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[Liberty4all]

Don't get me wrong I really like the site now... But looking back I feel 2005 - 2009 was a great time for GAF.

While GAF was always fairly liberal (in the old sense of the word), the community at the time was just on the same page about everything it seemed. Hive mind at the time meant laughing at epic threads, or seeing an unfortunate junior smacked down for failing to learn the board culture.

I actually did enjoy some aspects of the celebrity modship of the era (although later that lead to disaster when SJW ideology took over).

It's like at the time GAF had the autistic hyper nature of Resetera minus the insane politics and authoritarianship? Not even sure if that's true even back then bans could come swiftly but it wasn't for politics it would be more for making a stupid thread that everyone instinctively knew was stupid.

It was a magical time really.

I feel that GAF now does have the potential to go back to that especially as some of our lost members return from the hell hole of Resetera. Part of the old magic was the mass community... And every day I think we are growing ( EviLore you got stats?).

The key I think is the fair modship and unwavering dedication of the leadership and community to the boards culture.

Im not sure we will ever be exactly as Hive minded as we were in 2008 but I do think we will never go back to the SJW hell of 2014 - 2017.

 

[Papa]

2019-

 

[JimiNutz]

I joined in 07 after lurking for a while and definitely had most fun on the forum in those early days. At that time I think GAF was probably my primary source of entertainment. Threads were absolutely hilarious, the community was mostly really helpful and friendly and there was plenty of content to keep you entertained but not so much that you couldn't keep track of anything or have coherent conversations.

The forum is definitely better now than it was a few years ago though and I think maybe I enjoyed GAF so much back in the day because it was my first time really feeling part of an internet forum/community.

 

[Musky_Cheese]

Best Years are ahead of us.

Although I do think 2006-07 was epic

 

[Chittagong]

2003-2006

“MEGATON”
“SPANUUUUUND!”
“What the hell is that. What is that.”
“Wallguy”
“Five hundred ninety nine US dollars”

 

[Takuan]

2003-2006

“MEGATON”
“SPANUUUUUND!”
“What the hell is that. What is that.”
“Wallguy”
“Five hundred ninety nine US dollars”

This was truly an age of innocence. Best times.

Drinky trolling Nintendo fans was always delightful.

 

[Liberty4all]

Remember that thread where a guy with 10 posts came back 3 years later to say "I told you so" about that DC game? Haha

 

[Fbh]

While I like the site now and I think moderation is now better than it has ever been, I can't say a part of me doesn't miss the days when it seemed like 1 out of every 3 big gaming news came out of GAF and we had plenty of people from the industry posting here, and silly GIF's would pop out all the time (specially around E3), and some threads would generate hilarious reactions and exchanges which ended up being more fun than the news of the thread itself , etc.
Though it might not be nostalgia for a specific moment of GAF as much as nostalgia for a moment when game discussion online wasn't dominated by politics

But I couldn't really tell you exactly what year that was

 

[Space Runaway]

I don't know but I remember it was great fun back when this was going down...

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/too-human-–-stand-and-be-counted.318653/

 

[Chairman Tickles]

2004-2008

psp vs ds, PC vs Xbox360 vs ps3 vs wii

For the memes, drama and gifs.

 

[brap]

Remember that thread where a guy with 10 posts came back 3 years later to say "I told you so" about that DC game? Haha

Remember the guy that came back 10 years later to post about G4?
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/g4-tech-tv-criticizes-gamecube-and-reggie.18233/page-3#post-472351
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/g4-tech-tv-criticizes-gamecube-and-reggie.18233/page-3#post-139161766

 

[J-Roderton]

I remember it being pretty rad right before I joined up, around 2008 or so. Just seemed like the most video-gamey place on the web. Lot of epic threads.

2019 gon’ be fire, though.

 

[Nymphae]

I think I missed the glory days. I signed up somewhat before GG happened, and I thought the vibe was alright until that shit went down. It was a hectic time and to be honest it was kind of exciting in a weird way watching the industry have this huge meltdown lol.

