into the discussion so that's what I meant by frustration... just the misunderstanding that took place.

Now... do you want me to continue discussing things civilly and EXPLAINING why I might get a bit testy, or are you intent on goading me into being ****** off all the time? Seems to me you're not doing much to make this a place that's conducive to discussion <slaps ERIC'S forehead, since that seems to be some universal sign of being apoplectic>.

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Answer 12

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 22, 2011 10:10 AM in response to PDTV is back

Oh, and as I've said MANY MANY M-A-N-Y times... I'm hardly the only person on this FORUM, let alone the internet as a whole, to "hide behind" some sort of anonymity. Besides, do you REALLY think it'd be a good idea to come in here and say "Hi, I'm putting together a DVD of Apple's copyrighted TV commercials, and I was wondering if anybody on this Apple-run forum could help me. By the way, my real name and address is...." PUH-**ing-LEEZE

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Answer 13

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 22, 2011 10:20 AM in response to Eric Pautsch1

In the spirit of civil discussion, I'll ignore the rest of your post (at least in THIS reply) and respond to the only actual POINT it contains. Of course I'll probably get made fun of for explaining this, too. So sorry that I don't just eat up every post you guys make like it's the only thing sustaining me.

You may be right about the STAR WARS DVD... the buttons may indeed be going to specific tracks rather than menu buttons. The way you have to enter the first part ("11") on most players is +10, 1 so I'm thinking it goes to track 11, then from there you can jump to track 38 and there's the egg. I have yet to test whether if I just try to go to track 38 if I still get the egg or not.

Anyway, HERE's what I'm going to do. I'm going to sit down with DVD Studio Pro 1.5 and see if I can get my ideal result. If it doesn't work as expected, I'm going to break down and try v4, which I already have but don't use. If THAT doesn't work, I'm going to go to the completely free, no-support-fees-required invisible button method.

Plain. Simple. Free. Get it?

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Answer 14

Feb 22, 2011 11:31 AM in response to PDTV is back

After 6 years, I doubt anyone could accuse me of not embracing Apple's spirit of meaningful discussions....but, with you, a prefer to goad.

Yes...Plain,simple,free - AfterEdit has a free trial and My DVD Edit is free. All PC DVD editors are free as well. Trai hasn't been involved with AE for years so you're safe there too.

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Answer 15

PDTV is back Author

Level 1

80 points

Feb 22, 2011 1:20 PM in response to Eric Pautsch1

Yeah, but the point has been made ad nauseum that the purpose of utilities like MyDVDEdit and DVDAfterEdit are to allow functions that DVD Studio Pro are NOT capable of, so when I discover that the STAR WARS DVD is using some part of the DVD spec not accessible to me due to DVD Studio Pro's abstraction layer, it's not going to do me a lot of good.

I don't know how many times I have to say this... I am here to discuss DVD STUDIO PRO and what it CAN do... especially with this project, and the many others I give away for FREE, I'm not going to delve that deeply into things.

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