This Is The End...

Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 04:02:31 PM EST

Hey Gearheads, or those of you left, this is an especially sad post for me to write, and it's one that I've been tormented about for about a week now.  I've decided to go ahead and stop posting on Gearheads and shut down the comments and diary functions.  I'll leave it open for about a week just so those of you left here can say an official goodbye to each other on the site if you'd like.

I've decided that Gearheads was a fun community and I made a lot of great friends here, but my life became simply too hectic to keep up with the site on a daily basis.  That's the kind of love a community like this needs in order to grow and prosper.  I thought I had left it in the hands of the other appointed admin folks here but I think I did something to piss off Suns and Blankman because as all of you know, they went off and started another site without ever mentioning anything to me.  And I can't really run this site on my own as I just moved, I'm having a son in February (yes, there was confusion on the ultrasound and it turns out my girl is really a boy) and I need to make sure that my business is ultimately a success.  Then I'll have all the time for gaming in the world.

So I just wanted to thank a few people for helping make this community such a success.  First, I have to thank my brother for creating a fantastic universe and the first Gears of War that gave us so many hours of endless entertainment and priceless experiences.  I also want to thank my wife who put up with me running this site on top of the thousands of other balls I have in the air.  I want to thank Jon Ponsford and Jeremy Bingham who basically did a lot of work on this site for free (although they did get some compensation when we did the fundraising for the upgrades).  I want to thank SweetTea and Suns and Zoso and Robbins and tyrus and Kenai and GearsChrisB and Grymm and all the guys who helped make this a special place.  And even though this site is ending with a whimper, I take pride in knowing that I connected all these people with this community.  People that I met in real life and came to consider good friends. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed meeting people like Bob Bierasinski (aka) Polandstyle and Jim Ratajski (Kenai) and Kenny Chung (Blankman).

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm extremely hurt by the way things are ending here, but life moves on.  At the end of the day, the people who truly became my friends will remain my friends and those who were something less will go on and lead their own lives.  I hold no ill will other than just being extremely hurt that there was apparently no level of communication at all. In many ways it was my fault because I simply didn't have enough time to pour into this site and maybe some felt like the channels of communication weren't open or I wasn't listening.  Regardless, I loved my experience here.  It gave me moments that I'll never forget.  Obviously the biggest ones were involving gaming, but it was often the banter between the Gearheads that made this place special.  Whether it was Zoso joking about his testicles for the 80th time or Polandstyle falling asleep in the middle of a match and twirling around in circles or Grymm giggling like a school girl or everyone in the room just wowed by the myriad of ridiculous headshots Robbins had.  There are a million of them.  Countless numbers to recall.

This site started about three and a half years ago with this post.  I honestly never really believed that we would do things like play a match against the folks from Infinity Ward or conduct podcasts with some of the biggest names in gaming journalism.  Or that I'd finally get to attend E3.  Regardless, I want to just once more thank everyone for making all that possible.  I've enjoyed making so many new gaming friends and I hope that you will continue to be a part of my life.  Thanks, Gearheads.  It's been a great ride but every great ride must end.  This is the end.

  • ::


Tags: closing time, gearheads of war (all tags)

Comments Disabled | 34 comments

  •  This saddens me. (none / 0)

    I met a lot of good people through this site. Really don't understand why everything went down the way it did. All I know is that one day I was told a new site was being made.

    I haven't been around much because I just recently moved as well. So I know how that goes. Maybe the move has to do with Gears not being as prevalent as it once was around here. We've all pretty much moved onto other games so maybe it is time to move onto a new site as well.

    It's a shame to see this place go. Shared a lot of good memories with everyone here. Even though we had our arguments at times we always found a way to bring the group back together. I know myself and many others will miss coming here.

    Good luck with your family and your move Papi. You've been a generous host to us all. Whatever happened to cause the end of the 'Heads I hope it all gets worked out in the end.

