Numerous staff members reflect on N-E as we celebrate the site's 13th birthday.

As we reported yesterday N-Europe has just entered its 13th year. During this time a great many staff members have come and gone and some of them took the time to reflect back on what the site means to them, their gaming history and what they are looking forward to in the future. My own personal reflections can be found in yesterday's post but now we hand it over to everyone else.

Like most people on the staff, N-Europe is like a home away from home. As staff you build bonds and get to know people that you would never even consider becoming acquainted to otherwise. Me especially, living in the United States, I have learned so much about working as a team and even about life in general from working for the site. It is hard to keep track of how many years I've been working behind the scenes, but I believe it is roughly 8 now. I've got a folder called "N-Europe" on my computer which contains over 3,000 images and a contacts folder containing almost 50 people I've met through this experience. N-Europe has been an invaluable chapter in my life.

N-Europe is a website that carries so much history; not just the website itself but the people who run and observe it. Despite the hardships and monumental changes the site has overcome, the people surrounding it has kept it alive. It has been a great run and it is fair to say that this year, number 13, will be a monumental year for this small Nintendo fan-site.

- Justin Marimon
Head of Graphics

All the way back to N64-Europe, to what has now become N-Europe this fan-site has been through 3 console generations and 3 name changes in 13 years. We've had many staff come and go over those years, some of whom we able to take their experiences here into a full time job within the games industry. The forums continue to grow to this day with new members joining daily, many of whom will find themselves so sucked in they may never leave, much like the many long term members we have. Through all the news stories, reviews, exclusives and various incidents of forum "drama", N-Europe has gone from strength to strength. And reaching our 13th birthday, entering our teenage years, is just testament to all the hard work, dedication and love that has been poured into it by all involved. I also reach my 9h year with N-E the day after the sites 13th birthday. Almost a full decade myself and I wouldn't trade a single moment of it.

I still remember exactly how I found this place, then Cube-Europe, having just gotten my first laptop that Christmas the first google search I did was for "Gamecube Release Date in Europe" and here was the first result. Little did I know I would not only still be reading this site 9 years later but also working as part of it in various roles over the years. And while the GameCube's release was unknown at the time I found this site fate would have it we would have the exclusive reveal of it's release date thanks to a "not so live, live webcast" by NoE.

So let us raise a glass (virtual or IRL, your choice) to this fine place that has become more than just a website to many of us, but a home and a family and may there be many more years to follow. GAME ON!!!

- Franklin Hughes
Head of Previews & Reviews & Forum Administrator

In the grand scheme of things I've only been involved in the inner-workings of N-Europe for a fraction of its life, but working here has been a fantastically memorable experience for me thanks to our wonderfully dedicated and friendly staff and readership.

I've done things with N-Europe and my fellow writers that I could only have dreamed of five years ago; from producing news and review content, to travelling to various press events hosted by Nintendo UK. I've met our current Editor-in-Chief Ashley, and previous overlords Tom Phillips and Tim Symons in London, and rubbed shoulders with a multitude of other lovely folk from gaming fansites worldwide. Indeed, I've certainly come a long way from poring over NGC Magazine, wishing I could be playing the likes of Wind Waker at E3!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our readers for making the site what it is today. Whether you're dropping in for the first time in months, clicking over to us from a blog or if you read our content every day, thank you. Your continued support motivates us to continue working without financial gain to simply provide a damn good reading experience to other people like ourselves, who share our passions, interests and dreams.

Gaming, once a niche enjoyed by few, is expanding rapidly to cater to the interests of millions around the world. And so too will N-Europe continue to grow and inevitably rise as a greater force over the coming months and years, hopefully continuing to open up the fabled world of games 'journalism' to others like me. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

- Nathan Whincup
Head of News

What does N-Europe mean to me? Well first and foremost it's a 'second home' to me, while this may seem a little 'sad' to some it's no word of a lie as I actually, genuinely love this place.

Even before I joined up over five years ago I watched the website grow for some time before then and the only thing I question is why the heck I didn't actually at least join the forum sooner!

But alas I only actually signed up when I became staff here, however that day when I did join up I actually felt something that I'd never really felt before outside of my own family and that was that I finally felt 'accepted' and it's a truly wonderful feeling that I've kept with me to this very day.

I remember the first game I was sent to review as well 'Cocoto Kart Racer' for the Nintendo DS and this was before the time of Mario Kart DS too so it seemed like quite a big deal and I was thrilled with the chance to finally prove myself.

