LAN party

A LAN party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous, gathering of people together with their computers, which they network together primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. These local area networks (LANs) come in various sizes, from very small (two people) to very large (more than 10,000 people). Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually require a fair amount of planning and preparation on the part of the organizer. The current world record for number of computers connected in the network at a LAN party is 10,445, set at DreamHack Winter 2007, in Jönköping, Sweden..

LAN party events differ significantly from gaming centers and Internet cafes in that they are generally bring your own computer (BYOC) and are not permanent installations, often taking place in general meeting places or residences.

History

A large (approximately 300 people) LAN party in a sports hall in northern Germany.

LAN parties originated from early single-player Unix games such as Larn, Hack, Rogue, and Hunt the Wumpus that kept scoreboards on a centralized server. At this point the majority of the people playing these games were university students who had access to such systems for schoolwork. Another early incarnation of network gaming was Xanth Software F/X's MIDI Maze. Programmed for the Atari ST, the game allowed up to 16 computers (though any number above four caused instability) to be linked together via the ST's MIDI ports and deathmatch games to be played over the makeshift network. With the release of Bungie's Pathways Into Darkness and id Software's Doom in 1993, the gameplay that MIDI Maze pioneered was perfected, with the latter allowing four players either to cooperate in the game's singleplayer campaign or to fight each other in a deathmatch game. As a result, network gaming (and consequently LAN parties) grew. The initial explosion for the LAN Party scene occurred with the release of Bungie's Marathon on the easily-networked Macintosh platform in 1994. By the time Id Software's Quake was released in 1996, the release of Windows 95 and many low-cost Ethernet cards had brought relatively easy ad-hoc networking to the Windows PC, further expanding the popularity of LAN Parties.

Small LAN parties

Usually smaller LAN parties consist of people bringing their computers or other gaming consoles over to each other's house to host and play multiplayer games.

These are sometimes established between small groups of friends, and hosted at a central location or one that is known to all participants. Such events are often organized quickly with little planning, and some overnight events, with some stretching into days (or even weeks). Because of the small number of players, games are usually played on small levels and/or against bots.

A small LAN party requires a hub/switch, with enough ports to accommodate all the players, a fair amount of power, and suitable surfaces for all the computers. Providing refreshments is often also a duty of the host, though guests are usually asked to contribute. In larger parties where participants may not all know each other personally, an entry fee may even be charged. Another tradition of some small groups is to purchase large amounts of fast food for consumption over many days. Many LAN participants will also bring energy drinks and other food to consume over the course of the party.

To set up these parties a network hub/switch isn't always required. If all the computers have Wi-Fi capability, an ad-hoc network may be set up. This allows two or more computers to connect over a wireless connection, thereby eliminating the need for a wired network.

When some of the participants cannot be present or when merging a few LAN parties together, VPN software such as Remobo or Hamachi can be used to arrange computers over the Internet so they appear to be on the same LAN.

Normally the host will host the games but sometimes at very small LAN parties (eg. 2 or 3 people) all participants will connect to a online internet server and add a word in front of their name to tell everyone else that they are a clan or group. At bigger LANs (eg. 5 - 9001 people) the host or a friend of the host will use a spare PC as a game server to serve all the participants. Usually the host and/or the owner are admins.

Larger LAN parties

A photo from the world's largest LAN party, DreamHack.

Many commercialized parties offer various tournaments, with competitions in such games as StarCraft, Quake III, Call of Duty 4, Warcraft III, Counter-Strike Source, Unreal Tournament, America's Army, Battlefield 2, Doom series, and the Halo Series sometimes awarding prizes to the winners. Prizes can include computer hardware such as overclocking kits, cases, lights, fans, graphics cards and sometimes even complete computers (often considered humorous as typically the winner of the competition would already have (and be competing on) a custom PC far superior to the prize).

The duration of the event is not standardized; many organized parties last for a weekend, while there have also been longer and shorter parties such as weekend wars.

Big LAN parties often offer a quiet place to sleep, shower, and eat, as well as hired security, alternative entertainment (such as music), and a dedicated support crew, as well as a professionally managed network including a connection to the Internet. Catering might come in the form of a bar, delivered food such as pizza, or nearby shops. Some parties come fully catered in the form of regular barbecues or even employment of a catering staff running a public canteen.

