Within the first weeks of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launch and on the eve the Nintendo Wii U console release, an incredible Gunslingers milestone occurred.
The Gunslingers group is now over 5,000 members strong!
I hope you find that amazing, because I sure as Hell do. Bend the ear of long time members like Balki, Korchie, Dick Lazer, or anyone else who has been active within GS for more than a few years. They will tell that it was never in our game plan to have so many fellow mature, casual gamers also consider the Gunslingers a needed outpost in their internet travels. Please, take a moment to view all the fantastic folks who have joined the rest of us in the last fifteen days.
To the above new members and to everyone else registered as a Gunslinger, I sincerely thank you all for joining.
The 5,000 mark is no feat in the ledger of a salesman. It isn't some sort of return of investment from advertising. GS has and will never be a money venture. We can celebrate such a milestone because of you. Because you wanted to escape typical clan obligations, because you wanted to game with other adults who share your own time restrictions, because you welcomed new members in the Introductions section, because you posted in the Introductions section, because you said "hello" in chat, because you were willing to make new friends by sending out invites from the Master Lists, because you were steadfast in keeping the GS narrative about friendliness and mutual respect rather than bragging rights, we have 5,000 members.
The way we have collectively went about making this grand experiment in social gaming succeed is also something we all should be proud of. We did it by sticking to our guns over being adults-only and casual specific. When we first entered the scene, most clans assumed that the competitive clan model was the only way in which to succeed.
Fast forward five years and, largely due to more and more adults playing video games, the general clan scene has become generally more casual. If you noticed our recruiting messages being echoed in those of other groups, you aren't alone. Sometimes, entire pages of our website are literally copied and pasted onto upstarts. Plagiarism is never welcomed, but it does serve as a positive meter-stick in regards to our influence.
That isn't to say that we are no longer ahead of the curve. The norm of gaming groups is making new members jump through hoops otherwise known as probation period, voucher requirements, and a stepped process in becoming a "true" member. People are still being asked to join groups without being able to even view their content prior to registering. The belief is that such hurdles are necessary to ensure a positive gaming experience.
Again, that is where you all come in. You are the ultimate rebuttal to that myth.
Because of your commitment in keeping us friendly and playing clean through natural social dispositions, we don't need those restrictions. We get to treat everyone here as they should be treated, regardless of what "Join Date" is stamped next to their name. Sure, there have been times when moderation by GS Leaders were needed, but moderation should always be a safety net, never a shadow cast by a gavel.
So, that was a heady rant, and I am sure I have thoroughly embarrassed myself by this point. Let's get to what all the above is really about. Celebrating! Fridays and Saturdays represent a long running tradition at GS called Frosty Pints. Grab some drinks. Grab a headset. Send out those friend invites. And light up those online servers with the GS tag. Make this Frosty Pints a toast to all that you have accomplished by continuing to do what you always have done: welcoming your fellow Gunslingers and having a good time.
Sincerely,
Gunslinger Founder,
McMurphy
We all love you Murph!
I will get you for this!
