In mid-September a post on the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) forums for the upcoming movie Cloverfield lead a small team of forum goers, seemingly by fate, to the 48 Hours website located at www.48-hours.net, on which was a picture that seemingly made no sense. Soon the picture on the page changed frequently and the team discovered what this was about. The site turned into a well-made website for a movie titled 48 Hours in Purgatory which was being directed by a man named Brody Hawkins with his team at SKG (Skeleton Key Global) Films such as Veronique who acted as the Office Manager, receiving phone calls and organizing events related to the film, Jagt (pronounced like “jut” but he is commonly referred to as “Jet”) Tanner who on the website is listed as the film editor, as well as a cameraman, and Arkham X who secures and manages location sites.

Shortly after, an In-Game (IG) forum was created at fortyeight.freeforums.org. On the forum end, people were confused and intrigued at the same time. The Puppetmasters (or PMs, referred to IG as the “architects”) seemed to have drawn in the right people. Led by an poster only referring to him/herself as “Trailmaster”, they sought to uncover more about the project. Leith Noweder, one of the most active players on the forum describes the beginning as such:

“I was on the Cloverfield forum at IMDB. Someone posted the site (48 hours.net) there supposedly thinking it was connected. I found the email hidden the source code x@48-hours.net. I sent the first email to them and kept everyone updated on the responses and everything. A lot of people were interested and it was highly debated on whether or not it was Cloverfield. The forum elected me spokesperson along with Caity….then I think that’s when you came in. Not sure if I have that sequence of events perfect, but yeah, basically that’s how it happened.”

Brody also had a blog that he set up and was analyzed by the players for any possible clues and theories at brodoc.blogspot.com. The blog showed Brody quite the depressive state, as well as alcoholic tendencies and spoke of his sister who died the day he was going to propose to Veronique (henceforth referred to as V or Ronnie). Brody then became very superstitious and was hesitant to get close to V and became more and more into his new film project which involved paying subjects $10,000 to spend 48 hours in a purgatory the film crew set up. The players found out later that V was the one who came up with the idea.

On Wednesday September 19, 2007, Veronique died in a car accident. Brody was driving the car but he survived with minor injuries while V was declared dead that night and was shipped off to her parents the next day. Brody then became very withdrawn and possibly slightly insane.

On the players’ end, the Trailmaster revealed that another group would be joining the forum and that group (codenamed group thr3e) was from Unfiction. A user on Unfiction, nobuofanxiii received an email from a girl named Sasha Breslaugh saying that she received a DVD with his email address on it. That video was the beginning of the “Bones” section of the story which can be referenced here.

Unfictioners were led to a completely different forum just for them which was led by a “Traildude” who led them to find certain puzzle pieces before they merged into the regular forum. The forum has received complaints that a certain member or two has been harassing and verbally attacking new members but since that incident, it is safe to say that there will be no more of that and any new members are welcome. Members such as “Will”, “Tresbien” and “Amandel” have been very useful as to finding new clues.

Shortly after the merging, Brody writes remembering that V suggested creating a street team, assuring him that it would be successful. He follows up on that advice and asks contacts on the forum (though email, not knowing about the forum of course) such as Idta and Leith to set up a street team website and help promote the film. A page is set up at www.48hoursonthestreet.com which has rarely in use as of now.

Brody then started talking about this Suicide Girl he met that looked just like V but with a lot of tattoos across her body. Her name was Serena and Brody made her his newest subject which was subject number 6. The players then found videos from a user called “Isshestillalive” on youtube showing various videos about the project, each relaying a little bit of information but mainly the shocking question which was is she really still alive and how is that possible?

Since the merging, the search for the 15 puzzle pieces has been underway and as of press time 14 have been found. Trailmaster has reported that it is placed with many people across the net and has hinted at asking users at places such as Unfiction to see if they received any clues regarding the last piece.

About 3 weeks ago, a guest tip at Unfiction’s Bones thread has led players to www.48hoursinpurgatory.com which has messages left by Jagt but in the year 2009 which is a rift in time as Trailmaster has explained. As explained by Jagt, after the film came out it was widely praised and won many awards, including Best Documentary. Soon after however, Brody and Arkham both were nowhere to be found. Jagt tells the players though email that he wants to recruit the old Street Team (from 2007) to help distribute a “director’s cut” of the film, saying that he needs to show the world the truth about the film.

As of now one puzzle piece is the only thing standing in progress’ way. The completed puzzle will unlock the website at www.skgfilms.com which has been reported to be the next step in the game.

Since the game has began there are many references to Cloverfield and Stephen King books as well as lyrics from bands such as Faith No More, 30 Seconds to Mars and Sixx A.M. For all of you out there wondering, Cloverfield is officially non-related to the game, despite the coincidences.

At this time there is also speculation that this ARG is actually promoting a real film with the same name. A look on major studios’ upcoming releases shows no film of that name has been announced which makes it likely that if it does exist, it will be an indie film. Nothing has been denied or confirmed at this point.

As of now it’s been quiet on the forum front, maybe the winds will pick up soon. Only time will tell and the only time here….is 48 hours.