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Campzone 2: The Return
rutger21 writes: "CampZone 2 is a large outdoor computer-event in the Netherlands. A field will be transformed into a high-tech campground with full service, including a 100Mbit network and Internet access for everyone. During 11 days, CampZone will be the home for up to 1200 computer enthusiasts from around the world. The main focus of the event is multiplayer gaming, but there will also be other activities, such as paintball." Are there any recurring high-tech temporary communities on this scale in North America? The nearest thing I can think of is Burning Man, and the comparison isn't all that close, especially when it comes to bandwidth.
Like 1200 geeks with 3rd degree sunburns and sunglasses to protect them from the glare of their monitor.
Fucking campers :)
Considering that multiplayer gaming competitions with a cash prize have started to take off here in Australia, it's about time a national computer gaming convention happened.
All we need is a big cheap warehouse in one of our main cities. Pity our population isn't big enough to support something like this.
Hell, our telecommunications and public transport infrastructure is barely adequate for the meagre population we have. But I digress.
Perhaps having some sort of extreme gaming event would get people from overseas interested.
We host enough international sporting events, why not have an international multiplayer gaming event here?
Q: Is it a problem when it raines?
A: No, fortunally not. Ofcourse you'll have to make sure your tent is waterproof. Should a problem occur with your tent -like an unexpected leak- please report this to the Field Admin. They can try to keep you tent dry with plastic and possibly help you with moving your equipment to another location. Last year we had a few showers and a thunderstorm, but thanks to our emergencyplans this did not lead to any problems.
I don't know about high tech campouts, but there certainly are large LOW tech campouts, like the Pennsic War: 10,000+ people camping a bit north of Pittsburgh, reacreating the fun parts of the Middle Ages. Porta-potties, tents, Renaissance dance every night...
At my college, all computer science labs have recently installed safety showers, like in the chem labs.
Got friends?
I went to Bonnaroo music festival back in late June and kept thinking how cool would it be to hook up a little wireless community with all the attendees. Would be a great way to swap audio with show tapers. There were dozens of bands there so no one group could cover them all. It was out in the middle of the country so getting a connection to the larger net would be tough. The other thing was the radio traffic through the weekend was ridiculous. 75,000 people and only one cellular tower... and all the little FRS radios were in use, all channels and privacy codes possible. The "tech" companies there included only Gateway and XBox... but I think the development of a network community at large scale festivals could be a really nice way to enhance the experience. Also the sponsorship of the infrastructure needed would be another way to help fund the event. Anyone have any thoughts on bringing tech to more traditional gatherings?
From the rules page, it says that paintball guns are specifically NOT allowed.
/. editors not looking past the first page of links that are submitted I'll get modded up.
Maybe if I bitch and moan about
the main focus of the event is multiplayer gaming, but there will also be other activities, such as paintball
mixing huge lan parties with paintball... just imagine after slaughtering people in Quake they all come after you and unload with paintballs, ooo the pain... then again, great way to deal with the cheaters...
Jesus saves souls and redeems them for valuable cash prizes
nothin like a bunch of smart people to advance change. so much could be accomplished from needs that would be brought about by such a large outdoor gathering of socially and unsanitary people! for example:
- quick and easy means of networking a large number of computers
- streamlined troubleshooting scripts for large-scale multiplayer gaming problems
- novel ways of conserving toilet paper, including the world's first overlocked toilet, which flushes with 25GPF force effectively enabling the hidden bidet feature, thus doing away with the need for toilet paper
- world's first toilet-cooled CPU
- overclocked sticks of deodorant which push out 50ccs of gel deodorant with a single twist
- overclocked deodorant spray designed to expel the contents of the entire can with a single press of the button, leading to the formation of a large, flammable cloud and subsequent auto-ignition of said cloud from CPU heat, which incinerates odorants and sterilizes users' armpits
- finally, the invention of new jackoff techniques designed for speed and efficiency. a truly necessary technique for a world full of gov't surveillance and prying eyes.
GO GEEKS!
GO FORTH AND BRING CHANGE UNTO THE WORLD!
It happens yearly (incidentally, last weekend). 4 days of non-stop gaming, contests & silliness. Lots of case mods (my fav was the labatts blue fridge system). A buddy of mine won a can of SPAM for the best "Ghetto mod" PC - a beat up gateway with duct-tape keeping the cover on.
3 & 4AM Sunday MOHAA: funnies included 'nade dancing, an orgy, an unsuccessful congo line (some dumbass kept dropping nades) and a human pyramid.
Official tourney's were were 5v5 Counterstrike (blech!), 4v4 RA3, and an Xbox Halo tourney. See the site for the give-a-way goodies & details.
It was loads of fun and I'll definitely be back next year. We even had a guy from Washington state (but the guy arrived with a fried HDD). And wow...chicks...and 1 in a skipping contest, no less...*droool*
Dunno... the technology available up there is pretty amazing.... 6mbit satelite pipe... many 802.11b networks (with a relatively low noise floor too!) pirate radio to your heart's content, and plya information kiosk's running freeBSD... But the best technology up there is leaving your computer behind and hanging out with a bunch of other techies and freaks and hacking what's available to make something really cool.
---- Fight to protect your right to keep and arm bears! ummmm... ya I think that's right....
What no wireless networking? Alex DeWolf
"The Brady Bunch is back...working homicide"
apparently it is something to do with the fact that outside is too damn cold to do anything and beer is expensive..... so they stay home and use the computer.
- HeXa
in scandinavia we have a long tradition of large parties
/jonas
dreamhack in sweden had 5000 attenders last winter
the gathering usually has about the same amount aswell, taking place in norway
lanparties isn't for nerds at all tho imho.
even if dreamhack and tg has roots in the demoscene
they are looked down upon nowadays as just another commercial event.
there are 2 other alternatives among the bigger events that still has some sort of respect
them being assembly in finland
and theparty in denmark
with stronger roots and better connection to the demoscene still today,
thus being accepted even by most hardcore people
there are a bunch of events all around europe aswell,
but for the really big stuff,
welcome to scandinavia
This is not the first time I've seen a strange correlation between paintballers and computer geeks.
As an avid paintballer myself (off and on for ~8years), I love the sport. It has a slight touch of "war-like" without much possibility of getting seriously injured (if done safely). So does that mean geeks like me tend to be war-like wimps? Too much pent up frustration? The need to take competativeness to the next level?
I've never given it much thought actually....
Also, for those living in the other side of Canada and the Northeastern US, there's the 300 person Smackdown LAN party held each year (March) in London, Ontario (about halfway between Toronto and Detroit and a few hours from Buffalo). Just hope the WWE doesn't take out any of their WWF frustration out on their familiar sounding name.
My next sig will be ready soon, but friends can beat the rush!
In Denmark, The Camp 2002 - a "do IT yourself" summer camp for nerds - started just yesterday and will last until next saturday.
Unselfish actions pay back better
The CPL holds an annual event with lots of cash and hardware prizes, game tournaments, you name it.
http://www..thecpl.com/
Many hardware or gaming review sites (especially the overclocker and FPS sites) should have links up now as there is a CPL event going on this weekend.
But soft drinks seemed ridiculously expensive last time I was there. I'm used to buying a 0,5-L bottle for EUR 0.50 in both the U.S. and Greece, and it was 2-3x that in Holland...
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
I am going to the FUADEC :)
There will be held a FreeCiv Tournament also,
more info at FUADEC
Quazion.
A 2-L bottle of coca cola costs around 0,90 - 1,00 in the US...
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10