Fragfest

CaptTrips writes "C|Net has an interesting article on the growing wave of LAN parties. Michael Duarte best puts it when he says "being able to play as a team, talk with the people next to you -- it's just a whole different aspect than playing online. For me, it's just more fun to put a face with the name of the person you're playing with." I agree!" This is a good excuse for us to link to QuakeCon. GameSpy has extensive coverage of the con - they've got some interesting screenshots and previews up.

Comments

and I thought I was bored on Friday night....

[firippu]

LAN parties!? What's next?? Kegger next weekend at the local NIC... yeehaw!

Re:and I thought I was bored on Friday night....

[garcia]

I wasn't bored. INstead I got completely fucking drunk and came home at 3:17am EST and saw shit about people saying, "yay, it's a Friday night and I am READING about LAN parties".

Umm, you are MAKING FUN of people who are posting about LAN parties on a Friday night while you are SITTING AT HOME reading about them.

At least I am wasted and laughing!

LAN parties rock

[alptraum]

LAN parties are definately a lot more fun than playing over the internet IMHO, my friends and I would get a bunch of people together and play CS or other FPS and not have to worry about all the cheaters. Plus we could coordinate team assaults a lot more effectively since we could grab a piece of paper and scribble some plans on it and show it to the team mates.

Re:LAN parties rock

[Pxtl]

Actually the growing popularity of net-cafe's is getting the best of both worlds. A place in my neightborhood has P4 1.4's with UT, AvsP 2, StarCraft, WC3, all the HL games, and Q3 on the machines. The place is always well filled, but there's usually 3 or 4 seats for me and my friends - the owner even lets me dl mods for the games too.

Still, for trying out hardcore wierd shit games with your friends you can't beat a lan party. I remember playing Descent II CTF, Rocket Jockey, Abuse, Hexen, Battlezone (tons and tons of that)and a host of other oddball games at old LAN parties.

Re:LAN parties rock

[Jucius Maximus]

This is true. I've only been to 1 really good lan party, and it was one that I hosted at my place right after final exams one year.

I think it's fun to choose a variety of games so that in any given game, there are some experts and some non-experts. This changes from game to game to everyone has a chance to dominate or come in last place.

Back when I had time to play games (damn, has it been that long?) I always won a Jedi Knight and lost badly at Freespace. It kind of makes me sad I never went into university residence and instead lived at home (which happened to be very close to the university) because my buddies there played counterstrike or AvP all day with max 50 ping against the whole resnet, while I am still stuck on lame dialup because there's nothing else better when I am.

(i)max games

[macsox]

i hope no one in the south bay area forgot about the max games yesterday at the tech museum in san jose.

nothing like halo on the imax dome. except, maybe, grand theft auto, which some reason was verboten.

come to think of it, i'm glad some people from the south bay did forget to go -- it would have been awfully crowded.

I would LAN more...

[Howzer]

If it was easier to move my computer. I mean it's not that hard, just a pain. And moving any screen bigger than a 19 inch monitor just plain bites.

I've often thought a cool business plan would be to set up a "LAN Party" hall, with monitors and speakers, all the kiddies have to bring are their CPUs, keyboards and meece. $3 per person per hour, if you kept the room booked you could do pretty well.

Anyone know if this has been done, anywhere? Or does the whole idea suck for reasons not yet known to me?

Re:I would LAN more...

[Evanrude]

Check out the Gear Grip. Maker of fine Case and Monitor toting equipment.

Re:I would LAN more...

[ImaLamer]

I think it would be much cooler to have this "LAN Hall" filled with out-dated, thrown out, tired, PC's.

Quake (I) is still the best multi-FPS, and the source code is out there to improve on it... heck, mods would be okay.

A Pentium I with a 3DFX Voodoo is really all you need.

Maybe a big screen for the leaders... hidden from the players of course.

I still love playing CTF, and Team Fortress.

Re:I would LAN more...

