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Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

arstechnica.com

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Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#4
I was renting a house in 2000 with three people who weren’t there most weekends. As such, all my friends came round for LAN parties, bringing their PCs and monitors on the Tube. We mostly played Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, and Unreal Tournament, drinking unhealthy amounts of sugary drinks and eating pizza.

It was a weird niche of time in which this was both possible and likely, so much that I don’t know anyone else in person that did it.

One summer, we organised a massive LAN party held at a race-course. It wasn’t as much fun because it lost all the intimacy.

Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#5
> crucial, awkward time

I mean, I disagree completely about the "awkward" part. Online gaming has nothing on hanging out with a bunch of friends in the same room playing PC games together for a weekend. If you happen to be younger and you've never had a LAN party with friends, you absolutely should try it once. It's a unique experience and it's crazy fun.

Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#6
post #2

Is it just me or does the last section - "what killed the LAN party" keep appearing infinitely many times? I read it at least three times before realising I'd already read it, ha.

Opportunity for them to show a few more ads while we keep attempting to scroll?

Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#7
post #2

Is it just me or does the last section - "what killed the LAN party" keep appearing infinitely many times? I read it at least three times before realising I'd already read it, ha.

When you want to have infinite scroll, but have no new content to show. :'D

Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#8
Gaming companies contributed to the death of LAN parties too. They killed the "split-screen" gameplay that would support 2-4 players on the same machine. They wanted each player to require their own copy of the game. They killed LAN support, forcing you to play on their servers. Culturally we saw a shift towards social isolation. People are more comfortable talking over a mic.

Re: Just a bunch of idiots having fun: a photo history of the LAN party

#9
post #2

Is it just me or does the last section - "what killed the LAN party" keep appearing infinitely many times? I read it at least three times before realising I'd already read it, ha.

Hah. Me too on mobile. I was reading it probably for the fourth or fifth time before it hit. Just started my coffee so wasnt awake
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