April 11th
This isn't going to be a very diverse update, since there's only really one major point that needs to be addressed, but it's a big 'un. Before we get on to that, this is still a Site Update, so we'll start with a positive look at some other goings on around Forge Hub.
Customs Tournament
Hot on the heels of our new competitions feature and 1v1 Flashback ladder, xRage10 has taken the initiative and started organising his own Halo 3 tournament. Check it out here if it sounds like your kind of thing, the format he has in mind sounds quite interesting.
Youtube embedding fixed
There has been an issue with embedding Youtube videos for the past few days. Some of you may have noticed it, most of you probably haven't, but we thought we should let you know that it's fixed.
TGIF
Now, on to business. Many of you will doubtless have noticed that the past couple of TGIFs have been, well, non-existent, and we felt that this deserved an explanation. Unfortunately, along with with this explanation comes an unpleasant truth: TGIF just isn't what it used to be.
Forge Hub has always been about not only Forge, but the whole experience of custom games in Halo 3. TGIF served to epitomise this image of a custom game community, and throughout Forge Hub's history has been one of our central fixtures, during the early days it was a night of tight knit community fun. And as Forge Hub has expanded it's also become a way for both new and existing members to meet, make friendships and enjoy the game we're all here to talk about, in an increasingly big and sometimes anonymous community.
However, Forge Hub has seen an incredibly strong and consistent community focus when considered as a Halo community, something that we're lucky to have and which has kept our site and community going strong, while others have faded in to inactivity as people get bored with the game and move on from the community. The cohesion that keeps people coming back here if they've stopped Forging, and even if they're not interested in Halo anymore, is something we count ourselves lucky to see within this community. It has become evident that TGIF is suffering at the hands of this waning for love for a game which is, at the end of the day, over two and a half years old, and with Reach now close on the horizon many are choosing to look forward. We're more than aware that removing TGIF from the regular rotation is not a decision to be taken lightly, but we're frankly not keen to beat a dead horse. It ends up with those who do still enjoy and look forward to TGIF feeling the cold side of an interest that just isn't as widespread as it used to be.
But let me be clear on one thing: this is not the end of TGIF. Such a decision is one which I can't see the staff at Forge Hub making in good conscience, and certainly not at this stage. But with Reach moving ever closer, and anticipation already buzzing around the snatches of information that we have, we're confident that the newest iteration of Halo will see a revitalised enthusiasm for Halo and the wealth of custom game fun that it can offer. In fact, if I'm any judge, I can see a level of activity and interest unprecedented in Forge Hub history, especially if Bungie deliver on the follow up to Forge which we here are all keenly awaiting. You can expect to see a new breed of TGIF rise to meet this rediscovery of love for Halo, make no mistake.
Even then, we're well aware that Reach is not scheduled to release for a matter of months, and we don't even have a set date as of yet. We're aware that there are many who still look forward to and enjoy TGIF, and we don't want to relegate your interests in an integral Forge Hub event by just saying 'wait until Reach'. TGIF is being removed from the regular two week rotation, but this does not mean that there will be no TGIFs between now and Reach. In line with reduced, but still important, participation, TGIFs will be reserved for various occasions between now and Reach. You'll hear more about when TGIF will be popping up again as such occasions get closer, but you can look forward to a special edition TGIF night for a certain upcoming multiplayer beta.
We hope that you understand why we have made this decision, and that it was not one we took lightly in discussion. Concerns have arisen around TGIF for a while now, and we simply feel that it's no longer suited to being a bi-weekly event. And to those of you who are still as passionate about friday night customs as ever, we'd like you to know that we are in no way trying to undermine the role of TGIF at the heart of Forge Hub's custom game community. With this move we want to ensure that the banner of TGIF ensures a bustling and enjoyable night of Halo parties and customs, and we hope that making it a special occasion will maintain such an atmosphere even as Halo 3 passes from the fore of our minds, and new possibilities begin to grab our attention. These new possibilities will also bring a new and revitalised TGIF, and with the way Reach is shaping up there should be more interesting and novel ways to experience Halo custom games in keeping with where Forge Hub began.
[GOODBYE/SIGNING OFF TITLE]
Wait, was I supposed to edit that title? Ah well, you get the gist. Also this: Front Page Feedback thread.