How has PALGN affected your life?

[Till@]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

A couple of days into 2009, I was a bit of a noob when I first joined becuase I found the place through PCPP's swap meet and signed up here purely for the game exchange, a board I barely even touch these days.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Everything, I was into retro gaming, loved my GBA SP and my new computer and was starting my misguided attempt at being a game collector.

I'm much fussier with games now, I don't finish enough either (still more than I used to though). Now, I don't even own a single physical game (call me an early adopter for ze coming digital revolution) nor any consoles (although mum still has my PS2 lol). I still run the same CPU and Mobo.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I'm a regular part of it, does that count? I'd like to think my posts aren't too shabby

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Not a great deal, but that said the industry doesn't interest me anyway.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Games are fun... not food, wait...

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I have a bunch of you guys on Steam and get the occasional game in with some of you, but not really unfortunately. Hopefully I can get in some more games with you lot online and drive my tractor down to Melbourne for a meet up soon! That is, if the trams and concrete don't scare my bumpkin ass away.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

No, hope to one day.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Well, it's my online home, and as far as people on a forum go I "know" you guys. The general discussion is what really does it for me, we all love games, but it's also a great place to shoot the s*** without there being a massive, less personal community to get forgotten in (kinda like the Escapist's)
_________________

Mrs Tweedy! The Chickens are revolting!

[Mick Saige]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
Um... March 2010... or May... some thing with 'M'... not long ago.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I have always been into shooters and brawlers. Nothing has changed.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
I started a photography thread, won every award worth winning and posted a picture of myself without a shirt. Edit: Also made everyone amazing sigs and single handidly improved the net value of $poons.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Not even slightly.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
Nope. If anything it has distracted me AT work and set my career backwards entire months at a time.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Since joining Palgn my facebook friend list has jumped by about 15 or so...

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
Only person i have met up with in person was Tanya. She was f*cking brilliant. Also Jarrod - but me and him have been balls deep for about 12 years.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Not really.

[IISpacebreakII]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
I joined in September 2007, can't remember why I joined but did lurk a lot beforehand.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
Yeah my interests shifted around a lot trying to find what was good for me, I started off as a Nintendo fanboy.I still love Nintendo but their older consoles and games are certainly better imo. The 360 is my favourite machine now

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
No not really, a few years ago I did have a few giveaway threads. I would like to do that again maybe but I'm too poor these days. Sucks how that works XD

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
I can't really say, though without PALGN I never would have tried Portal, Half Life and probably even Gears of War. I also probably wouldn't have played Robot Unicorn Attack, and that's a sad life indeed.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
No, I've always tossed around thinking whether I would like to work in the Games industry. I believe I would be epic at making games due to my passion, the other way of thinking about that though is that I don't want Games to feel like 'work' for me. I love Games and if I didn't have those to enjoy in my life, I wouldn't have much left. One day, as a side hobby I would like to try making my own PS1-style games, like Croc and Harry Potter. Even if it was just messing around with whats already been made. I really loved that era.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Oh god yes, I like a lot of people here, but by far my best friends are IHateFrasierCrane, Mikezilla, Efo and Clione and Qbert! I don't talk to a few of these as much anymore but still consider them good friends. Also big props to Frasiey, such a great guy and a great friend! Always a great laugh reading your messages

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
In real life no, I have social problems, it doesn't get to me or anything, still happy yapping my face off on the keyboard

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Yeah like others, this is my home away from home. Or my home within my home, either way its home. But if I don't mind saying a few trolls live in the basement XD Sometimes I hear them smashing pots and pans together

[Kurupt]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

Wow, I only joined in 07. i thought I joined before that.... I joined because I wanted a site with info on all consoles/pc with no real fanboyism.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Um.... 2007. SO I guess it was Gamecube and Xbox. Since then it's gone to Wii, then to Xbox, now it's basically just PC for Starcraft. I don't need any other games apart from Starcraft 2.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Doubtful. But this is probably the only forum that I don't troll for no reason. Even though on occasion I still get my troll suit out.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Possibly.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Nope.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Not really. Grim-One and I play some Starcraft together, that's about it.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Nope.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Make me procrastinate like a boss.

[ZNMS]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

I joined way back in 2005 during the month of August. I can't remember why I joined, it was nearly six years ago.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

During 2005, I believe I took a break from playing Quake III Arena and returned to console scene. After checking out most of the other Australian gaming web sites and communities, PALGN seemed to generate a more friendlier atmosphere. So I stayed. Then left for a year, then I came back.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I don't think I've contributed anything. I need a hug.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Somewhat. Since, I normally get my gaming news from other web site.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Nope.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Nope. I need another hug.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

I met Mitch a long time ago. But, he has disappeared and has not been seen for many, many years.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

I came back after approximately a year of absence. This web site seems to have this strange "staying" power.
_________________

[Puddingfork]

^You've also met me about 6 years ago (I would've been about 13) at a Nintendo tour. I think this was a little bit before I even had a PALGN account though and just lurked, and I got PALGN confused with Australian Gamer and asked if you had one of those cool cartoon avatars and probably looked like an idiot in general.
_________________

Unofficial PALGN Ventrilo Server 203.14.173.58:5704

[ZNMS]

[PixieGirl]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

2009. I wanted somewhere to chat about games

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

A little bit. I got pickier with what I like in games and what I dont like, and then less pickier, and now... I'm not sure where I am :/

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Not really.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Probably a little.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

No, game design or anything to do with games as a career doesn't interest me at all...

