Here’s a post I didn’t expect to ever write, and it’s a long one.
Way back in 2007 a young me was sitting in a corporate mini office listening to my boss explain to me that I can’t get the promotion on offer, not because I didn’t deserve it but rather because I was a self taught software developer and according to corporate policy you had to have a degree, of any kind, to be promoted to the glory lands of middle management. The only problem being that my beautiful wife was at home looking after our 2 young kids and I was the single earner in the family so the idea of studying for a degree simply to get a promotion was a pipedream.
However, thanks to the support of my wife and family, that’s exactly what I started doing. So fast forward 6 months and I’m sitting in my study at 4am with a toddler sitting on my shoulders while I completed yet another brain dead assignment for my degree before heading off for my fulltime job and quickly coming to the realisation that I was burning out really quickly. I hadn’t had a moment to relax for 6 months and was well aware that I wouldn’t for another few years and it was in that moment that I decided to start a business that would stick with me for 18 years…
Okay, that’s not true, it was at that moment that I realised I needed something in my life other than full-time work and studying to bring balance to the force. So I started a little blog where I could post about videogames. So I spent a solid 5 minutes researching an available name and what software I needed and then this appeared.
And just look at it, it’s the most beautiful thing no one has ever seen. That amazing header image was created entirely by myself using Paint.Net.
Little did I know that this ridiculous blog would result in me meeting some of the best, and worst, people on this planet and enabling me to experience some absolutely incredible things that are too numerous to count.
I’m sitting here trying to think of the best things that have happened and the memories are flooding back and it’s impossible for me to pick a single one. The two that seem to stick out the most would be my trip to Bellevue in Washington USA, which to this day is the most liveable city I think I’ve ever visited. I was there to visit the Bungie studios and get some hands on time with a sequel to a small little game called Destiny.
The second major event I will never forget was when Activision hired out the entire Staples Centre at E3 and put on a small concert for their clients and media with the likes of Usher, Deadmau5, David Guetta, and a few others performing. I, and a few good friends, decided to pretend we were more important than we were and went upstairs, found an empty box suite, and just decided to occupy it. So there we sat, in a private box in the Staples Centre that was full of free alcohol and food watching some of the top entertainers on the planet. When staff arrived to check the box we just pretended we were meant to be there and you know what, they believed it and we spent the entire evening there. So much like this site, fake it until you make it truly is a solid life decision.
So what now?
Well, that little toddler that was sitting on my shoulders while I was studying has just finished her GCSE’s (Matric in SA). My eldest is finishing A-Levels before heading off to Japan for a bit and my wife is starting university herself in September. It’s all change in my life and I’ve decided it’s time to move on. As such I’ve sold Lazygamer/Critical Hit.
As off today, the 9th of June 2021, I own 0% of the company.
Thank you to everyone who has ever read a single word of the garbage I posted, I’m extremely proud of what I managed to accomplish in the videogame industry in South Africa.
Much like those who win Oscars I have that urge to thank everyone by name who has helped me in this journey, but this journey has been over 14 years now and the only thing I know for sure is that if I try name everyone I will miss out some extremely important people and that will result in people being hurt and while I may be an abbrasive person those who really know me know that I never want that.
So that’s it, I’m out. I wish the new owners absolutely the best moving ahead and hopefully, in a few year’s time, I can look back with regret that I sold the company for so little now that it’s the dominant entertainment platform on the planet.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
cloudzn
June 9, 2021 at 01:30
Sad to see you leave Gavin but all the best in your future endeavors and may it be successful as this site
The D
June 9, 2021 at 01:40
Cheers fucko! I mean, hope you get hit by a train.Wait shit, I mean you ride off into the sunset and get mauled by gorillas dammit this harder than I thought.
But for reals, cheers Gav. Thanks for taking a chance on me, letting me run free, and giving me a platform to grow into the world-class pain in the ass/writer that I am today 🙂
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 01:44
I just wish I did better at managing that ego….
