Campaign timeline of the Year Zero alternate reality game

Campaign timeline of the Year Zero alternate reality game

The following is a "campaign timeline of the Year Zero alternate reality game". The "Year Zero" alternate reality game, and its accompanying concept album of the same name, criticizes the United States government's policies as of 2007, [cite web
url = http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=29753
title = Trent Reznor Blasts the American Government
publisher = Gigwise.com
first = Jason
last = Gregory
date = 2007-03-26
accessdate = 2007-04-20
] projecting a dystopian vision of its impact on the state of events in 2022. The game began in mid-February 2007 and seems to have wrapped up in April shortly after the album came out.

February 2007

;February 12, 2007:*Fans found that a new Nine Inch Nails tour T-shirt contained highlighted letters that spell out the words "I am trying to believe."cite web
last = Gunderson
first = Edna
title = Nine Inch Nails 'Zero' in on bleak future
publisher = USA Today
date = 2007-04-18
url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-04-17-nin-charticle_N.htm
accessdate = 2007-04-19
] [cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=2#1171318402
title = New tour t-shirts
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-02-12
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] It was discovered that iamtryingtobelieve.com was registered as [http://www.iamtryingtobelieve.com a website] , and soon several related websites were found in the IP range ("Another Version of the Truth", "Be the Hammer", "105th Airborne Crusaders", and "Church of Plano"), all describing a dystopian vision of the world fifteen years in the future.cite web
url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/20070215/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
title = Weird Web Trail: Conspiracy Theory — Or Marketing For Nine Inch Nails LP?
author = James Montgomery
publisher = MTV News
date = 2007-02-15
accessdate = 2007-03-11
] :*"Consolidated Mail Systems" found through reference on the "Another Version of the Truth" forums.;February 14, 2007:*During a Nine Inch Nails concert in Lisbon, Portugal, a USB flash drive was found in a bathroom stall containing a high-quality MP3 of the track "My Violent Heart," which quickly circulated the internet.cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=2#1171469282
title = My Violent Heart leaks, Year Zero discussion forum
publisher = The NIN Hotline | date = 2007-02-14
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] This was initially thought by many to be an accidental leak of the song, but further releases in a similar fashion confirmed these to be intentional "leaks" and as part of the overall alternate reality game.cite web
title = RIAA Goes After NINE INCH NAILS Fans Over Deliberate Leak Campaign
publisher = Blabbermouth.net
date = 2007-04-03
url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69841
accessdate = 2007-04-04
] On the end of the MP3 was a few seconds of static, which, when analyzed under a spectrogram reveals an image of "The Presence." The same static is on the album at the end of Track #9, "The Warning."

;February 19, 2007:*A USB drive was found at a concert in Barcelona, Spain, containing two audio files: the track "Me, I'm Not" and an MP3 of static. The mp3 of static, "2432.mp3," when analyzed through a spectrogram revealed the phone number 1-216-333-1810, which in turn revealed http://www.uswiretap.com/case_number_required/.cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=2#1171928151
title = Me, I'm Not found on flash drive in Barcelona
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-02-19
accessdate = 2008-01-10
]

;February 22, 2007:*A teaser trailer was released though the Year Zero website and featured a quick glimpse of a blue road sign that says "I AM TRYING TO BELIEVE" and a distorted glimpse of The Presence.cite web
last = Reuters
authorlink = Reuters
title = Cryptic Web sites build buzz for Nine Inch Nails
publisher = CNN
date = 2007-04-02
url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/02/nineinchnails.reut/index.html
accessdate = 2007-04-06
] cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=2#1172162176
title = Year Zero preview and possible album cover
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-02-22
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] Additionally, one frame in the teaser points to the url http://yearzero.nin.com/0024, which presented an image named "yearzero_cover.jpg," which was later confirmed to be the album cover.:*Red fliers are handed out at a concert in Paris, France with the words "Art is Resistance," leading to http://artisresistance.com.fact|date=April 2007

