You were probably the beginning of the MMO genre and the idea of constantly available multiplayer: LAN parties. A little throwback to the time of LAN cables and table constructions …
LAN-What?
Before the possibility existed to game online together, you had to meet in person! In real life!
The term “LAN” stands for “Local Area Network”, which is a network (like the internet) in a local area. Whoever is in the network is usually nearby.
It worked “back then” like this: friends (or opponents) would meet in a basement, garage, or rented space and bring their PCs. Then it was time to set up tables, arrange monitors, assemble computers, and plug in LAN cables into the switch that maintains the network.
The great thing about LAN parties was that you had togetherness. Gaming together, laughing together, and experiencing a great weekend.
A few “strange” things constantly happened. They somehow belonged to it – and contributed to the nostalgic view that the “older” gaming community has today when the term “LAN party” comes up.
The one guy who can’t get into the lobby
No matter how well the network is set up. No matter how new and good the switch is that you are connecting to, and no matter how well everything was planned in advance: at least one person could not join a game.
Once you finally agreed on a game and provided all players with a copy (of course legally), the one with the best computer was allowed to host, i.e., set up the lobby. This usually worked – until the last player shouted from across the room: “Hey, I can’t get in!”
How exactly it happened that someone couldn’t play was not always clarified. Maybe it was just the LAN gods having fun. However, it usually worked out in a miraculous way when the admin connected the LAN cable correctly …
Throwing plastic bottles at cheaters
Especially at larger LANs, where friends of friends also participated, things were not always fair. Some players simply couldn’t play without cheating. At today’s larger parties with staff, such people are usually thrown out.
In the past, and at smaller gatherings, it was usually overlooked since the person often just did it for a laugh. Sorry, a pizza for the round, and that’s it. However, some were less understanding …
Fortunately, PET bottles are a resource that is plentiful at such parties. And they serve just as well as projectiles as the forehead of a cheater as a target.
Sometimes, the cheaters also didn’t get off so lightly …
The “balanced” breakfast
If you game, you also need to eat. Gaming is hard work and requires energy. It’s important to have a proper breakfast on the keyboard after waking up.
Fortunately, usually everything a gamer needs in the morning was found on the tables of a LAN party: boxes of cold pizza from the day before. With tomato sauce and, with a bit of luck, even pineapple chunks, you’re all set for your daily fruit and vegetable intake.
Since cold pizza tends to dry out, you obviously need to wash it down. Fresh instant coffee or a can of lukewarm energy drink were the friends in need here.
The klutz
With enough energy from the right breakfast, it was then time for round two the next day. Often, latecomers would arrive on the second day, quickly making the rounds harder and the food quickly dwindling.
During all the gaming, it could also happen that a player became careless – too little sleep or caffeine, too intense rounds, too much focus on gaming. If the exhausted gamer got up to get their circulation going, the inevitable happened:
The cabling of the whole room became the enemy, LAN cables became trip hazards, and power strips became landmines. Usually, at least one of these obstacles was too much for the exhausted player, and cables were pulled out of switches, power plugs were unplugged, or – in the worst case – hardware was introduced to the floor. Annoying, but sometimes also quite funny.
“I’ll be right back!”
Like everything, a LAN party also eventually has to end. On Sunday afternoon, the computers are packed up and stowed away in cars, sleeping bags are rolled up, and trash is disposed of. Those who are fit enough help the others.
However, it also happened that people had to leave early. Already on the evening before, during the night, or in the early morning. In itself, no problem – if it weren’t always exactly those people who brought the cabling or switches …
It was then, of course, impossible to leave these devices here for the day. They could go missing. And at home, the stove is still on. Annoying, but fortunately not the usual ending of a LAN!
What about you? Do you still belong to the LAN generation or have you never seen anything like it? Do these things sound familiar or have you experienced something more exciting? Leave us a comment!
