Hello, Crossfire community.
It feels good to be back again after another absence. I guess that my name is familiar to some of you, while others might have never heard of me. My name is Dimitar, I'm part of the Crossfire gang since ~2006. I've been flying under the (IOC) tag ever since day 1 on Crossfire, as an ex-friend of mine (Ghost_Lightning) invited me here after playing together in a vanilla server which name I've already forgot.
Most of those who remember me, probably remember that I tend to leave and come back a lot and also that I tend to create troubles with my efforts do to something good. I even doubt that I will ever forget OP's usual post to my "Goodbye" threads - "See you soon". Tonight, however, I don't want to talk about that. I want to say something that I've probably never shared with you before, but has been sticking to my mind a lot.
I joined Crossfire when I was in high school and I remember how obsessed I was with it. I've literally spent half of my childhood and some of my teenage years online. My family can confirm that as I still remember how often my dad was telling me to get off that "space game" and actually do something. He was even complaining to all the people we know that I just sit in front of the PC and shoot space things. Back then, I couldn't see any other pros other than having fun with friends on the server. I even remember how many times my real life friends were making jokes with me about what amount of time I was spending here.
Connecting the dots could be made only when you look back to the past. And this is true, I can say, from my experience. Now, as I'm a 21 years old man, working for his family, trying to develop himself in professional and personal aspect, I can say that I'm starting to connect the dots regarding Crossfire. It seems that all those hours that we spent together, actually gave me a valuable lesson that, I could say, changed my life for good as a person and as a gamer.
From gaming point of view, I have, of course, played many different games. I've been part of many different communities for quite a while. But sooner or later, I left those communities and I don't even look back to where I've been. This is not true about Crossfire. I might disappear for a few months or even for years, but sooner or later I do come back to see how's everyone doing, sooner or later I again feel that spark that flamed the fire of playing Freelancer years ago. In a lot of the games that I've been playing, the players base were usually people interested in gaining total advantage for themselves. You could hardly find someone who would spend a lot of time and his own virtual cash for you. In those games, I found friends for a while, but I never really kept in touch after I left. This is not true about Crossfire. Here, I didn't only prospered, but after every my return, there would be plenty of people who would happily give away what they've earned just so that I can quickly catch up and enjoy the game. And this does not go only for me. I've seen the player base here doing that for every old player returning or a new player joining the game. And not only that. I will never ever forget how my clan leader, namely Centaurian Alpha, bought me RAM and graphics card when my PC wasn't strong enough to run the new Crossfire mod any more. He did that with his own money and he shipped it to Bulgaria, just so I can keep on playing. I doubt that I'd ever be able to express how thankful I am.
We played together, we laughed together, we've been getting into fights and argues, people have been leaving, but at the end of day, we were still together and we kept on enjoying flying in space together. OP and the Crossfire community didn't only offer fun and pleasant time for everyone. It offers friendship that remains and a good place where you can be yourself and have fun with people who appreciate you the way you are. OP and the Crossfire community offered a place that you could call home. A virtual home where you have people who really care about you and do their best to make you feel better.
From reality point of view, Crossfire gave me a lot. I've told that to my family, my friends, my colleagues, even to strangers but I never told you, so now it's a good time to do so. The Crossfire community changed my life. While playing this game, I actually learned to speak English. This might not seem a lot to you, but it's probably my whole life up to this point. Thanks to Crossfire I got a job where the English language was mandatory. Thanks to Crossfire I prospered in what I'm doing and I still work for that company. Thanks to Crossfire I got to travel around Europe and meet more people, learn new things and have plenty of new experience. Thanks to Crossfire, I learned what does it mean to be a Human carrying Humanity within oneself. Crossfire changed my life for good.
And even after all these years, I still remember how much fun I've had. It's this love for Crossfire that makes me come back again and again. You guys, managed to win my heart and it stayed here. And it will probably stay here forever, no matter how often I quit or disappear or whatever. After all these years, I still remember people who quit long ago and I'm still sad that I didn't remain in touch with them. But past is gone and it cannot be changed. I'm happy that you are still here and you welcome me back every time, no matter of what I've done or how much I've screwed up. You all deserve great respect for who you are. Always remain the same. The world needs people like you.
I want to take my time to thank to all of you, my friends. Thank you for being here.
OP, Haegar, Michael, Spiky, LaserJet, Crysis, Drakon, Gunny, Huor, Rex, Lashan, Dopplegagner, Riddick, Huor, Centaurian, Daywalker, magnet, Bond, Baldwin, Inferno, Husker, Forlon, Arrow, burro, Lost_Heaven, Maxbur, Cro_Legend, Shockwave, Abras, SeV, Fixxer, Picard, Hexplore,Tanathos, Vishnu, Slayer, Simba, grinder (I still watch the Bloodguards recruitment video quite often, masterpiece), Marauder, Azadur, DarkStalker, Orion, Ruivo, Ryder, privateer, Pandora, Sphinx, Myric, FlyingSi, Haldir, Dark_Angel, pcforce, AfGun, Faaby, Ancalagon, Jib, Amhos, Scorpion, Canoso, NewPol, hipogriff, Riebens, Rhonetaz, Saxon, Darco, oldgit, SHS, John_Donow, ChiefRedCloud, GalacticFire, Admiral, Diablo, RazielLD, X-Ray, SilverFox, Phoenix, StephanoV, Tranquil_Dominance, Eclipsya, RG, Knight, horatio, Kermit, NuclearWinter, Wavey and so on, and so on, the list goes on forever.
Of course, I want to thank all the clans who made this place better; BG, DC, IOC, CFPD, LP, TRF, UR, SA, 13th Armored, SMG, Fallen, PiA, UAC, PX, BLK_OPS, GK and all of old clans that I don't remember and the new ones that I still don't know.
Thank you.
IOC Tyrael out.
Welcome back Tyr.
CF gets in your blood. WB and looking forward to fly with you m8.
(its a natural law)
