Google Launches the Da Vinci Code Puzzles

After the book, the video game and the mobile phone game, Dan Brown's bestselling novel goes online, under the guidance of the online search leader, Google.

Wei-Hwa Huang, software engineer and puzzle enthusiast, together with other Google members and Sony Pictures, has created 12,538 such games, all in the Da Vinci Code spirit.

"They'll be released over the next 24 days, in the form of six different challenges at four difficulty levels, with enough variety that I think everyone will be able to find something they like and play it over and over", Huang said.

Those who are really good at it might be rewarded for their efforts with extremely attractive prizes. The prizes can only be won by American, English and Australian citizens, each country having different surprises for the winners.

In Australia, for instance, the winner of the first place will receive a digital camera, a video camera and a laptop, all from Sony. For US citizens, the list of prizes for first place is too long to mention it, but you can access it here. http://flash.sonypictures.com/movies/davincicodequest/us/prizing/index.html.

The main characters in Dan Brown's novel must uncover clues they hope will lead them to an important religious relic; the premiere of the movie, starring Tom Hanks, will take place in May at the Cannes film festival.

Google's Da Vinci puzzles can be found here.