J.T. Kauffman' farewell message

The GIA is something that has always meant a lot to me. I remember first hearing about the site via a letter that Allan Milligan sent out to people that had written in to him when he was hosting the letters column at another website. I remember being excited about the site back then, knowing that it was something different and would be something very good. I'm very glad that those gut feelings were correct. I'm also glad that I can say that I there on the first day of the GIA, albeit as a reader and not a staff member, and that I'm here today, on the last day of the site.

The GIA was founded on the concept that a fan-run site can take things to the next level, that it can be a great source of news, have intelligently written coverage, and at the same time, have a biting wit. I'm very glad that we've been able to achieve everything that we set out to, and so much more. We couldn't have done it by working alone, either - the staff members have been more than just co-workers; they have become my family, people that I have hung out with, people that I'll stay in contact with for the rest of my life. Heck, they're the kind of people that you want at your wedding because they have had such an impact on your life. They're the kind of people that you're glad to have as your friends.

If it wasn't for the GIA, I can seriously say that I wouldn't be where I am today. Not only have I had many wonderful times working for the site, reviewing games and doing impressions on them, getting killer coverage at trade shows, and just plain hanging out in the staff IRC channel, but my time at the site has had many other influences on my life's course. If I hadn't been taken onto the staff, I would very likely not be at the school that I am now, and wouldn't be headed in the direction that I am. Most importantly, I wouldn't be going there with the wonderful woman that I am. It's amazing how just a simple action of coming onto a staff could change the entire course of my life, but it has.

The GIA has become something so engrained in me that it will never leave. I'm very excited to start into the next era of online game coverage with Gameforms, but that doesn't make me any less sad to leave the GIA behind. I'm very glad that I will always be able to say that am, and will always be, a GIA agent.

-- J.T. Kauffman