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[[File:TSUKI banner.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The Tsuki Project front page]]

[[File:TSUKI banner.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The TSUKI Project front page]]

The '''TSUKI (月) Project''' was a website based on the belief that our reality is just one system among many in existence, and that when we die, we ascend to the next system.

The '''TSUKI (月) Project''' (systemspace.link) was a website created by an individual called ''Tsuki'' that professed a belief system largely based on the simulation and multiverse hypotheses. It borrowed heavily from [[Serial Experiments Lain]]'s aesthetics and some lore details, as well as other media, used [[Lain]] as its mascot, and has managed to attract a large community of followers through its lifetime. The website offered information about the Project, as well as hosted community services such as an imageboard and a chat. It came under immense pressure after a mainstream news outlet investigated a link between a real-life suicide and the website, and the rather wide online coverage of this incident, along with mismanagement, ultimately led to it shutting down.

Several references to the anime TV series [[Serial Experiments Lain]] were present on the website and its multi-reality theories.

It originated on 4chan's /r9k/ board in early 2017, quickly acquiring a large community which gathered on its imageboard and Discord server. On July 1, 2017, an attempt to create an indigenous chat system failed, and shortly thereafter Tsuki disappeared. The community survived on various Discord servers, until Tsuki returned in December. A second, more successful, chat system was created in March 2018, and on November 10 registration of new migrants stopped and large parts of the site ceased to be accessible. The site shut down completely on December 22, 2019. By that time, it had amassed over seven thousand registered migrants.

 

Owing to its /r9k/ antics and Tsuki's young age, the Project and its community have suffered many technical and social incidents due to many instances of mismanagement. The less-strict stance on suicide proved controversial in the mainstream discussions, and lent much ill fame to it, with some even labeling it a suicide cult. Hosting a troubled community, its history was rife with friendships as much as it was plagued by violent feuds. Despite this, the Project was a source of hope and a home to many. It remains a staple of unconventional web design, and could possibly be credited with spurring the renaissance of the Lain fandom.

 

The website claimed that our current world is just one of many other ''systems'', existing together in a multiverse called ''Systemspace''. It purported that our system, called ''Life'', is about to be "recycled" due to its enormous energy usage, and that the ''TSUKI Representative'' (also known as simply ''Tsuki'', or ''Rep''), a person from Life who could communicate with the outside systems, was called upon to facilitate the transfer of "souls" of Life inhabitants into another, much larger and diverse system, called ''LFE''. Tsuki claimed to represent a consortium of corporations and other groups, responsible for Systemspace itself and some of the largest systems in it, who had an interest in preserving Life culture and knowledge. Through the website, a person could sign up to become a ''migrant'', allowing themselves to transfer to LFE after their death by any cause. Suicide was believed to be destructive to the soul, but its discussion was not largely restricted. Belief was not required to participate, but a migrant's hostile actions towards the Project or its community could lead to the revocation of their status.

== History ==

== History ==

=== Origins (Jan-Feb 2017)===

=== Origins (Jan-Feb 2017)===

On January 15, 2017 a 4chan user began a thread on its /r9k/ board anguishing about his "daydream world telling him to die before August 28"<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34157760/</ref>. Other anonymous posters asked him questions about his situation, which he answered them, remarking that "they're comfy and it feels good to have others talk about your daydreams".

On January 15, 2017 a 4chan user began a thread on its /r9k/ board anguishing about his "daydream world telling him to die before August 28"<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34157760/</ref>. Other anonymous posters asked him questions about his situation, which he answered, remarking that "they're comfy and it feels good to have others talk about your daydreams".

He made two other threads on January 20 and 26 respectively. In both threads, he was mocked by doubters<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34427161/#q34428439</ref> and asked questions by believers<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34305385/#q34306529</ref> - themes that would repeat throughout the history of the Project. It was in the latter thread that he first began to call himself Tsuki<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34427161/#q34435689</ref>.

He made two other threads on January 20 and 26 respectively. In both threads, he was mocked by doubters<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34427161/#q34428439</ref> and asked questions by believers<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34305385/#q34306529</ref> - themes that would repeat throughout the history of the Project. It was in the latter thread that he first began to call himself Tsuki<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/34427161/#q34435689</ref>.

While the number of dedicated Systemspace threads decreased once the new imageboard was started, Systemspace-related content began to spill over into unrelated threads, like dating threads<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35821819/#35826756</ref>, game threads<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35802446/#35813709</ref>, and threads about hoping to be reborn in a different body<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35669096/#35673133</ref>.