One of my best memories is when we hired you and sent you to Gamescom before knowing what a blithering idiot you were.. I still to this day don’t know how you managed to make it back from that trip
The D
June 9, 2021 at 01:49
Luck, miracles, and bratwurst.
Kervyn Cloete
June 9, 2021 at 01:50
This is truly the end of an error….
I meant era. Yes, that’s what I meant.
Nick de Bruyne
June 9, 2021 at 03:03
https://media1.giphy.com/media/DlLTg0KpoNQ7C/giphy.gif
OddSockZA
June 9, 2021 at 03:27
Cool. I mean, it would have been nice if you let me know.
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 03:31
https://media1.giphy.com/media/59ZLqx3weo5kp1uKKT/giphy.gif
BradeLunner
June 9, 2021 at 04:06
So many changes on a site that’s been a comfort for me for years now! I hope it’s not going to change too much, any more insight into what’s going on behind the scenes for us? Cmon you’ve made the sale already, you can tell us
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 04:11
The new owner, Kevin, said he plans to keep it running as is and that is honestly all I know.
I hope he does and I hope it goes from strength to strength
BradeLunner
June 9, 2021 at 04:15
God speed!
dawid22
June 9, 2021 at 04:22
That Activision show was one for the ages. Sad to see the traditional SA gaming media slowly melting away, but that is the way life goes. All the best to you and the crew – it was a blast while it lasted.
Argute
June 9, 2021 at 03:16
Are the new owners the FPB?
In all seriousness, Critical Hit is something to be proud of. Good luck.
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:24
I stopped commenting here a long time ago. This place will always hold a deeply special place in my heart but it saddens me how the comment section became this personal battleground for some of the commentators here. This placed warped into something completely unrecognizable from what I used to love about interacting with people here. There’s no place for discussions or goofs. Comment sections became a place for people to selfishly air their vendettas and grievances.
A lot of you guys became so selfish and self-absorbed and stopped actually giving a shit about fostering a community, and it breaks my heart.
Anyway, good luck Gav and everyone else leaving. Hope nothing but the best for all of you.
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:25
https://media.tenor.com/images/07a595b4720dd0fb86857f263e8486a7/tenor.gif
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 05:25
Thanks Umar, yeah I have to admit certain sections of our readers became quite toxic and no matter how hard I tried to resolve it they just wouldn’t communicate politely anymore.
I do feel sad for them to be honest, but I know the majority of people aren’t like that
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:37
Like, there used to be a ton of arguments between contributors and commentators, but generally it’s something that would fade pretty quickly. There just came a time where the toxicity became so overwhelming here.
Even though you felt your efforts may have been in vain to curb the negativity, I still feel like everyone should be proud of this place and what you all created. I know I am.
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:39
“I still feel like everyone should be proud of this place and what you all created. I know I am.”
Agreed. I have met life long friends here over the last decade.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2021 at 05:58
With decade’s long Christmas decorations. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e3989e4c19146334419e3f891b151a0ee27a51d734d07bea6e3baae19fee5799.jpg
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:59
You chickened out, i thought you are posting this.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/300889499817476096/852120228589731901/three_graves.png
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 06:05
MR20 for life!
The D
June 9, 2021 at 05:26
Appreciate it dude! And at least we can always weeb out on Twitter!
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:31
Always dude. It means Za warudo to me! lol
Hammersteyn
June 9, 2021 at 05:44
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/502bbbbbeedad69cdb8e7f43e0eff7cd5fa2655c7bfad9d3672bec4d916b3d84.gif
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:45
PERFECTION!
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/168/718/c88.png
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:33
I miss the good ‘ol anime discussions we had. And the comments went off the rails years ago… but most of the regulars still read articles everyday.
PS: I left a gif for you on this post but it was not approved 😛
The D
June 9, 2021 at 05:35
Lemme sort that for ya bud.
