There's always going to be a special person who either changes or inspires you. Whether they be there in person or spirit, it is they whom you always have a connection to even if you don't realize it. When I think about it, Screwattack changed my life without knowing.
Screwattack is a, if not THE ultimate video game entertainment site. It's home to an incredibly vast and universal community of gamers and aficionados alike known as G1s. The Del Facto leader is Stuttering Craig and as I just found out, celebrated Screwattack's 5th birthday. This is what I get for being busy.
Now what does this have to do with Rarefindit, a lesser known self proclaimed Rare Game Hunter? Well, a hell of a lot really.
Back in 2008 as I was enjoying Video Games Live with Xeuton, a colleague of mine, we came across a folk singer by the name of Gamejew. He had a ukulele and was singing a song about saving the princess. Amongst the crowd, he picked me out and we were bombarded by people both local and corporate. Maybe it was the fact that I was dressed as Mario with a a big mushroom plushy and a baseball cap instead of a painter's hat, but many people were asking to take their picture with me. Even some people from Square-Enix. That was honestly a rare and honorous occasion. I didn't win the costume contest, but being stopped for a picture for a very very basic costume made out of just clothes and hand me downs, it worked.
Gamejew back then was part of Screwattack, this site which was in it's infancy. After checking out Gamejew's stream which had Jewario, who I didn't know at that time would eventually join Thatguywiththeglasses, I then found out about the Angry Video Game Nerd, A very popular name that would spawn many people to do the same thing, but with different games. It's through the fans and possibly G1s that contribute to his massive collection. Then Captain S which used a green screen that was never seen before and had a storyline that was episodic, but made sense. What do these have in common,? they were on Screwattack.
During that time when Screwattack was growing in terms of popularity to eventually a community of people who think alike and share a bond stronger than krazy glue, I joined a college radio station which eventually got me a chance to interview Stuttering Craig. For a guy who goes and wings it in terms of interviews, hes very good, and a former slamball player? This guy has the biggest honest heart for gaming I've ever seen.
Screwattack isn't just about games, it's about family, and the G1s and the people who are also part of it are also part of their family. This is probably stretching it a bit, but I've never seen such a Nakama ever before. You might be wondering who else is part of the family?
Well there's Stuttering Craig, the god, the tank, and also very nice guy, Ben who was High School Ben back then, Chad, Destin who hosts Hard News, Jared, who was on a show called Nametags which was like Clerks but with games, Jose the El Mexicano who hosts his Puntos, Maxifent Corey, Nervous Nick, who breaks stuff not intentionally, and Bryan and Angel. There a few others, but due to social obligations, I can't mention them, but they were at one point part of them. There are others whom I've grown to like such as Keith Apicary, the biggest adorkable manchild who's eternal search for the Dreamcast 2 amazes me. So much so that he went in front of G4 and asked about it. That takes a lot of balls to put Olivia Munn in her place. Lastly there's Brentalfloss, a lyricist who puts lyrics in game music. Very fun, and potential for great success.
I think the thing that stands out at Screwattack is it's G1s. I admit, I don't know if I would be accepted as a G1 as I am very limited when it comes to being on the current games as I can't afford all of them. Sorry guys, but considering the popular games these days are mostly FPSs, they are not my thing. If the romhacks are accepted, then maybe I can consider going to their forums as I probably think I still have an account there.
As time went on Screwatack started having their own convention: SGC Screwattack Gaming Convention. Basically giant gaming party with all your closest friends. They had so many people to be part of the lineup. Including the SpoonyOne, Brentalfloss and Keith, Movie Bob, who I briefly know as Game Overthinker, and even former lawyer troll guy Jack Thompson. The con is huge and the journey to it would be arduous if I were actually going. I may if I can get other people from California to join me. Maveric would totally feel like at home, but I don't know about Xeuton as that guy is not as hardcore or into his gaming as I am or Maveric who has a sparse collection.
As much as Screwattack is known in it's community as well as on the Internet, not everyone knows about them. Just the other day, in a small cafeteria barracks, I saw a lot of...well students playing Magic the Gathering. I have locked on a few conversations, but I doubt not many people know about them. That's quite a damn shame too because anyone who doesn't even know about Screwattack clearly hasn't A) Played Games enough B) Stay on Youtube and nothing else.
For what has been accomplished in 5 years, I'm glad I found out about Screwattack. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have met many people like Marzgurl, Benzaie the hyperactive gay Frenchy with a fiancee, and many more people. So to you Stuttering Craig and the G1s out there, Happy Birthday. Thanks for making this old fogey of a gamer (26 years old and 24 years counting) well worth seeking out more. You guys are the best closed knitted family I have wished I was a part of.
