On January 8th 1997, the world changed. From the ashes of Prestige, as the new year came, so too did a new group. Several of dedicated, determined and often emotional people formed the group that was to be known as CLASS.

Taking advantage of the experience they had from the past, they quickly rocketed to the top of the PC rip charts. From the very first release Magic the Gathering: BattleMage, onward, it became apparent that the state of the scene had changed. With combined dominance over America and Europe, CLASS became not just another competitor, but a legend in its own right.

We choose to celebrate this now, because as of today (after #1234 releases, a number which was unmatched by any group operating continuously for such a long time) the group is officially retiring from active duty.

In the past seven years PC games and the scene aswell have changed a lot. Most of the games that we would call "quality" have become unrippable or simply waste way too much time for a sane mind. There seems no point to invest effort in ripping value products, esoteric European games, and (if certain groups are to be believed) webware, the likes of which the pioneers of game cracking would have turned their noses up at in disgust.

Lately we have had a lack of real competition. There hasn't been a decent rival in years, no matter how much propaganda haters spread. Just sit down and think about which group used to deliver you upwards of 30 games a month (and still doing the most) in the glory days of PC gaming. The same crew who brought you Total Annihilation, Quake 2, Championship Manager 3, Sims, Grand Prix 4 or Warcraft 3 just to name a few of the very best.

We are here today beaten not by competitors, but by time itself. In seven years, things change, people grow, individuals move on. Most of us have a completely different life by now, everyone has gotten older and yet at the same time the scene has gotten smaller. We have been doing it just for the fun, as one would say, game ripping has become a true art by today. Just like true artists, we also realized that winds of change have already passed trough time to touch ourselves. Rippable PC games just aren't the way of the future.

Don't be worried though. The state that CLASS is about to enter isn't so much of a coma, but more likely a state of hibernation. The group will bring you games from time to time, if and when it deems them worthy. We are calling the quits on the day to day crap. While we won't be leaving you alone, we won't be fighting for Extreme Football Manager Season 2004 from Global Star anymore.

Thank you goes to everyone who made this group great. Forget the shoutouts, there's just way too many names to mentoin. Those of you who brought CLASS to the top and helped keeping it where it was year after year know who you are. Gone, but not forgotten... the memories will never fade away.

Game is over for now, you might see us when time comes to take things to the next level. The King has left his land of glory.