Huddled in a classroom illuminated primarily by the glow of LCD screens and projectors, among piles of Ethernet cable, a few sodas, computers and Xboxes, are gamers gearing up for a night of fun, socialization and camaraderie. They are participating in what is known as a LAN party – a social event where gamers will gather, link their computers together via a local area network and play their favorite games head-to-head with their friends, rivals or even people they have just met.
Tuesday, the N.C. State Multiplayer Gaming Club held one such event during the Centennial Campus Challenge as a way to bring students together for the love of the game. Club President Emeritus Kyle Bolton, a senior in computer and electrical engineering, explained that LAN parties are a social event.
“It started as just a bunch of engineering buddies coming together to have a throw-down in Counterstrike,” Bolton said. “But everyone wants to sit down and play videogames.”
The social aspect of videogames, and LAN parties in particular, is extremely important to many gamers, especially when trying to create new connections after moving into a new town. As First Year College freshman Brooke Tomerlin said, gaming provides common ground to meet new people and make friends, and get adjusted to the college experience.
“I just really wanted something to do. I don’t always really fit in, but I like to game.” Tomerlin said. “I can come out here and network with people. You make a few friends here and there and start meeting people.”
And as Club President Jeremy Stallings, senior in English, explained, that was the goal of the Multiplayer Gaming Club all along.
“The point of this club was to have fun, socialize and play videogames,” Stallings said. “When you come to college, people are looking for fun. The club is great if you want to hang out and play videogames.”
Further, LAN parties can be looked on to dispel some of the stereotype of antisocial behavior among gamers. Their more and more frequent occurrence can be one sign of the growing acceptance of gaming in society.
“I think the stereotype has been broken. I’ve seen 30 people playing games until we were literally booted from the building,” Stallings said. “It’s part of our culture now. Almost everyone is a gamer. I know people who don’t play Halo, but they are playing FarmVille.”
Most of all, videogames and LAN parties can simply be great ways to unwind. Stephan Baulch, a freshman in computer science, described his vision of a perfect LAN party : “My friends, a room, techno music, and awesomeness.”
