Edit: Thank you for all your nice words =) I didn't expect this outpour of positive energy and it is greatly appreciated!

Hi @ll.
I did take a small break from SG the last months. It started in December, when my new rig was built (more on that further down below) and, honestly, I think it had something to do with Lily stopping the bundle threads.
I am super happy that Robby picked up the bundle threads and although to me, it still feels like something is missing, they are done reliably, concise and quite soon after a bundle releases. They are as helpful for my purchasing decisions as the "old" threads, so I really haven't lost anything in information and I am thankful to Robby that he picked up the work.

For me, personally, I think I lost my touch on SG a little. 2025 will mark me being on this website for 12 years, which is a very long time. Many people I knew have left and I feel a little bit detached from the new crowd.
But, admittedly, this might just be a phase. The last few months have been kinda rough.

My new PC was built at the beginning of December and I was just waiting for the new NVIDIA 5000-Series to come out in January of this year to finish it. Had I known what a debacle this series turned out to be, I would have stayed with my old rig. The idea was to finally make the jump from Full-HD-Gaming to 4K-UHD-Gaming. Or, in other words, to upgrade my old PC from February 2015 to a new one from January 2025.
Well, too many problems later, I am now sitting here with a PC that should have been my dream PC and I'm still hoping that Nvidia fixes the mess their drivers are, still trying to set up the new display so that I am satisfied, still have to get the temperatures lower, still lacking performance, have to live with missing PhysX in old games and still have many questions about all the new stull (DLSS, DLAA, DLeverything) and how the optimal settings per game should be.

What is more important is: One of my best friends took his own life at the end of January. We buried his younger brother in 2021, also after he took his own life. Both brothers developed mental illnesses after their mother suddenly died of cancer some 30 years ago.
Well, since the father of those two brothers already suffers from dementia and had to go through a severe heart surgery just mere days before his second son died, we - as friends - organized the funeral. That wasn't easy, since it took several weeks for the police to rule out any wrongdoings by a third party.
Well, we buried my very good friend mid February. One week later the father refused any more treatment in the hospital and nearly exactly two weeks after the funeral of his oldest son, the father died, too. And once again, we organized the funeral, since there was no family left.
I think my mind and body is still in denial but slowly but surely reality is setting in and it is hard. I miss him. But hey, the family now is back together, just in another place.

Well, thank you for reading my drivel. I will try to slowly but surely try to wiggle my way back in and see how it feels like.
So...
Hello there! I hope life treats you good and you are in a good place. If not, remember, yours is not a dead end street, there is always the chance to turn things around and if you truly feel lost, go and get help.

1 month ago*

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back, Amano. I also returned from a break, and I learned we also lost one of our own.
https://www.steamgifts.com/discussion/fc1Ru/in-memory-of-icaio-a-steamgifts-legend

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back from your break! How have you been?

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Busy.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, Icaio... I felt that one :-/

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back, Amano! I guess at the end, all you can do is remember, that you're still here ^_^

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back to SG, Amano. While I cannot be of any help with youy PC, i kind of understand, asmy laptop is from 2015/16 and the thought of figuring out all the new technology out there is daunting.

My deepest condolences for what you had to go through with your friends. I cannot imagine. I hope the pain eases. I am always here (or on discord) if you need to chat.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words amd condolences.

Yup. Gaming has evolved so much in the last decade, it is a lot to read and lear. But hey, now I am all up to speed, so maybe I can help you out, if you want to :)

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I'm not currently in a situation to buy a new PC, but i will certainly keep you in mind when i do!

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Great :)

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back and sorry .

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your words

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sorry for your loss. PC will be fixed eventually

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your condolences.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back! I’m sorry for your losses. I hope you find some joy here and in your new tower, once all the kinks are worked out there.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your words and condolences.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sorry for you friend, wish you that time will heal the best it can, as that's something that can't totally ofc

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words and condolences.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Amano. I can't imagine the pain of losing such a close friend so suddenly and tragically. As time goes by, I hope that his memory will become a source of inspiration for you rather than sadness.

I'm very happy to see you back on SG! Your absence from these forums was certainly noticed and felt. I hope we can shine some positivity into your life or at least provide some distraction :)

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words and condolences. He was a talented musician and sang at our wedding, which is on tape, so whenever we will either watch our wedding video or I want to see and hear him, I can :)

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

My condolences about your friend and his father, it's never easy burying a friend.
Stay strong, even the worse moments pass and we have to continue for those who remain.

And about the PC woes, it gets fixed eventually, tech difficulties are sadly part of the package when it comes to PC gaming.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words and condolences. I am fine and am coping surprisingly well with it. I guess it's because I'm still in denial and it will hit me in a few weeks. But that's okay and I am prepared for that

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

So sorry to read about the rough time you had.
Hope it gets better soon, you certainly deserve it.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

My gosh, that is tragic.
Wishing you all the strength you need.

And thank you for sharing the hope at the end there. As someone who can never get themselves to ask for any help. The trick can be to just be around people who value you, no matter the reason they have. It's easy to wallow in the misery, that our mind concocts. But sometimes, being around others helps dispel the illusion that you are not enough.

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words. And yes, I wanted to end on a positive note. Giving up is never an option :)

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Welcome back, Amano, happy to see you here again.

Sorry for the whole situation, hopefully things get better gradually <3

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Thank you for your kind words. They will, they will. Time heals all (well, mostly) wounds

1 month ago
Permalink

Comment has been collapsed.

Sign in through Steam to add a comment.