;February 25, 2007:*A third USB drive was found at a concert in Manchester, England. It contained two files: the track "In This Twilight" and an image of the Hollywood Sign apparently demolished. The picture led fans to a website called http://www.hollywoodinmemoriam.org.cite web
title = "Year Zero" Project Update: Reznor Pisses on Scorsese’s Parade
publisher = Rolling Stone
date = 2007-02-26
url = http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/26/year-zero-project-update-reznor-pisses-on-scorseses-parade/
accessdate = 2007-04-18
] cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=2#1172453827
title = The contents of tonight's USB key...
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-02-25
accessdate = 2008-01-10
]

;February 26 and 27, 2007:*Beside You in Time is released in Europe and worldwide, respectively, containing a reference to http://www.securebroadcastinformatics.com within the expiration-date lettering on the Blu-ray and HD DVD editions.cite web
last = Kreps
first = Daniel
title = Year Zero Project: Fahrenheit NIN
publisher = Rolling Stone
date = 2007-02-28
url = http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/28/year-zero-project-fahrenheit-nin/
accessdate = 2007-04-18
]

March 2007

;March 7, 2007:*The music video for the first single from "Year Zero", "Survivalism," was released via USB pen drives at a concert in Carling Academy Brixton in London, England. These drives contained low and high resolution versions of the video, which were quickly dispersed onto the internet and eventually officially on the Year-Zero mini-site. The numerous displays within the music video all display time code, which fans discovered contained letters leading to http://www.thewaterturnedtoblood.net.cite web
title = Survivalism video found on USB drives
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-07
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1173314281
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] The video also led to the discovery of http://www.judsonogram.net, which in turn makes a mention to Cedocore, leading to http://www.cedocore.com.Fact|date=April 2007

;March 11, 2007:*Fliers were handed out at a Nine Inch Nails show in London, which had directions to a local bridge, which underneath housed a billboard with the words "Operation Swamp 0000," pointing to the website http://www.operationswamp0000.net, which in turn directs users to http://www.operationchipsweep.net.cite web
last = Weedmark
first = Bill
title = Marketing Music
publisher = Gargoyle, Flagler College
date = 2007-04-09
url = http://gargoyle.flagler.edu/?p=1181
accessdate = 2007-04-14
] :*During a listening party, lithographs were handed out to people who had pre-ordered the album.cite web
title = NINE INCH NAILS : YEAR ZERO
publisher = NIN.com
url = http://yearzero.nin.com/listen/
accessdate = 2007-04-07
] cite web
title = Limited Edition Lithograph with Year Zero
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-03
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1175309229
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] These lithographs had the words "The Mailstrom" written across them, leading fans to http://www.themailstrom.com.:*Cryptic e-mails were randomly sent to many Nine Inch Nails fans, revealing http://www.thepriceoftreason.net and http://www.opensourceresistance.net.cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1174998635
title = NIN fans receive cryptic email
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-27
accessdate = 2008-01-10
]

;March 13, 2007:*"Survivalism" is released on the official "Year Zero" site in GarageBand format.cite web
title = Survivalism released in Garageband format
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-13
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1173818360
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] Within the files was one mysterious file named " [http://www.zshare.net/audio/test-wav-fs8.html|Survivalism Our End Trip] ," which revealed the case number 6455da04 for [http://www.judsonogram.net/ "Judson Ogram Correctional Facility" website] , leading to [http://www.judsonogram.net/personnel/gantry/casefiles/6455da04/default.htm this case file] .

;March 24, 2007:*"Survivalism" lyrics are released on the official "Year Zero" site in PDF format.cite web
title = I got Survivalism lyrics.
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-24
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1174760496
accessdate = 2008-01-10
]

April 2007

;April 4, 2007:*"Year Zero" album is made available for streaming play on the official "Year Zero" mini-site. [cite web
url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69907
title = Nine Inch Nails: Entire 'Year Zero' Album Available For Streaming
publisher = Blabbermouth.net
date = 2007-04-04
accessdate = 2007-04-08
] :*A computerized voice on Track #13, "The Great Destroyer," when the left and right stereo channels are combined into a single mono signal, vocalizes the words "red horse vector," leading to http://www.redhorsevector.net/.Fact|date=April 2007:*Morse code in Track #14, "Another Version of the Truth," is discovered to spell out "grace the teacher," pointing towards http://www.gracetheteacher.net.Fact|date=April 2007

;April 10, 2007:*"Year Zero" album is made available for streaming play on the official Nine Inch Nails MySpace [http://www.myspace.com/nin page] .cite web
title = NIN Myspace Now Features 'Year Zero'
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-10
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1176250833
accessdate = 2008-01-10
]

