A lot of you probably won't know me, but I've been in this community from very close to the start - before it even was a community. I played before Alarmcopter was co-commentator, and before Ferret had a server! I remember hopping around Skial servers to find the guy who made TF2 so much fun. Originally was gonna comment this but it was too long, lol.

Loved these comms, made some great friends from them and I know a lot of other people did too. I know people who met on this server, played comp together, and eventually met IRL. The effects of your idea and this community have been so far reaching, it's impossible to see every single thing it's achieved.

I'll never forget the first time my friend and I joined a random Snakewater server around 4 years ago, only to hear some random Brit start enthusing down the mic and telling people to play the bloody objective. When we saw ourselves on YouTube later, we were hooked. We started, I am loathe to admit, playing the servers we knew you frequented just for the chance of hearing that crazy guy start shouting down the mic, and somehow galvanizing everyone to make the game the most exhilerating and exciting it had ever been. (As someone completing a medical degree now, it chagrins me to say that not many things insofar are as rewarding as having your name shouted out for a good tactical play - or even, as always, a cheeky facestab).

This fostered a really keen interest in gaming between us, and when he became ill (appendicitis and then chronic fatigue), gaming was our main method of communication.

As a somewhat veteran of your community and, later, server, it was really cool to see all the new players joining and getting better. As someone interested in comp as well, it was awesome seeing all of these amazing players showcasing their skills - people like Shaggy and Pit-O-Matic to name a few.

I've played a fair few seasons of comp, but pound for pound your games were probably more exciting and fun - and, surprisingly, probably more organised (surprisingly it's more difficult to get 18 players on time at a pre-agreed date and time than it is 32 via a last minute event announcement, go figure).

Many many fun times were had, and looking back on everything, it is pretty remarkable what you managed to do: you managed to get a bunch of people together on a regular basis for a laugh. In a time when online communities - particularly gaming ones - are bashed, be proud of how many people you have made fall off their chairs laughing. Everyone should be proud to be part of such a good community.

Thank you for the good times Ferret.

- Kerouac (bad spy main)