Tracking down Shane Messer seems to be much easier than tracking down the $5000 golden trophy that he has hidden in the midst of nearly 3,000 public domain documents obtained from the government.

With only a few weeks to go until the product actually ships, the project seems to have already become source of debate.

I offered to take Shane Messer to lunch in order to ask him a few questions about his massive hunt for Weapons of Mass Destruction real-life puzzle and it's origins. (And maybe get a few hints).

He doesn't eat Chinese, so we opted for Starbucks

SC: So what exactly is "Find Those Weapons: The Hunt for the Real WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction)"?
SM: Well, it consists of a CD, a 10 page clue book, a Bingo shaped matrix, and a map. With all four of these items, you can begin to deduce where the "trophy" is located. Once you figure it out, you go out and get the “fake” trophy. From there instructions will be given on how to get the real one.

SC: So you have physically hidden these things all over the country?
SM: I can’t reveal how, what, or where the items are. I can’t reveal how many there are. I know it sucks, but I can't even reveal where one should even go about looking. The only thing I can say is that we have designed the game so that the largest 65 major metropolitan cities are able to play, as well as 4 cities in the UK.

SC: What happens once someone wins?
SM: They get a $5000 solid gold shaped trophy. The trophy is shaped like a weapon of mass destruction. There is also a bag of cash based on the number of entrants and a barrel of oil that we are going to send to George Bush. If no one wins, we are going to send everything to Bush. After he gets out of office though. That way he can keep it.

SC: Is that legal?
SM: Not sure. I think there may be an issue with sending it throught the mail. Maybe some friends and I will take a road trip to and deliver it.

SC: How much did it cost you to make the game?
SM: I can’t say.

SC: I guess it's safe to say that you are a Democrat?
SM: If you asked me that a year ago, I would have said Republican. Over the past year, I have pulled back to a "middle of the road."

SC: Off the subject, if you had a million dollars, would you support the women's soccer league?
SM: Umm. Yeah sure. I guess it depends on if I got free tickets to the games.

SC: Do you have a background in game making or did you just randomly think up this thing?
SM: No real background I guess. I have always just enjoyed paying these kinds of games in real life and on computers. This is my first attempt at my own game. There is a big interest in these kinds of games in Europe

SC: What do you do for a day job?
SM: I'm a technology and production manager for a new alcoholic beverage company called Player's Extreme. Great flavored vodkas. It's a cool place to work.

SC: What's your favorite drink?
SM: Amaretto Sour.

SC: Do you have any samples you can give me?
SM: Actually, I carry about 9 bottles in my car at all times. One of each flavor. You can have whatever you like.

SC: How does a technology person go about making something like this?
SM: I wrote a book when I was 20. It was more of a personal diary, but the book sold pretty well in local and regional bookstores. From there, I did a few short videos for film festivals, and most recently worked on a mock candidate running for office. I have always been doing politically motivated “odd projects.” This is the first time I have really created something that I ties in to my love for puzzles, my knowledge of technology, and my fascination with politics.

SC: What are you wanting to gain by this endeavor?
SM: First of all: going back to college. Secondly, we all have our own feelings about where we stand on the Iraq war and on the information being given to us by the Government. This game is simply my interpretation of this whole Iraq ordeal and how it seems to have been blown a little out of proportion by everyone: the media, the UN, and the White House.

SC: What are you studying in college?
SM: Law. Cyber law specifically.

SC: Do you agree with the war?
SM: I agree Saddam needed to be removed; and that it probably would have needed to eventually happen by force. But I also agree that the leader of N. Korea needs to be removed. It seems to me that we played out this entire scenario on evidence that is not credible whatsoever. I am not an fanatical idealist, but (stops short).

SC: Do you agree with out America dealt with this situation?
SM: No. I think we did a discredit to the UN and a discredit to the American people by somewhat misleading them with beefed up propaganda.

SC: What would you have done differently?
SM: I would have never went to war until the UN was 100% on board. We were told there was imminent danger, but I don’t believe that. We had plenty more time and we should have went that route. We may have lost a little face, but it’s more important that we set a proper precedent. France and Germany were being pretty stubborn, but we should have been more firm with them and at the same time a little more willing to negotiate.

SC: Where you in the military?
SM: Yeah. I had a non-combat related injury and was discharged just after training and just before really starting my job.

SC: How many people have signed up?
SM: I can’t reveal that, at this point. It wouldn't be fair to the number of people playing to know how many they are up against.

SC: How's the coffee?
SM: I actually got a hot white chocolate. It's good.

SC: How long did it take you to create this game?
SM: Just under 6 months. In retrospect, it could have been done much faster. It started out just being a joke. By the time realized that it was turning into a larger puzzle, I realized that I was also making a political statement at the same time. I had to go back and make changes to align the result with my own interpretation. Right or wrong, I want to make sure that at least I am making my own point very clear.

SC: And what is that point that you are trying to make?
SM: The need to look beyond the surface of what we see on TV. I think that more and more credibility and questioning of facts will lead to a stronger representational system. Our country is great, but we should always strive to make it better. One good thing about the internet and organizations like indymedia is that we can hear from all voices.

SC: Do you think that this project might get people on edge knowing that you are hiding things around the country?
SM: Not if they get the right information given to them. The fake prizes not dangerous in any kind of way. This whole thing is just a game. I have been in contact with the FBI and have been referred to their legal department for more assistance. My thought there has been to quell any questions or panicking for no reason. I keep having these recurring thoughts that the FBI is going to come knocking on my door flashing some Patriot Act papers demanding to scour my house for stuff about Bush, Iraq, Saddam or Osama. Hopefully, people will realize this is just a game. Albeit with a political twist.

SC: What next?
SM: I love gaming theory, politics, and technology. I would love to see myself being able to create political puzzles that go in sync with current politics. Watergate, Whitewater, Iraq. Games that allow people to come out the other side knowing a bit more about politics and how the American political machine works. I hope to use my law degree to further explore and assist the role of technology in the government and in international relations. I am working on a new project right now, but am only about a third complete. I will probably post a few messages about it on the current website, www.findthoseweapons.com.