[tmark]

I've often thought a cool business plan would be to set up a "LAN Party" hall, with monitors and speakers, all the kiddies have to bring are their CPUs, keyboards and meece.

Dude, there are *plenty* of cyber-cafe-style places that cater more to the gaming crowd then the email/web crowd, and they don't require the players to drag CPUs/keyboards/mice, or even software licenses.

Re:I would LAN more...

[Howzer]

Yeah, but generally their machines are sub-standard, it takes you half an hour to set up Half-Life (or whatever) how YOU like it (keyboard, mouse, etc), and their screens are filthy and the lowest quality.

Re:I would LAN more...

[Raul654]

Quake I is the best multiplayer FPS of all time? Wow, that crack you smoked before posting that must have been mighty strong indeed. I really don't understand why people like to push old school FPS games, when in fact, of all the genres, that one gets stale the quickest.

Re:I would LAN more...

[ImaLamer]

Stale? I know 10 years from now I could pick it up and 0wn!

It really can't get old if there are new maps and players... no campers... etc... just like every other game.

Re:I would LAN more...

[Raul654]

Yes, but unlike other genres, FPS games are *all* the same, more or less. The object is always the same - collect weapons, kill the opponent. The only exception that comes to mind are capture-the-flag variants (tribes et al), which IMHO, tend to have greater replay value. Anyway, to get back to the point, the biggest difference between one and the next is the graphics engine. And when you consider that, then I don't understand how anybody could push older ones. What can you get in original quake that you can't get in UT? (with or without Tac Ops, depending on your preference)

Re:I would LAN more...

[ImaLamer]

Being that they are all the same (besides gfx) why should we argue?

What makes me not play any FPS games later than UT is that they are simply too complicated and the gameplay is still yet the same.

When I say complicated I mean the number of keys bound to items, movements, actions and weapons.

Simply, I would vote "Doom" but there was no jump. Once that was added to Quake along with GL support and TCP/IP play there isn't much to add except more buttons to mash and even more gfx 'coolness'.

Now, I'm not saying the rest suck. I'm just saying they are all basically Quake. Better gfx doesn't make a game "better" (unless you are stuck in that console world of "mine looks better than yours")

I really hope that Doom III will add something really new. A lot of games have added a few things, sword fighting in Jedi Outcast and etc, but nothing radically different.

yes!!!

[skydude_20]

exciting! its friday night and I'm reading about LAN parties on Slashdot... it couldn't get any better

Texas LAN Parties

[Evanrude]

For those of you in Texas: (I know it is a big state) There are a few places to check out LAN Parties.
Check TexasLAN is a group dedicated to bringing LAN Parties to cities across Texas.
For those up in the Panhandle, check out SystemAddicts LAN A member of the TexasLAN Family.
LAN parties aren't exactly new but are definitly becoming more "main stream" than they have been in previous years.

Posted from QuakeCon, the Ultimate Texas LAN Party.

Lan Party Fun

[Dragon218]

The real fun in LAN parties is not the games, the food, or the ability to tell that guy next to you, "HEY! Suck my plasma orb."

No....

It's trying your damndest to get that Windows 98 computer to see your frined's 2000 computer and finding that network cable that you thought you left under your bed for emergencies when the guy with XP is complaining that he needs your DSL connection to get drivers for his new video card that is sitting on your drying X-Wing Model while spilling the bean dip in your shag carpet from the 70s. Suddeny, skippy (your dog) pukes up what was the burgers you got 15 minutes earlier for dinner, on your new dual athalon server.

AAAAGGHHH!

Lan parties are fun...

Re:Lan Party Fun

[tmark]

It's trying your damndest to get that Windows 98 computer to see your frined's 2000 computer and finding that network cable that you thought you left under your bed for emergencies when the guy with XP is complaining that he needs your DSL connection to get drivers for his new video

Yes, this aspect of LAN parties sucks. But of course any discussion about LAN parties on machines running Linux would be pretty boring, given as there are precious few games running on Linux and those that do are outdated for the most part.

