It's a different time now, compared to what this place once was. And I myself once stood as an individual member who had been content with remaining separate from the crowd, detached from the community. I came here on my business, and my business alone. Yet as time progressed, I began to recognize names and not long after that had occurred I began to establish a rapport with many other separate individuals. Time continued on and before I knew it, I had been absorbed into the Community. I had become a part of something greater, something incredibly awesome. During my high-point here, this site was incredibly busy and constantly growing in popularity. Many large groups has formed, but more specifically large networks of friends had formed as well. Bungie.net was a place where strangers could instantly become friends because of their shared fondness over a specific game as well as an attraction to the same community. This community was something I enjoyed surrounding myself with. I would always seek out news and information, and I would observe Bungie on their many development journeys over the years. Time and time again they were able to capture my interest and intrigue, drawing my attention towards the many amazing things they would create. I made countless threads and even more replies. I created art, YouTube videos, groups of my own, all in order to contribute to what I saw as a living, breathing community. Everyone contributed, everyone brought something unique to the table, and I did not recognize it so clearly back then but after a time I began to truly understand how awesome this this place really was, and that I was more than fortunate to be a part of it. What Bungie had done for me was something I hope every person here experiences over their stay. They had created a vessel, a means to connect on level that gave me many countless hours of fun, but more importantly many fond memories. I befriended several people here, became acquainted with even more, and most surprisingly even met people that I became so close to that those members came to events in my life such as my bachelor party, and even my wedding. Friendships that I might not have ever known. Nights of gaming that brought us together that were some hilariously or incredibly fun, that sometimes I forgot that I had never even met some of these people or actually knew them because I simply felt so naturally close to them. It's unexplainable, but that's just the damn honest truth. But now life is busier and the times have changed as my energy and efforts have been directed elsewhere. I will still post here for as long as I can, just as I will continue to take interest in Bungie as well the games they make and I shall look forward to playing them as well. Yet in a sad realization, I see now that I will never have that level of participation or involvement that I once had. I have drifted away from friends that I consciously remind myself to never forget. Especially those that have passed on. With time restraints and other priorities that consume my time, I now realize that my high point, my great journey has finally come to an end, and I will never recapture the magic of this place, the essence of what was. As much as I've spoken about me in this thread, I want to be entirely clear that this thread is not about me. It's about you. It's about all of you. I have only spoken of my journey to assist in illustrating my point... As you have read, I have spoken of great times and wonderful people. I have shared the the fact that this place has provided an incredible means for people wishing to enhance their gaming experience. It allows for individuals to establish their own network of friends who seek genuine camaraderie in accompaniment with their online adventures. I have shared my fondness of the memories forged here and some of them I'm certain I will never forget. It is all these things in which I have spoken and shared that I truly hope will be carried on time and time again with future the community members, here in this place. The experience is one that I truly have come to value. While we might not all see eye to eye, and some might seem only to desire conflict, the truth is we all come here for the same reason. Some might stay only for just a short while, others are here for the long haul... But it's important to remember that here, in this moment many of you are building memories that you will always cherish. The time during Halo was my high-point, and it wasn't until years after I'd become involved that I began to realize how awesome this thing was that I had become a part of. It was then that I began to embrace my fellow gamer as best I could, and I think as many others did as well. This is why we thrived, this is why we played together and why we were always guaranteed to have a blast. We embraced the idea of community, the idea of gamers becoming comrades. Do you ever wonder why Bungie decided to travel down the road of an extremely online-oriented game? Why they constantly strive to make an incredible online experience? It's because they see the magic. They understand the magnificence of what a community can be, and what we can do together. I have seen all that... And I thank all of those possible for it. With all this being said, I suppose I should highlight the main theme to all this rambling. I have run my cycle, and while I'll now fade into the background of the community, many of you will come into the foreground. Many of you will participate in the greatest of ways and will dedicate a lot of your time and energy into this place as I once tried to. Destiny marks the beginning of a new era in the community, an era that I truly hope mirrors the greatness of what the Halo era once had. Some of the same people still remain, but with the countless new faces that have come into the community, I hope this thread serves as a reminder of how great this place can be, as well as how resourceful it can be. As Destiny focuses on teamwork, I hope this concept will be reflected in its community. We are all strangers, anonymous humans coming together to seek adventure and fun. One time long ago, this was done. At first it was a slow process, with less people and less technology, but it evolved. And now we have the massive community we see before us. Now the process has somewhat begun again but with more people and more technology. New bonds will form, new memories will made, and great things will happen. So I say to all of you, with absolute sincerity... Embrace your fellow gamer. Seek to strengthen your place here through friendships, as opposed to bitter conflict and trolling. Of course these things will always happen, but try to remember why you are here. To have fun, not to feud. Do not stand as an individual if you do not wish, seek out others to join you on your journey here, just as I have. Build your fire team, just as I built my red and blue teams and still connect with some of them to this day. Enjoy your time here, and don't take it for granted, because one day when you don't have the same time for it anymore, you'll begin to miss "the good 'ol days". Play your damn heart out, enjoy, and make the best of this generation.