THE HIDDEN BEGINNING – HOW MY YOUTUBE JOURNEY REALLY STARTED

Most people think my YouTube story began with gaming, vlogging, or model cars. But the truth is… it started long before that.

I officially started YouTube at the end of 2005, the same year YouTube launched in February. I didn’t create the account to be a creator I made it just to watch videos and leave comments.

Then one morning, me and my sister were taking the dogs for their daily walk before school. We found a ball, started playing with the dogs, and I recorded it on my old phone.

That silly little dog video became my first ever upload.

Back then, YouTube had almost no rules, no systems, no algorithm. But that one video slowly grew from 1 view to hundreds, then thousands, and eventually over 900 videos across the years that followed.

I never looked at the numbers. I just replied to comments, talked to people, and kept going.

And the amazing part? Some of the people who commented on that first dog video in 2006 still follow me today.

2011 – Crazy Gamerz

In 2011, I renamed the channel to Crazy Gamerz. With help from my sister’s college friends, we turned it into a fun gaming group. We didn’t care about numbers we just played, laughed, and replied to comments.

We kept going until 2013, when life took us in different directions.

2013 – Bounty HunterGamerz

When the group split, I renamed the channel to Bounty HunterGamerz. GTA V came out, and I created a team called Bounty HunterGamers.

Again no focus on numbers. Just posting, replying, and enjoying the community.

During this time:

• I was getting emails from YouTube

• I was talking to big creators

• I was making videos with them

• YouTube was changing fast

• Rules were getting stricter

I even received an email about a Silver Play Button, but I never replied. Later, during my vlogging era, I received an email for a Gold Play Button and again, I didn’t reply. I was too busy talking to creators, making videos, and living life.

2016 – 2017 – PC Gaming & Vlogging

In 2016, I built my first gaming PC. In 2017, I moved from gaming to vlogging, and that’s when the channel grew fast.

But then life happened.

2019 – Losing Everything

In 2019, everything collapsed. I lost my home, my job, my mum, my friend, and the channel. Everything I built disappeared.

2021 – The Rebuild

I came back as Dudley’s Scale Model Car’s. This time, I wasn’t chasing numbers I was rebuilding my life.

2024 – Unlucky Dudley Returns

In 2024, I brought back Unlucky Dudley for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. It didn’t go anywhere, so I focused on my main channel.

2026 – Duddles Gamer

In 2026, I renamed the gaming channel again this time to Duddles Gamer, starting fresh with Forza Horizon 6.

And here’s the beautiful part:

When I commented on a gaming channel recently, the creator recognised me even though the name was different. He emailed me, we talked, and he asked what happened. We might even team up again.

After all these years, the story came full circle.

Where I Am Now

Today, with 979 subscribers on Dudley’s Scale Model Car’s, I’m finally growing in the way I always wanted slowly, honestly, and with a real community.

And the people from that first dog video? They’re still here. Still watching. Still cheering me on.