Re:Lan Party Fun

[Freedom Bug]

Back in the day, we had to deal with DOS network stacks and 10Base-2. I think I'd take DOS over Windows: I kept a stack of boot disks with appropriate drivers, and that would get most people going. Anything with something wierd either had the drivers along or didn't play. The biggest issue was updating everybody to the same version of Doom.

But somebody who has never dealt with 10Base-2 (ethernet over coax) is allowed to complain about setting up LAN parties.

I've still got a stack of about 6 ISA NE2000's along with the cable, T's and terminators. You can borrow it just to experience the pleasure.

Bryan

Re:Lan Party Fun

[joshki]

Not quite correct... I run SOFII (using Winex), Quake III (native binaries courtesy of Loki, I think), Unreal Tournament(same), and several others... Go to transgaming.com for a complete list -- it's already quite long and growing all the time.

Winex is a GREAT project -- it's not perfect yet, but they've really done a good job. And you just can't beat 15 bucks to go windows free!

I haven't booted into windows in so long I'm probably going to delete my windows partition -- I've just got to make sure UT 2003 is supported under Winex... :)

Re:Lan Party Fun

[zerocool^]

Oh, and, hey - Notice to all of you who just discovered lan parties: BRING HEADPHONES.

Re:Lan Party Fun

[Fjord]

Yeah, I remember a few years back playing Duke Nukem at the University labs my friend administered. After gathering a bunhc of weapons, I ran out and recieved a rocket up the butt. With out thinking I proclaimed "That's a SPICY meatball" (The Mask was arecently playing film). Everyone just started laughing too hard to play.

Good times.

Re:Lan Party Fun

[Fjord]

The only two (nonconsole) games I play anymore (StarCraft and Unreal Tournament) run fine in linux. The latest games don't work, I'll grant you that, but most of them aren't fun for very long, and you just end up going back to the tried and true fun games.

Re:Lan Party Fun

[cwebster]

Unreal Tournament v428 Full Install (Linux)

the joy of consoles

[kisrael]

You know, this reminds me of why I'm such a Nintendo fanboy...by sticking 4 ports on the brilliant N64 (not to mention staging the comeback of the non-flightstick analog control stick) they really reinvigorated multiplayer gaming.

I admit first person shooters aren't quite as good as on a LAN party, with a single processor struggling to make 4 viewpoints, and you able to sneak glances at what you're opponents are up to. And people use to mouse+keyboard balk a bit (having never played a PC FPS since my DOOM days but a bit of quake, I'm still an all-keyboard wuss)

Still, the convenience factor is important, and the social aspect is great.

It's all about trust...

[Flarelocke]

...trusting that you can kill the cheaters physically if not in the game.

If you're in Fort Collins, CO,

[xercist]

There's a lan in my friend's basement tomorrow (Saturday) through the night into Sunday. Fire an email to me and I'll forward you on to him. Woo!

Re:see, who needs laptops

[Pxtl]

Just get a long extension cords and run them from all over the house - make some rules for power consumption too - no speakers, small low-power monitors (you can afford $40 for a used 14"). That works for us.

Finally Someone Understands...

[NoWhere Man]

The real fun in LAN parties is not the games, the food, or the ability to tell that guy next to you, "HEY! Suck my plasma orb.

Or if you suck: "You frikken Ass-Munch!"

I can relate to the probs you had. My old laptop used to drop from games during play and thus freeze my player or caused it to self-frag...
Very interesting fun.

I am actually heading out to one tonight...hopefully all the games are compatible with everyone's favourite OS, Windows XP...*snicker*

Necrowombicon

[Rayonic]

If you're anywhere near the Vancouver, B.C. area, make sure to check out the Necrowombicon, as mentioned on Penny Arcade.

I won't be, because it's 3000 freaking miles away, but it looks like it could contain fun (in liberal dosages).