Gaming clans -- groups of gamers that often play in team games -- often use these gatherings to meet one another, since they typically play together over the Internet between other parties with little real-world contact. Their goal is often to win tournaments. Clans are often in "ladders" where they move up after winning a match. As well as counting for standings in national and international gaming leagues such as the CPL there are regular events such as QuakeCon in which the very best players from around the world compete against one another, much like in popular sports. Practice matches are usually held prior to a match so competitors can get a rough idea of what they are up against.

Often case modders and overclockers attend these events to display their computers, which otherwise would be seen by few. Some come just to display their computers and look at others' computers.

Some attendees also use these parties for the purpose of file sharing. Copyright infringement via file sharing is often discouraged or forbidden by the larger parties. However, enforcement is rare and spotty due to the time involved and often a lack of desire by organizers. Some LAN parties actively support file sharing for legitimate purposes (game patches, updates, user contributed content), and may run Direct Connect hubs or other P2P service servers. One of the main reasons for running such servers is so file sharing can be monitored/controlled while standard Windows file sharing (SMB/CIFS) can be blocked, thus preventing the spread of SMB/CIFS-based viruses. Most P2P setups used at LAN parties also have a 'centralized' chat area, where all members of the LAN party can converse in an IRC-like environment.

There are also other kinds of parties not referred to as "LAN parties" where temporary LANs are built, but are not used as a main attraction. Amongst these are demoparties such as Assembly and hacker conventions such as DEF CON.

In the traditionally active demoscene countries, such as those in Northern Europe, the LAN party culture is often heavily influenced by demoparties. This is due to the fact that many of the largest demoparties were already well established in the early 1990s and their facilities were also suitable for large-scale LAN party activity. This eventually led gaming clans and other similar groups to attend these events and regard them merely as large LAN parties. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for "pure" LAN parties in Northern Europe to organize some demoscene-like competitions in areas such as computer graphics or home videos.

Sponsorship

Many computer companies, including NVIDIA,Razer, Cyber Snipa,Corsair and Alienware, offer sponsorship packages to large LAN parties, with funding, prizes, or equipment given in return for advertising. Many large-scale LAN parties seek such sponsorship, in order to reduce operating risk (often the organisers risk losing tens of thousands of dollars) and provide prizes for attendees.

Equipment

Patrons

The sort of equipment someone would take to a LAN party, be it a small or large one, includes:

Hardware

• Computer
• Monitor
• Power cables for monitor and computer
• Keyboard, mouse and mouse pad
• Headphones/Microphone (Speakers usually aren't allowed as it distracts other players)

Participants need to bring the following if they are not supplied by the host:

• Power strip (Surge Protectors can create problems at some events)
• Network cables (Usually a 10 meter or longer cable is required)

Software

• Games with their respective CD keys and latest patches.
• Device Drivers for your hardware.

Host

The host's job in a LAN party involves much more work, especially in large parties:

• Venue: The venue needs to be large enough to accommodate all the participants and their computers. It should also have sufficient bathroom facilities available. Some hosts also provide a quiet area for tired participants to sleep.

• Air Conditioning: Running a number of computers and monitors together in a room can raise heat issues that can affect the comfort of the participants and the computers themselves. Depending on the climate, size of room and number of participants, air conditioning may be required.

• Power: Hosts should allow for about 400 to 500 watts of power per attendant on average, with approximately 80% utilization per circuit. (E.g., about 5 people on a 240V, 10A Circuit.) Larger parties may require the use of a generator or three-phase power supply. If air conditioning is used, the power requirements of the air conditioning system should also be taken into consideration.

• Networking: Ethernet networks are almost universally used. Depending on the number of computers and budget requirements, the network can range from a single switch to complex topologies involving routers, fiber optic switches and custom servers to route broadcast traffic. Each participant will require at least one 100Mb/s or 1Gb/s network connection.

• Internet: The host may provide internet access for the participants. If internet access is provided, it is often restricted (E.g. to stop participants from downloading large files.)

• Servers: Hosts often provide a variety of servers, including DHCP, HTTP and various game servers.

• Food: Most hosts will provide access to a microwave and hot water, though this will vary depending on the venue. Some hosts will also provide food for participants, depending on how long the session is hosted.

• Information Services: LAN parties of some size often have a video projector to distribute important information, and a stage of some sort to announce competition winners. Bigger LAN parties may also have internal net radio, internal web sites, and even an internal IP based television channel.

• Security: Larger LAN parties usually require some form of security to prevent theft and unauthorized access of their systems.

