LAN Events

[Bobomoomin]

Hey, I was just wondering if anyone (Particularly in the UK) attends LAN events?

I attend many of them ever year and was wondering if anyone else from CLC does too?

Would be cool too meet a lot of you guys in person

[illegal]

What the hell is 'LAN'? Is it something hackers do?

[Bobomoomin]

Hah, sorry I should have explained in my first post.

A LAN event is basically a big gaming meetup where sometimes thousands of people meet up with there computers and all plug themselves into the same network to play with others over high speed connection usualy for big cash prizes. For me and lot of others it's just a good time to have a few drinks, play games and generally have a laugh.

To put an idea of just how many people attend these events heres is a quick picture.
http://www.mfestival.com/images/gamers_paradise.jpg

I'm one of thoses people there, this only shows one end of the room, it is acctualy about 3 times bigger than how it looks in the picture. And that entire floor is just 1 of 3 floors in 1 whole building. Then there is a 2nd building with just an many computer in. Bringing the final count to around 2000 computers in all.

[SEAN-NZ]

i have been to a couple before, but only 20-30 people, and no prizes lol

[WWD|Medi]

I've been to The Gathering http://www.gathering.org/tg08/front and dreamhack http://web.dreamhack.se/index.php?language=en

Some pics:

TG http://www.trond.sjovang.net/wp-content ... w-huge.jpg
http://images.tomshardware.com/2006/07/ ... hering.jpg
http://fx.itpro.no/big/tg07jenstoref.jpg

Dreamhack: http://www.hovberg.se/resmi/dreamhack_vinter2007.jpg
http://www.rmaldera.com/wp-content/uplo ... amhack.jpg
http://www.sweclockers.com/imagebank/20 ... 007001.jpg

[SargeBanner]

Geekfest !

j/k

I've never actually attended a LAN party

I remember watching a video once for an FPS LAN convention, where a "special forces" team raided the building to add tho the FPS atmosphere !

If i do decide to attend one, what is the basics i'll need ?

I'm thinking:
PC
Monitor
Mouse
Keyboard
Headset ?

Sarge

[JasonJ]

You forgot cola drinks.
I never been to one. I never played a game online till late 2006. I missed my "window"

[Bobomoomin]

You'd be supprised on how far the boundries on the window go JJ

I'd say 30 - 40 % of all LANS I attend are adults in there mid 30/40's.

I even saw a clan of 70 year olds before


Sargebanner: The basic things you need for a lan party are:
PC
Monitor
Mouse
Keyboard
Headset/Headphones < This is a must, speakers are never usually allowed
Food + Drinks
If it is an overnight LAN then sleeping stuff: Tent/Sleepingbag or Can book in a nearby hotel. I always tent though.

You will usualy only be given 1 plug socket aswell so a 2 or 4 way extention will be needed.

[MINIz guy]

I would like to go to one. I once saw a video on The Gathering (I think it was that one in Europe) and it looked cool, until I saw kids eating only snacks and sleeping by their computers.

I wouldn't want to last a day with just eating junk food, and having to sleep by my computer for no other comforts. If a tent was allowed, I'm expecting you sleep outside the building, where it's cold and all?

Also, are there any bathrooms at LAN parties. I don't like holding either one in.

[Bobomoomin]

Haha yes all LAN events I've ever attended have had lots and lots of bathroom facilites and are only a short drive away from food stores.

As to the cold tent thing, last year I was at a LAN party during mid november for 4 nights and I wasn't cold once.

[shaken_bacon]

Lan events don't sound like my cup of tea, also cup of tea is not my cup of tea.

JJ you never played a game online till 2006!? wow! I am surprised to hear that, you have missed out .

[Eaglezor]

I never played a game online till late 2006.

how did u come so good at coding so quickly?

[Bobomoomin]

Gaming is a totally seperate thing than just general computer use

[Bobomoomin]

Would anyone been interested in attending a small LAN in the east midlands area (UK) between the 30th - 31st august?

The cost would be £25 for the entire event as a BYOC participant.
You may pay on the door but people who pay in advance are invited to arrive there from 7pm the evening before the LAN (The 29th)

Prize tornaments include: Call Of Duty 4, Counter-Strike: Source, Trackmania Nations Forever, Team Fortress 2, Supreme Commander, Halflife 2 Deathmatch and a few other fun ones (Poker tornaments etc)

This doesn't mean you have to have any of the games above, a lot of people just attend in a small group of friends and play there own games together.

Let me know if you're interested.
http://www.SparkLAN.co.uk

[shaken_bacon]

Do you mean Trackmania United forever?

Because Trackmania Nations forever is a free game for anyone. Thought I would clear that up, because those other prizes sound great, but offering a free game to begin with as a prize .