After setting an all new record last month of 0 new posts, I’ve decided it would be best for me to close the forum down completely.
The Hideout originally began in July 2001. It was hosted on SourceForge using a friend’s account and reached 5,000 posts after 9 months. I started the forum as a replacement for the official DarkBASIC forum, as the software it was using at the time, Phorum, was very poorly featured compared to the other message board scripts of the time, such as YaBB SE.
It was quite popular, with lots of regulars from the DarkBASIC forums posting, however in March 2002 it was “hacked” and everything was deleted. I had a backup, but it was 3 months old. Rather than restore it, I decided to start from scratch in April.
Really, from that point on, it was destined to fail. Sure, most people did come back but they did not post in the same numbers and in August 2002, the new DB forums arrived which were more or less on par with YaBB SE in terms of features.
After the regulars dried up, it turned into almost a pure General Discussion forum, with only a little bit of game development talk happening. Though that did offer some interesting times, with the likes of Joey5rince and ste posting a lot of weird and wonderful things.
And of course, who could forget the legendary debates on religion and gay rights.
I don’t really feel the need to harp on anymore about “the good old days”, except to say it has been fun having my own semi-popular forum and was a more than worthwhile experience.
Thanks to everyone who participated over the last 7 years.
Last Post: Re: Mass Effect to be released on PC -
Maybe not ‘mutating’ per se, but there is emphasis on a non good evil type morality system which is affected by your dialogue. This has impacts on the way the game plays. I also think that there are multiple endings based on the choices you made.
It is open ended, though. Pretty non-linear, because you can choose the planets you wish to go to, but the level design on planets can be linear, I believe.
- P@
Final Statistics -
- Total Members: 59
- Total Posts: 30730
- Total Topics: 1755
- Most Users Online: 163 – December 24, 2004, 10:27:04 PM
- Total Page Views: 1783746
- Top 3 Posters
- Rpg Cyco: 8616
- TFman: 4096
- Foote: 2788
- Top 3 Topic Starters
- Rpg Cyco: 571
- TFman: 210
- ste: 89
- Top 3 Most Time Online
- Rpg Cyco: 56 days, 13 hours, 2 minutes
- TFman: 21 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes
- GunMan: 11 days, 9 hours, 22 minutes
- Top 3 Topics (by Replies)
- Bad Actions: 498
- The Joke Thread!: 248
- Microsoft Paint – show us your skills!: 192
- Top 3 Topics (by Views)
- Bad Actions: 9179
- Winamp 5.35 Released!: 8861
- Online FPS: 7707
- Top Month (by Posts): February 2004 – 2071 posts
- Top Month (by Page Views): January 2008 – 72614 page views
I really enjoyed the forum. I spent a hell of a lot of time on it! It’s a shame that we have to see it close, but it’s no use keeping up a forum with no one posting. Since school finished, things changed and (I guess) we no longer felt as motivated to have discussions. There are so many good memories, I hope that you backed it up, so that we can check it out many years time!
I’m really grateful that you have maintained it, and kepted it alive and updated for so long!
Long live the Hideout!
- P@
Yeah!! Top 3! lol..
I remember my first day on the Hideout.. First time on a forum also.. Spam or nuhh.. lol
L8az. Take care! =]
Yeah, it’s all backed up safely. I’m going to put the database on a CD and leave a copy at Dad’s place.
I remember that thread, too.
Thanks for stopping by. 
- Rpg Cyco
Yes, I am glad we had a forum, for, well foruming.
We discussed plenty of genius topics, and it isn’t good to see it go, but it was getting a little sick (not the content, the activity of rpeg – just relax).
Anyway, thank you Brad, for maintaining the forum for 7 years
.
-Simon
Hey, sorry for the really really late delay, but I just saw right now that the Hideout is closed.
I wanted to come back and post some stuff and look for old memories.
However, as it can be seen that it wasn’t active anymore at all, I guess u made the right decision after all.
Anyways, thanks for having this great forum, I really enjoyed, and I hope u get the best out of life ahead of you for both you Rpg Cyco and all other members.
GunMan
Sorry, but there is no “edit” button, haha.
But I just read ur post about the backup, but sadly I do no live anywhere close to where u live so I can’t pass by to collect my copy, u know what I mean.
You have my email and my facebook, so uhm uhm.
Is it possible for me to get part of it?
thx.
GunMan
Well i thought i better write something here too. I’m dissapointed i didn’t get a mention for the least number of posts i think it was one… haha… Kind of wish i got into the whole forum thing, especially after reading your comments.
Sounds like you all had a great time at the Hideout. However it seems we have moved on from the “good old days”, just hope other things from our youth don’t die out too, like the LAN’s.
Farewell
- Naith