Dear Bungie,
I usually don't post these kinds of things, but I felt compelled to do so today. It's likely that you don't directly see this, but either way I had to express my gratitude. Halo has meant a lot to my life over the years, as I know it has to many of the people who are reading this. I remember playing the first Halo with my best friend when it first came out. I recall the great system link parties I had with Halo 2; and I remember connecting with my friends in the best ways possible with Halo 3, ODST, and Reach. Over these awesome years of growing up with Halo, it has easily become my favorite video-game franchise of all time. Not just because of the awesome game-play, story, and overall experience, but because it is the game I grew up with. In 2008, my best friend who I had known since I was too young to remember, passed away. I had played all of the Halo games with him, and we shared in the excitement of anticipating Halo 3 in 2007. Even though he is in Heaven now, I still feel Halo is something we share together, and I still continue to go to the midnight release of every game. I think in many ways, other than Halo just being an awesome game, these are the kinds of things that make it special to the fans. Each person has their own story to go along with their experience with Halo over the years. These are things I have never fully revealed to anyone, but I feel that they will resonate with the people here on this site: The same people who have a genuine love for Halo. Not just because of the game, but also because of the times we had playing it.
So I thank you Bungie, for always maintaining such an awesome community and experience for Halo, and for giving me the opportunity to share something so amazing with my best friend. Halo will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will look forward to new endeavors undertaken by other studios. But, you were the ones that started it for all of us, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Thank you, and God Bless.
-NIMRODofArnor