Re:Doom

[Jonny 290]

You're not using a big enough hammer.

Or enough glue.

Sports

[Tom7]

> being able to play as a team, talk with the people next to you -- it's just a whole
> different aspect than playing online. For me, it's just more fun to put a face with the
> name of the person you're playing with.

And before the advent of the internet, we had sports.

poor grammar in c|net article

[ChazeFroy]

Here's an email I sent to the author regarding the use of poor grammar in his article:

Hi David,

I noticed many instances of the use of "revolve around" in your story "Gamers fight for right to LAN
party" at http://news.com.com/2100-1040-950054.html. This is a redundant grammar error (along the lines of "Easter Sunday") and should be corrected to "revolve on." Thank you.

How do you spell power relief in 3 letters?

[MsGeek]

L.C.D.

Besides, who wants to lug around a CRT anyway? LCD flat-panels rule.

Re:How do you spell power relief in 3 letters?

[Rosonowski]

The only problem being that even a 50 dollar CRT is likely to have a better refresh then the average LCD.

CNet...

[Zazi]

Leave it to CNet to give you the latest in breaking outdated news. "There is a network of computers called 'the internet' that is now hot among people." Way to go CNet. Way to go. =D

Not always that great in person

[yeoua]

Remember... that your actually sitting next to the person you just destroyed 20 to 1...

Just make sure they are smaller than you.

Re:Not always that great in person

[nEoN nOoDlE]

Just make sure they are smaller than you.

this is the geek crowd, no one resorts to violence... we just listen to what our mothers said: "The best revenge is living well." So the guy next to you is probably just gonna wait 20 years until he's making more money than you are.

Re:Not always that great in person

[m0nkyman]

Hey, some of is 6'3" 225lb people are good losers...

m0nkyman, who sucks eggs at quake but enjoys it nonetheless...

Re:Rochester lan parties

[Rosonowski]

Well, My freinds and I host sporadically and poorly planned LAN parties here in Buffalo. However, I have a birthday coming up soon, and If I can garner enough interest, I'm considering holding a party on friday the thirteenth of september (superstitions aside). Drop me an email if you're interested.

School LAN party

[mselmeci]

I consider myself very lucky: my CS teacher in high school has lan parties, where we use the school's machines and network. Sure, the machines may be outdated, but they can run Tribes 1 very well.

The administration has been slightly annoyed at us, but didn't ban it, instead made it so that if a student wanted to play, they had to get a sheet signed by teachers each week that says we were getting good grades. This was the same thing that sports had to do. In effect, playing Tribes in the school CS lab after school/during lunch was officially considered a sport.

I can imagine an interview at college:
Have you any sports experience?
1 c4n n41l j00 fr0m a h100dred y4rD5 w1th m4 sn1p3r r1f73!!!

On a Continuing Note....

[Befreiung]

Hello I'm Michael Duarte, the host of Silicon Valley Frag Fest, in case any one was wondering the URL is www.svfrag.com Thanks! Mike

Mr. Jones, your house is ours!

[teamhasnoi]

That's right Mr. Jones, the house you so recently purchased, with the lovely empty basement, will be ours! The carnage that basement will see will exceed even the real WW2. Bwaaaahahaha..ha... ha.. ahem.

Defuse ze dynamite!

Fragfest

[Mulletproof]

Did somebody have an overnight lobotomy? Does it take a freakin cover from Time magazine for this crap to all of a sudden become "news worthy"!? The topic has been around for years! People haven't "all of a sudden" just started to enjoy LAN parties! It appeared on CNet-- Hey, now there's a good reason to jump all over it... Big f!$#%$ deal! Micheal, you're a chump. A hack. THIS. ISN'T. NEWS. No! It's not a good excuse for you to link to QuakeCon! A story on QuakeCon would have been a good excuse. But what do you post? "being able to play as a team, talk with the people next to you -- it's just a whole different aspect than playing online. For me, it's just more fun to put a face with the name of the person you're playing with." I agree!" Tee-Hee! Did you have to post a person who has only within the last few days discovered what a LAN party is and how to play games online?!

