© GoogleGoogle has revealed that its alien-themed doodles are a tribute to author HG Wells, who wrote 'War of the Worlds'
For weeks, web users have speculated about the meaning of Google's mysterious doodles. The first appeared on September 5, and showed a flying saucer hovering over the Google logo and "abducting" the letter "O". Google issued a teaser message on its Twitter account, which translated as "All your O belong to us", a nod to Zero Wing, a cult Japanese video game. Clicking on the logo took web users through to a page of search results for the term "unexplained phenomenon".
The internet was awash with rumours about what the doodle could mean. Some suggested it could be tied to a forthcoming movie or video game launch, although Google pointed out that its doodles were never used for commercial purposes. Others thought that the abduction of the letter "O" could be the first in a series of such logos, with a string of abducted letters used to spell the name of a new Google product or service.
The plot thickened when, on September 15, a second Google doodle appeared, showing a flying saucer hovering over a field. The Google logo was spelled out as series of crop circles, and clicking on the doodle produced a list of web pages related to crop circles. Google issued a second tweet, containing a string of coordinates, which centred on Woodham Road in Woking, Surrey.
Some web users quickly realised that Woodham Road was near Horsell Commons, the location of the first alien landings in HG Wells's 1898 novel, and that the timing of the doodles coincided with the 143rd anniversary of HG Wells's birth.
"We were delighted that people played along with us and shared their theories," wrote Micheal Lopez, a Google web designer, in a blog post. "Some of you figured out what we were doing but we weren't ready to reveal it all just yet.
"Now, we're finally acknowledging the reason for the doodles with an official nod to Herbert George Wells, who would be 143 years old today.
"The invasion of the logo by alien crafts and pods makes our series complete, but you'll have to read the book to find out how Wells's story really ends."
Although Google regularly uses its doodles to mark significant events, anniversaries and notable dates, it usually does so explicitly. This is the first time Google has used a series of mysterious logos to build up to an event, although the search page today shows a new Google doodle to mark Wells's birthday which takes web users straight through to a list of web pages related to the author.
Some web users, who had hoped Google was about to launch a new product or project, or even the existence of extra-terrestrials, have reacted with disappointment following the revelation.
"Ahhh mannn! I thought they were gonna disclose with some irrefutable evidence!" wrote Matchory on the Pocket Lint gadget website.
LOL - yeah right. And tell you what? That the inhabitants of a whole different density have been holding us by the throat since time immemorial?
Or that we are owned by them?
I'd go easy on them gadgets, Matchory. They have an uncanny ability to turn your brain to jelly. And it ain't blueberry flavoured.