Honestly, I have so many good memories of this site that it almost makes me tear up thinking of how this site has become such a hollow shell of its former self.
I remember talking it up with all my best VGC buds: DMeisterJ, Psrock, OkeyDokey, and all the billion other people who would take me forever to list (you know who you are and I love you, but I decided to stop at 3). I remember being promoted to mod status and becoming friends with Naznatips (back when he was the coolest, nicest person around). I remember updating hundreds of games in the database back when there was no money reward and it seemed like I was the only person doing it. I remember cursing people out, hit-and-run trolling, and having really crazy BDSM style chats on my wall and in IM. I remember when I used to write 10 paragraph responses to people who were trolling and ban people for being obvious troll accounts (and I doubt it hurt the site).
I remember playing games of Halo 3 with DMeister, Gears 2 with Rocketpig, and Brawl with OkeyDokey. I remember being on vacation and finding a computer just so I could be on the site when the Wii passed the 360 in total sales. I remember when I started to really improve my writing skills by having intelligent debates with members and writing reviews for the sites. I remember thinking that the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4 was one of the most important events of 2008. I remember when I first got to the site, and I added my first friend. I remember when half the mods never even visited the site and trolls were infamous but few in number. I remember when Rubang first posted his nude Gameboy shot and become a legend.
But most of all, I remember a community where people came from all the over to have crazy discussions and fun times, all on a site that's just about videogames sales numbers. And is the community really growing? It seems like when I lurk the forums, it's mainly the same people that have been here for years maintaining things (and I always wonder why they haven't left; but then again, I still refuse to leave so I guess I can understand). Are new members really demanding all these features? I doubt it.
