TF2chan (tf2chan.net) is a long-running anonymous imageboard and community hub specifically dedicated to the Team Fortress 2 (TF2) fandom, with a primary historical focus on “slash” (male/male shipping) fanworks.
1. Key Dates and Registration
- Domain Registration: The domain
tf2chan.netwas first registered on January 23, 2008. - Official Launch: The site officially launched and celebrates its “birthday” on January 25, 2008.
- First Wayback Machine Capture: The Internet Archive first captured a snapshot of the site on January 26, 2008, just one day after its public launch.
2. What is the site?
TF2chan was created as a “safe haven” for Team Fortress 2 fans, specifically those creating adult-oriented or “slash” fanart and fanfiction.
- The Problem it Solved: Before 2008, TF2 shipping content (like “Sniper/Spy” or “Heavy/Medic”) was frequently flamed, mocked, or deleted on mainstream platforms like 4chan’s
/v/(Video Games) or Valve’s own Steam forums. TF2chan provided a dedicated space where these creators could post without harassment. - Community Culture: The site is famous for its “tough love” attitude and historically strict “no anime and no furries” policy. It developed its own unique subculture and memes, most notably “DICKS EVERYWHERE,” a phrase and visual “raining dick” gif overlay that was added to the site in 2013 as a humorous response to “normies” complaining about the abundance of adult art on the board.
- Historical Impact: Many influential artists and writers in the early TF2 fandom (often called “Big Name Fans” or BNFs) got their start on TF2chan. It was the primary driver of TF2 fan culture for many years before the community partially migrated to Tumblr, Twitter, and Discord.
3. What does the name mean?
- TF2: Stands for Team Fortress 2, the 2007 team-based shooter by Valve that the site is centered around.
- Chan: Short for “Channel,” the standard suffix for imageboards and anonymous forums (derived from 2channel and 4chan).
- TF2chan: Effectively translates to “The Team Fortress 2 Imageboard.”
4. History and Context
The site has survived several “eras” and major events, such as the “Crocosnipalypse” in 2010 (a massive moderator drama and community exodus) and several server migrations. While it is less active today than during its peak in the early 2010s, it remains online as a legacy archive and a small, dedicated community space.
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