[jr2]

Coby... calm down.

[Inquisitor]

Look at the credits for Freespace 2.

And yes, Ice, you were at PFS, which more or less became FSW (wasn't there a site merger somewhere along the way?), which then became Volition Watch if I recall the chain of events

http://web.archive.org/web/20000411165323/http://ross128.telefragged.com/ was Ross128, we did news, interviews, contests, mission archives.  When we did contests we gave out launch copies of FS2, a couple sidewinder joysticks over the sites lifetime, some volition tshirts (I still have a couple actually, comfy, hi quality shirts), things like that. We were active enough to make the credits before launch, so, we must have done something right. I believe we were one of three news sites in the credits, PFS was another, and I think Ground Freespace (run by the Vince "Jennings" Cardillo, they did a radio show for a while, and other stuff like the rest of us). There are of community sites in those credits, though, if you want a nostalgic journey, fire up retail fs2 and have a look see.

Former staffers at R128 you might recognize were:
Me
Ace
Thunder aka Kalfireth
Windrunner
Black Ace

It started out as Maniax's baby though, 1997-1998 maybe? I think it launched officially in 1999, gods it was 8 years ago, sue me if I am wrong.. I think we closed the doors in 2001, I still have the site archived on a CD somewhere, and the google archive can still be convinced to give you a glimpse.

-edit-
I love the Internet Archive:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010516004307/http://ross128.telefragged.com/

May 16, 2001

For the last 2 years, you have faithfully returned to this space, and, for the most part, we have rewarded that with news and reviews of the Freespace community at large. Sadly, Ross 128 looks to be following in the footsteps of its namesake. For the most part, the content and staff of Ross 128 will be moving to Hard Light Productions, where Thunder and the the rest of the HLP crew have promised to keep you entertained with the same quality material that you expect.

This means that all of the hosted sites, all of the features, basically all of everything (Except me, BlueFlames and his "Scorched Lore" and Maniax) is now part and parcel of HLP. BlueFlames' and his "Lore" will find a home at the Shattered Star Confederation which has grown from a gaming clan into a vibrant gaming community, boasting hundreds of registered members, spanning game genre's and even expanding beyond games. Look for interesting things from the SSC as well.

It has been one helluva ride. Thanks a million! See you outside Capella, and remember Ross 128!

Hosted sites, email me for details if you have not already been contacted.

Signed, Edward "Inquisitor" Gardner

As for the spam, there is a reason I haven't posted in 2 months :/

[Sandwich]

http://web.archive.org/web/20010516004307/http://ross128.telefragged.com/

May 16, 2001

For the last 2 years, you have faithfully returned to this space, and, for the most part, we have rewarded that with news and reviews of the Freespace community at large. Sadly, Ross 128 looks to be following in the footsteps of its namesake. For the most part, the content and staff of Ross 128 will be moving to Hard Light Productions, where Thunder and the the rest of the HLP crew have promised to keep you entertained with the same quality material that you expect.

This means that all of the hosted sites, all of the features, basically all of everything (Except me, BlueFlames and his "Scorched Lore" and Maniax) is now part and parcel of HLP. BlueFlames' and his "Lore" will find a home at the Shattered Star Confederation which has grown from a gaming clan into a vibrant gaming community, boasting hundreds of registered members, spanning game genre's and even expanding beyond games. Look for interesting things from the SSC as well.

It has been one helluva ride. Thanks a million! See you outside Capella, and remember Ross 128!

Hosted sites, email me for details if you have not already been contacted.

Signed, Edward "Inquisitor" Gardner

As for the spam, there is a reason I haven't posted in 2 months :/

Wow. I'd heard of Ross 128, but I never realized it's heir was lil' ol' us. I joined HLP right around when Ross 128 closed, I think. June 4th, 2001, according to the forum.

Maniax: Welcome home.

[Inquisitor]

Alex wanted a more focused site, and to run his own gig. We were waning by then anyway, struggled for new, good content for several months before we pulled the plug.

Hard Light had focus, and energy. And it gave the other talented folks a place to go after we turned off the lights.

[Nuke]

ah ross 128, now i remember you. such ancient memories.

[Sandwich]

Alex wanted a more focused site, and to run his own gig. We were waning by then anyway, struggled for new, good content for several months before we pulled the plug.

Hard Light had focus, and energy. And it gave the other talented folks a place to go after we turned off the lights.

My how times change, eh?

[Inquisitor]

No comment. Like I said, there is a reason I haven't posted for 2-3 months.

[Dynamo]

Hello to all my friends and acquaintances from the ol' days! 

So I was wandering around the internet in my usual bored stupor, when by chance, I stumbled upon this place and to my surprise, immediately saw at least 4 names that I remember oh so well!  I'm happily amazed to see so many folks from the heyday of the FS universe still in one place (and active!), though it makes me feel a bit regretful that I've never stopped by here before. Oh well, such is life, and a long-delayed reunion can taste so much sweeter than a short one. It's great to see you some of you guys around!