While the number of dedicated Systemspace threads decreased once the new imageboard was started, Systemspace-related content began to spill over into unrelated threads, like dating threads<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35821819/#35826756</ref>, game threads<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35802446/#35813709</ref>, and threads about hoping to be reborn in a different body<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/35669096/#35673133</ref>.

Despite minor hiccups, things seemed to be on the up and up through March and April. The number of registrants reached four digits<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20170317111608/https://systemspace.link/</ref> and increasing numbers participated in the community. Then the dam burst.

Despite minor hiccups, things seemed to be on the up and up through March and April. The number of registrants reached four digits<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20170317111608/https://systemspace.link/</ref> and increasing numbers participated in the community. Then the dam burst.

On April 24, the Compendium, a compilation of the answers of Tsuki to the questions asked him in relation to the Project, first appeared on GitHub<ref>https://github.com/SystemSpace/Compendium/blob/691e57781d4e75c08a99112e58999801d18640e2/compendium.rst As this is "version 5.5", there must have been earlier versions on Pastebin or privately circulated which have not survived.</ref>. It would be continuously updated until February 2018.

On April 24, the Compendium, a compilation of the answers of Tsuki to the questions asked him in relation to the Project, first appeared on GitHub<ref>https://github.com/SystemSpace/Compendium/blob/691e57781d4e75c08a99112e58999801d18640e2/compendium.rst As this is "version 5.5", there must have been earlier versions on Pastebin or privately circulated which have not survived.</ref>. It would be continuously updated until February 2018.

When did the demonym "migrant" for those who signed up (and the term "migrant number" for the number each was given at registration) for the TSUKI Project first appear? The answer is, surprisingly late. It is not used in the earliest threads, before the boards were created; the Compendium thus represents its first extant use<ref>"Will us migrants get a special status in LFE? You migrants will definitely be seen as some sort of elite group."</ref>.

The demonym "migrant" for those who signed up for the TSUKI Project and the term "migrant number" for the number each was given at registration were not used in the earliest threads, before the boards were created; their first extant use is found in the Compendium<ref>"Will us migrants get a special status in LFE? You migrants will definitely be seen as some sort of elite group."</ref>.

To top it off, two incidents occurred which would sow the seed for internal dissent to the TSUKI Project.  

To top it off, two incidents occurred which would sow the seeds of internal dissent to the TSUKI Project.  

The first was a brief article entitled "The Burden of Truth". This was an attempt by Tsuki to explain why he did not provide proof for the existence of Systemspace. He stated that "if there were absolute truth of Systemspace being real, everyone would edge towards signing up" but "if there were truth of Systemspace being fake, everyone would edge towards calling me off as a schizophrenic." He therefore reasoned that "a balance of real and fake" was needed "to make a choice that truly represents what you wish to believe." To do that, he stated that he had "given tiny hints of proof, which are easily warded off by people who do not believe" and "slightly 'lied' to the community of sorts" and "'slipped up' as you may call it, which can also be warded off by people who believe."<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/dataverses/Thoughts/Truth/?old</ref>. This ignited a furor.

The first was a brief article entitled "The Burden of Truth". This was an attempt by Tsuki to explain why he did not provide proof for the existence of Systemspace. He stated that "if there were absolute truth of Systemspace being real, everyone would edge towards signing up" but "if there were truth of Systemspace being fake, everyone would edge towards calling me off as a schizophrenic." He therefore reasoned that "a balance of real and fake" was needed "to make a choice that truly represents what you wish to believe." To do that, he stated that he had "given tiny hints of proof, which are easily warded off by people who do not believe" and "slightly 'lied' to the community of sorts" and "'slipped up' as you may call it, which can also be warded off by people who believe."<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/dataverses/Thoughts/Truth/?old</ref>. This ignited a furor.

The next day, he altered the text of this article by replacing "slipped up" with "instilled doubt" and adding a new section declaring that "I try to (and believe to have succeeded to) never lie."<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/dataverses/Thoughts/Truth/</ref>. Yet the damage was done. A group named the Apollo Society had struck while the iron was hot and made much hay of the change<ref>https://apollobase.neocities.org/images/burden_change.png</ref>.

The next day, he altered the text of this article by replacing "slipped up" with "instilled doubt" and adding a new section declaring that "I try to (and believe to have succeeded to) never lie."<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/dataverses/Thoughts/Truth/</ref>. Yet the damage was done. A group named the Apollo Society had struck while the iron was hot and made much hay of the change<ref>https://apollobase.neocities.org/images/burden_change.png</ref>.