 

[Musky_Cheese]

Gaf history is sprinkled with giant gold nuggets of awesomeness.

Thank you E ElTorro if you ever see this.

 

[EverydayBeast]

2010-2013

 

[Wings 嫩翼翻せ]

2019-

Yeah I was going to say right now but this is clearly it.

 

[Liberty4all]

Remember the guy that came back 10 years later to post about G4?
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/g4-tech-tv-criticizes-gamecube-and-reggie.18233/page-3#post-472351
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/g4-tech-tv-criticizes-gamecube-and-reggie.18233/page-3#post-139161766

I remember that one lol. Epic

 

[Papa]

Yeah I was going to say right now but this is clearly it.

Honestly man, I can feel a whole lot of positivity and momentum here right now. It's just a fun place to be, so while people will frequently come in to point out absolute differences in member counts and activity, they're not looking at the trajectory and are therefore missing the forest for the trees. The future here is bright.

Also, I think the like function plays an enormous role in this as it makes it easy to tell a harsh or abrasive joke but let the other person know that it was a joke without constantly using spoiler tags or /s which ruin the joke imo. This is also dependent on the absence of a dislike function which plays no productive role -- just look at reddit. Great job by the mods in implementing it like this.

 

[Wings 嫩翼翻せ]

Honestly man, I can feel a whole lot of positivity and momentum here right now. It's just a fun place to be, so while people will frequently come in to point out absolute differences in member counts and activity, they're not looking at the trajectory and are therefore missing the forest for the trees. The future here is bright.

Yeah, exactly. I've lived through my fair share of failing forums and this one does not come close to that category. All love!

 

[Liberty4all]

I'm enjoying the diversity of views too. Even though I don't agree with our resident lefties I enjoy debating with them and feel they are decent folks.

It's just so refreshing compared to before being able to truly debate and discourse.

Also making the politics subforum was the right move although I didn't see it at the time. It's done wonders for creating a much better vibe forum wide.

 

[RiccochetJ]

I first discovered GAF by being an avid listener to the 1UP podcast and I heard Dyack's rant. I had never heard of the site before. I checked it out and my initial impression was that it was a moderated 4chan. But it was that moment I got hooked. I decided to apply and eventually I got approved. As a junior I timidly entered into the fray. I think I was one of the off season acceptances because I think I was in a couple months that there was the a fun thread of welcoming the new batch of juniors. And it was always a bloodbath. It was a fun time and something I'll look back on fondly. It was always awesome to see Bish create a thread and just give out tags to people. It's sad to see how Bish went off the deep end at the end of his time here. It was always epic when he appeared.

I've been here... Holy shit at the beginning of the new year, I'll have been here 9 years. But I'll agree with the people that were here before me when I think that probably 2006-2009 were insane. PS3, Xbox360, Wii, Gerstmanngate, Dyack doing his rant etc. There was so much to talk about. I think I came in at the end as things were tapering off but got to be a junior member and contributing at the end there.

There was a dark period for probably the past 2 to 3 years, but with how I'm seeing GAF evolve since, I'm excited for the future.

Edit: I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I have no idea what the difference is between a Neo and Neophyte member is. I'm guessing they're different levels of juniors? I've looked in the FAQ's (or I think I have) and don't know the difference.

 

[Days like these...]

Way way back in the early days when this place had personalities like Mr. Angry Face, Drinky Crow and uh... whole bunch of others whose names I don't remember

 

[RiccochetJ]

Way way back in the early days when this place had personalities like Mr. Angry Face, Drinky Crow and uh... whole bunch of others whose names I don't remember

Kittonwy. That person could get under my skin like no other. He or she got permabanned but the only other who could get a rise was Astrolad. Astrolad was funny though. There was a reason why Astrolad had the tag "Hail to the King" or something to that effect. I can still remember their avatars. Kitton had a cat with a pot on his/her head and Astrolad had a girl that's kind of smirking at the camera.

