Dystopia2011 is part of an alternate reality game (ARG) inspired by 'The Crying of Lot 49' by Thomas Pynchon. The plot revolves around a secretive postal delivery service, the Trystero (or Tristero). Their mailboxes are disguised as regular waste-bins, often displaying their slogan W.A.S.T.E., an acronym for ‘We Await Silent Tristero's Empire’, and their symbol, a muted post horn. The symbol appears as graffiti in a rest room, among an engineer's doodles and many other places. It has become iconic and recognised by anyone familiar with the book. The goal of the game is to set up, maintain and link together several local underground mail networks. For more information, see #Trystero on Twitter.

The first task of the game is to set up and maintain a local underground mail service. The next stage is to link up with networks run by other players. At any one time there are an indeterminate number of small W.A.S.T.E. networks operating around the world. They consist of smalls groups of people, often transient and short-lived. For example sf0.org/---/Trystero-Postal-Adventure/ and sf0.org/---/Thurn-Und-Taxis-Postal-Adventure/ were short lived games in San Francisco. The networks are used to send and receive mail without, or at least with little, use of the official postal service. The classic technique, in the book, is to install faux rubbish bins, or appropriate disused ones. For example: twitpic.com/8es2se . Each group uses their own techniques to convey mail. For example, a group near Brighton in the UK, appropriates Bookcrossing books release spots to leave and collect mail. See twitpic.com/apnqjp . To take part in the game, first check to see if there is an existing network in the area. Look around for the Trystero muted posthorn symbol and directions to the nearest W.A.S.T.E. box. Also, check local online forums, such as sports teams or local history. Look for members with usernames such as 'Trystero' or 'Potsmaster'. They may well be involved with Trystero. If you do not find a group, start your own. Install at least one mail box in the local area and display the muted posthorn signs with directions to the box. Register with local forums, if available, use the username 'Trystero' or 'Potsmaster' and use one of the off-topic forums to promote the network. Use a Trystero muted posthorn was your user picture, if you choose.
Once the local network is established, seek out other groups to connect with. Tweet details to @Plot49 with hashtag #trystero. W.A.S.T.E.