Now many years on I'd like to think that I have done just that not just in reviewing but in being part of a community too, I genuinely love being a member of staff here at N-E and what's more part of the forum; heck I even met some of you at the meet and it's memories like that which will stay with me forever and for that I thank you all, even ReZ.

So here's to N-Europe! May we continue to live on as the fantastic fan-run site that we are and here's to the future but no matter what it brings may we never forget... Game On!

- Sam Gittins
Feature Writer

As a member of the graphics team it feels a bit strange actually having to use my words for once so I'm going to keep this short... and try to avoid any clichés.

I can honestly say that N-Europe is like a second home to me (okay, so my first line is a cliché, oh well, it's still true). I first discovered the website as the Cube-Europe era was coming to an end and so was witness to the rise of Revolution-Europe and the subsequent N-Europe re-brand. From the moment I first arrived I felt I was always welcomed and treated with respect by the fantastic community, which is still growing stronger by the day. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work behind the scenes and join the fantastic graphics team. I have loved every minute of it. Since then I have realised just how much hard work goes into making this site what it is you see before you and how fantastic each and every staff member is.

I am proud to be able to say that I am a part of this sites history, a history which I am sure will continue to grow with great success. So whilst 13 may be unlucky for some (oh look, I'm ending on a cliché as well, I haven't done very well here, it's not even that short either...) all of us here at N-Europe are very excited about what's to come and are in no doubt that we will be enjoying another fantastic year.

- Edd Rawles
Graphics Designer

13 years is a long time in this newfangled Internetland. It's difficult for me to get my head around, seeing as I'd barely started playing video games back in the late 90's. Having started reading the site on a regular basis since that fateful 2005 Tokyo Game Show and the switch to Revo-Europe, it's kind of weird that my earliest, fuzziest memories of this place don't even stretch back to half its history. I'm still a young cog in a machine full of veterans, but perhaps it's reflective of the grand scheme of things. This industry is incredibly fluid, and people "come and go" all the time, whether it be concerning console allegiances, which website one heads to for all the latest news, or even phasing in and out of gaming entirely.

Despite plenty of 'old faces' who lurk about the site, it's always seemed crystal clear to me that it is YOU - the silent reader who doesn't really need to have a comment or forum account - who is most important to this site. We serve that massive majority who come here to read what we write, and not just the tiny core who make a name for themselves in the depths of the forums. Because Nintendo fans are among the shrewdest around - we just want it given to us straight; no nonsense. And that is exactly what you'll get in 2011, in what may well prove to be Nintendo's most pivotal year of the decade. Can the 3DS really surpass its predecessor and carve out a market the likes the industry hasn't ever seen? And will this be the year that we finally see what Nintendo has up its sleeve to extend its revolution in the home console space through another generation? Either way, I sincerely hope you read all about it here.

- Aaron Clegg
News Writer

N-Europe is one of the first websites I came across when I first entered the online world and apart from the obvious email account checking is a site I still visit today. The fact that I have been able to give something back as a reviewer is most comforting.

- Derek Wheatley
Reviewer

N-Europe has always been an important part of my sad, joyous, pathetic, noble life. While marriage, PhD studies and a new house have prevented me from taking too much of an active role in the last 12 months, I'm still thinking of you all!

Like Murray, N-Europe -or rather, Cube-Europe, was one of the first Nintendo sites I came across: it looked professional, was full of energy and smelled just as lovely as one of Taylor Swift's sneakers. Joining was one of the most exciting opportunities of my life and I'm always glad I took it with both hands.

Some people ask why I never went professional, to them I say: the magazines could never afford my outrageous demands - topless dancing weasels; free hot and cold running ice water; lightning-fast sloth races and an underwater hair dryer.

And love, there's no love out there in the real world. But there's ever so much love here. And I think people need love. So I and everyone here is lucky, really.

- Iun Hockley
Feature Writer

I don't quite remember how I found out about N64-Europe, I was probably looking for Ocarina of Time info, but I recall reading it at my father's office before I had a computer so with some math and a quick trip down memory lane I know I've been following the site from its first year. Initially I just read the articles, I didn't find forums and comments interesting at all so I didst even look at them, but curiosity got the best of me quickly so I lurked the boards for quite some time until I joined them in Cube-Europe, not knowing they would be such a big part of my online life for so many years.

Fast forward a few years and two website revolutions and N-Europe was looking for contributors- this was my chance! As an application I wrote a news piece about Steven Spielberg announcing that he was working on video games, sent it and hoped for the best. More than 3 years have passed since then and my time here as a staff member has been a blast, not to mention a great experience and a terrific opportunity to learn all sorts of things, especially considering that English is not my primary language.

