Happy 4th birthday to Joystiq! (That's like a million in blog years)

by Christopher Grant { Jun 16th 2008 at 11:20PM }

Frequent readers may have noticed a few things in their last four years of reading Joystiq. First, and most unfortunate: you've all gotten older and grown hair in uncomfortable places. Second, you've seen our humble gaming blog grow from a scrappy publication (a "blawg") to one of the top gaming destinations on the web.

In that four year period, we've amassed over 27K posts and nearly a million of your comments. Doing the math, that breaks down to almost 20 posts a day on our side and over 600 comments a day on your side ... for four straight years. Clearly you're working a lot harder than we are and that's why the collective "we" wants to thank the collective "you" for reading along at home and making Joystiq not only a huge success, but something we're all very proud to be a part of. Here's to you, Joystiq!

Love,
–Chris, James, Ludwig, Ross, Alexander, Justin, Kyle, Jason, Scott, Griffin, Randy, and Kevin

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Ross Miller @ Jun 16th 2008 10:58PM

Yes, indeed, thank you all! On a personal note, I couldn't be happier to be a part of Joystiq. I actually got giddy when I passed James' post count this month to become the most prolific writer on the site. I've been very lucky with this gig, and the only reason I'm still here is because everyone still reads (and, y'know, haven't come at me with flaming pitchforks and copies of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

So big thanks readers, and since it's a time of reflection, a tip of my hat to former EIC Vladimir Cole for hiring me and Chris for keeping me around. By the way, that's an awesome looking cake ;)

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/making-of-the-joystiq-award-let-there-be-cake/

Sigh, I'm so glad that I've gotten better with my Photoshoppery.

theturtle363 @ Jun 16th 2008 11:40PM

dude im replying to Ross!!

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 11:52PM

Oh my God... A blogger in the comment section!

Anticrawl @ Jun 17th 2008 12:04AM

Yes it's been a good run, been around since the first few days this site crept out of the shadows. Sorry to say I don't offer the same thanks for Vladimir Cole, but other than that Joystiq has been a great place with a relatively mature community (for a gaming blog).

Luke @ Jun 17th 2008 12:34AM

Do you have a link to the very first post?

samfish @ Jun 17th 2008 12:59AM

I rummaged back to the very first post a while ago. All I remember about it now is that I couldn't reply to it, damnit.

steve @ Jun 17th 2008 1:02AM

Hmmm, this story should be followed by a sort of "the history of joystiq". You guys could remenice of the good ole times, and past stories and events.

Also, do you have a link to the very first joystiq post?

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ Jun 17th 2008 3:54PM

Well, we have this one:

http://www.joystiq.com/2004/06/06/welcome-to-joystiq/

Which is the 'Welcome to Joystiq' post, dated June 6th 2004, and then we have this one:

http://www.joystiq.com/2004/04/02/more-dirt-on-sonys-ps3-and-psp/

Which gives details on some crazy machines of the future, the 'PS3' and the 'PSP', whatever they are. And it's dated 2 April 2004. So either way, I don't see how today is their 4th birthday, unless there was a mix up with the dates early on. Also, see:

http://www.joystiq.com/2004/06/07/the-xbox-360/#comments

for the first post with any comments. Not only does it show that Joystiq were dead on the money, but that the first EVER posts on Joystiq were by frickin FANBOYS!

Anyhoo, happy birthday Joystiq - whatever the true date - and thanks for bringing us so much good news, so many good stories, such good writing, and Justin McElroy. Cheers!

*Sips beer misty eyed, nodding approvingly*

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 11:24PM

Happy Birthday Joystiq!

This is the best gaming community. Period.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 16th 2008 11:29PM

I guess for you it is Mr.Rockstar!

Any blog that gets banned from NeoGaf is OK in my book!

Viva La Joystiq-ion

BTW Fernando I did not get that card for you today ... I will get it to you tomorrow I PROMISE!! I had to go to petsmart and get a kennel for my puppy so Best Buy was out of the picture today

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 11:34PM

=)

Dont worry. No hurry here =p

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ Jun 16th 2008 11:40PM

Fernando, did you get the Dr. Mario demo I sent you or buy it yet?

Fernando Rocker @ Jun 16th 2008 11:42PM

Yes Cesaria... I did get the demo =p

I will send my FC over MSN.

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ Jun 16th 2008 11:46PM

Nice. I'll be on tomorrow afternoon/night. I look forward to pwning you.

theturtle363 @ Jun 16th 2008 11:25PM

We....we get cake too right?

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ Jun 17th 2008 12:03AM

The cake is a lie!
Hey, it's the 'stiq's b-day, so we can use as many old memes as we want!

Luke @ Jun 17th 2008 12:32AM

I believe that there are OVER NINE THOUSAND of them.

