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I asked my “son” Wicket if he wanted to go to a LAN party. That’s where a group of Geeks pack up their computers, get together, and game… for hours or days on end. Have you ever been to a LAN party, or been curious as to what goes on? Here are some tips sent in by Brian to help you out. He gives us his tips for LAN party guests, and five tips for LAN party hosts.

Tips for Guests

1. Bring your own networking supplies if necessary. This can include cables, routers, and hubs. The host may not be able to supply you with everything you need to get set up, so bring a few extra network cables and a router if you have them… just in case.

2. Bring a couple of dollars so you can pitch in for food and drinks, or bring yourself some snacks. You never know when you’ll be hungry, and neither will everyone else. Pitching in for a couple pizzas or a few bags of chips and a handful of sodas (or energy drinks!!) will help you stay awake longer.

3. Make sure you’ve already installed as many games as you expect to play that night. If not, you’ll be too busy installing the games instead of having fun playing them. You also want to have all of your games updated to the most modern version, or at least make sure you have the same version as everyone else.

4. Make sure your computer is equipped to handle the games you expect to play. Your computer may not be up to par with the games’ requirements and you will either not be able to play, or lag like crazy. Severe game lag can cause poor game play, and losing.

5. Bring a pillow and a blanket. It may feel ridiculous, as if you were attending a slumber party. Trust me, you may need it if or when you crash.

Tips for Hosts

1. Make sure you have as many network supplies possible so everyone can access the network. If you aren’t able to connect everyone to the network, ask anyone coming to the party if they could bring extra supplies to help out.

2. Make sure you have enough food and drinks for the guests. If not, have everyone pitch in a few dollars and get some food as previously explained. I also want to point out that non-greasy snacks (like pretzels) are best because they won’t get your keyboard and mouse all greasy while you’re playing.

3. Try and get as many places to set up as possible. Fold-up tables are the highest recommendation, but anywhere someone can set up works. You can try using desks, kitchen tables, or counter tops. As a last resort, end tables, dressers, and TV stands may also work of anyone is willing to use them. You should also have plenty of chairs.

4. Make sure you inform your guests what games you will probably end up playing ahead of time. It’s no fun getting to a LAN party and waiting for everybody to get the games installed as mentioned before.

5. Make sure your guests are able to power up their equipment. Having lots of surge protectors and extension cables allows for more freedom in terms of where your guests set up.

Brian also recommends the following free games, so you’ll always have something on hand to play… even if you cannot afford the latest and greatest paid games.

• TrackMania Nations Forever Racing
• F.E.A.R. Combat
• HalfLife 2: Deathmatch on Steam
• America’s Army
• Grand Theft Auto 1 or 2

If you have any other LAN party tips and tricks, be sure to pass them along!

• CybertronPC Qpack2 QP2V29500, Black, AMD Phenom X4 9550,4GB DDR2 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVDRW Drive, Radeon Dual GPU HD 3870 Video Card, 600 Watt Power Supply, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty
• CybertronPC Qpack2 QP2V24000BK, Black, AMD Athlon X2 5000+,2GB DDR2 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVDRW Drive, GeForce 8500GT, 600 Watt Power Supply, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty
• CybertronPC Qpack2 QP2V24000SL, Silver, AMD Athlon X2 5000+,2GB DDR2 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVDRW Drive, GeForce 8500GT, 600 Watt Power Supply, Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty
• CybertronPC Qpack2 QP2V24000BL, Blue, AMD Athlon X2 5000+,2GB DDR2 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVDRW Drive, GeForce 8500GT, 600 Watt Power Supply, Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit, 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty
• The Lan Party Gaming Guide (Networking Series)

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