VIDEO GAMER X DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF "THE ODYSSEY OF HYRULE"

Can you believe it, The Odyssey of Hyrule has been online since April of '98. Back then, I never once imagined the site becoming as popular as it did in it's hayday of December and January. During that time you fans sent me around 200 E-mails daily and racked up a combined total of over 10 million hits! Originally, I made this site to honor and tribute Zelda 64, then later when the game came out added a strategy guide, but as time progressed I realized there was so much more potential to delve deeper into the game and the people who play the game. I invisioned a locale where gamers and Zelda Fans could associate and express their opinions and thoughts about the game and that is what it became. If you are a Zelda fan than this site will more than likely be adequate for your needs to both solve the game and read interesting dialogue and editorials, written by myself and others, relating to the video game phenomena that is Zelda.

I want the Odyssey of Hyrule to be a testament to gamers and webmasters everywhere that anyone can attain a goal of creating something great and proclaim their voice across the macrocosm of cyberspace. By myself, I single handedly designed, layed out, programmed, wrote, edited, and maintained this site despite great odds. It's amazing what can be done with an antiquated computer, some free software, a substandard graphics program, and a whole lot of creativity. I've been the rouge webmaster, not giving in to the opression of those who were nearsighted and did not share my vision, I have taken no income or revenue from my work, and I have not succumbed to failure but rather used it for inspiration to make something better.

The time has come for me to move headward into the next big gaming event, and that is Final Fantasy VIII. Each year has brought us new gaming experiences, but in those years there is a single event that redefines or sets a milestone in video gaming history, and we will soon be upon another big date, 9/9/99, the day America goes 128 bit, and Final Fantasy VIII is unveiled. With this being the case, I am gearing up for further development of FINAL FANTASY VIII: The Adventure Continues, my newest site. This DOES NOT mean however that "The Odyssey of Hyrule" is dead or that I have abandoned the site in any way. What it simply represents is that from this date on, I will no longer be accepting interactive submissions to the "What Gamers Think" section, will no longer be posting tricks and glitches for the game Zelda 64, and will close out the Zelda 64 "Hall of Fame" All submissions for the "Fond Zelda Memories," "Video Game Violence Discussion" that have been previously sent will be posted over the next month or so. This site is changing to RESERVE status. I still have many letters archived that still need to be posted in thier appropriate sections. Updates may be only done on a weekly basis for the next few months. However, early next year I plan to redesign Odyssey's Layout (The Odyssey 2000 Project) and begin preparations for release of Zelda 64: Gaiden and Ura Zelda, as well as the Trilogy of Color Gameboy titles (Mysterious Acorn, etc.) expected for release in the near future. I don't think any more major news beyond the SpaceWorld demo is going to be released for awhile but if anything really big breaks be sure to check this site out for a full report.

Looking back sentimentally on the last year I can say that I kind of wish I could have done more, but there was never enough time to complete everything I had hoped of making even though a lot was done. One thing I want people to do is to go back and read each article and page of the The Odyssey of Hyrule to remember all the great times we had together. Remember when I was the first person anywere on November 24, 1998, to have a walkthrough and Strategy Guide of Zelda 64. Remember when I went on a massive quest for the Triforce and all those insane procedures and alleged proof people came up with (some of which I was stupid enough to believe :-) )? Or all the anticipation of the interview with Miyamoto and the affiliation with Impact Gaming that turned out to be all for naught but was fun to look forward to nevertheless. Remember when T-Dog debuted "Swordless Link", "Out of Gaming Environment Link" "Fisherman's Peril" and "Crooked Cartridge" for the first time anywhere. Remember when I first started THE MANY ADVENTURES OF LINK with my own beginning to a story "My Heart Stolen by a Gerudo" Remember the time I went into the deepest philosophical roots of the Zelda games and unveiled its paradoxically hidden symbolism in plain view throughout the series. Together we discussed some truly thought-provoking issues. Remember when we all expressed our overall impressions of Zelda 64, and shared our Fond Memories of playing Zelda as little kids. Remember when I dabbled with VRML to create "The Enchanted Forest" a clunky first generation 3-D environment. Remember when I was the first to debut Jokes related to Zelda in "Something to Laugh At" and "Something to Laugh At Too" Remember when I released the Video Gamer X Debug Code and all the controversy it caused. Remember when we gamers got to express our beliefs regarding Violence in Video Games and speak out against those close-minded politicians bent on ruining the fun of gaming. Remember when I looked back at the history of the Zelda Gaming Experience in "Zelda Retro" There are so many memories and good times emblazoned upon the pages of The Odyssey that will forever remain on the internet for people to relate to and enjoy. Yes, it's been fun, for me, and I hope for you as well. I hope you as a visitor and a fan take the time to really go back and look at the Odyssey of Hyrule and come away feeling happy.

Before I go, I want to graciously thank EVERY SINGLE FAN who E-mailed me (well over 25,000 E-mails since the beginning) and contributed to this site. Without your support and E-mail I would never have been able to go as far as I did and your inspiration was a blessing. It's gamers like you that keep the game alive and illuminate the world with your creativity. A special thanks goes to T-Dog, whose identity will forever be anonymous, for reinvigorating Zelda 64 and making us enjoy the game even more and to Neils t'Hooft of "The Zelda Headquarters." who started the whole Zelda Supersite revolution back in 1996 and inspired me to expand upon his ideas.

In a vision she came to me, a blonde-haired child dressed in angelic manner whence I was traveling in twilight's glory. She pointed to a distant star and proclaimed "Tommorow I will be in the sky!" and I said unto her, "we all will someday." - Video Gamer X, (Year of the Awakening ~1991~)

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