Noshino @ Jun 17th 2008 1:14AM

wow, that is enough to cause MASSIVE DAMAGE

colin @ Jun 17th 2008 2:05AM

Wow ... Just Wow!

Well played, sir(s)

FOXHOUND @ Jun 17th 2008 7:07AM

-gets the hummingBIRD-
the posts are inert!

...happy b'day, j'stiq.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jun 17th 2008 12:22PM

Anyone up for a historically accurate giant enemy crab battle?

velocitySTRIKE @ Jun 17th 2008 1:42PM

Luke, that was an epic DBZ reference.

And Merry Birthdaymas Joystiq, we should have a gathering to celebrate.

ComradeTrotskii @ Jun 16th 2008 11:27PM

Happy Birthday Joystiq.

Did anyone bring alcohol?

No! Fine I'm off to Destructoid then, those guys always have alcohol.

giantenemycrab @ Jun 16th 2008 11:27PM

Happy birthday to the best gaming blog on these tubes. Congrats!

Noshino @ Jun 16th 2008 11:28PM

Joined you guys on 06, and ever since been hooked!

My theory is that there are subliminal messages hidden because I can't stop visiting this site...

theturtle363 @ Jun 16th 2008 11:30PM

it's that damn hummingbird!

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ Jun 16th 2008 11:28PM

Happy Birthday, Joystiq! This has become my online home for the past year. :p This is easily the best gaming community on the webs and I've made a few friend (and rivals...) Here's to many more!

...Jan... @ Jun 16th 2008 11:29PM

Um...are you sure you know your own birthday? Cause, I just went to page 1785. And it says the first post was April 2, 2004 by Peter Rojas. And it was PSP and PS3 speculation.

Ross Miller @ Jun 16th 2008 11:50PM

Much like you might've noticed with our recent Big Download launch, there was already a month of posts in the backlog before we officially unveiled the site. The same trend followed with the development of Joystiq, originally an offshoot of Engadget. View our official unveiling here:

http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/16/introducing-joystiq/

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 17th 2008 1:40AM

LIE CAKE LIE CAKE!!!!1!!1!!!11!11

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jun 17th 2008 1:55AM

no but seriously, i do actually remember when you guys first unveiled Joystiq cause i was reading Engadget religiously about that time. i believe it was a while after until i actually became a member and started posting but i do remember. i remember being so pissed cause i was so addicted to both sites and would spend hours trying to read all the interesting, and constantly updating, articles on both sites and Gamespot. now i just read Joystiq exclusively and all is right with the world.

now im trying to remember what the old site looked like, cause if i remember correctly, you guys did a pretty big overhaul of it at one point. you should bust out the old site for like a week or something, but that would probably take too much coding effort lol.

bAssackwards @ Jun 16th 2008 11:30PM

Happy birthday Joystiq! Love your podcast!

Smurf @ Jun 16th 2008 11:30PM

Woooooo! Happy BERFday, Joystiq!

To the nerdiest and (therefore) most dedicated, informed, and witty blogging force our generation.

Keep up the good work, guys.

j.howlett @ Jun 16th 2008 11:32PM

happy birthday! (and it just makes it curiouser that i've had that unbirthday song stuck in my head all day)

Chris @ Jun 16th 2008 11:33PM

Happy Birthday! :-D

I really value your straight up professionalism. You guys are a much classier act than that other leading game blog. As in you don't post pictures of boob mousepads and upskirts of anime statuettes.

Thanks for being a great source of gaming news! here's to another 4!

Donald @ Jun 16th 2008 11:34PM

I started coming here in 2005 for news on the next gen consoles and it's become a daily thing to check this site for updates. And the witty comments are always fun.

Happy birthday Joystiq! I wuvs you!

Vegnagun bwf @ Jun 16th 2008 11:36PM

Happy Birthday Joystiq! I've been with you guys for three and a half years now, it's been great, never change!

ApolloIV @ Jun 16th 2008 11:40PM

Happy Birthday Joystiq! I hope your around for another four!

Peter @ Jun 16th 2008 11:42PM

Happy Birthday Joystiq

My favourite gaming news site is so grown up. Never stop growing ;)

Neebs @ Jun 16th 2008 11:43PM

Happy Birthday guys! Thanks for providing me with lots of laughs and so many comments.

DangerMouse @ Jun 16th 2008 11:45PM

Congrats on 4 years.

Darayz @ Jun 16th 2008 11:46PM

Happy birthday joystiq. Congrats on turning 4.

Dustin @ Jun 16th 2008 11:47PM

Thanks so much, Joystiq crew!
I can't hardly operate if I go more than a couple hours without checking the 'stiq. You are an integral part of my day!

Thanks for all the laughs, the fantastic reporting, the unbiased reviews, the heads-ups, and everything else you do for us gamers.

May your next four years be just as exciting and eventful! :)