RA3 is where I started my interests in first-person shooters. My family and someo of their friends had a clan, and they would hold LAN parties, playing matches against other clans. Sometimes I was allowed to play a bit, and got instantly hooked.

When I got my first personal computer, I stated playing RA3 a ton–and Unreal Tournament on the side. Later on it became Quake 3 OSP/CPMA (as well as Freeze Tag and InstaGib) and Quake Live Clan Arena, but never really competitively.

At the same time I also discovered CS 1.6. It was sort of a relaxation from all the fast-paced fragging for me. I liked the slower pace and different skill it required. I eventually joined some tournaments and started playing more competitively, hooking up with people in IRC.

I try to seek out games every now and then, but unfortunately there's less and less communities around Q3 and the likes, so it's becoming increasingly harder to find fun matches.

Playing Q3:RA3 felt like being dropped into a world full of crackheads with rail guns and telepathy. I still don't know if they were cheating or insanely talented.