So, my time with TF2 is over. I haven't played the game properly since i58, and I haven't been keeping up with any kind of updates or been keen to try any of the new things coming into the game, from the developers or the community. I've more or less lost all interest, which is sad. But, it's happened, and it's time to move on.
I kinda wanna write about my experience with the game and say goodbye, so please read my terribly written story. tldr; see you later.
I started playing TF2 back in 2009/2010. I started playing dumb shit like Pyro Dodgeball and Vs. Saxton Hale with American friends, before getting a job and not being able to maintain staying up until 4 in the morning laughing about pootis heavy or whatever. After that, I didn't really expect to keep playing TF2 much, to be completely honest. I thought I'd be finished with it due to all my TF2 friends being American and not being able to find the time to play with them. But I found TFTV, and I found competitive. I gained excellent friendships through lobbies, mixes and teams. After a few seasons of picking up competitive quite well, I eventually reached High Division in ETF2L, and then quit before I even started the season. At that point, I was losing interest and I was losing it fast.
I actually thought I'd end there. But if you're aware of who I am, you'll know I've been a prominent member of the HUD development community for the past few years. This made me stick with the game a lot longer than I initially planned. It pushed me to create huds.tf, as my interest in HUD development seemed to be unending.
HUD development gave me something new to do in a game I've devoted so many hours to in different ways. But, as always with this game, I tend to lose interest, and I have.
I got far with it, and I was able to get involved in some awesome community projects. TFTV brought me in back in April 2015 to maintain and develop the TFTV casting HUD, and the crew at Tip of the Hats got me involved to maintain their stream HUD a few months later that same year. I've worked with these guys for the last year and a half, and unfortunately, I will be leaving my position with TFTV. However, I will be sticking with the Tip of the Hats team, as Dashner convinced me that "ToTH is full of people who are done with TF2, and we still all come together and do our thing for the kids". So there's that, at least. Good job, Dashner. I wanted to fully leave and you've stopped me. Fucker.
Both TFTV and TOTH have been fantastic to me, especially for getting me involved with the great work they've been pumping out. They've shown me what it means to truly work in a team (even if I've argued mindlessly with some of them about dumb shit), and I'm super grateful for that. I've already said my goodbyes to the TFTV crew, so I don't need to say them here.
huds.tf and hit.tf will continue to run as they always have. It'll probably be the only thing other than Tip of the Hats that I'll involve myself in that relates to TF2. My good friend wiethoofd tends to take care of the huds.tf update posts now, and hit.tf basically runs itself, so my work there is done (besides the occasional maintenance, I'm sure). If anything is to change with either one, I'll be sure to let you know. I'll also continue to be involved in the small but wonderful hugs.tf charity streams.
I won't say any individual thank yous and goodbyes here, it'd take me too long. I've interacted with a lot of good people here, and if we've ever had a decent conversation; thanks for being a friend. I'll miss y'all.
Of course, as everyone who leaves TF2 does nowadays, I play Overwatch now, and tend to have Battle.net open more than Steam, so feel free to add me if you ever wanna play (omni#21928). I also play the Pokemon TCG Online because I'm a manchild, so if you want to beat my shit decks, search for omnibombulator.
That'll do. Cheers guys. See you later.
omnibombulator