As a general rule, I don't check for mail sent to my apartment. I've always kept my parent's address as the location for any bills that I couldn't have handled via e-mail (of which I have none at this point). Before living with someone who actually received correspondence from people, it was not unlikely for six months to pass before I bothered to check for anything.
Late last night, I was reminded of some mail on its way and dutifully trundled out to the mailbox to see if it had arrived when I came across this curious item. In a plain white envelope with a standard mailing label and no return address came the contents you see in the above photograph.
It was a little odd that I would get a brochure for a psychiatric hospital located in Michigan but I've had my share of strange things arrive in my mailbox. What first clued me in to some shenanigans being afoot was that the letter originated from Oregon and the return postcard was addressed to a PO Box in Texas.
So, I twittered about it and quickly discovered that I was not alone. Hamza had received the exact same letter and had thrown it out without a second thought. A quick Google search found that the fine folks at Giant Bomb have received it also. This is clearly viral marketing.
For what, exactly, I have no idea. I'm currently trying not to think about it lest it occupy all my time better spent on other things. But, hell, you guys obviously aren't doing anything important right now. I've included some photos in the gallery below so you can check out the text and get started on the hunt (sorry, no scanner). What do you think it could all mean?
LAUNCH GALLERY (5 IMAGES)
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
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Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games
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Contest:
4:00 AM on 05.27.2009
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i think at some point i'm going to have to start my own fake viral marketing campaign. send identical cyptic packages to the right people, and it's sure to create a fuss.
"it's always darkest before dawn" I'd never heard that proverb before, it's kind of cool.
that was in a movie ive seen recently...cant remember what....some movie with a fight in it....
Its from the movie The Dark Knight.
I dunno, I'm not good at this whole "subliminal message" shazzam.
Also, if this is Alan Wake, I think we just figured out what the team has been doing fort the last two years.
a bunch of geeks on a website? nerds even. and half of you first think BATMAN movies when the catchprase "its always darkest before the dawn" comes up?
That phrase has been around since like..forever.
Some game called Edge of Twilight?
OMG YES! THAT TREE BRANCH IS QUITE CLEARLY A SNAKE! MGS 5 CONFIRMED!
You should fill out the card, send it in, and see what you get in return.
This.
Gamestop Corporate Headquarters.
Let the conspiracy theories begin.
CLEAR AS DAY.
Anyway, i'm happy i read this.
Also, for some reason, I got hella creeped out by it when I gave it a look right before bed. Go figure.
Seriously though, it's probably Alan Wake. Which is really great, actually.
Is it as prominently used in Alan Wake?
Kind of hope we see some Silent Hill footage- I'm so curious.
But yeah, definitely send it back and see what happens.
The next day, a white van comes and takes you away.