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The community turns 20 years old this year

Discussion in 'General Sonic Discussion' started by Cooljerk, Jan 3, 2017.

  1. Cooljerk

    Cooljerk

    NotEqual Tech, Inc - VR & Game Dev Oldbie
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    For I suspect many of the oldest oldbies on this board, this year will mark the 20th anniversary of this hodge-podge community of hackers, fan game designers, and general Sonic fans. Probably the genesis for this entire scene was Area 51, which was started in 1997. I never would have guessed that several decades later we'd all still be talking online together. It's rather amazing, as I've been a part of several other long-time communities, but few have retained users like this. What's more amazing is how the community has been spread across so many sites over the years, from SSRG to Sonic Cult to Simon Wai's Beta page and so forth. Indeed, user names like IceKnight and LocalH and rattleman not only have remained signed up for boards as they've come and gone, but even remained active in the community.

    We, collectively, saw users actually get jobs with Sega (GeneHF), become professional artists (KojiChao), even produce official Sonic games (Tax, Stealth). I think the world of this community and have been really proud to be a member and around all you guys for so long. Please let's share this topic with good memories as we celebrate a big milestone in the community!
     
  2. JaxTH

    JaxTH

    Pudding Deity Oldbie
    10,355
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    Jack shit.
    Proud member since 1999. :)
     
  3. Flygon

    Flygon

    Member
    Man, when I registered, y'all Oldbies were here for 10 years. Now I've been here for 10 years.

    No recognition, I tells ya. :v:
     
  4. I have had a good time.
     
  5. Well I only just got here but impressed to see that this community is still going after 2 decades, that's impressive!
     
  6. Overlord

    Overlord

    Now playable in Smash Bros Ultimate Moderator
    19,218
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    Long-term happiness
    2001, so one of the later members on A51, but still on the board a good year. Crazy to think that board started nearly 20 years ago.
     
  7. Dark Sonic

    Dark Sonic

    Member
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    I forget when I first started lurking, definitely back in the CulT days. But many usernames and many sites later, this is the only Sonic one I still visit.

    Here's to hopefully many more years of posting too much :specialed:
     
  8. Hez

    Hez

    Oldbie
    Oh god...not sure if I'm proud or pathetic.....fuck...
     
  9. Black Squirrel

    Black Squirrel

    no reverse gear Wiki Sysop
    8,543
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    Northumberland, UK
    steamboat wiki
    And there's still no Sonic 1 beta ROM dump.


    [​IMG]

    Got a new old screenshot of it though.


    They're still out there~
     
  10. Lobotomy

    Lobotomy

    35% Cognac Banned
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    My retro account may be nearly 11, but I've been in the community since 2003, on MobiusForum. I posted in a sonic related message board that I don't remember in 2001, but I don't count that.
     
  11. I kinda wished I'd signed up for these kinds of boards sooner, but I was unfortunately preoccupied with the cringier fan-fiction side of Sonic in the early 2000s. Was a part of SoaHCity in the mid-2000s before its initial shutdown, though.
     
  12. TheKazeblade

    TheKazeblade

    "Our Life is More than a Side-Effect" Member
    I'll have been here 7 years in April. At this point Retro is the only board I'm still an active member of. Some may complain about the elitism around here, but as far as I'm concerned, that quality assurance is one of the main reasons I stick around.

    Let's see another 20.
     
  13. Lyrica

    Lyrica

    (Formerly: Donnyku) Oldbie
    1,365
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    Wedding Planning
    Wow still hard to believe it's been that long. I started with SFGHQ back in 2000, and joined Area51 around 01. Though if we want to get technical, there were old usenets for Sonic stuff, just nothing compared to what we have now
     
  14. Cooljerk

    Cooljerk

    NotEqual Tech, Inc - VR & Game Dev Oldbie
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    I was on those, too, and Compuserve Go Sega around the same time. But yeah, those were very different communities. Area 51 is when the community for finding and documenting hidden, lost, and eventually technical dealings surrounding Sonic really started.
     
  15. Endgame

    Endgame

    Formerly The Growler Member
    I've been around since the Sonic 2 Beta forum days, and I'm still proud to be a member of such a fantistic community! Like TheKazeBlaze said, here's to another 20; I'm sure Sonic will still be around then, too :)

    We've also had our bad times (but not many of them!) - with Tweaker springing to mind; though this wasn't a fault of anyone's but his own.
     
  16. DarkVDee

    DarkVDee

    Duke Of Palettes Member
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    Sonic DVD [CD2]
    I wished I was there around those time but didn't own a PC back then because those things were expensive (and they still are lol.) I first came here as a lurker 10 years ago. How time has passed...
     
  17. Dark Sonic

    Dark Sonic

    Member
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    Ah yes, Tweaker. Why'd he get banned again?

    Also I miss SonicQuoter from CulT. It was always happenin with him.
     
  18. Sparks

    Sparks

    Member
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    Sondro Gomez / Kyle & Lucy
    I joined the site during the SWS2B days as well. Can't believe its been almost 12 years since those days I first learned of ESE, SonED 2, etc. and began building levels with them.

    That means I joined this site when I was 11. I spent my entire teenage life here. :psyduck:
     
  19. Cooljerk

    Cooljerk

    NotEqual Tech, Inc - VR & Game Dev Oldbie
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    We probably shouldn't be discussing Tweaker in this topic. Besides, this is a happy topic, keep drama away.

    I'm 31. I was 11 when I started going to Area 51. That means I've spent the majority of my life having talked to people here.
     
  20. Lizam

    Lizam

    Lizam Member
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    Mario & Sonic: Worlds Clash
    Mostly a longtime lurker, but you all have provided many years of insightful and technical discussions of my favourite franchise.

    Cheers :)