    I'm sure I will see you guys around. Jambi out.

    One more thing. Banana.

    I'm gonna saw me up some of that sex locust.

    by Jambi Bum on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 04:48:38 PM EST

  •  Definitely a bummer (none / 0)

    Sad to see this day come, but ultimately you have to what's best for you. Although I was never as active on the site as I would've liked Gearheads was an important part during my transition from civilian to "games journalist." I will always treasure the friendships that I've made with the many awesome people that have been a part of this community.

    Thanks again for everything you've done with site Tyler. You're a stand-up guy who has gained my utmost respect.

  •  Its been one helluva experience (none / 0)

    Being inactive on here lately kinda saddens me in not being able to get back into what we had been a part of, but I enjoy the memories and experiences.  To be honest, I didn't even hear of the new shindig being made.  

    I'll miss it, and I hope all goes well for you, Papi.  For all the Gearheads, hopefully we will all still have some times together in the future, from Live to Steam to the World Series.  There are too many great individuals in this community.

    Matt Cunningham signing out for the last time.  

  •  really makes me upset to see this happen... (none / 0)

    But whatever needs to be done, has to be done. I will always remember the great friendships I made through this site, and all the great times I've had gaming with everyone. It's been fun!

    R.I.P Polandstyle :: 9/8/68 - 3/16/09 ::

    by RoBBins0096 on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 07:18:33 PM EST

  •  Wow, a shock to the system (none / 0)

    for me as I knew your life was getting hectic, but not to this level.

    I have to say that I have learned a lot about myself and others through this site. Tyler I hope everything in your life is successful and that your family grows as we all have become friends both online and offline.

    Tyler you are the one of the major influences for me and my passion to better myself. please keep in contact.

    • Jon

    Give me a minute and I'll change your mind, Give me a bullet and I'll change your life! - Slipknot

    by MDK2002 on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 07:41:00 PM EST

  •  GearHeads has been a blast! (none / 0)

    From getting the chance to meet people like Grymm and Robbins and Chris and Zoso and Suns and MDK and everyone else.....

    To having the opportunity to experience what it takes to help lead a community, host a podcast and manage internal conflict....

    From late night gaming with GearHeads that will not soon be rivaled to jokes that spanned years...

    THANK YOU TYLER!  What an awesome journey this has been - It's been a blast while it lasted and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

    I've made countless friends here, not to mention a couple really good ones I hope to stay in contact with.

    God Bless, Everyone!

    "As for FFF we'll see how my social life unfolds that night. Which basically means i'll be gaming lol" -Boxin

    by SweetTea023 on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 07:59:30 PM EST

  •  It seems all good things come to an end... (none / 0)

    I know I haven't been active for a couple of years now, but every time I load a game into my 360 and see that gorgeous GoW autographed faceplate, I think of this place. My clan tag in MW2 will remain GHoW for some time I imagine. This was a truly great community you built here, Tyler. I am sad to see it go. I wish I had made the time to be more active now, but real life got in the way for me as well. Full time job and a girlfriend I only get to see two nights a week, and one of those is shared by FragFest. Still, I am thankful for the memories this place gave me. Thanks to all of you for making this an awesome and diverse community. I'll be on XBL, so let's not lose touch completely.

    Thanks again Papi. It's been a good run.

    "The creatures were friendly and could see in four dimensions. They pitied the Earthlings for being able to see only three." -Slaughterhouse-5

    by StarborneRanger on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 09:18:03 PM EST

  •  thanks (none / 0)

    everybody for making this site such a kick ass place! We better get together still on Friday nights!

  •  Goodbye old friend - Friday Night Fragfest (none / 0)

    If you really think about it, What is this ending all about?...

    For me, it is when Friday Night Fragfest died.  

    I don't know When it died, but died it did...

    Friday Nights for the past 3 years for me was something that I don't think any of us expected to experience.

    A place almost better in some ways than "Cheers".  That fictional place from my youth where "everyone knows your name".

