Even single player games today are sometimes 20+ hours long, but many of those tasks end up being very similar, like crafting tools or grinding for levels/experience. Tony outlines his case for shorter games with less filler. Do we really need forty hours of mindless, repetitive tasks to make a game worth sixty bucks?
One of the benefits of being at a LAN party is having a lot of the heavy lifting done for you in terms of setting up game servers, especially for older games that have a way of handling multiplayer that is a bit archaic by today's standards. BEan, the game server admin/engineer/guru/whatever, talks about his process and experiences getting game servers ready for Laclede's LAN events, both online and in-person.
What is it the staff likes about LAN parties so much? Why are they so special? Why not just open up a sushi joint and call it a day? Tim, aka BraveSirRobbin, aka BSR lays down what makes a LAN party such a special place.
Piping two hundred gamers' network traffic through a single Internet connection is no small feat. Twitch streaming, video watching, game downloads, VOIP, and actual multiplayer game traffic all have to go through the same pipe and can affect the performance significantly if not properly managed. Network guy Nick takes a look at how QoS and caching help keep the Internet chugging at our LAN parties.
A career in IT is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be… quite useful at LAN parties! Nick reflects on his time as a network administrator at both internet service providers, and at LAN parties. Stay awhile, and listen!
James takes a nostalgia-fueled trip into the past to uncover some lessons about running LAN parties that were learned the hard way. Things have been forgotten, equipment has been fried to crispy nuggets, and simple pranks escalated all the way to PTSD!
Adam reflects on how gaming has had monumental effects on his life... and how embracing his passions for hits like Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft have resulted in profound friendships and travel opportunities, and even shaped his wedding.
Did you know that doctors seem to agree that getting up from your gaming chair every now and then might actually help you live longer? We were skeptical of this claim as well, but there might be something to it. Nate talks about how he uses video games to complete to keep hit workout goals despite a hectic schedule.