Culture

LAN parties have their own unique culture. Attendees will often show off their computers with flashy aftermarket lighting, LCD screens, enhanced speakers, and many other types of computer accessories (otherwise known as Case modding). Highly caffeinated drinks, termed energy drinks, are very popular in these events to improve concentration and stamina as LAN parties often run into the early morning hours. Large parties can last for several days with no scheduled breaks. Often sleep is compromised to play throughout the night and into the next day although there is often a designated room separated from the LAN party to sleep.

Console LAN Parties

Another type of LAN Party is a gaming console party. It can range from a small group of friends linking two consoles together with a crossover cable (also known as a system link cable), to many units connected to an ethernet switch or existing network.

On the Xbox and Xbox 360, LAN gaming is known as system link. Some games on these consoles can support as many as 32 players in a single game.

It is becoming common for different consoles to be present at larger LAN events where participants connect their consoles to the existing network. Some of these events have a separate area for participants to set up their consoles.

Notable events

• CyberFusion, the longest LAN party in the world. This event was held in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.
• DreamHack, the largest LAN party in the world. Held twice annually in Jönköping, Sweden.
• The i-Series, the largest UK LAN party. Held at Stoneleigh Park, United Kingdom.
• The Gathering, one of the largest computer parties in the world. Held in Hamar, Norway.
• RFLan, a lan held quarterly in Perth, Western Australia. (http://rflan.org/)
• Assembly demo party, another very large party. Held annually in Hartwall Areena, Helsinki, Finland.
• QuakeCon, largest LAN party in the United States and the largest free LAN party in the world. Held annually in Dallas, Texas.
• Lanwar, one of the largest LAN events in the United States. Held quarterly by the same name, and annually as MillionManLan.
• Cyberathlete Professional League, one of the largest LAN events in the United States. Held annually in Dallas, Texas.
• F7Lans, Lan party held annually in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
• Minho Campus Party, LAN party held annually in the Minho region, Portugal.
• Fragapalooza, the largest LAN party in Canada. Held in Edmonton, Alberta.
• LANageddon, a LAN party held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• Campzone, a large outdoor LAN party held in the Netherlands.
• The-Party, the largest indoor LAN party in the Netherlands.
• Intel LAN Fest, a series of large LAN parties held on or near Intel campuses across the United States. (http://lanfest.intel.com)
• GeForce Lan, a LAN party held annually by NVIDIA.
• MassiveLAN, one of the largest LAN events held annually in New York.
• WNY Gamers Club, is one of the longest running LAN Party groups in the WNY / Buffalo, New York area.
• Pittsburgh LAN Coalition, holds Iron Storm, a major semi-yearly LAN in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• BYOC, is one of the preferred & biggest LAN parties organized in India New Delhi, India area.(www.byoc.in)
• Fife Lan Party, LAN parties in Fife, Scotland
• Organised Chaos, South Africa's largest monthly LAN party. Held in the city of Cape Town.
• NAG LAN, The biggest LAN in Africa (1,800) held once a year in Johannesburg, South Africa at the rAge expo.
• Carolina Con, best LAN party in the Carolinas in Greensboro, NC (http://www.ncgaming.com)
• Whempys LAN, longest running monthly LAN in the USA in Columbus, OH (http://www.whempyslan.org)
• AsylumLAN, Southwest Indiana's longest running quarterly LAN party event held in Evansville, IN USA (http://www.asylumlan.com)
• IUCGC LAN, A semi-annual LAN party on Indiana University's Bloomington Campus that draws 200 participants from several states. In Bloomington, IN (http://www.iugaming.com)
• Lan ETS, biggest LAN Party held annually in Montreal, Qc Canada (http://www.lanets.ca)
• lan.party@belfiore.vr, great LAN party in the north Italy (http://www.encori.it/lan-party/)
• BYOC, a lan party held once a semester at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. (http://byoc.acm.pct.edu)
• Campus Party, a LAN Party held annually in Spain.

On April 10 to 12, 2009, Nvision '08 Longest LAN Party record was beaten by a total of 274 participants and the record was set at 40 hours . The LAN Party was held in Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya, Malaysia. The event was called as CyberFusion '09

Dreamhack Winter 2007 set the new world record for the largest LAN party in history. The record was set with 10,554 computers and 11,060 attendees.

See also

• Block party
• Demoscene
• Install fest

References

• Tom's Hardware Guide
• PLAY Magazine
• Zoopy Video article on Organised Chaos[4]

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External links

• LAN parties at Curlie