    A "place" where none of us felt obligated to be at.  But wanted to be there.   Not even a place actually.  Only a few among us that either actually know each other from live Pre-Xbox.  

    A few of us (Starting with Polandstyle) actually made a way to be together.  To meet.   Guys like Blankman took it a step further to set up Gears LAN parties for his friends, his students, neighbors.

    Remember those Friday nights deep into the Golden years of Gears 1.   Three, four rooms going on a Friday.  Jumping from room to room just to be able to hang with everyone during the course of the evening.  And late into the night.

    Robbins headshot's are now thing of Legend and Lore.

    GackyWacky rolling and moving like no other Gears player that I've had the privilege of playing with.

    ESuns enthusiasm the moment he plops down from a working Saturday.  The rare treat when he hops on early with "No work weekend!".  

    Blankman leading the charge.  "Balls deep!"  lol  Always competitive, but always having fun too.

    I could make fun comments about each of you.  I've done it many times in the past during a FFF Recap.

    Note:   My favorite thing I contributed to the Group is the award that I invented.  "Mop Duty". - Goes to myself this week for boomshotting at least 6 or 7 team mates (as far as I can remember...)   Bits and pieces everywhere and I guess I gotta clean up this week.

    So I think what changed among us is the death of Gears FFF.  Too many different games.  People go different directions in life.  Sad.  But a part of life...  Like when Summer Camp ends..

    Some friendships live on.  I hope that is true with all of us.

    I will now say farewell to Gearheads of War.

    Thanks to everyone who put sweat and heart into our community.  Some much more than others.  We all contributed in some way.  Enough to hear "Grymmie! or Boxin!" when you got into the room.

    Thank you Tyler for putting yourself out there and starting this website.  It's been a great ride.  See you on the other side.

    I mean later tonight...   I'm playing some MW2 and then some L4D2.  Anyone want to play?!

    Kenai - signing out.

    "I do not tell lies, but I am a savage".

    "I do not tell lies, but I am a savage" ~ William Wallace

    by Kenai 91 on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 09:36:15 PM EST

  •  Wow (none / 0)

    I know dont post that much or even really game with you guys. But I remember my first post right before my daughter was born three years later and onther little girl born I checked this site daily I wouldnt knwo what to do.    

  •  this stinks... (none / 0)

    I have watched this community since the beginning but never really said much or played FFF but gearheads will always hold a special place in my heart. if anyone ever wants to get a game up just send me an invite and I will deffinatly try to join in and have a blast. I guess this is DeAtHs GuNnEr signing out

    when I fall I get up. But when you fall,would you kindly stay down...

    by Kalral on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 10:01:54 PM EST

  •  Gamertag = Zoso Fan (none / 0)

    As sad as it is to hear the site is going down, luckily XBL is a very fertile environment (btw RAD news on the baby boy!!! Baby Blez gamertag confirmed?) Hopefully gears 3 smells less like my balls, or includes at last 16 player co-op or something.

    Regardless, there is tons of manlove to go around.

    See you on XBL bros.

    Signing on... (xbl)

    Zoso

    (dips nuts in nesquick ritualistically)

    Not all who wander are lost

    by Zoso Fan on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 11:08:45 PM EST

  •  Thank (none / 0)

    you Tyler for making Gearheads, and bringing together so many awesome people.  Awesome news on having a boy!!  I wish nothing but the best for you and your family. (Keep in touch)

    I've met so many great people on this site. Thanks to Papi, Grymm, Robbins, Suns, Blank, Poland, Sweet Tea, Hell Fire, tyrus, kenai, Zoso, Gacky and many more!!

    You guys have made this site an awesome place to visit.

    Tyler we still have to get in some gaming time SOON.

