I wanted to reflect on this year a little today, but instead I've been staring at the blogging screen for over an hour now, fingers at a total halt. I don't even know what else to write. I'm so caught up in the emotion of it. We had almost 24 million pageviews on our debut year. That's absolutely ridiculous. I just wanted to go to E3 and that was great. To have our head editor appearing on G4, to be invited to every following industry conference, and to reach so many homes around the world -- to say that was a surprise is an understatement. These things don't happen to people outside of the gaming industry. I always say that's why we're different. We're not even supposed to exist, really.
More than anything, I just want to thank you, the reader, for honestly giving a shit and supporting Destructoid. There are millions of gaming sites on the web, and the fact that you come here to read our views means the world to me and all of the writers. While we do the writing, it really is the community that makes Destructoid special. We don't know how we bumped into all of you (have to see the how did I get here thread?) but we're thankful and lucky we did.
While I may have started the site, I certainly can't take credit at all for why people stick around. For me personally, tomorrow is a day to thank guys like Fronz, CTZ, Ron, Nick, Summa, Joseph, Colette, Topher, and the whole 20 or so contributors that do this for the love of it. It wasn't even until last week that we had real gaming ads on the site (how many wolves have to die?!!) thanks to our new friends at Hammersuit.
While the site's a combination of everyone's input, tips, and Tlack's custom ElephantBlog software, I do take full credit for coming up and building the helmet though. That's the product of a drop-out's one year public school fine art education that finally paid off. More fun cannot be had in bolted-together air conditioner ducts -- the first claim of it's type, I'm sure.
So tomorrow's a big deal to me. I've paid off debt all year to throw a big party for our unlikely collective tomorrow, and am sort of in disbelief that it's finally here. Ok, so I may have dipped a little into my credit cards but life's too short and I'll never have another chance to throw a one year party. The t-shirt sale helped out a lot, so thank you if you picked one up (BTW so sorry those are shipping late, we weren't expecting to sell hundreds of them!) A second batch shipped out last week and a third batch went out yesterday.
Confession: I seriously rented a 26 passenger Hummer limo. I've always seen those things whizzing down the street and wondered who's in them. Tomorrow, it's me and my people. Wasteful? Yeah. But I get to keep that memory after the limo pulls away so it's money well splurged. I also get to blog about it :)
The thing that I guess moves me the most is that, if luck be my lady, I'm at the cusp of realizing a life long dream of mine: to play video games for a living. It actually seems to be happening not only for me, but also for the people that poured their heart and soul into this project.
While the site is new, the idea's been in the back of my mind for a really long time. See, about years ago I bought a memo pad and would transcribe codes from Gamepro and EGM into it. That was Destructoid, 1989 in a sense. I was organizing meetings with kids from the neighborhood and writing crazy, stupid letters to Nintendo about their games and trying to get my video game club in their magazine. Never happened. Maybe I'll scan it in for you guys next week for shits and giggles. I have some good Kid Icarus codes in there, I'm sure.
As I got older, I let that dream go. I never thought I could move to Redmond and do the career gamer thing so I got into all sorts of other industries that, funny enough, ultimately and indirectly prepared me to build this site. You don't know how proud I feel when I see those comment counts climb up. Anyway, I know I'm ranting, but it's just that it's what I've always hoped it would be. It's surreal to me.
Damn, 6pm already. Reminds me of how time flies -- 1 year in a blink of an eye already. Time to go pick up Summa at the airport. And so, it begins and the computer is shutting down for the weekend.
Thank you for reading Destructoid. Wish you were here.
Also, cocks.
03/15/2007 17:12
03/15/2007 17:12
I'll be waiting for my invitation on the mail...
:(
03/15/2007 17:13
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03/15/2007 17:24
From L.T.
03/15/2007 17:26
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03/15/2007 17:29
How warm is it in Miami? Up here in New York, it got close to 70° yesterday, but it’s supposed to snow over the weekend. I wish I were there, too...enjoy the party!
03/15/2007 17:30
I propose a toast!
Destructoid: Year One is in the books. A few more years and they won't know what hit them. So drink up Dtoid... You've still got 20 more years 'til you're legal and the cops might see us. ALSO COCKS!
03/15/2007 17:30
*Throws towel*
03/15/2007 17:32
Wish we could be there...
03/15/2007 17:32
Happy Birthday, also cocks. Drink one for me brotha!
03/15/2007 17:34
I can't imagine my life without Destructoid in it. You've given us more than we can ever give in return Niero. Happy Birthday and thanks for everything.
Goal for 2008: buy an island and make the robot nation official. World domination is on its way :)
03/15/2007 17:34
how much is a round trip ticket pittsburgh to miami i wonder...
03/15/2007 17:36
03/15/2007 17:37
HAPPY BDAY DTOID AND NIERO!
03/15/2007 17:37
03/15/2007 17:38
Don't ever change.
Also, cakes.
03/15/2007 17:46
Keep it coming!
:)
03/15/2007 17:48
03/15/2007 17:49
Happy birthday Dtoid and Niero.Just wait...in a little while Destructoid will be recognized as THE video game site,as it should be.