Shout out to Inquisitor, Thunder, Ace, Hunter, Windrunner, BlueFlames, IceFire, and any other of my favorite wackos who might be around that I missed! It's hard for me to fathom that it's been more than 5 years since I last have seen some of you, but I guess it has. Short version of what's been up with me since: I traded my Ulysses for a sword and shield as I descended into fantasy MMORPG madness, started a guild, found a girl through said guild, moved 1400 miles to be with said girl, got engaged, moved to New Zealand for school, and am now doing some psychology and religion studies along with my fiancee.  I owe a lot to the old FS community for putting me on the path that my life's been following, so here's my five-year late THANK YOU!!! for all the good times!

Now what have you all been up to?

Sounds a lot like my life since FS2 except minus the fiance and New Zealand part. (ok, just the fantasy MMORPG part really)

What game got you? FFXI? Everquest? WoW? For me it was 2+ years of FFXI with another year of World of Warcraft. Three years of my life I'd pay anything to get back. 

[Windrunner]

Hello to all my friends and acquaintances from the ol' days! 

So I was wandering around the internet in my usual bored stupor, when by chance, I stumbled upon this place and to my surprise, immediately saw at least 4 names that I remember oh so well!  I'm happily amazed to see so many folks from the heyday of the FS universe still in one place (and active!), though it makes me feel a bit regretful that I've never stopped by here before. Oh well, such is life, and a long-delayed reunion can taste so much sweeter than a short one. It's great to see you some of you guys around!

Shout out to Inquisitor, Thunder, Ace, Hunter, Windrunner, BlueFlames, IceFire, and any other of my favorite wackos who might be around that I missed! It's hard for me to fathom that it's been more than 5 years since I last have seen some of you, but I guess it has. Short version of what's been up with me since: I traded my Ulysses for a sword and shield as I descended into fantasy MMORPG madness, started a guild, found a girl through said guild, moved 1400 miles to be with said girl, got engaged, moved to New Zealand for school, and am now doing some psychology and religion studies along with my fiancee.  I owe a lot to the old FS community for putting me on the path that my life's been following, so here's my five-year late THANK YOU!!! for all the good times!

Now what have you all been up to?

Sounds a lot like my life since FS2 except minus the fiance and New Zealand part. (ok, just the fantasy MMORPG part really)

What game got you? FFXI? Everquest? WoW? For me it was 2+ years of FFXI with another year of World of Warcraft. Three years of my life I'd pay anything to get back. 

That is why i am happy that the whole online playing obsession never got to me.

[Nuke]

mmorpgs are crack!
actually i smoked crack once and mmorpgs are worse

[Bob-san]

I think I went to Ross 128 after I got FS2 OEM... I am not sure; I was so very young back then and my memory is vague. I was a very occasional lurker (a day at a time a year?) before joining HLP.

[Sandwich]

That is why i am happy that the whole online playing obsession never got to me.

Ditto.

[Inquisitor]

Its not that much different than spending every waking hour on PXO, racking up kills, or doing Squad Wars

Redoing missions that were easy and worth lots of points felt an awful lot like exp/level grinding to me

Anywho, fun little blast from the past.

[G0atmaster]

Hey, Mobius, remember, you need at least 70% of the dmg in order for it to count as a kill for you or something like that.  Sorry, no kill for you!

Hey, I think I know Black Ace from another community.  He's the one who gave me FS2, if it's the same person.  I'll be sure to throw him a link to this.

[Inquisitor]

He used to post here, as well.

[G0atmaster]

ok then, nvm.

[Inquisitor]

By all means, message him

[BlueFlames]

Maniax?  Now that's a name I didn't expect to see pop up after all this time.  That certainly conjures memories of heady days when I had time to write a decent rant once a week.

It's good to hear you're alive and thriving.

[Inquisitor]

w00t

[Maniax]

I'm getting shot at?! Oh crap, activate jump, activate jump!
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome guys, even if some of that warmth was from a beam cannon! I've learned my lesson, and will not speak of such a taboo subject again.

Dynamo - Asheron's Call 1 was my first poison, which introduced me to the genre's version of guilds and player vs player combat. After getting hooked on both those things, I had a strange year and a half where I didn't actually play a game, but instead spent all my time building a forum-based guild in anticipation of Shadowbane, which promised a revolutionary mix of guild-vs-guild combat and world building. After that promise failed to live up to my (albeit unrealistic) expectations, I started doing the MMORPG hop from game to game without finding one that really interested me. Games that I tried included DAoC, EQ, EQ2, EvE, and even a little WoW. Currently playing Vanguard and liking it.

Great to see you guys again, and nice to meet all you other fine folk too! I've been looking for another community to hang out at, and this seems like a fun one (if a bit crazy) .