Contributed to MCLoZ by Enigma, co-webmaster of Zelda Vortex.

Community Magic - A Tale of Pure Love for the Game

In light of recent events I bring this piece on betrayal of my own passion. The passion of writing for one of the finest Zelda webmasters, Fierce.

A few days ago I had retired because of things going in my life keeping me busy. I felt something was missing and that something was terribly wrong. That emptiness had turned into guilt. Why you may ask? Simply put because I had betrayed what I had loved. Just as one would dump her girl friend for another, I felt the same for Zelda Vortex, Zelda, and Gaming. There is something you must know, and that Zelda is not the only thing that I have betrayed.

The History of Betrayal (Just what you wanted right?)

In the year 2001, I was searching for some Majora's Mask walkthroughs and I would always come to one particular site, HTLoZ (now permanently shut down) for all my Zelda needs. One day I clicked one single button and I was forever changed. That button was the forum's button.

From then on I started to build more knowledge about gaming, web design, and etiquette of the web than I could have ever done in my whole life time. I shared great memories in the RPG section and we discussed rumours of Ocarina of Time and the just-about-to-be-launched Gamecube.

For about 9 months I had some of the greatest community times I have ever had in my life. Then it struck, HTLoZ had went down because they could not pay for hosting. Then came the era of GXF in which was the HTLoZ refuge. I used to be a popular figure back at HTLoZ, but I had lost all my reputation in the comming years. I was not one of the more pleasant members on the boards, yet I still stood. During 2002 I was banned for 6 months and forgot about GXF. I had come back after that even though I knew I was not wanted. I kept coming back even though I was insulted, and even though I had gotten my feelings shattered.

I dont know why I always want to stay at those boards even though I am still insulted alot (just to let you know, I am not so innocent my self), but as far as I believe, I think I have gained some sort of bond that will never ever let me go. That bond is something I treasure and I do not ever want to let go.

Another era had started for me, a more involved, and on the site you see before your eyes, Zelda Vortex. April 2003 I had gotten the job as a feature writer for the site. At first I was giddy and I wanted to make Zelda Vortex the biggest site ever to be created through my works. As my imagination failed, I decided one thing to help the site, and that was pay for the hosting, this helped me prosper and know the ways of the website. I started to learn how to run a community, I started to appreciate all the work and concepts that Fierce goes through.

During November of 2003, I had decided to call it quits because I could not keep up my promises and projects which I had intended to do. Fierce told me to stay even though I was not doing any work. This inspired me to never to leave the site because it would possibly hurt his feelings (Fierce is a tough guy so dont exaggerate). Just a few days ago, with life as busy as it had gotten I had called it quits. Then as I said before I could not resist.

The Lesson

You must be wondering why I gave you a history lesson right? Well the reason is that I want all of you people to learn a very important lesson is, do not abandon your communities mainly because you are betraying your love.

I hate to break it to you but the Zelda community is dwindling, and you need to stick to your communities in order for Zelda to survive. The community is a place where you get to have some of the best learning experiences and moments of enjoyment and silliness, and if that fades, where is there room for Zelda to grow, and Nintendo to become prospereous once more?

As new members come to forums, they realize that the place they are in is a totally new and refreshing world. Just like them, you were the same. Although that feeling may fade out, there is always that bond between you and the site. You cannot leave the site simply because your mind feels a part of it has been ripped off. Gaming is your instinct, and if that goes away, what do you have left? Nothing.

So stick to your communities, do not ever give up on them because you will find yourself lost and always coming back like I always did.

For those webmaster's who have the dreams of creating the greatest gaming/Zelda site, never give up because it is you who we need to keep this place alive. Also, never abandon your website so it is easier upon yourself or you wish to chase your own passions. (Example: Ganons Realm now a Final Fantasy Site).

So I am now officially back to the website, and I hope to stay here forever because I am forever fused with this site.

Webmasters may use this article, but remember to at least keep the credit to where it belongs.

Enigma, forever Co-Webmaster (unless fired of course :P)