Campaign timeline of Year Zero#March 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 = https://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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20080827163127/http://iamtryingtobelieve.com/ a website], and soon several related websites were found in the IP range ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070216002832/http://anotherversionofthetruth.com/ Another Version of the Truth], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070216002715/http://bethehammer.net/ Be the Hammer], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070216003954/http://105thairbornecrusaders.com/ 105th Airborne Crusaders], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20070216003025/http://churchofplano.com/ 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

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070215185738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/20070215/nine_inch_nails.jhtml

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = February 15, 2007

| 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 was found through reference on the Another Version of the Truth forums.

;February 14, 2007

:*During Nine Inch Nails' first ever 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 on 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

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070406001747/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69841

|archive-date = 2007-04-06

|url-status = dead

}} 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".

Image:1-216-333-1810.jpg

;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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070915045414/http://www.uswiretap.com/case_number_required/ 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 through 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

|agency=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

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408082309/http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/02/nineinchnails.reut/index.html

|archivedate=2007-04-08

|url-status=dead

}}{{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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070409100756/http://yearzero.nin.com/0024/ 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070224105438/http://www.artisresistance.com/ http://artisresistance.com]

;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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20141006051344/http://www.hollywoodinmemoriam.org/ hollywoodinmemoriam.org/].{{cite web

| title = "Year Zero" Project Update: Reznor Pisses on Scorsese's Parade

| publisher = Rolling Stone

| date = 2007-02-26

| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/26/year-zero-project-update-reznor-pisses-on-scorseses-parade/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070228142209/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/26/year-zero-project-update-reznor-pisses-on-scorseses-parade/

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = February 28, 2007

| 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20080617061343/http://www.securebroadcastinformatics.com/ 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 = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/28/year-zero-project-fahrenheit-nin/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070302075219/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/28/year-zero-project-fahrenheit-nin/

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = March 2, 2007

| accessdate = 2007-04-18}}

;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 {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080323152448/http://www.thewaterturnedtoblood.net/ 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929052055/http://www.judsonogram.net/ www.judsonogram.net/], which in turn makes a mention to Cedocore, leading to [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310163535/http://cedocore.com/ www.cedocore.com]

Image:NineInchNailsYearZeroCampaignTimeline.jpg

;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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929004108/http://www.operationswamp0000.net/ www.operationswamp0000.net/], which in turn directs users to [https://web.archive.org/web/20070923190445/http://www.operationchipsweep.net/ 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

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403045705/http://yearzero.nin.com/listen/

|archivedate=2007-04-03

|url-status=dead

}}{{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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070314182912/http://www.themailstrom.com/ http://www.themailstrom.com].

:*Cryptic e-mails were randomly sent to many Nine Inch Nails fans, revealing [https://web.archive.org/web/20070406200908/http://www.thepriceoftreason.net/ http://www.thepriceoftreason.net] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20070406001626/http://www.opensourceresistance.net/ 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 "Our End Trip," which revealed the case number 6455da04 for [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929052055/http://www.judsonogram.net/ Judson Ogram Correctional Facility website], leading to [https://web.archive.org/web/20070503000928/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 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

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070425201108/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69907

|archive-date = 2007-04-25

|url-status = dead

}}

:*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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070609013918/http://www.redhorsevector.net/ www.redhorsevector.net]

:*Morse code in Track #14, "Another Version of the Truth", is discovered to spell out "grace the teacher," pointing towards [https://web.archive.org/web/20070921050308/http://www.gracetheteacher.net/ www.gracetheteacher.net] 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}}

Image:AIR kit.jpg

;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

|author2=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

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070429110658/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1557164/20070416/nine_inch_nails.jhtml

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = April 29, 2007

| 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

| url-status = dead

| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20041031002305/http://www.nin.com/current/index.html

| archivedate = 2004-10-31

}}{{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 = https://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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20101229061348/http://exterminal.net/ exterminal.net/], as well as various other clues leading to [https://web.archive.org/web/20140411063453/http://freerebelart.net/ freerebelart.net/], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070417052236/http://www.viabilityindex.com/ www.viabilityindex.com/], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20070515223622/http://www.themailstrom.com/usurp_397W4P.htm this] Wreckage/Shard combination for The Mailstrom.{{Citation needed|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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429071613/http://www.exhibit24.net/default.htm 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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001004529/http://mysite.verizon.net/digitalcunt/hourofarrival-vm.mp3 pre-recorded message] contains a clue leading to [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429044843/http://hourofarrival.net/ Hour of Arrival]. The message marks the end of the alternate reality game, stating "we've got to go dark for a while, but that is ok - you don't need us anymore."

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite web

|url=http://www.42entertainment.com/yearzero/

|publisher=42 Entertainment

|title=Year Zero Case Study

|accessdate=2008-04-09

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411001720/http://www.42entertainment.com/yearzero/

|archivedate=2008-04-11

}}

• {{cite magazine

| url = https://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_args

| title = Secret Websites, Coded Messages: The New World of Immersive Games

| author = Frank Rose

| magazine = Wired

| date = 2007-12-20

| accessdate = 2008-01-08}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070429104909/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
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070428005240/http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewforum.php?f=23 echoingthesound] – discussion forum regarding the ARG

{{Nine Inch Nails}}

Category:Year Zero (game)