I tell this one from time to time, but it still sticks with me: My small high school class was having an overnight "Halofest". Endless pizza and coke and 16 player games of Halo. This was back before most people even knew that the Pistol was the way go and back when you had to sub in for one of the few people who also play inverted. Some point well after midnight there was a lull in the games while people rotated to sleep or to grab pizza. It was long enough that I had time to start a single player game. Up to this point I knew more or less nothing about Bungie or their story telling. Halo to me was a prettier Unreal Tournment with vehicles. Then the Pillar of Autumn comes on screen with its bright engine flares and slow, sad music. I'm introduced to Captain Keyes, Cortana, Sargent Johnson, the Master Chief and the Covenant! My understanding of Halo was changed in one cutscenes. It went from multiplayer with more vehicles and less guns to a scifi universe I wanted to explore. And here I am a decade later!

Other memories are the first time I tried to do the T&R's teleport room on legendary. The Halo 2 E3 demo. The Halo 3 announce trailer. Finally beating the Regret hologram room on legendary. Thinking that the Chief's story was finished at the end of Halo 3. Loving the super solid cutscenes animation in Reach and the Firefly cast in ODST. And even watching a new studio continue Halo on into the future.

It's been a fun decade and I wouldn't mind having another one.