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:35
Thanks D
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:41
Man, of all the gifs you had to post, you chose Hughes’ funeral T.T Why you traumatize me like this LOL
Yeah man, I still look back on those days with great fondness. We did our best to fill the comments sections with max weebness lol I hope that we at least converted a few people to the ways of the Dattebayo
Original Heretic
June 9, 2021 at 07:13
I never could understand why people picked fights here.
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:33
I miss the good ‘ol anime discussions we had. And the comments went off the rails years ago… but some still read articles everyday.
PS: I left a gif for you on this post but it was not approved 😛
Hammersteyn
June 9, 2021 at 05:42
I also miss chatting here, I remembered when I started I got such a fright the first time someone replied to my comment. The comment section was a tight nit unit. Trolls were banned and laughed at to everyone’s delight and things were good for a while. But then culture changed and the site had to change and not everyone was on board with it. I struggle at times and I tried sticking around for a while but one after the other everyone stopped commenting. Was fun while it lasted.
The D
June 9, 2021 at 05:43
Thanks for sticking around bud. And for making the Best of the Week post that little bit easier with your contributions 🙂
Umar
June 9, 2021 at 05:44
Same hey. As someone who generally keeps to myself, this place was the first time I really got the chance and felt comfortable interacting with other folks which lead to making some great friends in the local gaming community.
It really was fun while it lasted. Thanks for always upvoting everyone’s posts ?
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:44
“The comment section was a tight nit unit”
That’s when the “Upvote Squad” was formed. ( I lost the pic a while back changing PC’s, Raps might still have it.)
Hammersteyn
June 9, 2021 at 05:45
“Upvote Squad”
Yes LOL
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:46
Back in the day when we were linked to News24’s gaming section… boy did we have some insane trolls xD
justlikemo
June 9, 2021 at 09:05
Yes and no one would upvote your post faster than the Hammer!
justlikemo
June 9, 2021 at 09:05
Yes and no one would upvote your post faster than the Hammer!
Raptor Rants
June 9, 2021 at 18:18
I might.. remind me in a not so late hour to find it
Hammersteyn
June 9, 2021 at 19:47
How’s 7 am? https://media1.giphy.com/media/2ObNwZMDq8CUW7yQix/giphy-downsized-medium.gif
AC130 [Retired]
June 10, 2021 at 02:44
+7 upvotes
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2021 at 03:32
XD
Raptor Rants
June 10, 2021 at 06:41
whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2021 at 07:12
I couldn’t sleep XD
Raptor Rants
June 10, 2021 at 08:31
Will I ever live this down?
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2021 at 09:03
hahahahaha no
HvR
June 10, 2021 at 13:16
Hey this year is the 7th anniversary of that great day.
HvR
June 10, 2021 at 13:16
Hey this year is the 7th anniversary of that great day.
Raptor Rants
June 10, 2021 at 07:05
As promised. And so I say as the old guard leave… Upvoter squad… Disassemble
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/000c500af97a1a65911217812176669cfd6c9cc4529b38c3e2b9669f6744fddc.jpg
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
June 11, 2021 at 08:01
Same here.. This was the first internet community I became part of. It has not been the same.
So many work days wasted thanks to you guys lol
But, in a good way
Hammersteyn
June 13, 2021 at 01:58
Was the best time ever, so many laughs!
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
June 21, 2021 at 04:01
Yea man. I don’t remember the last time there was a funny comment section here.
R1ker
June 16, 2021 at 04:01
Hey Hammer. Yeah i myself have not been here in quite a while. Today being a public holiday and all i thought i would browse around here a bit and looks like big chances ahead here. I also use to love the comment section. And with any comment section there always will be trolls. However some bigwits working at criticalhit started trolling other commentators just because they have different opinions. I actually thought they would be above that and if someone is truly toxic just delete the comment instead of getting in a fight first. But at times it just felt people were hell bent on starting fights with each other that I just decided to go browse sites elsewhere. I use to come to this site at a stage just for the comments. Was an amazing community at one time
The D
June 9, 2021 at 05:25
Tell you what Ant and Jimbo
While I still have access to it, pop me a mail at darryn at critical hit dot net
I’ll answer your questions, I’ll address your hilarious little lies and we can chat when you’re not trying to perform in front of an audience so that you can feel better about yourselves.
