\nWith an upcoming one at work (yeah, that’s right, we hold LAN parties at work), I decided to necro<\/em> an old topic of mine from 2013. I even had to look it up through this site<\/a>, as I never saved the text locally.
\nThis only proves that once you put something online, there’s no un-posting. Ever.<\/p>\n
Here goes.<\/p>\n
LAN parties …<\/h2>\n![\"oldschool](\"http:\/\/zupertails.be\/wur\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/an1g6vn_700b_v2-300x200.jpg\")
Before the hip kids all did it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou might have heard of them before, and maybe want to attend one (or preferably more<\/em>) in your lifetime.<\/p>\nIn case you don\u2019t know what a LAN party is, I\u2019ll give you a brief rundown :
\nFirst of all, the abbreviation \u201cLAN\u201d stands for \u201cLocal Area Network\u201c.
\nLAN parties basically consist of a gathering of people, bringing their own home-computer setups with them, in order to connect them all into one big network.
\nMostly with the common goal to play computer games together and hang out in an alternative social environment.<\/p>\n
With the coming of high-speed internet, the \u201csocial\u201d part has become a larger part of the LAN-life. The reason behind this, is that \u201cin days of olde\u201d, people\u00a0could not achieve the data transfer speeds needed for fast network gaming of fast data tranfer altogether, over a simple phone line through a dial-up\u00a0internet connection.<\/p>\n
Plus, it\u2019s way more fun to be able to punch someone in real life, who just shot you down in a video game, instead of scolding him over the internet.<\/p>\n
Come prepared<\/h2>\n
In any way, the following list will provide you with sort of a ultimate LAN party checklist as a preparation for your visit to a LAN.<\/p>\n
Very important :<\/span><\/p>\n\n- A\u00a0computer\u00a0+ its\u00a0power\u00a0cable (I can\u2019t state this enough, and yes I\u2019ve seen people arrive without their PC\u2026)
\nSome LAN parties provide you with a rental PC, but very few do this. Check your LAN website when in doubt.<\/li>\n - A\u00a0screen\u00a0+ its\u00a0power\u00a0cable + its\u00a0connector cable
\nUnless you\u2019re carrying a laptop with you, a screen is as important as your actual PC<\/li>\n - Input devices, such as\u00a0keyboard\u00a0and\u00a0mouse
\nOr a braille input device as I once had the privilege to witness<\/li>\n - Network cable\u00a0of sufficient length (preferably UTP CAT5 straight cable or anything of higher quality)
\nIn few cases, the organisation itself provides you with network cable. Sufficient length mostly means\u00a010 meters\u00a0or more.<\/li>\n - Power Strip\u00a0with more than enough connectors for all your PC hardware (for you Dutch speaking who don\u2019t know what a power strip is : \u201cne priezenblok\u201d)
\nMost LANs provide one group of tables with only one power strip onto which you can branch your own one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRelatively important :<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Sleeping gear
\nUnless you want to sleep on a hard concrete floor, or in a chair with your head on your keyboard, some sleeping gear is handy.
\nYou can also be a \u201ctough nut\u201d and stay awake all night, cause that\u2019s what tough guys do. However, I strongly suggest getting a little sleep in order\u00a0to improve your concentration level when you play games on a need-to-win basis.
\nMy suggestion is to use a camping bed, a sleeping bag and a pillow to a default LAN party<\/li>\n - Food
\nMost LANs provide food at an affordable price. It is however recommended to bring along some snacks for yourself so you don\u2019t have to rely on\u00a0otherwise mostly fast-food.
\nHealthy mind, healthy body, that sorta thing.<\/li>\n - Software
\nBring all your necessary software with you. This includes, but is not limited to :
\n\u2026 your\u00a0Windows\u00a0(or other Operating System) CD or install medium (a USB stick for instance)
\n\u2026\u00a0drivers\u00a0for your hardware, in case you need to reinstall your PC
\n\u2026\u00a0games\u00a0(although nowadays with platforms such as\u00a0Steam, you can download your games after you formatted your PC, just by logging into the game client
\n\u2026 anything you can think of, basicallyTrust me when I say that if ever you are in need of a piece of software when you\u2019re hours away from home, you\u2019ll think back to the day you have read this article<\/li>\n - Personal hygiene stuff
\nBasically you bring this along, so you don\u2019t bother your fellow gamer with bodily odors.<\/li>\n - Sound
\nAlthough most bigger LAN parties have a headset-only policy, in some cases it\u2019s always nice to have someone bring along his speaker\/woofer combo for all of us to enjoy his weird choice of music.Seriously, if it doesn\u2019t say \u2018speakers allowed\u2019 on the LAN website or in their invitations,\u00a0DON\u2019T BRING SPEAKERS<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOptional :<\/span><\/p>\nI can think of a lot of stuff that would be optional for you to bring to a LAN. It depends on what transportation you\u2019ll be taking and how much room is in\/on your car, bike, bus, \u2026<\/p>\n
\n- Your own\u00a0chair\u00a0from behind your desk is nice to have, for instance. So are extra blankets or pillows.<\/li>\n
- Extra\u00a0clothing\u00a0is not considered as must-have, but it tends to improve your social life if you attend a +3day LAN<\/li>\n
- Money\u00a0is another thing. If you brought enough food with you to survive the entire LAN, and you\u2019re absolutely sure you will not need to buy anything locally, then be my guest and show up as a bum. However, as\u00a0Murphy\u2019s Law\u00a0lurks around every corner, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised you\u2019ll need some extra cash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
With that in mind, you\u2019re somewhat prepared for your first LAN event.
