Announcement + The Future of OC ReMix

[Tex]

Wow, look at all these familiar faces showing up out of nowhere! Goes to show how much this website has been on everyone's thoughts over the years.

DJP, I've always enjoyed reading your long write-ups for each ReMix. They really show that you care about people's contributions to this place. You have always been very thoughtful. So, thanks not only for your hard work, but also for being so passionate in the process. Hopefully, as a listener and ReMixer, I was able to reciprocate well enough.

Joined a little late in the site's history. But glad I was able to experience a slice of OCR before YouTube and social media were a thing. Fond memories of waking up early in the morning to check for new posted ReMixes. I'd listen to everything that was on the front page. Not just from games I knew.

Oh, OCReMix... you'll always have a special place in my heart ❤️

[duskvstweak]

You created something that has been part of my life for more than 20 years and I've interacted with OCR tracks more than any other music in my life. I'm glad your moving on to do what you heart is leading you to but I'll be forever grateful that you not only started this site, but then you led it to amazing heights and standards. Thanks for making such a positive and active part of the internet and video game culture.

[Shadowe]

I joined OCR's forums over 20 years ago at this point, after having been a listener for some time as well. It's hard to believe it's been two whole decades already.
The ups, the downs, the good, the bad, losing family members, nearly dying, getting married and discovering what it truly means to live... for over half of my entire existence on this planet OCR has been my life's soundtrack. Maybe there's a reason I wound up marrying a musician.

How do you even begin to put that into words? What can I possibly say that could begin to hold a candle to that, to encompass the joy and solace music provided for half a human life?

I guess all I can say is: Thank you, DJP. For everything.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Shadowe

[RedFox Nightfox]

As someone who has been lurking and enjoying the music on the site since I first stumbled on it in 2003 (and finally made an account in 2009), saving the music to my portable zip drive from the library computers that had internet access so I could save them to my PC that didn't have internet back then, I have to say the following:

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart djpretzel, for all you have done, and I wish you well in your future endeavors.

[KontaiDistro]

Long time on and off user of OCR since 2002.
I just wanted to thank you djpretzel for all of the work you've done over the years, and really hope that what you do in the future is both fruitful and successful!

[Jedimichael]

Having found this awesome site in 2003, hard to believe its already been 20 years now.  Although, haven't no musical talent myself, and growing up loving video game music, to which most people thought I was just crazy, it was absolutely amazing to find there were not only those out there who also loved this music, but have taken the time to make all these really great remixes. 

So a huge thank you to djpretzel (and staff) who have made this place and the music something to enjoy over the years and for many many more to come.

Over the years, editing tons of videos, some even professionally, it has always been fun to use a song here from the site, to which I have used many.  Always love to introduce the place to someone who has never heard about it....(some of those people still exist)

-Jedimichael

[Rodok]

I concur with all the thank yous to DJP.

OCR has been (and will continue to be) a big part of my musical journey. It got me out of my classical norm in 2002, and I am not sure I would be teaching music technology without its influence since then. Although life has kept me from contributing much, DJP and staff's work has helped me inspire kids outside the traditional band/orchestra/choir paradigm in the USA.

All the best, and I look forward to the future of OCR!

[Atomicfog]

I could write a book on how legit OCR is, but I'll just say that I can recall countless fond memories and songs that I can't imagine growing up without for the over 20 years since I found this place. That's how you know what DJP built here is so special.  Nice to see some other former unmodders here as well, hah. But yeah, definitely always loyal to this place and the legacy it represents.  I'm glad it's in the very capable hands of DarkeSword ?   But yeah, DJP is the man and crafted this gem since the internet was mostly just a fun a place to hang out, do what you want, and build what felt right in your soul. Much love.

[Straziante]

You've earned some rest mate. You lead the charge in building an amazing project at the bleeding edge of the internet frontier. This place was a huge cultural force during those wild west years! Enjoy your family time and can't wait to hear a Lunar remix or two from the Pretzel Family.

[Master Mi]

Must have radically missed this thread.

Really amazing mindset and work. ))

...

In today's world, unfortunately, far too much revolves around profits, competition, exploitation and the resulting conflicts in the world.

That's why I'm really grateful that some people are still really concerned about the cause itself (in this case music and creative remixes of video game soundtracks), community endeavors as well as essential improvements, real progress and new opportunities for all people to participate.

Since free time is often a precious and rare good, you certainly give up a lot for such a project.
But on the other hand, you are creating something beautiful, valuable and perhaps even permanent - like freshly harvested, delicious fruits from the trees you planted many years ago.

Just reminds me that about 10 years ago, I myself planted a variety of different fruit trees and bushes - from apples, cherries, plums, sea buckthorn, hazelnuts and others - in an open, secluded meadow area in my home town, mowed the meadow around the planted trees and bushes with a classic scythe and watered it the first time with the water of a nearby river.

Aber three or four years, the trees and bushes yielded their first fruits and the people who came by could harvest some fresh 'n' tasty fruits.
But I've also seen lots of birds coming by or even somebody who enjoyed reading something in the quiet, idyllic area of the lil' fruit tree paradise.

Against all gardening knowledge and recommendations (I'm a landscape gardener myself), I never pruned one of those trees.
And they grew up beautifully in their own unique and the most natural way they could grow.

Didn't have to put any further work in these trees and bushes since then, only a few trees died within the first years, but the remaining ones grew really strong and vital.

The only thing that can be a bigger threat to them now, are the greedy property sharks and rent roaches that literally infested my home town years ago.
These kind of "people" mostly have eyes for easy money and huge profits - they don't care about natural beauty, community standards, good structures, social peace or creating something really useful (and affordable) most humans would benefit from.

People like those would even sell paradise for the latest luxury resort or sell a good community for the newest sports car in their garage.

It would be even a compliment for them to be called just "useless", because their greed and selfishness make them rather harmful for society, especially for the workers and common people.

They piss off workers with ridiculously high (simply not affordable) rents, and then - without workers - these Trumpish Muskuitos and all the elitist, capitalist or even fascist money sniffers even dare to borrow eggs 'n food from other countries where workers don't have to live in tents yet.

In this really batshit crazy world, I'm really glad I live in a social housing associating that even existed after the former socialist times of my country and still offers very stylish flats with really affordable rents, a good neignborhood, a rather rural silence and lots of trees 'n' natural green places around.
Still no car (just the good ol' bike + trailer and a local public transport "gold ticket"), no expensive holidays and  no luxury on my wish list - but at least plenty of good organic food in the fridge, a little home studio, a much more pleasant 4-days working week (around 30 hours a week on average) in my job life, a bit longer 3-days weekends - and much more time for recovery, for the things that need to be done and the things I really want to do.

...

So if you are fine with a modest, more active and more healthy lifestyle, I'd radically recommend to shift down (especially in your working life) a bit - for the sake of the things you are really passionate about.

Money is mostly for living in modern societies (and for saving a little bit), but not for hoarding meaningless luxuries and status symbols.
Hoarding bananas, sashimi, good literature, video games and music as sources of life force, knowledge and joy is totally fine, of course.

The higher currencies in the universe are still (life force) energy and time, with which you can really unleash your creative potential, create synergies, new possibilities and experience joy, intensity and really inspiring natural highs. ))