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Photo by Nordgren
LAN or Local Area Network is a term used to describe a network set up at a specific location that connects computers within that area together to allow them to communicate, share resources and files, and establish security. Among gamers, a LAN is a great way to enjoy low lag gaming between PC users. LAN parties are a popular way to get gamers together to enjoy some friendly competition and cooperative multiplayer play without the hassle of an often laggy and seldom bug-free internet based connection.
If you look back at games often highlighted at LAN parties, one might recall games like Starcraft, Delta Force: Land Warrior, Unreal Tournament, the Quake series, Counterstrike, Moon Project, Descent, Aliens VS Predator, Warcraft, Command and Conquer, Red Alert, Total Annihilation, Doom, Call of Duty, and more. These games spawned what became what was at the time the biggest movement in high quality digital gaming of its time. It would appear a new LAN capable game was available every week, with developers working hard on the next big thing.
LAN tournaments sprouted up all over the place. Some of mention are the larger LANageddon, QuakeCon, Fragapalooza, Lanwar, The Gathering, Multiplay UK, DreamHack, and many others.
Today, most multi-player gaming is done online. Technology has advanced enough to make Internet play on even some of the more demanding programs reasonable enough to allow many gamers to resist packing up their computers, monitors, keyboards, and mice in order to play. Though, especially the larger LAN conventions out there, are flourishing as they too are expanding their efforts to keep up with the latest trends and technologies that make gaming fun.
The new breed of multi-player PC games have hit the scene and they are quite remarkable. Games like Arma, Command and Conquer 3, Supreme Commander, DotA, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, and more. The new games test a system’s capabilities, strain their video cards, and most importantly present the gamer with an immersing and awesome experience of realism and awe!
In this writer’s opinion, LAN parties should be perserved, as they bring a lot more than a face to your opponent, they bring communities together and greatly enhance your experience as a gamer. There’s a giant difference between playing Counterstrike online, and playing it at a LAN party. Whether you hook your rig up to a friend’s network with a few others for some Saturday fragging, or you’re plugged in to a hub along with 3,000 or 30,000 other gamers, LAN parties are a great experience.
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