A thank you from a friend of the past.

[gr4nt]

Hello,

Most of you probably won't remember me, but I suppose a few of you might. I apologize if this seems quite long or in the wrong place, but I feel a few of you might appreciate this - but I don't really know where else to post. I also don't know what has become of this community and I don't know how active it is, but I'd like to say a few things.

Back in 2006 I was a young 13 year old who was playing Vice City in the early days of the internet, and discovered the online community of Argonath on "Multi Theft Auto" - pretty much the very first online GTA you could get back then for those that were enough of computer nerds to get it working.

I spent every evening escaping to my online friends around the continents living the dream on Vice City. I don't think I can quite put all of this into words how special and magical this was at the time, those who were there I think would understand how unique an experience it was. Think before the time of Discord and modern triple -A games where online play functioned seamlessly, I remember creating the "=AV=" clan with my friend IRL "Dave",  is that still a real thing? People that played online on these communities all a common bond, it really wasn't for the masses and I really wonder now how all my old friends from the past are doing now. I've never been very good at describing things but I think those that were there at the time would understand where I'm coming from.

I don't really know what my intentions were with this post. I'm 28 years old and I suppose I'd just like to thank the guys I remember. Those like Ron, Gandalf, Legolas, Sauron, etc (apologies if I've missed any) for the brilliant times I had on here throughout my teenage years - it really was memories I'll never forget. I hope you are all doing well and life is good,

gr4nt.

[Kowalski.]

Nice to see you pay a visit, the community definitely has its special moments.

Given that you originated from MTA:VC, if you're still nostalgic and still a fan of GTA Vice City, I'd come and check out the VC:MP Argonath server!

If you're sticking around, then welcome back!

[AnoneteX]

Great to see you checking on the community once again. We personally never met in game, but if you have free time to join the servers again, there is a Gta V server now which is the only hope for now for this community. So if you are interested you should definitely check it out. There is also a big script update in the making for the “V” which we are waiting patiently.

[JDC]

I was an =AV= member for a few years from 2008 onwards, I'm not sure we've met, but I remember being part of the clan at its high point and seeing your name among the Founders along with =AV=MrJohannes (Janek) and =AV=Grzesiek (who taught me how to RP in MTA:VC). I hope life has been treating you well.

Like us, so many of our other friends have grown up and been lost to real life (careers, families, etc.), while others continue to drop by. A decent amount of old farts do remain though, myself included. If you decide to visit or stick around, just hop on to our SA:MP, V:MP (RAGE), VC:MP, or IV:MP servers and our players/admins will be more than willing to help you catch up.

[gr4nt]

I was an =AV= member for a few years from 2008 onwards, I'm not sure we've met, but I remember being part of the clan at its high point and seeing your name among the Founders along with =AV=MrJohannes (Janek) and =AV=Grzesiek (who taught me how to RP in MTA:VC). I hope life has been treating you well.

Like us, so many of our other friends have grown up and been lost to real life (careers, families, etc.), while others continue to drop by. A decent amount of old farts do remain though, myself included. If you decide to visit or stick around, just hop on to our SA:MP, V:MP (RAGE), VC:MP, or IV:MP servers and our players/admins will be more than willing to help you catch up.

Your words do speak truths my friend - I do remember your name as it would seem ( I was a R* member for a short time before I left). I actually have the original post founding =AV= in my profile (it was so cringe looking back on my teenage self xD), Grzesiek was a really good friend of mine from Poland I haven't spoken to in years... (decades?), but the fact that you even know those names proves that you are indeed from the old days.... I have been lurking a few times during the past few weeks since my original post and it really seems as if this community has died - which is really sad. Years ago there were hundreds of posts on this forum per day and it was really a unique time as I'm sure you can remember. But as AnoneteX said - as I can believe - this community relies on GTA5,, and I suppose the world has changed to that now... Is there any post you can direct me to which would give me an update on what has been happening with regards to the owners? I would really like to be a part of getting all the old guys back, even for 1 day/night for old times sake. I'm not really in the life situation at the moment to really dedicate my time to returning (because as you mentioned, life and such as much) but I really want to just focus my time in hooking up with the old guys of the past from MTA and live out one last time with my old friends....

I guess my question is are there any real "old" guys still out there? I would be happy to try and arrange an event for those guys that I remember via old emails on their profiles etc.

I'm sure I remember them well enough that they would want to do the same and feel the same way as myself...

gr4nt.

[Chase]

Hi there. I briefly played MTA:VC around that time, then got occupied with other games until SAMP came along. I joined in 2007 on the SAMP server. I don't remember your name, but then again there's a lot of people who I don't remember because my memory has gotten foggy over the years. I remember Grzesiek, and I think I remember Dave.

Lots have changed over the years for better or for worse -
MTA VC server was closed a while ago. VCMP is still going, but I don't know much about that part of the community. As far as I can tell, Kessu is doing a rather good job leading it.

JDC is doing what he can with trying to get people to play SAMP. Many have diverted to a community made by a few former members. Don't know if I can name it, but while their scripts appear to be good, a lot of the people there seem the judge you by what community you're part of... (the old crazy "you're with us or against us" mentality).

Badandy is trying to keep SAMP alive with quality of life improvements, and I help out with what I can, but I am primarily focused on the new iteration of our GTA V server. We all know that SAMP as it is right now is going the way of MTA VC. We're just trying at the very least let the server end in a less broken state. (Although I do believe with new and competent project maintainers, SAMP or a fork of SAMP can extend it quite a while)

As for the owners, it's a bit controversial - Not even the community leaders really know what's up with the owners. They pop in every couple of years to say hi, say they'll start being around more often, then disappear for more years. When they do show up, they generally don't get along with the community. The language / dialect barrier is a big factor in that.

Hope this helps catch you up just a little bit.

[gr4nt]

Hi there. I briefly played MTA:VC around that time, then got occupied with other games until SAMP came along. I joined in 2007 on the SAMP server. I don't remember your name, but then again there's a lot of people who I don't remember because my memory has gotten foggy over the years. I remember Grzesiek, and I think I remember Dave.

Lots have changed over the years for better or for worse -
MTA VC server was closed a while ago. VCMP is still going, but I don't know much about that part of the community. As far as I can tell, Kessu is doing a rather good job leading it.

JDC is doing what he can with trying to get people to play SAMP. Many have diverted to a community made by a few former members. Don't know if I can name it, but while their scripts appear to be good, a lot of the people there seem the judge you by what community you're part of... (the old crazy "you're with us or against us" mentality).

Badandy is trying to keep SAMP alive with quality of life improvements, and I help out with what I can, but I am primarily focused on the new iteration of our GTA V server. We all know that SAMP as it is right now is going the way of MTA VC. We're just trying at the very least let the server end in a less broken state. (Although I do believe with new and competent project maintainers, SAMP or a fork of SAMP can extend it quite a while)

As for the owners, it's a bit controversial - Not even the community leaders really know what's up with the owners. They pop in every couple of years to say hi, say they'll start being around more often, then disappear for more years. When they do show up, they generally don't get along with the community. The language / dialect barrier is a big factor in that.

Hope this helps catch you up just a little bit.

Thanks. It's been a while since I checked in. It seems that the owners have really forgotten what they once started, I guess life for them also got in the way. On the plus side the fact that they are still contributing financially to this gives me confidence that they still have it in their minds somewhere and they haven't truly let do quite yet. Hopefully some clarity on their feelings will come soon.