The website gained interest from the internet community after being featured in numerous YouTube videos. Several theories were born from it as some said it was a hoax, others a death cult or even a marketing stunt for the release of a new game/TV series. Most information on the website was purposely cryptic with links leading to images of static and black and white pixels, leading even more theories about encrypted messages hidden on the website.

The second was the appearance of a mysterious "void file" on the systemspace.link website. The void file was in the form of binary data, mostly consisting of garbage data that changed with each download, but within which were embedded "payload sections" containing human-readable files that was nevertheless extremely corrupted. For several days, the "payload sections" contained test transmissions of first a video and then an image. Then, the "payload sections" changed to a picture of [[Lain Iwakura]] in her [[bear suit]], captioned with "DO NOT SHOW THE CONTENTS OF THIS IMAGE TO ANYBODY AT TSUKI, INCLUDING THE REP". This stated that eNdymioN, one of the companies that were behind the TSUKI Project, had reached a deal with the Hyakanghen, an organization opposed to the TSUKI Project. "They will leave migrants alone until Aug 1st", promised the image, "They believe killing self before then will make you worthy"<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/dataverses/Compendium/voidfile.php</ref>.

 

Due to the technical difficulty involved, only a few, among whom was Fox, managed to extract the payload. The few decided to maintain radio silence, and contacted staff for help enforcing it. However, in doing so, Tsuki was informed of the picture's existence. Fox got into contact with Tsuki, and agreed, in his words, to "claim that I made it, invent some bullshit story about putting it in the void stream to test if someone's trustworthy, done - to avoid non-believers (aka people who believe that Tsuki made the void stream) saying Tsuki asked people to commit suicide."<ref>https://github.com/SystemSpace/Compendium/blob/master/voidfile.rst</ref>

 

By May, emigration of old members was common. Appeals were posted on 4chan calling for new members to prevent the boards from being "flooded with normies"<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/36746573/#q36747626</ref>.

 

 

On May 10, eNdymioN announced the liquidation of a developer System, in order to gain more Aurora (fundamental energy of Systemspace) for the mission of the Project. This Aurora could "be used either as slots for users (28K) or time (560 days)"; hence, every 20 new migrants would bring the unlink, for which it was feared Tsuki would have to kill himself, one day forward<ref name="news">https://classic.systemspace.network/news.php</ref>. The increase in migrant slots was not universally popular; some complained that the new slots would only go to "normies"<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/37055891/#q37064407</ref>, but Tsuki reasserted that "Robots are still the higher priority for us."<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/37055891/#37058468</ref>.

 

On May 15, a survey was taken asking the community whether they wanted to advertise on 8chan or not<ref name="news" />.

 

Around that time, the sale of "file space" began in order to raise money for the Project. At the price of 0.0015 bitcoin per gigabyte, migrants could buy space to upload files to which they would have access in LFE<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/37527215/#q37530250</ref>. While it was suspected to be a scam for Tsuki's personal benefit, he denied it, saying that the revenue received was only enough to pay for the actual needs of the Project, such as server space<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/37527215/#q37534075</ref>.

 

On June 11, 2017, a "Pre-Gate" survey was taken<ref name="news" />. Of the 1,286 migrants that responded to it, 82.97% believed in the TSUKI Project<ref>https://classic.systemspace.network/</ref>.

 

 

The event anticipated by all was the opening of the Gates on the 1st of July, for souls would be transferred to LFE only if their bodies died after that date<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/37527215/#q37529307</ref>.  

When the Gates opened, a countdown to a few days later appeared on systemspace.link<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/38093044/#q38093175</ref>. What would happen when the countdown expired was not stated<ref>https://legacy.arisuchan.jp/x/res/2.html#q42</ref>. Some assumed it counted down to the time when all migrants would kill themselves<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/38193473/#q38193909</ref>; others, that the whole Project was an alternate reality game<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/38193473/#q38198093</ref>. The truth was far more mundane.

 

The countdown expired to reveal the homepage of systemspace.link with a new button, "Join Chat", prominently displayed<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/38209530/#q38211959</ref>. Less than half an hour later, the chat was inaccessible due to overload by the torrent of users<ref>https://desuarchive.org/r9k/thread/38209530/#q38212194</ref>. Still, as a separate chat system independent from Discord, it continued to possess a hold on the migrant psyche far out of proportion with its limited lifespan.

 

What happened a week or two later, however, was anything but mundane.

 

 

In 2018 the website came under fire due to the suicide of a seventeen year old boy directly influenced by the TSUKI Project.

In 2018 the website came under fire due to the suicide of a seventeen year old boy directly influenced by the TSUKI Project.