I don't mean to get all sentimental, but I feel that now is a pretty appropriate time. (Sorry about the text wall)
What an experience FreeSO and this community has been over the about 2 years I've had the honor to be included in this community. I remember fondly, the feeling of entering CAS for the first time, or even the first play test; when the community (well, the community minus afr0) felt a feeling, a taste, for many their first taste, of a sims game online. I remember the Kon Tiki milestone, the floating head in CAS, the buy and build mode milestones. But that is all wrapping up now. Soon we will have the GS, with the dressers functional, the dishwasher not never endingly frustrating to a sim, the restaurant's sims fed. But to me, that just won't amount to the friends I've made, and inspiration I've drawn from this project.
FreeSO to me, truly isn't just a game. It's an inspiration! FreeSO got me into programming, it kept me going when I wanted to give up on sleek launcher, or the installer, or even my project in the works today! Because I truly care for this community, and FreeSO as a whole. I made the installer because I wanted to help in any way could. Taking a step back, FreeSO made me a programmer.
And I can't thank Rhys, this community, or frankly anyone enough for that.
I agree with ALL of this, And I am glad to write out my OWN text wall (Apologies but I mean it too! <3)
I had the unfortunate chance regarding the original Sims Online. Ironically, it releasd a MONTH after my birthday, and only years later when I overall started getting into games & PC's, Technology period, I FINALLY found out about The Sims Online after many days of playing The Sims 2 on my PS2, Attempting to get my sister anyway, to play it with me on Multiplayer mode. I had so much fun playing it with someone else, and it was great fun because I love playing and sharing my experiences with others. It's when I decided aswell and thought "It would be AMAZING to play this with other people..
Snuggles Self in happiness" And after a while of finally becoming smarter technicality wise regarding laptops, etc, most things but not coding or LUA of the sort, that stuff, and learned about The Sims Online, but when I did, it was too late. I was deeply upset because outrageously, there were no mods. All there was, was niotso at the time. I kept following it 24/7, and slowly it didn't make much progress anymore. But whenever it DID make progress, I made sure I *ALWAYS* Read it, ESPECIALLY when there was something us users and not JUST creators/developers could try out/enjoy too!
Until the moment it just stopped altogether in what seeed like forever, But then discovered Project Dollhouse. That obviously and eventually evolved into better than what it was, and that is our current, FreeSO. I had tried to play it as MANY times as I could, and I still do feel like that, but it's always hard it seems like due to well, Slight lack of interest until the Global Server, where all my dreams and imaginations of playing it can REALLY come true. I'm just so excited, thatwhen it finally launches, I will SWEAR to play it DAY after DAY, EVERYDAY if I can, aka, When there's nothing stopping me from doing so.
I am just like JD, I can't thank anyone enough for this. AT ALL! There is NOTHING I can do to repay this kindness enough.