Hello everyone! For my first article, I wanted to go over a few things to get on the same page, like what went through our minds when we decided to bring back a project from 20 years ago, if anyone even asked for this, etc.

When I took ownership of GameSekai back in 2005, I wanted to take an already thriving community that I loved and make sure I preserved it. I was lucky. I had an amazing team at my disposal who exceeded all the expectations I could hope for. They consistently went above and beyond, from things like the old Arcade (I miss it) and transforming the page for an April Fool's Day joke (Art for art's sake, Random Encounter ). As was well stated in Team Valiant's Full Circle article, its decline was only because of the inevitable evolution of the internet. And so it faded gracefully into the sunset for 20 years.

But we're not cut from the cloth most people are. We can appreciate our past, our roots, and what turned us into the people we are today. For me, a 20-something, running a website was one of the most important things I'd ever done, and it really did shape my life and my future. I discovered I had a natural knack for leadership. That led me professionally into managerial roles. I also discovered I had a passion for community management. I learned a lot of things about myself, personally and professionally. Valiant Gamers is honestly one of the best things that I ever did, but I didn't do it alone.

Anyways, I'm so glad that you're here, and I'd like to thank each and every one of you for coming along with us in our little experiment. I know, with your help, we can show the internet that the forum community format still has a place that nothing as of yet can truly do better, despite the newcomers like Discord doing a decent job. We're nostalgic but also realize the reality of a changing technological world, and let's be honest; our love for technology is part of the reason we're here today.

Here in the early days of Valiant Gamers' rebirth, we need your help in finding a new identity. A new trend. Please help us with any suggestions you have along the way. This is your community too, and I want to foster growth. I know we can, together.