Electronic mail-based adventure game and method of operation

An electronic adventure gaming system and methods of operation communicate with a player using a plurality of media forms. A character invites the player to participate in an adventure and appears to communicate personally with the player. A puzzle is presented by the character for the character and the player to derive a solution of an alphanumeric answer key. A plurality of messages relate to the clues, and permit the character and the player to determine the clues and ultimately derive the alphanumeric answer key. An input means allows the player to provide the alphanumeric answer key to the server system and records the date and time of the server system receiving the alphanumeric answer key. The input means also associates the received alphanumeric answer key uniquely with the player's identity information to award the player in the event that the player inputs the alphanumeric answer key by a predetermined time.