That's the kind of impression that those two left on me

 

[Days like these...]

Oh yeah and I also remember olimario and that good looking guy with the hot girlfriends he lived in Malta or somewhere it was amazing way back then

 

[RiccochetJ]

Oh yeah and I also remember olimario and that good looking guy with the hot girlfriends he lived in Malta or somewhere it was amazing way back then

Oh my goodness yes.

Probably my biggest memory when I was a member on this board was the Jbaird murder/rape hoax. God that thing was epic. I was only 8 months into being on the board when that happened.

For those of you unaware, relive the epic thread https://www.neogaf.com/threads/jbai...laborate-murder-rape-hoax-update-4151.404430/

Go to about page 35 to see it all to start unravel.

Warning: Amir0x was the mod involved in all this. We now know that he's a despicable human being and I hope he rots in jail, but at the time, his responses in the thread were hilarious. I think at the time that we knew he was a drug addict and at least some of us were trying to provide support, but then he went and did the whole mom thing and the pedo shit (years later) where he was beyond hope and realized that he's better locked away where he can't hurt, look, or touch anyone.

 

[Paracelsus]

I joined in 2007, and it was all great until 2012, then it took a turn for the worse in 2013 and in 2014 it became horrible. In the good years you had quality humor, competent gaming opinions, a lot of sales analysis and inside info from developers. Past 2012, it became a shell of its former self, but then again that's true for gaming as well, it's not fun to look at threads like the ones Schuelma and Chris1964 used to have with such lousy competing platforms, NPD threads are useless for the same reason.

 

[godhandiscen]

Remember that thread where a guy with 10 posts came back 3 years later to say "I told you so" about that DC game? Haha

I do. Epic.

 

[Liberty4all]

Oh my goodness yes.

Probably my biggest memory when I was a member on this board was the Jbaird murder/rape hoax. God that thing was epic. I was only 8 months into being on the board when that happened.

For those of you unaware, relive the epic thread https://www.neogaf.com/threads/jbai...laborate-murder-rape-hoax-update-4151.404430/

Go to about page 35 to see it all to start unravel.

Warning: Amir0x was the mod involved in all this. We now know that he's a despicable human being and I hope he rots in jail, but at the time, his responses in the thread were hilarious. I think at the time that we knew he was a drug addict and at least some of us were trying to provide support, but then he went and did the whole mom thing and the pedo shit (years later) where he was beyond hope and realized that he's better locked away where he can't hurt, look, or touch anyone.

Oh geez jbaird. That thread was one for the ages.

 

[Papa]

Oh yeah and I also remember olimario and that good looking guy with the hot girlfriends he lived in Malta or somewhere it was amazing way back then

Was that wispy-something-or-other? The guy who made a sex tape with his girlfriend (I think?).

 

[Laz-E-Boy]

Whatever year baardhimself was around. Seeing this post:

i had a better idea.. i kick your wife in the back of the legs and fuck her bareback doggy style, just as i am about to nut i whip out nintendoggy 2 and using the dsi i record me covering her mouth and busting up her nostrils as she fingers my taint. bitch.

in a Nintendogs thread of all things was a sight to behold.

 

[Days like these...]

Was that wispy-something-or-other? The guy who made a sex tape with his girlfriend (I think?).

Olimario traded his gf nudes for a psp If I remember correctly

 

[Liberty4all]

Whatever year baardhimself was around. Seeing this post:



in a Nintendogs thread of all things was a sight to behold.

That quote lived on for years on old gaf

 

[JimiNutz]

Was that wispy-something-or-other? The guy who made a sex tape with his girlfriend (I think?).

The Wispy Scoundrel!
I'd wanked off to the video years before lol

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/hann...to-make-internet-porn-pm-requests-ban.302108/

 

[Papa]

The Wispy Scoundrel!
I'd wanked off to the video years before lol

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/hann...to-make-internet-porn-pm-requests-ban.302108/

It’s amazing that people actually knew of the video. Imagine if that happened today. With the amount of amateur porn out there now, that video would’ve been a drop in the ocean.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

When olimario posted nudes of his girlfriend.

