Friday, April 2nd 2010

Gotcha!

April's Fool!

Guess we really got you guys this time. I will not be leaving the site, nor will there by any of the announced changes. It was all an elaborate April's Fools Joke that we played on you.



Read on for the details...

As most of you remember, NVIDIA's Fermi launch was at midnight my local time, so I posted the review after countless hours of work, watched how our traffic spiked quickly and went to bed smiling and reliefed that everything went well. After I woke up I grabbed my notebook to check if the site might be crashed or something - no everything was fine, I started reading the comments and was shocked to see all the drama about Catalyst 9.12 being used. While I was aware that 9.12 weren't the latest drivers, I was pretty sure that the performance gains were not significant enough to retest all ATI cards and instead not have something like the Metro & Heaven tests (time is limited). After sifting through hundreds of posts all stating the same I did feel quite some anger towards the userbase in general: I was pissed. But as countless people stated in the comments for the "I am going away thread" the comments are just a tiny subset of what people think; happy people don't post comments.
Still with some anger I made my first posts in the comment thread: I think I'm done, I'm quitting and a couple more ... after a while I went away from the PC and started thinking a bit about it. "Let's just prove those idiots wrong". So I started benchmarking the 5870 on 10.3 and posted the results several hours later. As expected the difference was only 2%.
As we moved closer to April 1st I thought "hey, why not use those posts to create an epic April's Fools Joke", talked to my good buddy btarunr about it and he also thought it might be worthwile doing. Bta was the only person to know, not even the TPU staff knew. So the post was made and the story unfolded...

While I had originally planned to come clean some time next week, I realized it would be cruel to let you guys suffer that long.



Thank you all for your amazing comments. I had no idea how appreciated my work is. I am also sorry if you were hurt by it - I didn't mean it. Thanks again guys! and again, don't worry, nothing big will change here. Feel free to express your anger toward me in the comments, the mods are instructed to give you even more leeway as usually.
Add your own comment

407 Comments on Gotcha!

#301
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
DonInKansasSooooo.....this means no epic W1zzard retirement For Sale thread?

Bummer.

:laugh:
i know right? iv seen pictures of the boxes I wouldnt even want to buy them just touch it a bit. Then maybe ask him if i can have some low end card and have him sign it. then ill put it on a shelf and never use it.
Posted on Reply
#302
MoonPig
^^ Never thought of that... Being in Europe, i could of got some cheap upgrades :(
Posted on Reply
#303
PCpraiser100
XD

What a funny! I got worried bout W1zz but didn't even know he was a joker. GOOD ONE! LMFAO!
Posted on Reply
#304
JATownes
The Lurker
Man...I have been gone the last few days...depressed 'cause W1zz was leaving...then I log in today and see this. THANK GOD YOU ARE STAYING.

NOT FUNNY THOUGH!!! Actually, freakin hillarious. Best April Fools joke EVER!!! BTW, the Phsyx thing was pretty damn funny too. LOL

Glad you are staying....we are nothing without our trusted and valiant leader. :D
Posted on Reply
#306
Polaris573
Senior Moderator
btarunrNah Dan won't fall for Heineken, it's piss.
Use Hertog Jan it's Dutch Catnip.
Posted on Reply
#307
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Polaris573Use Hertog Jan it's Dutch Catnip.
DAN IS DEAD! W1zz and Bta must be brought to justice!
Posted on Reply
#308
Polaris573
Senior Moderator
RegenerationCan't believe people actually bought it. It was pretty obvious... the owner leaves his site because a few trolls? come on! That's why they invented the banhammer[tm].
Well he had us convinced that it wasn't just the trolls. He also said he wast mostly sick of trade shows, writing reviews, and generally all things IT related.
Posted on Reply
#309
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Polaris573Well he had us convinced that it wasn't just the trolls. He also said he wast mostly sick of trade shows, writing reviews, and generally all things IT related.
Yup. And people who hate their jobs (like me) can relate.
Posted on Reply
#310
TotalChaos
RegenerationCan't believe people actually bought it. It was pretty obvious... the owner leaves his site because a few trolls? come on! That's why they invented the banhammer[tm].
Well they did a good job playing out the motions, it seemed sincere
Posted on Reply
#311
jaystein
You sick bastard!!. tsk, tsk, W1zz.:slap:

:toast:

I've always had a certain disdain for April Fools.:laugh:
Posted on Reply
#312
mtosev
@Wiz

were the last 2 days amusing to you? reading the comments, getting "PLEASE STAY" spam on your email, etc...?
Posted on Reply
#313
Tatty_Two
Gone Fishing
Just one word for you, but for the sake of politness.... I'll turn it into 2..... BAR STEWARD!
Posted on Reply
#314
sneekypeet
not-so supermod
W1zzard, I have been fighting a kidneystone for 3 weeks now, and just when I was starting to get better you kicked us all in our balls (mine were still a bit sore from the past 3 weeks). I have never wished that pain on anyone, but you, my friend, you might just make it to that list if I ever write one out!

Hats off to one of the most heartfelt jokes heard round the interwebz!
Posted on Reply
#315
n-ster
Yea, imagine, I, who was here for only 1 and a third year, felt real bad when I thought you were going to leave.... So for the people who have been here 4yrs + :eek:

Already, TPU has started to become part of my life, so for the mods and the long time members, it must have been pretty painful
Posted on Reply
#316
sneekypeet
not-so supermod
Not as bad as the stone, but he had me going, I mean not even a clue behind closed doors, nothing!
Posted on Reply
#317
n-ster
And it became worse when it was noon, April 2nd, seemed like it was 100% true :(

Oh btw, hope you recover well !! :o
Posted on Reply
#318
imperialreign
sneekypeetNot as bad as the stone, but he had me going, I mean not even a clue behind closed doors, nothing!
I still think that's pretty sick and demented he didn't even let y'all know . . . or even let the TPU hit squad in on the joke . . .

That is simply pure genius.
Posted on Reply
#319
Jansku07
One of my favourite sites announced they were quitting on the april day 3 years ago. Unfortunately that wasn't a joke, and it's still not back. Sooo... thinking about that made me really believe in w1zz's quitting. Not funny at all.
Posted on Reply
#320
Wile E
Power User
imperialreignI still think that's pretty sick and demented he didn't even let y'all know . . . or even let the TPU hit squad in on the joke . . .

That is simply pure genius.
Yes, I agree 100%. Simply awe inspiring as far as April Fools are concerned.
Posted on Reply
#321
qubit
Overclocked quantum bit
Wile EYes, I agree 100%. Simply awe inspiring as far as April Fools are concerned.
Yes, indeed this was the best April Fool I've ever seen - and he did it by cheating with the dates, too, the rascal. :laugh: I mean heck, I'm a pretty sceptical guy and do not fall for things. Yet, even though I wasn't quite 100% convinced (you know, the niggling doubt) I still fell for it enough to send him a "sorry to see you go! :cry:" PM, signed the stupid petition and made several posts on here lamenting his passing.

Man, I've never felt so had. :o :roll:

Of course, having cried wolf once, what about next time W1zzard makes a dramatic announcement: will anyone believe him?! :p
Posted on Reply
#322
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
W1zz is a stand up guy. If he says something you can believe him.
Just be careful the week before and after April 1st.

!@#$ He got me good too.
Posted on Reply
#323
1c3d0g
You got us all, Wizz. Thanks for not leaving. Your programs are teh r0xxorz! :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#324
chaotic_uk
you mean he has stopped spitting his dummy out ?


j/k btw ;)
Posted on Reply
#325
overclocker
Haha glad your not leaving, you had me going :P
Posted on Reply
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