[Setekh]

Thirteen years ago today, two guys - one from the UK and one from Australia - decided to launch a new community site for the game they loved. It was an interesting experiment if nothing else - we were creating a space at a time when there were plenty of other fan sites around, not to mention the official BB for the developers who made the game we enjoyed so much. But we thought it was worth a shot anyway, because at the time there wasn't anything specifically devoted to one particular subset of that community... the "modders".

The guy from the UK was Alex "Thunder" Avery and the guy from Australia was me. And there is no chance that either of us knew that, thirteen years later, that community would still exist. Not merely surviving, either - thriving. Poking around some of the threads here is a strange mix of familiarity and foreignness. I love that you're still using (most of) the graphics I made way back in the day... I see that no one has improved on the weird fire symbol thing I made on an otherwise idle summer afternoon!

There was something specific I came here for. What was it again? Oh, yeah! Happy birthday, HLP! You're a teenager now. That's... kinda weird.

So... what's been happening?

[Black Wolf]

'Lo Steak. How're things on your side of the island?

And yeah, it is weird that HLP (and the community generally) is that old. But I think we can be pretty proud of what we've done with the old beast. There are likely to be very few games of FS2s vintage that can claim our level of improvement or, just as critically, our kind of community. So well done to you and Thunder thirteen years ago (Kalfireth, off) and to the rest of us ever since I say!

[Killer Whale]

I don't know who you are but I love you man

And have fun at high school Hard Light Productions. Yr 8 is a bit nerve wracking at the start, but don't worry, it gets worse. Although now that makes me curious... Do we have any members younger then HLP? Younger than freespace 2 even?

[Bobboau]

yo dude whatup, you should hangout more

[Setekh]

Haha, the Eastern seaboard is doing just fine BW. Umm, let me try to give you a quick rundown of what's been happening... I've got three kids now, oldest one's starting school this year. Speaking of school, this is my seventh year teaching high school maths and technology subjects - in fact you can even have a look at what I do, I video my lessons and put them on Youtube. This'll give you a 41-second taste:

Wootube: Real teaching, real learning.

Oh, I hang about on Twitter sometimes too. @misterwootube if anyone's interested.

Killer Whale, the feeling's mutual! I am so glad there are people who have continued to discover the awesomeness of this game and this community - keep carrying the baton, man.

Bob!! What's been happening with you, buddy?

[Bobboau]

lets see, got a job, got my degree, quit my job, got another job, moved a thousand miles (New york, I'm eastern seaboard too ), started work on a masters degree, bought a house. I think that about sums up my major points for the last 5 years.

I was actually just thinking about you the other day, nice to see you are doing well.

[headdie]

Congrats to the community and long may it live.

And nice one to you Setekh for your efforts in setting this place up and its good so see things are doing ok for you.

[Fineus]

Setekh! Buddy!

Wow... I just... I'm blown away. So good to see you - and on our birthday of all things! It sounds like you've been keeping well... three kids? Yikes - I bet that's a hand full! Really glad it's all going well for you.

(For anyone who is confused, I'm Thunder. I have been through a couple of 'name changes' since then )

Like Setekh here I'm guilty of not being around as much as I ought to be - real life had other ideas when it came to living on the internet all day long - but it's still great to see how the community is going and all the fantastic work being done with the SCP and so on. I hate to say it but I don't feel like HLP is mine any more - it belongs to all of you much more than me.

Great going guys And happy birthday Hard Light Productions!

[Wobble73]

Happy Birthday HLP! I can't believe that I registered here in April 2006 and this is still one of my most visited sites! I highly respect some of the great minds here and feel guilty that I haven't contributed any more than I have, merely posting and consuming the products you guys offer! This is a fantastic and clever community who produce top notch mods and total conversions! And I love you all!  Mwah!

[heretic]

Hey, just came in to say hi.

I'm glad this place has stayed here and kept the legacy of FS2 going. I can't believe I'm still playing the game (Diaspora mod at the moment), and that many of us from the old VBB still exist.


Steak, you have 3 kids now? Damn everyone's growing up so fast.

[Carl]

Not me. I'm exactly the same.

[TopAce]

I remember you. Of course. I've been here since February 2003. I feel old.

[karajorma]

Damn, they're all crawling out of the woodwork today!


Good to see you all. Happy Birthday HLP.

[^Graff]

Does anyone still have a copy of the HLP image from either the Hard Light Array or Sound of Thunder that shows various forum members as if they were sideshow freaks at a circus?

[BritishShivans]

uhh happy birthday HLP

and what the ****

setekh is australian

IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF HLP AUSTRALIAN

lksajlakfjsafasdlfkjfksdlfj

where did all these fellow australians come from

[vyper]

Thirteen years ago today, two guys - one from the UK and one from Australia - decided to launch a new community site for the game they loved. It was an interesting experiment if nothing else - we were creating a space at a time when there were plenty of other fan sites around, not to mention the official BB for the developers who made the game we enjoyed so much. But we thought it was worth a shot anyway, because at the time there wasn't anything specifically devoted to one particular subset of that community... the "modders".

The guy from the UK was Alex "Thunder" Avery and the guy from Australia was me. And there is no chance that either of us knew that, thirteen years later, that community would still exist. Not merely surviving, either - thriving. Poking around some of the threads here is a strange mix of familiarity and foreignness. I love that you're still using (most of) the graphics I made way back in the day... I see that no one has improved on the weird fire symbol thing I made on an otherwise idle summer afternoon!

There was something specific I came here for. What was it again? Oh, yeah! Happy birthday, HLP! You're a teenager now. That's... kinda weird.

So... what's been happening?

Christ! It's been a while, nice to see you still pay attention to the old girl. Where is Thunder these days?

Ah well, nice to see things are still going, even if it's not quite as familiar as it once was.

[The E]

Christ! It's been a while, nice to see you still pay attention to the old girl. Where is Thunder these days?

(For anyone who is confused, I'm Thunder. I have been through a couple of 'name changes' since then )

Reading the thread helps

[Fury]

Huh, does Setekh have psychic powers to make even Carl appear?

Hi Steak and hbd HLP!

[perihelion]

I've no pedigree to throw my hat into the ring, but I do want to offer a great big THANK YOU to all of the old timers that helped make this community possible for me to leech off of.   

I wish I could offer something in recompense, but you all do have my gratitude.  This has been a great haven in the midst of otherwise chaotic lives.  Happy Birthday HLP!

[ktistai228]

Happy birthday everyone!