Era 2002 up til "Jenn Era"
The gang system actually meant something back then.
Gangs didn't change owners every 2 months.
Classic rivalry between Rubeus and BB.
Gang diplomacy, where two gangs would ally to take down one.
Gangs had their own shops and hired people for no other purpose than to work in the shops.
Sewer raids! Gangs had sewer-specific ranks(Sewer Thug, Head Sewer Thug, etc.) and took raids not only above ground but below :]
Everything was obviously duped/hacked and nobody cared
Tommyguns were the currency and everything sold for x amount of tommyguns.
When strafe was first introduced it was considered "lame"
Non-GMAP levels where people didn't run and fights didn't exceed one .nw level.
The best mainstream gun was Famas or Metalstorm, and PPA and PI were considered "only good because they have lame weapons."
It was all so... fresh back then :]