MrChambers 2015-04-30 16:35:43

Good post tom, and happy birthday! I know I'm one of the new guys who hasn't really proven himself yet, but it feels really good to be a part of this awesome community and Im gonna work hard to make as much content as I can (until that day comes where I have to pay bills).
also - Pico day was a blast! Thanks so much for having me

Luis 2015-04-30 16:44:34

You summed it up on point. I usually have always had a blast at these things, but in the past there was always that looming curiousity or gloomyness from the people i talk to at pico day, the usual whats the health of newgrounds, or the office, or why the store shut, etc. I think this was the first year nothing like that came up. I think everyone just rallied around a website that gave them so much over the 20 years its been around, and still giving so much. When taken in that context, the shitty 'doomsday' mentality of flash, html5, and all that nonsense doesnt even matter. Like family, shit happens along the way, you lose loved ones, your family grows new branches, plants new seeds, etc. I think that's what makes newgrounds special. Places like youtube are like that daycare that you never made any friends with and your parents dumped you into all day, nobody is family and its every man for himself.

I think i had a moment with mindchamber at pico day as we looked at the younger generation kids, the nata guys/girls etc and kinda felt like old men watching from a porch but it was like a 'these fucking kids man, we are gonna be alright' moment and then i went back to drinking bourbon.

Luis 2015-04-30 16:46:42

also, first post.

14hourlunchbreak 2015-04-30 16:51:11

I'm sure you hear this all the time, so I'll keep it short: Newgrounds truly had a huge impact on me growing up and I'm eternally thankful for what you've done. Picking up Flash when I was 11 and making a shitty sprite animation for the portal was my first foray into the creative field. Now I'm studying to go into the creative field full time. I will always be thankful for what you and the Newgrounds community has done for me.
Saying that Pico Day was inspiring would be the biggest undersell of all time. It was just amazing to see so many creative people under one roof. You've definitely built one of the most talented network of creatives on the internet, and inspired kids like me to hopefully join those ranks. If that's not something to be proud of then idk what is. Keep on keeping on Tom, and happy birthday!

blackbass 2015-04-30 17:17:23

Well you have an amazing community always there to show how much they respect your world and work, so many genres are available on NG and that's thanks to you and your vision, everytimes the website change you can't really see how much work was poured into it but you can feel the changes.

And happy pico day even if i'm late :-)

PhantomArcade 2015-04-30 17:40:45

Pico Day was truly something, never have I felt so at peace in such a large crowd. And not only that, but seeing the people that make Newgrounds what it is... it was something else! It's something I'll carry with me forever. Thanks Tom, and everyone else too!

PS. Happy Birthday

bocodamondo 2015-04-30 17:41:12

im glad i ever came to this site, i mean just look at my drawing and animation quality from 2009 to now. if it wasnt for newgrounds, i would proably still be very bad in drawing
and dont get me started with me befriending soo many awesome artists and voice actors thanks to NG ^^

EKublai 2015-04-30 17:55:14

It was a pleasure meeting many of you guys for the first time and if I hadn't been so gosh-darned starstruck I would have spoken to many more of you. If Pico Day continues with the spirit that this year's did, even if the place isn't the same, there is no reason we won't keep wishing to come again and again... and again, baby.

Sheizenhammer 2015-04-30 17:57:09

You have to remember through all of this: 20 years is a HELL of a long time to keep an independent website running, especially through the dotcom crash in its infancy and all of the recent troubles with the economy forcing people to make hard decisions over what little money they now have.

This place isn't really the same as it was back when it started, but that's exactly why I've such hope for its future: It embraces change. It doesn't stubbornly try to 'be' the status quo of anything, nor does it bury its head in cookie-cutter formulas for what makes the most money and hope for the best. There hasn't been a single trend in people's use of the site, that I know of, that you personally (as well as your staff - can't forget the rest of them here) haven't actively done something in response to. That kind of dedication is really all you need, not tons of money or blue-chip ad sponsors (I know they help, but bad decisions and / or shit attitudes can easily outweigh both). It's got you this far, through times that have sunk bigger sites, so stay with it and it'll keep going to better and better places.