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Deffs!! I don't talk to many people about games in my day-to-day life.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

No

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

No
_________________

[emech]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

23 Aug 2006 -dont really recall why but a search of my previous posts suggests it was the game exchange

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

game exchange / aussie games news at a time when the net was US orientated. Now? Mostly the RPG gaming topic, bagains and newest purchase threads

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Do I feel like I have? Well I've tried but it seems I attract just as many negs as I do plusses? 1000 posts (recently) with terrible typos perhaps. I guess thats a case in point. 1000 post threads are often celebrated, but I don't really feel connected with the community enough to indulge in a forum back-slap.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

yes and no. I have found that in general the editorial content isn't what it used to be with other sites often having news well before its listed here and reviews focusing on whatever titles the mods are playing rather then being comprehensive. Th forums however more than make up for this and are often my first port of call for gaming stuff.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Not really, it seems that this site mostly treats gaming as the hobby it is rather then having an industry/career focus. That and it seems 80% if the industry oppurtuites discussed here seem to be non-paid entry level work experience type stuff that people do to add to the resume and hope will lead to paid positions.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Again yes and no. I feel that I have gotten to know some members (see rpg thread contributers) well, but couldn't recognise any if them on the street. Having said that I do truely love the community here. No other forum I have spent time with seems to have the sense of community that is here but rather seems full of fanboys and trolls. Palgn should be proud of that.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

No and no

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Its certainly halped me maintain an interest in jap-RPGs that otherwise would have long died out. I havn't played 80% of the ones i've brought, but forum enthusiasm ususally results in a game purchase to add to the must play one day pile because its clearly awesome. That and too many hours spent here procrastinating................
_________________

[FalconDude]

It's enabling my internet addiction.
_________________


Trade Games Here

[James]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
I "joined" the day I started PALGN in early 2002. I wanted to build a better Australian gaming site, so I did along with help from a bunch of IGN forum goers.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I looooved video games. They were basically my entire life After a while I "grew up" got a "real" life and realised that actually video games were pretty awesome after all, so came back to playing them I don't play as much as I used to, but I try to pick up all the highest rated games each year. Considering I have around 30 PS3 games on my shelf, I guess I do actually play quite a bit. I guess the difference now is I much more rarely finish games unless I love them. I'm happy to only play a game for a couple of hours if I realise it isn't for me.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Aside from the obvious, I think the points system was a pretty awesome addition. I definitely noticed a huge long term improvement in the quality of the posts (and hence the communit at large) after adding that to the site.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Sure. The industry is nothing like it looks like from the outside. Lots of back room deals and politics at all levels. The amount of "advertorial" content out there astounded me.

Other than that, going to E3 and going to all these press events the industry has was certainly an experience. I swear these things taught me how to drink. The amount of free stuff you get at these things is crazy. I got burnt out from going to them after a few years, but lots of fun while I could stand it.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
Well I learnt to program while building PALGN, so yeah I now build web startups like PALGN for a living.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
I really like the admin team. I still chat to a few ex-admins and occasionally see them socially. It's a bit hard with the current admins as politics restrict what I can talk about.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
Tons of times. eGames, staff, admins. Lots of fun!

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
I'd say that's a pretty safe bet! PALGN made me a much better person. I'd like to think I've continued growing after becoming less involved with the site, but I definitely think it was PALGN that made me realise that you can do whatever you want if you just put your mind (and time) to it.

[Dragonfly93]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

March of 2006. I joined because I was very into video games and this looked like the site for me.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

My interests were entirely console Nintendo. Since then I've opened up into other gaming platforms like PC and PS3, but now I've cut out gaming almost entirely because of my HSC.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I never really contributed that much to PALGN 'society', if I may . I feel as though I was always a bit of an immature s*** until recent years, in all aspects of my life, and that naturally was reflected back onto my posting on the site. I've said stupid things and offended some people, and it's something I really do regret.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Hell yeah, PALGN opened up a whole new world for me! I didn't have a very broad view of the gaming industry until I started posting, and this site was the first step towards understanding for me.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

PALGN made me want to be a video games programmer, which has since morphed itself into an aspiration to do software engineering at university and see where I go from there.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I've never really gotten all that close to people on here because of my on-again, off-again posting habits, but I'm hoping that will start to change when I'm 18, done with school and have more independance.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Never met anyone from PALGN (in person).

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Other than my career aspirations, I haven't been loyal enough to the site to say that it has, sadly.

EDIT: I just went through some of my post history. It's really quite embarrassing. I was 12 when I joined and, by God, it shows.