    God bless you all and we will meet on xbox live!!
    Gamer Tag GearsChrisB

    Your learning well my young Padawan: Polandstyle

    by GearsChrisB on Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 11:26:47 PM EST

  •  I also wanna say that... (none / 0)

    I will always remember everyone here as my true friends, and that I can hopefully meet up with some of you later down the road. I've made some of the best friendships from this site that I cant explain how proud I am to have been a part of this site and community. I will truly miss coming to this site every day and chatting with everyone about upcoming games. I will always remember being a Gearhead of War!

    So I want to end this by saying Thank You, Papi for creating what I consider to be THE BEST community I have ever been a part of, and for creating a site that has been run so well over these 3 years. You definitely have my upmost respect as well, and good luck with the baby boy!

    R.I.P Polandstyle :: 9/8/68 - 3/16/09 ::

    by RoBBins0096 on Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 01:22:07 AM EST

  •  =( (none / 0)

    I've been coming to this site daily a little after its creation, and I must say this is a real disappointment, although I completely understand the reasoning.

    Although I didn't participate in as many FFFs as I would've liked, it was well enough to watch such a tight nit community have fun blowing each other's brains out week after week.

    I'll never forget this site, and the people I met through it.  

    <3</p>

  •  sad stuff (none / 0)

    Though I was never an amazingly active member, I always felt welcome here.  I will miss reading the posts and laughing at all of the hilarious comments.  You guys are an awesome bunch.  Thanks Tyler for giving us a community where we could be ourselves and just enjoy gaming.  Gearheads will be missed.

    Andy

    Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell

    by dongcopter on Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 10:44:13 AM EST

  •  So sad... (none / 0)

    I know I wasn't the most active member of this community, but I still very much felt a part of it.  I wish I could have been in on more FFF than I was, but the couple that I did attend were thoroughly enjoyable.  Thank you Tyler for creating such a great place for all of us to get together and good luck in all you do in the future.  Congrats on the baby boy on the way too!

    Goodbye and good luck to all the Gearheads!

    Jamie Kent

    "Mike, be here at 22:00 hours. Everyone else, be here at 10."

    by titusdaddy on Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:21:14 PM EST

  •  I honestly never thought that this day would ever (none / 0)

    come, gearheadsofwar has been one of those things that have remained constant in my life, i  check this site constantly every day. FFF were the best thing that ever was. GoW1 was one of those greats and it got to the point where yall were the only guys i ever played with. I looked forward to FFF when i joined. I dont know what happened to the site, and ive noticed that there had been less and less posts and comments, but i shook it off hoping that every one was busy like i was.

    I'll remember all of yall, the late night arguments. That crazy a-hole who was always on this site talking smack. Blankman's crazed War Cry, polands chainsaw vortex, robbins and sweetteas headshots. the teamwork was a thing of beauty.

    I honestly didnt know that blank and suns had created another site. I knew about the wiki, but i didnt know that had a whole new site.

    Anywho, this site was with me through as i grew up and made my way to college, yall heard/listened to my thoughts, my worries, my comments, and yall even gave me insight and i truely appreciate.

    I have a tear in my eye as i write this, but i guess this is farewell, and i hope we can gather and game sometime in the future, i know most of yall are still my friends XBL. I

    See yall in the gaming world, my fellow Gearheads,

    xSilentStrykex
    forever and always a GearHead.

  •  Thanks for all the kind words, Gearheads (none / 0)

    While the title of the post is that this is the end, I don't believe it is.  It's the end of regular posting on Gearheads, but Gearheads wasn't what held us together with the people we really cared about.  It was more the interpersonal relationships we developed here.  Hell that other site wouldn't exist had Gearheads not created those relationships. I'm proud of that fact.

    I assume that I'll be gaming again with all of you all the time.  Just because I don't post about FFF, I still assume that I'll be catching up with Robbins, Zoso, Abe, Sweetie, Grymm, Chris, Jambi, David, MDK and everyone.  

    My email is papiblez@gmail.com.  Gamertag is papi blez.  PSN name is papiblez with no space.  

