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Chapter 1 "End of the Golden Age"
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Long ago, in a time before the forging of the Creepz, when the neighborhood of Woodcrest was still on the plain of prosperity, and neighbors were still known. The Till’ Bros, Alec and Adam, were young in their time, and did nothing more then play well respected childhood games. Cops and Robbers, Hide and Go Seek, and your other common street games, such as baseball, football, and basketball. Almost entirely, all these games were at the church down the street, the First Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Kansas, or known to the Till’ Bros as “Down at the Church.”
However, the Till’ Bros were not alone in playing these games. Big R., or Raphael Smith, of the yellow house next door, and Thomas Backus, or Tommy or Tom as he was called, of Praun Lane and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, were also local kids of the Woodcrest neighborhood.
Baseball was probably one of the more serious of the street sports they played. One, basically everyone had a bat and glove and they had all played baseball for the schools they went to, and two, the other kids of the other adjacent neighborhoods played baseball, and also used the Church field when it wasn’t used by the Woodcrest children. However, a time came when the Youngins of Woodcrest met the children from other neighborhoods. The meeting led to games of baseball and football, and eventually the Battle for Rights, of the Church field. Thus, here is one of the main reasons the Till’ Bros, Big R., and Tommy, created the Woodcrest Bulldogs. They were a symbol and a name that would stake a claim and a right in the hearts of the outsiders who did not respect the neighborhood of Woodcrest. With an outstanding force and a powerful name to back it up, the Woodcrest Bulldogs reclaimed the church field. Not always beating their opponents by skill or strength, but by heart. They showed compassion and respect when their opponents failed to. Their Victories reclaimed the Southwest region of Woodcrest. However, not all games were played outside or at the church.
Within the walls of the homes, the four played games and waged battles that only spanned the width of a TV screen, instead of a neighborhood. They played games of action and adventure, from shooting to sports. However, one game they played stood out more than any - a hockey game, NHL 93, for the Sega Genesis. Though no ice remains in Woodcrest for more than a week, and the influence in far away lands, their fascination still grew in the sport. It became the most popular competitive sport video game to play among them for some time.
They would play those hockey games until their thumbs blistered. Their interest in the game could not be contained in a day’s time. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, until one day they all grew up.
Big R. found new friends, and his interest was lost. Tom went away from Woodcrest to pursue new opportunities in school and in life. As for the Till’ Bros, well, if it wasn’t for them, this story would not still live today. The Till’ Bros interest has also faded, but not entirely.
Deep inside their hearts, a flame of passion was still lit in remembrance of the days of old - though the Till’ Bros knew nothing of it.
Time went on and years had passed. The Golden Age of Woodcrest was over. Neighbors had moved, the once formidable fortresses of the “Commandoes” had fallen into ruin, and all but one of the Woodcrest signs has remained standing in defiance of time to this day. Only one post and bare spots mark where the fallen had once stood.
Woodcrest became a quiet hood. Some of its grand trees had fallen and the color that used to shine through the hood had almost seemed sucked out. Shady people seeped out into the vacant houses and yards became unkempt. But, worst of all, the Church was failing. Its congregation dwindled, as well as its health.
Woodcrest’s reign over its land was cut to a quarter of its size. Change had long awaited at the Woodcrest borders. Now, it slowly crept in and the will of the Till’ Bros could only keep so much at bay. They were confined to the underground where they kept the memories from being lost.
Years went by, weeds overgrew, some of the grand trees were pruned and cut down in effort to clean up the yards, and all the children had grown up.
The once great neighborhood of Woodcrest had become silent.
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Chapter 2 "Road to Renaissance"
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Woodcrest had lain dormant for sometime. However, like the cracks of daylight blue in a stormy sky, the gloom that shadowed the neighborhood began to wane. It was almost as if something began to grow with in the shrouded hood of Woodcrest, though it was unknown to all who lived within the boundaries, even unaware to the Till’ Bros.
The Till’ Bros had grown into adulthood, and become well-educated young men. Alec, the older brother, had become very advanced in the field of business. Adam, had become a very talented artist, and well skilled in the ways of many arts and advertising.
After a long days work, Alec and Adam found themselves in the basement reminiscing of the days of old. They recalled the days when there would be the weekly skirmishes for bragging rights on whose team was doing better on NHL ’93, or whether be on the memories of when they would have to defend the honor of the Woodcrest Bulldogs upon the battle ground of the old church fields. As they remembered the Golden Age of Woodcrest things began to click. Things like what if they could bring back the days of entertainment and enjoyment among their remaining branch of friends of the Golden Age.
Two names came to mind when the Till’ Bros went through the list of remaining reliable allies. Dathan “D-Bro” Brown and Robbie “Bob” Burns, the Till’ Bros Eastern neighbors of the Praun Lane sector of Woodcrest. At the peak of the Golden age D-bro and Bob were much to young to of secured the pride of the neighborhood. Though it did not mean that they didn’t play an important part in this story. For now was their time to show their quality.
The Till’ Bros wondered how they would go about re-forging that that which had been broken for sometime and finding that bond which was lost for so long. They looked to the future for answers, however, they found nothing more then a continuing road in which they were already upon. When they looked to themselves, they found no more then a reflection of who they already are. However, when they look to the past they ultimately found the answer that would map out the road to renaissance for them and the Hood. All they had to do was tell themselves, simply, bring back the days when friends would meet up for a common purpose. Bring back the game that started it all, Hockey. And with out a second thought the Till’ Bros sprang to their feet and journeyed to the nearest NHL video game supplier.
They didn’t have much to go by for finding something similar to the NHL ’93, however, what they did know turned out to be just enough. The first obvious answer was to look for a game that had a basically white cover with the first few words of the title being “NHL.” Then simply find the stem to whatever year it currently was. In this case it was the year 2001.
However, the Till’ Bros needed one more key to deciphering what game would be most comparable to NHL ’93. Then it came to them. Every time they would begin a new game, the opening credits was something remembered for all who played. “E A sports, its in the game.” In the Till’ Bros case, the key wasn’t necessarily “in the game” but “on the game.” And right then, before the Till’ Bros eyes, was the answer to re-forging the might of Woodcrest. NHL 2001 with Owen Nolan on the white cover and the E A sports logo at the bottom of the case.
The answer had been found, but the journey was far from over.
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