|
Sup guys,
I don't know if you remember me but I was a frequent attendee to the parties you guys put together up until I shipped off to the military. Well I'm now stationed at Elmendorf, have been for over a year. Seeing the site get revamped and talking with some work friends of mine, I started to reminisce about the good(and often) late times I had at the Dakrats LANs. I told them how these were real, legit parties with just a group of friends which quickly grew in popularity to when I remember at one time, we had a little over 50 people packed into that little room. I told them that admission was completely free, and even if you didn't bring a PC you could still get your game on with one of the spares. Most importantly I remember the atmosphere. Everyone there was friendly, just hanging out talking about our favorite hobby and having a good time.
Well I guess I was spoiled, because there is absolutely nothing like that here. I've tried without success to put on legitimate LANs. Working in a communications flight, one would expect a resounding response to a LAN party but not so. I don't know what it is, either its lazieness or plain lack of interest but nobody cares to do these things. Its really quite depressing when I can't partipate in what I thought was one of the more rewarding facets of my hobby. But I digress.
I just wanted to say that you guys are awesome for putting together such an incredible event, and I applaud you for continuing to do it even after losing some people, and your main website getting hacked. Hopefully I'll be lucky enough to visit an upcoming LAN on my next trip back home.
Regards,
Devon aka "_tEh_FlaK_mOnKeY_"
|
YO!
Good to here from you and yes games like WoW have hurt the LAN's. They shouldn't because I play and still enjoy the LAN's.
ND!!!
Sup ND!! Hows it been man?? Are you still making those computer carrying straps? Haha, I still have mine but it hardly gets used anymore sadly.
In regards to what you're saying, yea I think a lot of people get the wrong idea about LANs. Yes, the central theme is to play games, but the idea behind it is just an avenue to hang out and bs. Like going to the movies, or bar-hopping. Except for in our case--the gamer community--we hook up our PCs/consoles and game all day. Sigh, the good ol days. I do miss them.
Hey flak,I meant to respond
Hey flak,
I meant to respond to you a few weeks ago, but I always managed to get busy with other stuff. Anyway, I see that Doc has said much of my same sentiments. Dude, we miss you! I was stationed at Ft. Rich. for 3 years+ All I can say is CHILKOOT CHARLIES FTW!!! Ah yes, some of the best years, AK is so freakin' awesome.
Anyway, we've shrunk a bit from 50 peeps back to 20 or so, but those we've got now are hardcore dedicated gamers, and if we start doing some advertising (plus winter is coming) we should be able to grow and be the premier and well known PC-gamers of Minot again :)
I guess if you need to generate interest, it's going to take a lot of work. Fun work, but here's how I'd start. I'm sure you know guys that game, but they're too lazy to break their stuff down and take it to a LAN. You gotta' start by breaking their laziness down. Take the first move and plan a mini-LAN at their place. Break your stuff down and take it over to their house/room and game on with them. Sure, to start with it'll be just you and him, maybe you'll convince a 3rd guy to go - but it's a start. From there, once they see how much fun it can be, you get the 3 of you to get together and invite 1-3 more guys to your place. Eat it up - buy sodas and pizza and whatever LAN gear you need (8 port switch and cables, whatever) and let them have the fun for free. Pretty soon you'll have a core group that loves to LAN and you can start to try and grow and get a bigger venue. It's all about generating interest.
Thanks for the feedback flak, and best of luck to you!