Another thing: This place has a real community, as you know. That community is not just going to up sticks and leave should anything insurmountable happen to the site - no, the PEOPLE - who made it all possible. A lot of us will be here should such a time of need ever arise, for a good portion of us are more than just end-users. We have become genuine friends with each other, and with the staff - even though most of us have never even met. To have made more friends than you'll ever likely know is an extremely rare achievement in this day and age, and it can only serve you well in times to come.

Coolboyman 2015-04-30 17:59:31

The last paragraph greatly represents why I and so many people respect you so much. By learning from your failures and moving forward, you're inspiring me and people all around the world to keep on trying and not letting our failures weigh us down.

Happy Birthday as well! I had a great time at Pico Day and I hope I can make it to the next one. Met so much amazing talent and made a lot of new friends too. Newgrounds really has something that most websites lack: a community that treats everyone else contributing content to this site as family, and I'm extremely grateful to be a part of it.

DroidTronProductions 2015-04-30 18:02:49

Touching. Take care, boss! This place will always be my home of delightful filth and I owe it all to you!

-Buddy Mike

kalabor106 2015-04-30 18:07:43

We love you Tom! Happy Birthday!!!

DeadKiller3535 2015-04-30 18:09:01

enjoy your birthday man!!!! thanks 4 create this for us

Whirlguy 2015-04-30 18:14:18

I think I mentioned before that Newgrounds is my home on the internet. Pico day made me realize it is so much more than that! Newgrounds is my family at heart. You're never alone Tom. We share this beautiful home. Every single one of us would fight for it with passion. Don't ever forget that.

Have an incredible birthday! I do hope to meet you again next year!

FrozenFire 2015-04-30 18:27:40

Why can't I like this post yet Tom?

Two big ol' thumbs up.

IkuGames 2015-04-30 18:31:05

I can't name another website that I've admired more or that's been more fundamentally important to me. A world without NG is a world in darkness. You're the bomb, Tom! Happy Birthday.

Zhon 2015-04-30 19:00:52

Tom, even when Myspace was still a thing I always thought you were the better Tom. I'm happy NG is still here. Happy birthday.

RWappin 2015-04-30 19:08:58

Pico Day was an amazing experience. It's not often I actually get to BE around so many other animators and creative people. I feel charged up/inspired to make stuff.

Malachy 2015-04-30 19:16:10

Happy birthday Tom! You threw one hell of a party! Newgrounds means a lot to me. I'm not artistically talented and I never learned how to code. I'm simply a fan. Despite all that, everyone I meet through newgrounds is accepting, friendly and approachable.

I loved the energy from Pico Day this year. There were so many talented young people meeting eachother for the first time. I can't count how many times I overheard conversation about the process for a game, movie or art. Just hosting Pico Day probably stepped up the content on Newgrounds and all you did was provide a couple kegs and burgers!

Thanks again for hosting us. You must have a big heart to open your office to us to rampage through for a whole weekend. Hell, I saw you giving people rides all over at the drop of a hat because they wanted to know where they could get a certain beer or grocery item not available at wawa. On Sunday you grabbed your keys when somebody wanted to know if any liquor stores were still open and you were willing to go on a likely futile trip just to see. You're a good guy and it shows in the work that you do!

Lastly, I don't think you should think there is any 'failure' in Newgrounds. Being less active or having to downsize a little bit is not a failure. Your daily visitors may have reduced but the QUALITY of the users you have is so much better. There was no negativity at Pico Day this year that I saw. Everyone was positive, accepting, generous and above all excited about being there! Keep doing what you're doing. We support you and want you to succeed because when Newgrounds succeeds so do all of those young new artists we got the chance to meet this past weekend. I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Lusin 2015-04-30 19:20:57

Audits suck shit bro but since it's your birthday, here's some advice: Never stop partying.