I know you’re reading the comments, because despite you guys claiming several times that you’re done with the website, you always come back.
Or you can stick to your Discord group and celebrate the end of something, which speaks volumes.
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 05:26
oh god Darryn, why do this to yourself
Yozzie
June 9, 2021 at 05:51
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1c4d27cbf09baca029d76b52ee26177fabfbb25ee3b2da917afea9931cc74bf0.png
https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/020/565/ByakkxZCcAAfhGt.jpg
Alessandro Barbosa
June 9, 2021 at 06:05
End of a really transformative era for me personally here. This site was instrumental in shaping where I am in games today, giving me the chance to cover E3 (a real dream come true) and eventually meet people that would allow me to have the role that I do at GameSpot today.
I can’t thank Geoff and Gavin (even if we often didn’t see eye to eye) enough for giving me that chance, and I hope I served this website proud over the years. I’ve met some great people through it and look forward to continuing to enjoy this great hobby with you all in the years to come.
Godspeed to the new owners!
HairyEwok
June 9, 2021 at 06:23
My downvote senses are tingling for this article in the comment section.
RinceThis
June 9, 2021 at 07:03
Thanks for the giggles dude!
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 05:08
Just to be clear Ant and Jimbo.. It’s me doing that and no one else. You are most welcome
https://media2.giphy.com/media/B38jmyjfDUM2Q/giphy.gif
Aussious
June 9, 2021 at 08:34
Wow as someone who’s been here since the Early days of Lazygamer, when the most contested topic in gaming was console war stuff, to today’s bizzaro gaming landscape I must say it’s a hell of a ride! Thanks Gavin and Co. for the memories and the Friday Flmabaite Debates ??? I will always remember those early years with alot of fondness and the interesting melting pot of fans that found themselves on this blog.
Original Heretic
June 9, 2021 at 07:14
All the best, Gavin!
And thanks for getting this up and running for all us SA peeps who love gaming and Entertainment!
Aries
June 9, 2021 at 10:41
Good luck on the next adventure
Aries
June 9, 2021 at 10:41
Good luck on the next adventure
Paraiyar
June 9, 2021 at 10:50
So many comments deleted. Just another day on criticalhit? What’s the vision of the new management? More of the same or are they going to try to mend fences?
Posted a gif with Matt Hardy doing the “delete, delete” slogan. Got flagged.
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 12:05
99.9% of all comments deleted were from the usual troll.
Your one was picked up by Disqus spam filters by the look of it..
Stay safe
Gavin Mannion
June 9, 2021 at 12:05
99.9% of all comments deleted were from the usual troll.
Your one was picked up by Disqus spam filters by the look of it..
Stay safe
R1ker
June 16, 2021 at 04:04
Really hoping that it would be more of the mending fences thing. Use to be fun to chat here
Devon Stanton
June 9, 2021 at 17:40
Duuude it feels like yesterday, I still miss our heated debates. But we did some great stuff back in the day. Was certainly a blast man, and look what you’ve accomplished!! You have every reason to be proud! I’m sure we’ll get a chance to catch up soon.
Guild
June 10, 2021 at 05:23
Wow. Big changes to CH. All the best for the future @lazygamers:disqus
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
June 11, 2021 at 08:04
Godspeed, Mr Mannion! You’ve done well
Francois Knoetze
June 14, 2021 at 03:04
Some good memories here. Well done on what you have accomplished here dude and wishing you all the best going forward.
This site is my go to after I got seriously annoyed with IGN and gamespot back in the day. Don’t touch their sites anymore.
You created something seriously special that is well researched with solid non biased opinions all round.
The D
June 14, 2021 at 04:33
lol dude, we were biased as fuck. I think that’s our motto still.