\nAnother handy tip : if you\u2019re new to LANs, don\u2019t go taunting the locals and brag about how awesome you are at some game. Even if you were good at a game, and even if (very slim chance) you\u2019re as good as the LAN visitors who played for ages, you\u2019ll be socially excluded within the minute. The ones I met in real life will know who I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, Zupertails, you got me all worked up now. Where do I go from here with all this info?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nBasically, if you\u2019re from Belgium, like I am, you stay on the lookout on various LAN websites.
\nSome of them are :<\/p>\n
Lanparty.be\u00a0<\/a>(basically a calendar where you can see all other LANs in Belgium)<\/p>\nFrag-o-Matic\u00a0<\/a>(the biggest commercial one in Belgium we have atm)<\/p>\n9 Lives\u00a0<\/a>(one of the bigger gaming communities in Belgium)<\/p>\n
You might have heard of them before, and maybe want to attend one (or preferably more<\/em>) in your lifetime.<\/p>\n In case you don\u2019t know what a LAN party is, I\u2019ll give you a brief rundown : With the coming of high-speed internet, the \u201csocial\u201d part has become a larger part of the LAN-life. The reason behind this, is that \u201cin days of olde\u201d, people\u00a0could not achieve the data transfer speeds needed for fast network gaming of fast data tranfer altogether, over a simple phone line through a dial-up\u00a0internet connection.<\/p>\n Plus, it\u2019s way more fun to be able to punch someone in real life, who just shot you down in a video game, instead of scolding him over the internet.<\/p>\n In any way, the following list will provide you with sort of a ultimate LAN party checklist as a preparation for your visit to a LAN.<\/p>\n Very important :<\/span><\/p>\n Relatively important :<\/span><\/p>\n Optional :<\/span><\/p>\n I can think of a lot of stuff that would be optional for you to bring to a LAN. It depends on what transportation you\u2019ll be taking and how much room is in\/on your car, bike, bus, \u2026<\/p>\n With that in mind, you\u2019re somewhat prepared for your first LAN event. \u201cOK, Zupertails, you got me all worked up now. Where do I go from here with all this info?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Basically, if you\u2019re from Belgium, like I am, you stay on the lookout on various LAN websites. Lanparty.be\u00a0<\/a>(basically a calendar where you can see all other LANs in Belgium)<\/p>\n Frag-o-Matic\u00a0<\/a>(the biggest commercial one in Belgium we have atm)<\/p>\n 9 Lives\u00a0<\/a>(one of the bigger gaming communities in Belgium)<\/p>\n
\nFirst of all, the abbreviation \u201cLAN\u201d stands for \u201cLocal Area Network\u201c.
\nLAN parties basically consist of a gathering of people, bringing their own home-computer setups with them, in order to connect them all into one big network.
\nMostly with the common goal to play computer games together and hang out in an alternative social environment.<\/p>\nCome prepared<\/h2>\n
\n
\nSome LAN parties provide you with a rental PC, but very few do this. Check your LAN website when in doubt.<\/li>\n
\nUnless you\u2019re carrying a laptop with you, a screen is as important as your actual PC<\/li>\n
\nOr a braille input device as I once had the privilege to witness<\/li>\n
\nIn few cases, the organisation itself provides you with network cable. Sufficient length mostly means\u00a010 meters\u00a0or more.<\/li>\n
\nMost LANs provide one group of tables with only one power strip onto which you can branch your own one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nUnless you want to sleep on a hard concrete floor, or in a chair with your head on your keyboard, some sleeping gear is handy.
\nYou can also be a \u201ctough nut\u201d and stay awake all night, cause that\u2019s what tough guys do. However, I strongly suggest getting a little sleep in order\u00a0to improve your concentration level when you play games on a need-to-win basis.
\nMy suggestion is to use a camping bed, a sleeping bag and a pillow to a default LAN party<\/li>\n
\nMost LANs provide food at an affordable price. It is however recommended to bring along some snacks for yourself so you don\u2019t have to rely on\u00a0otherwise mostly fast-food.
\nHealthy mind, healthy body, that sorta thing.<\/li>\n
\nBring all your necessary software with you. This includes, but is not limited to :
\n\u2026 your\u00a0Windows\u00a0(or other Operating System) CD or install medium (a USB stick for instance)
\n\u2026\u00a0drivers\u00a0for your hardware, in case you need to reinstall your PC
\n\u2026\u00a0games\u00a0(although nowadays with platforms such as\u00a0Steam, you can download your games after you formatted your PC, just by logging into the game client
\n\u2026 anything you can think of, basicallyTrust me when I say that if ever you are in need of a piece of software when you\u2019re hours away from home, you\u2019ll think back to the day you have read this article<\/li>\n
\nBasically you bring this along, so you don\u2019t bother your fellow gamer with bodily odors.<\/li>\n
\nAlthough most bigger LAN parties have a headset-only policy, in some cases it\u2019s always nice to have someone bring along his speaker\/woofer combo for all of us to enjoy his weird choice of music.Seriously, if it doesn\u2019t say \u2018speakers allowed\u2019 on the LAN website or in their invitations,\u00a0DON\u2019T BRING SPEAKERS<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\nAnother handy tip : if you\u2019re new to LANs, don\u2019t go taunting the locals and brag about how awesome you are at some game. Even if you were good at a game, and even if (very slim chance) you\u2019re as good as the LAN visitors who played for ages, you\u2019ll be socially excluded within the minute. The ones I met in real life will know who I\u2019m talking about.<\/p>\n
\nSome of them are :<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/zupertails.be\/wur\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/The_gathering_party_overview.jpg\")