CAUTION: A long, sappy post follows. You may feel like gagging after reading it, so I advise you to read on an empty stomach. You have been warned!I mentioned this earlier, but I have been reading a lot of really old threads from the Archives lately--some of them go back all the way to 2003!
It's fun to read some of the posts from the members who have been here forever (Cat, Jafar, Cray, Rob, Kimmie, etc.) and to see where they were in their lives then as opposed to now, but also how constant and loyal to the project they've been over the years. The forum seemed so excited and pumped up for any scrap of information they could glean about TSL (or "KQIX"
) It's really inspiring! For the most part, the forum felt so vivacious, and so hopeful. It makes me absolutely YEARN that I was back there with the original posters. (Sickening story: I remember doing a Google search back in 2004 for King's Quest 9 and seeing the KQIX site. I clicked on it, but kind of skimmed over it and didn't give it a second thought.
It wasn't until I was 21 and actually interested in foruming that I joined, and even then I was too intimidated to post at first.
)
However, not
all of these times were lighthearted and fun.
Most recently, I read all seven pages of Say's
farewell thread, and I could definitely feel the difference in the way a lot of forumers were feeling. Even poor Say was frustrated and seemed to be feeling helpless. Some of the comments that were made were just downright harsh and mean, and so many people had given up hope and quit anything to do with TSL. It broke my heart to see how badly people's faith had been shaken. And reading what the rest of the team wrote to Say was so sweet I got teary-eyed! I never had the pleasure of meeting Say, but I read through some of her posts and I gotta say, she seemed incredible. I wish that I could have met her (she's another Pacific Northwesterner
), but she obviously had very good reasons for leaving.
Now you're wondering: "Uh, okay...Haids, why are you bringing up things that happened so many years ago?"
Well, reading through all these old, dark posts just makes me appreciate where we are
today all the more. Look what had to happen in order to get where we are today! Look at this incredible team that has stuck around through all of this, and the loyal posters that have supported the project since there didn't seem to be a project
to support! The forum went through so many changes, but the one constant that has never wavered is the spirit of the cause, absolute devotion to the game. There may have been some bad times, but those bad times laid the foundation for what was finally accomplished. The forum would be nowhere as cool as it is now if those dark times had never happened. POS was able to conquer the pessimism, the doubt, and the negativity that sometimes surrounded them. If only those people who gave up on you could see where you are now!
It makes me proud to say that I am an active member of this community. To be posting alongside people like you guys makes it so amazing! I am blessed to have found you, and you've definitely changed me for the better. King's Quest has always been something I'm passionate about, and meeting others who feel the same way--jeez, it's overwhelming! Thank you to everyone here--people who have been here forever...team members who have poured their souls into this game...people who are newbies to the forums (welcome! You can't even fathom how awesome this community is!
)...and people like myself who have only been here a year or two, but have found an online home with kindred spirits.
At the risk of sounding even sappier (which I doubt is possible
), I send my love to each and every one of you. I seriously can't think of a forumer I dislike, and I'm so glad you're all here. You are what makes this a safe haven for anyone who wants to keep the King's Quest spirit alive!
