GrogHeads Forum

IRL (In Real Life) => General Discussion => Topic started by: steve58 on February 02, 2021, 04:59:03 PM

Title: Forums, how long?
Post by: steve58 on February 02, 2021, 04:59:03 PM
Just wondering how long y'all (I was born in NC, so I'm officially allowed to use y'all :coolsmiley:) have been on/using forums.  Not just talking this great site (thanks JH and Gus! :notworthy:), but forums in general.  I know I was on some old BBS sites using my 300/1200 baud modem :o (does that does make me an old fart?), but have long forgotten their names.  In March, I will have been an active member of a game trading site for 21 years and next year will make 20 (semi-active) years for me at Matrixgames.   Here's hoping that I'll be celebrating 20 years on Grogheads in 2032. :o

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia3.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2F3o7TKFH09OV85kCmIg%2F200w.webp%3Fcid%3Decf05e47lqpzyosnjd8bk8hbrcbn0hr64eua0bcofsauqhbg%26amp%3Brid%3D200w.webp&hash=fecf9f6ef68d7459e5347d5cf668314cc9eafe3a)
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 02, 2021, 05:10:22 PM
I'm a retread from Wargamer, joined there probably in 2004??? Not really sure.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: ArizonaTank on February 02, 2021, 05:25:16 PM
I guess it depends on your definition of forum.  If you include old pre-windows bulletin board systems (BBS'), then I have been posting messages since 1986. I had a Commodore 128 and a 300 baud modem. I frequented a gaming BBS hosted by Scorpia who was a well-known game reviewer back in the 8 bit days. There was a branch of the BBS that discussed wargames. The big computer wargame company at the time was SSI...so a bunch of good discussion on SSI games. At one point, I even uploaded a Universal Military Simulator scenario (UMS: a game developed by Ezra Sidran, who is still around, but UMS was not an SSI title).
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 02, 2021, 05:25:47 PM
I think I started using BBS sites in the early 90s if that counts, definitely pre-1992. As far as the Wargamer goes, I think I was a member in college which would have me there sometime between 95-99. Same with the Matrix forums.

Thanks for the compliments. Gus and I are trying our best!
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Philistine on February 02, 2021, 05:27:19 PM
I got started with game forums with the Starfleet Command and Combat Mission forums in 1999. 

I probably got on Matrix a few years later.

--Philistine
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Ubercat on February 02, 2021, 05:44:35 PM
I was on some BBS's starting around '91 or so. The first forum that I remember actively using was for Panzer General 2 around '95 or so.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Staggerwing on February 02, 2021, 07:03:30 PM
Though there may've been earlier ones, the first forum I clearly recall joining was one devoted to Domark's Flight Sim Toolkit, around 93-94. I can't even remember what platform it was on, might have been AOL or Compuserve. We traded design ideas and various tips and tricks and some folks even wrote utilities to supplement the designing tools that shipped with the game.

https://www.mobygames.com/game/win3x/flight-sim-toolkit
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: bobarossa on February 02, 2021, 07:38:37 PM
Started using forums in mid-90's.  Warbirds game I was heavily into had a forum.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Sir Slash on February 02, 2021, 07:43:29 PM
I landed on The Wargamer about 2002 where I lurked for a long time....in the shadows.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Gusington on February 02, 2021, 07:55:23 PM
I started on the Wargamer around 1999, I think...then was hired to write there in 2002. Everything between then and now is a blur.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Boggit on February 05, 2021, 01:55:56 AM
Quote from: Smuckatelli on February 02, 2021, 05:10:22 PM
I'm a retread from Wargamer, joined there probably in 2004??? Not really sure.
Hey Smuck!

Good to see you around! Hope all's well with you and the family? :) :hug:
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Boggit on February 05, 2021, 01:56:41 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 02, 2021, 07:55:23 PM
I started on the Wargamer around 1999, I think...then was hired to write there in 2002. Everything between then and now is a blur.
It's the beer... ;)
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Anguille on February 05, 2021, 02:32:11 AM
I can't remember for sure.

The first forums i really got into were Haemimont games (Celtic Kings) and Slitherine (Spartan/Got) in 2002-2003. I am pretty sure i was in other forums as but not before 1999-2000. Then came Matrix and later Wargamer. I used to be present on the Paradox forums until i had an argument with an A****** moderator who thinks he's the king of it all (the jerk is still there).


Now i mostly here, the Steam forums (eXplorminate and game specific forums) as well as the Armchair General forums.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 05, 2021, 10:58:19 AM
Quote from: Boggit on February 05, 2021, 01:55:56 AM
Quote from: Smuckatelli on February 02, 2021, 05:10:22 PM
I'm a retread from Wargamer, joined there probably in 2004??? Not really sure.
Hey Smuck!

Good to see you around! Hope all's well with you and the family? :) :hug:

Hi Boggit,

All is well here; Lt Smuckette is still in Spain, Tomas is a first year student at Drexel going for a Physician Assistant degree, Anna is a senior in high school now and waiting on results from her college applications. Mrs Smuck and I are doing well.

How are things going on your side of the pond?
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: W8taminute on February 05, 2021, 11:07:45 AM
I didn't really get into online forums until about 1999ish?  I only joined three forums; Apolyton.com (which is gone now), Civfanatics, and Wargamer.  Later I joined Grogs which remains my go to forum to this day.  Although I'm still a member of Civfanatics I rarely engage in conversation there. 
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Sir Slash on February 05, 2021, 11:10:39 AM
That sounds like you and the Missus have everything in great order Kid-Wise there Smuck.  O0  You and the Wife should write a, 'Child Advice' book.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: JasonPratt on February 05, 2021, 11:24:42 AM
I think my first forum activity was back in 1996, at America Online's boards for discussing Marvel comics and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels.

After about a year I migrated to Compuserve (before it got bought by AOL after all), where mostly again I was active on their WoT discussion forum, where I first used my common nickname Sabreman.

I've been on forums of various kinds ever since.
Title: Re: Forums, how long?
Post by: Yskonyn on February 06, 2021, 03:45:12 AM
I really don't remember my first, but it feels like Civfanatics and Wargamer belong the ancients for me. Once Grogs was created I hardy ever visited Wargamer anymore though.
Civfanatics was my 'home' for quite a while in the Civ 3 era. Lots of great people there.

In general it's usually a game that drives me to its forums. Egosoft X series, Paradox, Simulators.

It's always a good indicator of what kind of community you'll experience in-game and wether the game has any legs to make it into the future.