Having been part of the Buzz team for quite a while now, I have quite some memories stored. As part of the issue for this week, I will take you back down the slippery, dark and dangerous road that is my mind. The journey starts at when the Buzz team was first reinforced by my presence and will end with the current day. In between are a lot of nostalgic memories such as different editors, Buzz contests, and other big events. Writing down everything would be way too much, so I will limit myself to three, pretty randomly chosen events: my joining the Buzz, the April Fools edition of the Buzz in 2007 and the Grand Theft Mania contests the Buzz has hosted over the years.
“Could you re-write your application article?”
The main problem when it comes to my memories is that I am bad at recalling how long ago something exactly happened. At least, when it concerns Bootleggers. Usually, I just remember that something happened but I do not take the trouble to also remember when it did. Well, it is no difference for the Buzz. I can tell you that I joined somewhere over five years ago. At the time, the Buzz was ran by former Moderators Air and Nyxxie (with, if my memory serves me right, both being Help Desk Operator or maybe Nyxxie even still being a normal player). I wrote an application and was then contacted by Air with the request to go over it again and improve it. After doing so and even getting one of my friends to test-read it for me I submitted it again and was accepted. In the day, the main team consisted out of the two Editors and two writers: Deuce and myself. The others were either inactive or had left.
The result was a Buzz that was usually filled with articles written by Deuce and me, and issues with four articles and some content classed as 'boring week' were not uncommon. In the day, I was focused mainly on improving my writing and getting up to par with Deuce's level. Under the guidance of both Air and Nyxxie I eventually managed to get better.
“April Fools!”
One of the things that is still fresh in my mind are the April Fools articles the Buzz released. In addition to it being fun, it was also one of the first large things I witnessed as a writer of the team. After having gotten used to seeing the forum and working with the pressure of having to hand in at least one article a week it was now up to all writers to come up with a prank. In the issue, there seemed to be no Editors Note until one highlighted it with the mouse and Sabin resigned to pursue a wrestling career.
Every prank article could be recognized by a large column that appeared to have the Buzz background color and was there for seemingly no reason at all. Upon hovering the mouse over it and highlighting the area, text would appear that explained that the article was a prank instead of an actual news event.
“Welcome toe The Imperium, TestAccount!”
After having been promoted to Moderator, Air decided to host an event he called the Grand Theft Mania. The set-up was fairly simple, yet promising. Place Testaccount in random crew with a rare car, have players steal cars from that crew in an attempt to steal said rare car and award the winner with a grand prize. The idea was pretty good, as was the event itself.
First off, Air hosted a dice game on the Game Forum with all crews who wished to participate in it. The Imperium won and was lucky enough to host Testaccount for the duration of the contest. In the week prior to the contest, the entire crew purchased every car they could get their hands on to make it as difficult as possible for the players to steal the rare car. The contest ended fairly quickly, as the lucky winner got the car at her first attempt.
The contest has later been repeated in various forms with The Invisibles becoming the home of a new account that also held a rare car. The account first had to be traced by the use of hints. The first player to correctly guess the account would receive a prize, as would the first account to shoot it. The crew that guessed the name correctly first would host the second Grand Theft Mania. The account Togo was found, shot, revived and placed in The Invisibles with a rare car with the last action causing a lot of stolen cars.
All in all, the contest have always been well-received by the entire community: both hosting crews as participating players.
Above are three of my memories that still linger from my time by the Buzz. Of course, there are many more. During my time with the Buzz I have risen through the ranks of writer to editor and during such a journey things are bound to stick in the back of one's head. Would you like to read some more of these past memories every now and then or did you really dislike it? Comment below, let me know!
