Guysguise.com Closed

MANITOBA -- Guysguise.com, a site that has enjoyed unparralleled success as a source for humor in the Alternate Reality Gaming community, is closing its doors and wrapping up its publication run. While still active in the community, creator James Ingrahausen has decided to call it a career. In a statement relased Saturday, Ingrahausen wrote, "While I am saddened to do so, it's time to stop. I will be spending more time with my family, doing the things that only fathers can dream about."

While he didn't give anyone else in the community a 'heads-up' about the announcement, Ingrahausen wanted everyone to know that he's not disappearing. "There are a number of things I would like to continue to do in this community, a number of ideas I still have bouncing around in my head," wrote Ingrahausen. "I'm sure that an article or two of my creation may pop up here and there. I have a rather loud voice and love to hear myself talk, so I'll still need outlets to do that."

If you have any comments about this story, send them to letters@guysguise.com and we will print them in an upcoming epilogue. Until then, we thank the readers for their continued interest in the site.

by Jonathan Waite

Thanks and Praise To The Following People

This little rest spot on the information superhighway was certainly fun to keep up. When I first came up with the idea, it was just meant to be a joke. Now, about a year later, it has proven to be an interesting experiment, full of ups and downs. For those who don't know, this was my first official website, my first registered domain. I couldn't have picked a better project to work on.

In no particular order, here are the people I want to thank that have been part of this experience with me:

Steve Peters (vpisteve): The host extraordinaire, he came through with an offer I couldn't refuse when I was worried about hosting. As well, he's been an avid supporter of the site, and a good friend. He'll be seeing all of me and my family in December, flight costs willing. :)

Sean Stacey (SpaceBass): My pastry taster, my spell checker, my ally against all that is evil in this world. You are definitely the man.

Marie Lamb (Gupfee): She contributed often, she edited sometimes, she was a voice of reason always. If only her daughter had contributed some artwork for the site to make it complete. :)

Brooke Thompson (imbri): Whenever I needed some advice, or technology was over my head, Brooke was there to lend a helping hand. You're still my favorite in-game character.

Bill Shaw (Bill), Martin Mitchell (Martavius), Liqidcrack: Thanks for letting me interview you in the most unorthodox ways. 'Twas fun.

Dave Szulborski (cabalagent): Thanks for the link at CTW and know that I'll still be here, supporting the hell out of your game and the genre.

Anyone who ever sent in a letter, a picture, a request or a criticism: Thanks for supporting the site.

Couldn't have done it without any of you. You are all etched in the history of my mind.

by Jonathan Waite

The Best and the Worst of the Past Year

While this has been primarily a humor site, it has also served, in my humble opinion, as a record of the evolution of the Alternate Reality community. While it hasn't always been fun to be around, for the most part it has been a worthwhile endeavor. This is not to say that James Ingrahausen won't be around the chat rooms and forums that shape this community, because you'd have to ban me to stop me from coming around. :)

That said, here are some of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) moments of the past year.

BEST

• April 23, 2002 - Guysguise.com becomes a registered domain.
• Mention of the site over at grrl-e-grrl.com.
• All the comments about the Monkey on Ritalin, still my favorite alter-ego.
• The December 2002 re-launch
• Inclusion in the ARGN
• The Jawbreakers One Year Anniversary edition
• Someone actually registering chasingthefish.com (thief!)

WORST

• The summer 2002 'buyout' by jadedmedia.net. Just never took off like I wanted it to.
• "The Split" and the ripples that resonated from it.
  • treatment of the people who have been around for a long time and continue to do things for the genre
  • the "us vs. them" mentality of certain individuals
• Going out of my way to pay money for something, then being treated unfairly by the company, then finding out that services I had originally paid for are now free to all. That sucked hard.
• Closing GG now, at a time where an ARG is hot and heavy.

And that, my friends and enemies alike, is it. Thanks a lot.

by Jonathan Waite