I don’t remember the dates but around that time the internet didn’t outright fucking suck all the time, it was just a total mess of idiots and it was mostly hilarious, rather than whatever the hell it has become now.
I blame twitter, twitter was a mistake

 

[ILLtown]

Back before I'd even heard the phrase "identity politics".

 

[Wheeljack539]

2003-2006

“MEGATON”
“SPANUUUUUND!”
“What the hell is that. What is that.”
“Wallguy”
“Five hundred ninety nine US dollars”

I'd expand that to 2000 - 2008

-Awesome XBOX! XBOX IS Awesome!
-Leguna's "FINAL JUDGEMENT" series
-Futami's Zelda fuckup
-Capslock's crisis of Nintendo Faith after the Gamecube unveiling
-I believe this news
-Opa Opa
-KleeGamerfan's "carbon nanotube tvs by 2006!"
-Gahagiddy
-Nintendo is t3h d00m3d

And more that I'm probably forgetting

To think for those of us that have been here that long that we've been through 3 GAFpocalypes.

 

[davepoobond]

Whenever I first joined until about 5 years after that.

 

[JimiNutz]

It’s amazing that people actually knew of the video. Imagine if that happened today. With the amount of amateur porn out there now, that video would’ve been a drop in the ocean.

Yeah times are certainly different. Those Hotel Hannah videos were pretty special at the time though. She def looked like she rode that dick well.

 

[Chente Fernandez]

I'd expand that to 2000 - 2008

-Awesome XBOX! XBOX IS Awesome!
-Leguna's "FINAL JUDGEMENT" series
-Futami's Zelda fuckup
-Capslock's crisis of Nintendo Faith after the Gamecube unveiling
-I believe this news
-Opa Opa
-KleeGamerfan's "carbon nanotube tvs by 2006!"
-Gahagiddy
-Nintendo is t3h d00m3d

And more that I'm probably forgetting

To think for those of us that have been here that long that we've been through 3 GAFpocalypes.

go ly dow, the 4 color outline guys

 

[brap]

 

[Scopa]

I seem to remember this but not the context.

 

[Days like these...]

What about that drawing by uh...I can't think of his name (he was super fanboy) of consoles being represented as cars in race?

 

[brap]

I seem to remember this but not the context.

green represents porn noises

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/i-thought-my-headphones-were-plugged-in-but-they-werent.776087/

 

[caffeware]

-Awesome XBOX! XBOX IS Awesome!
-Leguna's "FINAL JUDGEMENT" series
-Futami's Zelda fuckup
-Capslock's crisis of Nintendo Faith after the Gamecube unveiling
-I believe this news
-Opa Opa
-KleeGamerfan's "carbon nanotube tvs by 2006!"
-Gahagiddy
-Nintendo is t3h d00m3d

And more that I'm probably forgetting
.

Square Enix just shot themselves in the foot.

 

[Malakhov]

Psx era. Gaming was the best, the off topic was the best.

Klepek was actually a very funny and entertaining guy back then. Now look at what he became

 

[DietRob]

I lurked from around 2006ish until I finally had a valid email to sign up with in 2008(I think) I'd say from 2007 to around 2010 were the most fun I had here. As others have said it seems like the 'hive mind' was good and hadn't yet turned ultra-progressive and stifling.. Even as a 'progressive' myself I can recognize that we went too far and conversation and participation here was severely hampered because of that.

Before that time though it was so much fun how the board just kinda gelled around certain things. A bunch of legendary threads around that time. I was still really into gaming at the time and there wasn't a better place on the internet that was better for breaking news and MEGATONS..

A few of my fondest memories of the board was the Killzone 2 thread and the Sony E3 threads in late PS3 days. Man, Bruce sure could make an OT... nothing quite like them

Oh and that time was prime Gaborn News

 

[Ownage]

The Alizee era, circa 2002-3.