Now that 13 years have passed since N64-Europe made its debut I can't help but be in awe at the amazing work so many have done throughout the years to help build such a great site and keep the flame alive. I will always remember the discussions I've had in the forums, the teamwork, the brainstorming, the long hours spent writing, the rush to get fresh news out and the friends I've made, even if I've never met most face to face.

Although my studies and other projects keep me from dedicating as much time to N-Europe as before, this is still my Internet home and I'm immensely proud to be part of this family. Thank you for being with us.

- Jo�o Pedro Lopes
Feature Writer and Reviewer

I've been visiting N-Europe for around eleven years now - I found out about it towards the end of the N64-Europe days, just before it blossomed into Cube-Europe. I didn't actually join the community for a few years - joining a community back then was scary, especially as it was one of the very first websites I ever visited. N-Europe feels like my internet home.

However, I just want to keep this short and say thank you to everyone who has kept the site alive. We've been through quite a few owners, and we became part of a larger company, Kombo, before becoming independent again recently. Each one has done a brilliant job at keeping the site going. I'd also like to thank you lot. Without all you crazy people visiting us we wouldn't be here.

Penblwydd Hapus, N-Europe.

- Dean Jones
Reviewer

I often wonder and try to recall how I first came across N64-Europe back in the days of dial-up internet, but I can just never seem to remember. What was I looking for at the time? Zelda news? Nah, at the time I was shamefully oblivious to the Zelda series until Christmas '98 (Thank you Santa!). But somehow I landed upon this site. But I believe it was perhaps around one E3 as I was trying to watch a Nintendo conference in all it's glory and I just got sucked in and found myself repeatedly coming back, lurking the main the site as many of you viewers do. Then towards the end of Cube-Europe era I finally got the guts to make a forum account, and became part of the community which pretty much ended up becoming a home, talking to all these familiar people who would later on end up becoming friends.

But when looking back, it seems like N-Europe itself has went through a journey and it itself has grown along with us. The time I've been here feels so short, despite it being a number of years now, which turns out to be a fair chunk of my life, so it's just hard to imagine not being here among the community and watching N-Europe grow stronger and watching people come and go. It has undoubtedly become a very part of my life.

And for the future? I see no end to this. I'm positive that N-Europe will continue to grow from here on out and deliver news to Nintendo fans over the world. After all, there's going to be a lot going on, with special thanks to the next Zelda and 3DS.

So I hope you will remain with us, our loyal viewers, to see what we will deliver to you over the coming years, after all, it's a good time to be a gamer. Let's see where the industry will go, shall we? Thank you.

- Stephen Thomson
News Reporter

13 years!? Did the internet even exist back then? Seriously though, that's an impressive achievement.

I became a member of the forums around 8 years ago, during the Cube-Europe days. Got more involved with the site when it switched to Revo-Europe, first as a moderator on the forums and then as part of the GFX team. Needless to say I've had a fantastic time here, as a reader and as a member of staff. There's a great aura surrounding this place, and all of the awesome people that keep it going. It's difficult to describe really, but like Nintendo there's just something special about N-E.

So yeah, here's to the future of N-Europe, long may it continue!

- Manuel Gonzalez
Graphic Designer

N-Europe still means a lot to me, it's like coming home. Ever since the start of the site I have been roaming on it. I even helped out here and there (and I still do where I can) and what Franklin said is true. We have seen many come and many go and we have seen the hits and fails of Nintendo. Personally I think the best period of this site was the Cube area. This was because we had great discussions and debates about what was happening within the gaming industry. The site changed slowly to what we see today - a full grown site with a dedicated team behind it. Unfortunately we might have loss of a lot core readers that loved the advanced games from Nintendo and that lost interest in the Nintendo Wii but we have gotten a complete new generation of gamers roaming the site now.

So we know the old and have the new and I know that this site has many more years in store for us!

- Maikel De Bakker
Features Writer

What drew me to N-E was the community element to the site. I used to frequent the main page for my news for numerous years but never engaged with the forum until much later. I think it's fair to say that changed my perception of N-E as I found a place to vent my ideas and thoughts on all things gaming. I also came to enjoy the wit and knowledge of the N-E readership in a way that I could only say I'd experienced from reading, say, N64 magazine back in the day.

I then took confidence from my welcomed posts becoming a writer and then a reviewer for this very site. I still frequent the forums and now having the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of volunteers to both review and write about gaming it is the icing on the cake.

N-E survives on the pure passion from the staff and community and the heritage it has is weaved through this unique, and special relationship. Here's to another 13 years of European Nintendo coverage and, most of all, keep on gaming!

- Mark Lee
Reviewer and Features Writer