    I love you guys.  I really do and I expect to be destroying across XBL with all of you very soon.

  •  It really is unfortunate that (none / 0)

    it has come down to this, but to be blatantly honest, this really is not the end of Gearheads by any means at all. The only thing that'll be different is that we won't have this site. I know I have a few of you on Facebook so we can still chat on that, and I can assure you guys I will still be on Live. And I am practically ALWAYS online on Friday nights. Hell I'm usually on everyday. I'll be on a lot now since L4D2 is released so if anyone sees me online shoot me a Party invite and we'll game.

    Really guys, I think you're all blowing this waaaay out of proportion. It's not like we're never going to be in contact ever again. There's still the place where all of our memories were; on Xbox.

    Thanks for the run guys. It's been fun. Oh, and papi, I will never, ever forget that fateful night of the Nesquik.

    "Vuht? Ze Panzerz? WHO LET ZE PANZERZ OUWT?!?!?!?!"

    by Grymm on Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 11:16:30 PM EST

  •  OLE GEARHEADS (none / 0)

    yes it was a great run.  fantastic adventure and ive loved every minute of it.  live long and prosper(im flashing the vulcan sign). ill see you all in that realm of imagination called XBOX LIVE.

    so i leave you with the immortal words of tito and tarantula....fu and good nite.

    The road, it's home, the mountain high, river low...

    by DEGREES OF FREEDOM on Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 01:41:04 AM EST

  •  This is the day i wished would never come but.... (none / 0)

    as the old saying goes....THE SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN.

    Mear mortals cannot comprehend how I feel at this point in time.
    This site has meant more to me than any other. EVERYONE here has/is amazing. Robbins (god forbid never hand him a sniper rifle), Pap's getting owned as usual, Grymm head banging the TV, Zo's and GChris...... WELL just being there self's.
    I genuinely feel like I have lost something special.
    Over the last month I just wished I could have got in on a FFF. BUT I work mornings which mean I'm tired when I get home and when I do get on the action has ended.

    I'm TRYING to say I'll miss this site and all of you girls who can't hold a finger to my shotgun (If you believe that you'll believe anything).

    It has been fun but I know we will get together one day. OH if you want you can come round to my place, don't mind the missus just don't forget the latex and gimp masks fella's. I have the booze covered (as you my know) and I'm up for anything.

    Will you join me in drinking a Guinness?

    Bob we wont forget you!!!

    by HELLFIRE V1 on Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:11:19 PM EST

  •  Wow. (none / 0)

    I don't even know what to say.

    Anyone who wants to game, send me a request. Gamertag: sai tyrus

    I have to agree with Kenai. FFFs dropped off. My big issue is that I work most Fridays.

    I'm really saddened to hear the news. But  you know what? It's all about the gaming people. For me, that's what counts. Sitting with some friends and having a good time.

    I've seen this happen countless times, to numerous communities. My college buddies and I used to game every Thursday, but it all fell apart.

    In regards to FFF, I think there are countless reasons why that tapered off, the main thing being life. It's hard to consistently take a set time to game. And then we all love our own little games.

    Every one I met is a good person. Don't get caught up in all the drama. Appreciate one another for what the other person offers. And if you have a grievance with someone, take it up with them. Life's too damn short.

    Love all of yall.

    God bless!

    http://tyrus-onthepath.blogspot.com/

    by tyrus on Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:09:41 AM EST

    •  Also papi... (none / 0)

      you should consider signing up on one of these free blogging sites to kick off another community or do another iteration of Gearheads.

      Love ya man!

      Any time ya wanna rock and roll, hit me up!

      http://tyrus-onthepath.blogspot.com/

      by tyrus on Sun Nov 22, 2009 at 10:11:14 AM EST

      [ Parent ]

  •  It's funny (none / 0)

    I still haven't stopped checking this site daily =(.  And probably won't until it's gone.

Comments Disabled | 34 comments