Not that any of these were worthy, right?

2002-04-01 18:18:13 Gaming vs. Cinema Double Standards (articles,games) (rejected)
2002-04-18 15:31:27 Planetary alignment; The End must be near. (articles,science) (rejected)
2002-04-24 13:18:20 Second Front (articles,internet) (rejected)
2002-04-28 02:28:59 Subscription alternatives (articles,news) (rejected)
2002-05-02 18:37:13 Gaming vs. Music (articles,games) (rejected)
2002-05-15 05:36:39 Napster Approaches Bankruptcy (articles,music) (rejected)
2002-05-19 16:06:51 Florida Face Recognition Fails (articles,privacy) (rejected)
2002-05-21 15:46:01 A Tastier Chicken Through Genetic Manipulation (science,humor) (rejected)
2002-06-03 19:25:40 Bush Administration Global Warming Turnabout (articles,news) (rejected)
2002-07-11 05:31:21 Mining the Moon for Helium-3 (articles,news) (rejected)
2002-07-30 20:40:46 Jon, the Al-Qaida and the FBI (articles,internet) (rejected)

Really, I have a life beyond Slashdot, but this crap SO pushes my buttons. I know I'm not the only one out there with a worthy story, but what gets posted? "Wonderboy discovers LAN parties". Right.

How to find frag parties

[wackybrit]

Sorry to sound like a total lamer, but none of my friends are interested in stuff like LAN parties. So how do you find LAN parties? Is there a site that lists parties by location?

I'm in the UK, by the way.

Re:How to find frag parties

[shogun]

Well as your in the UK it might not be all that useful for you. But down here in Australia all LAN Parties worth going to are listed on the AusGamers registration system calendar. And watch out for this 1000 player lan (Big Day In) in Melbourne early next year.

The future: Neverwinter Nights

[MtViewGuy]

While the big emphasis is on first-person shooters now, I wonder what will LAN parties be like in the future with the rapid growth in the popularity of the game Neverwinter Nights, which in many ways is essentially an online Dungeons & Dragons game that handles one Dungeon Master and 60+ player characters. I believe that NWN is easily configured to play over a LAN, with one machine designated for DM use.

I personally think a NWN gaming session will probably take longer than FPS game sessions, mostly because you have to do a lot more than just attack another character.

Hardly new, indeed...

[TopShelf]

I recall going to GenCon back in the mid- to late-80's and playing a great game called MidiMaze on a daisy chain of Atari computers. Each player was a happy face that rolled around through a maze and it was your basic fragfest, with up to 20 people at a time gathered around the ring.

The only difference now is the splatter factor!

Its all about communication bandwidth

[Aliks]

We are all of us pack animals really, and will use all channels we can to communicate with our fellows.

What these people are doing is using voice and vision to interact with each other while playing over a healthy amount of ethernet bandwidth. The real world chat plus the data chat makes for a really fat communication pipe and most people love it.

But you get the same effect even without being on the same LAN.

You can see this on the Internet games people play. On Everquest a couple of years ago, for big raids the group leaders would all be talking on the phone and on ICQ as well as playing in teams online.

You can also run a realtime voice server with Battlecom see (http://www.battlecom.org/ ) from Shadowfactor and this adds a whole new dimension to online play:

"Incoming over the hill on the right! Heal me, Heal me. Evac NOW! Damn I'm dead. Why are all our clerics ****ing retards?"

Try typing that with a pack on gnolls on your tail.

I think voice and video links over ADSL will be the next really big advance in online gaming.

Meetup.com

[gabec]

After we met through the slashdot.meetup.com thing last month a bunch of the Nashville /.'ers got together last week for a lan party ;) pretty cool! :)