;April 13, 2007:*"Art is Resistance" "meeting" scheduled in Los Angeles, California, posted on "Open Source Resistance". Participants are asked to "Wear something that shows you’re one of us." "Art is Resistance" kits are handed out to those attending, consisting of "Art is Resistance" buttons, posters, stencils, bandannas, and in around 25 cases, pre-paid cell phones on which participants would receive in-game phone calls and become a part of the game.cite web
title = ARG Updates: AIR Goes Live in LA
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-14
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1176564928
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] cite web
last = Montgomery
first = James
coauthors = Todd Brown
title = Nine Inch Nails' Year Almost Here, But Real-World Game Continues
publisher = MTV News
date = 2007-04-16
url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1557164/20070416/nine_inch_nails.jhtml#
accessdate = 2007-04-16
]

;April 13, 14, 16, 17, and 25, 2007:*The "Year Zero" album is released in Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan respectively.cite web
url = http://www.nin.com/current/index.html
title = nine inch nails: current
date = 2007-02-05
publisher = NIN.com
accessdate = 2007-02-13
] cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=3#1175177094
title = Japanese Year Zero is delayed
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-03-29
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] The album is released in digipak packaging, which contains a sticker advertising 1-866-445-6580,cite web
last = Gunderson
first = Edna
title = Reznor nails big 'Zero' on the future
publisher = USA Today
date = 2007-04-18
url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-04-18-nine-inch-nails_N.htm
accessdate = 2007-04-19
] cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1175697288
title = New Year Zero cover art posted
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-04
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] cite web
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1176838200
title = Year Zero Released Today
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-17
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] a thermochrome CD face which, when heated, reveals a binary sequence which leads to http://exterminal.net/, as well as various other clues leading to http://www.freerebelart.net/, http://www.viabilityindex.com/, and [http://www.themailstrom.com/usurp_397W4P.htm this] Wreckage/Shard combination for "The Mailstrom".Fact|date=April 2007

;April 18, 2007:*Resistance "meeting" scheduled in Los Angeles. Participants are invited via cell phones given to them in "Art is Resistance" kits on April 13. The meeting consists of a speech by a "resistance member" and a free concert by Nine Inch Nails. The concert is cut short as the meeting is "raided" by a SWAT team.cite web
title = Secret NIN Show in LA Raided By Police
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-19
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1176993303
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] Unedited video of the entire meeting is posted on "Open Source Resistance" the same night, and an edited version two nights later. [http://www.opensourceresistance.net/]

;April 26, 2007:*"Capital G," "My Violent Heart," and "Me, I'm Not" are released on the official Nine Inch Nails website in GarageBand/Logic Pro and torrent format.cite web
title = Multitracks for 3 YZ songs posted on nin.com
publisher = The NIN Hotline
date = 2007-04-26
url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1177625582
accessdate = 2008-01-10
] Some files included, under spectrogram analysis, contain hints leading to the discovery of [http://www.exhibit24.net/ Exhibit Twenty Four] .

;April 27, 2007:*"Art is Resistance" "members" receive automated phone calls on cell phones given to them in "Art is Resistance" kits on April 13 in Los Angeles. The [http://mysite.verizon.net/digitalcunt/hourofarrival-vm.mp3 pre-recorded message] contains a clue leading to [http://hourofarrival.net/ Hour of Arrival] . The message seems to mark an intermission of sorts in the alternate reality game, as the message states "we’ve got to go dark for a while, but that is ok - you don’t need us anymore."

Notes

References

*cite web
url = http://www.42entertainment.com/yearzero/
publisher = 42 Entertainment
title = Year Zero Case Study
accessdate = 2008-04-09

* cite news
url = http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_args
title = Secret Websites, Coded Messages: The New World of Immersive Games
author = Frank Rose
work = Wired
date = 2007-12-20
accessdate = 2008-01-08

External links

* [http://yearzero.nin.com Official "Year Zero" page] at NIN.com
* [http://www.ninwiki.com/Year_Zero_Research "Year Zero" Research] at the unofficial NIN Wiki
* [http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewforum.php?f=23 echoingthesound] – discussion forum regarding the ARG


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