03/15/2007 17:50
03/15/2007 17:53
Also, cocks.
03/15/2007 17:53
03/15/2007 17:54
Congrats, thanks for the entertainment.
03/15/2007 17:56
LONG LIVE DESTRUCTOID
03/15/2007 17:59
03/15/2007 18:09
I hear people bitch that this is more like a blog, so they stay away a stick with their filtered bullshit like IGN.
I hope your hear to stay,
you beter be on the next podtoid, so we can hear how sstoked you are on the one year
03/15/2007 18:12
Also, cocks to all.
03/15/2007 18:13
03/15/2007 18:14
03/15/2007 18:15
03/15/2007 18:17
03/15/2007 18:21
But seriously, I joined dtoid back in like June I think? It was teensy then. I don't think we really had more than 1 or 2 people writing off and on for the site. Crazy how this place has grown.
People on the pill can't even get their cocks to grow this fast!
-Brandon2520
03/15/2007 18:21
03/15/2007 18:21
HAPPY FUCKING ANIVIRTHDAY!!
D'toid forever....or until the console craps out.
or AOL buys us...whichever comes first
03/15/2007 18:22
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03/15/2007 18:30
Cheers to the night of drinking to come!
03/15/2007 18:35
03/15/2007 18:35
It really is a testament to how damn good this site is that it's got such a large following after only a year.
03/15/2007 18:37
Oh and, dammit, I wish I was you, Niero.
03/15/2007 18:38
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03/15/2007 19:00
03/15/2007 19:02
Thanks for acidentally giving me Associate Editor priviledges that one night you were high on angeldust.
03/15/2007 19:05
03/15/2007 19:06
you guys are the MOST authentic gamer voices out there. when i read sites like Joystiq or IGN, it seems like they're written by people who are just paying the bills till the next job comes along. When Robert Summa joined the team, Destructoid really gained momentum and became my #1 site to check obsessively 50 times a day.
anyone can post a press release, but Destructoid digests that press release and tells you what they really think, without any pr bullshit. I think your audience respects that ( i know i do ). I'm glad to see guys like you achieving your dream, because for every Neiro, there's thousands of other true gamers, dreaming your life.....
03/15/2007 19:08
03/15/2007 19:10
btw, what does the 104/300 written on your business card that came with my shirt mean? (btw, best business card EVAR!)
03/15/2007 19:11
03/15/2007 19:17
Also, Cocks.
Damn racists.
03/15/2007 19:19
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Lila
03/15/2007 19:32
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03/15/2007 19:44
03/15/2007 19:45
Happy Birthday
03/15/2007 19:46
Damn you and your "over 21" drinking age!! If it wasn't for that i would go to the party u.u.
Anyway...
happy bday Niero!! destructoid ftw!!
PS:Also cocks.
03/15/2007 19:53
03/15/2007 20:00
May all who will be attending you're party have a glorious evening, while I will be at home protecting someone from a certain someone.
BTW, the hummer limo its a truly glamorous vehicle, you're money will be well spent sir.
03/15/2007 20:03
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03/15/2007 20:26
Great blog and a great community! Really glad to be part of it!!
03/15/2007 20:27
03/15/2007 20:27
GET CLOWN SHOES ON PODTOID!! XD
03/15/2007 20:31
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~Jayeugene
03/15/2007 20:45
You go, Niero.
03/15/2007 20:54
I'm proud to be a robot.
03/15/2007 20:58
03/15/2007 21:01
Happy Birthday Niero, and Dtoid. I can't be there this year but I will sure as shit be at second year's party bash!
03/15/2007 21:08
Congratulations, Niero.
03/15/2007 21:09
03/15/2007 21:16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYBODY!
03/15/2007 21:18
*tear
03/15/2007 21:20
This site has been part of my daily ritual of avoiding work at the office for the past 6 months or so and i will wear my "also cocks" shirt with pride....when it comes ;)
Keep it up!
03/15/2007 21:21
(You're going to get to go see Oakenfold over the weekend, I'm justified in saying that...)
If not for you guys, my boss would be highly suspect of my work habits. Because of the blog, it sounds like I'm actually doing technical writing.
Thanks.
Keep up the good work.
Niero, 29 is overrated. Just know that at the end of 29... comes middle age. I'm contemplating jumping off of a roof or something in August when my b-day rolls around. Enjoy youth while it lasts!
03/15/2007 21:23
03/15/2007 21:23
Here's to year 2, hopefully it will be wilder and crazier!
PS: I'm very mad I'm missing the party. If you have a year 2 party, I will be there no questions asked.
03/15/2007 21:24
Congrats.
btw, the i love the Also, Cocks shirt.
03/15/2007 21:29
I also joined only a couple of months ago....congrats on all the success!
03/15/2007 21:31
Now get rid of the silly robot-head mask.
03/15/2007 21:39
Attending one of your parties might just end up on my life goals list. Have fun.
03/15/2007 21:54
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03/15/2007 22:14
*raises toast*
03/15/2007 22:14
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03/15/2007 22:27
also...cocks
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