darkSpyro

"Back in my day-"

It is honestly sad to see how slow this site has become. I spent a lot of my middle school and high school years checking out the news, participating in Role Plays, polls, fanfictions, and just enjoying talking about this game series. I have good and bad memories ties to this site, but nothing extreme, just a cringy hero complex, trying to be right all the time, trying to be the main character in stories that weren't my own... But I made some good friends... Many have left my life, both for their own lives and for my own absences. My absence was triggered mostly by my lack of on the go access, moving from a Windows phone to a Samsung Galaxy device (for some reason, the Galaxy devices just could not connect to this site, and I cannot figure out why), on top of my slowly degrading mental health.

I remember pieces of all the stories I was a part of, some of the drama between users, and some of the genuine fun that could be had for a forum, non-live chat service. My high school actually blocked this site at one point, probably because they noticed the network traffic was directed at a non-educational platform, lol. Anyway: I've grown a lot because of my experiences here. Though I really don't have a way to show it.

I think I spent too much time in the Role Play section, though. I'm sure there were a lot of good Fanfictions being posted, really in-depth topics, both about Spyro games and not. Much like a lot of things I interact with, I only see as much as I look for, and I don't tend to look around a whole lot. I've missed out on so much with all the fandoms I consider myself a part of due to life and/or lack of funds. Regardless, I still look back on this site as a positive thing in my life, even if it got a lot of drama around the Skylanders days.

Anyone else been here for a while want to just talk about whatever you want? Being back on feels like I walked into a ghost town, a once bright and active community now feels like empty streets and boarded up businesses.

In a Legoshi internal monolog style.

Apparently my guest book was locked. Well it is unlocked now. I don't think I should clear it, I've got nothing to hide. Did a quick reread of the messages, had some good friends in there, and some people who thought they could do whatever they wanted, lol.

I've thought about this site almost every day, if not every other day. To sit down and read everything would take literal years. From dark52's guides, through news and updates, canceled games, fan projects, fanfictions, long term role plays, the plethora of off-topic subjects... This site really use to feel alive. I was here before Skylanders, and I was here when forum categories slowed to a single new topic every few weeks... then months... and now, things as far back as 2015 are still on the first page in most of the categories.

What was the downfall? Where did it all fall apart? I'm seeing names I remember as respected figures on this site have recent activity in as late as 2022. Was it the lack of new official Spyro content? Was it the loss of interest in the series? Did people just stop caring when nothing new was announced for years? I understand people grow up and move on, I cannot fault anyone for that, it's just life.

I still cannot help but look back and reflect on my interactions with the people here, both as a member and the short time that I was a mod/hunter. This site was a big part of my life, in 2010 to 2018... maybe earlier than that, like 2016... I don't know, it is all a blur... but there were good times. I know I alone won't be able to revitalize the site or get people to return... it is, however, hard to see it like this...