How to Host a LAN Party

Guide Note

LAN parties are a growing sensation for gamers all over the globe. No matter how big or small your party plans are, there's plenty to think about when it comes to the technical as well as social aspects. In How to Host a LAN Party, find out what it takes to make yours a virtual success.

Table of Contents

Tips for How to Host a LAN Party

  1. Choose a location that comfortably accommodates all gamers.
  2. Pick a game or games conducive to big-group play.
  3. Make sure you have the necessary technical equipment.
  4. Keep players well-fed and well-hydrated.
  5. Go to an LAN first for ideas and troubleshooting

Introduction

Step 1: Determine the Size

  • (Creative Commons photo by Syefri Zulkefli)
    (Creative Commons photo by Syefri Zulkefli)
    While a LAN party can be spontaneous, there is a lot of work that goes into planning an organized event. Your LAN party can be as big or little as you want, depending on your resources.
  • If you plan on holding the festivities at your place of residence, here are a few points to ponder as you put together a guest list:
  1. Is there a room in which furniture can be moved around to accommodate fellow gamers, or do you have a garage? A garage could fit up to 25 gamers with the right organization.3
  2. How many outlets are in that room or garage?4
  3. Are you able to buy or rent any equipment you don't already own? If not, be resourceful and try to work with what you've got and/or utilize a friend's equipment.5
  4. Do you have it in your budget to "go big" and rent a bigger space or go in on the rental fee with other guests?
  • The size of your soiree will depend on your answers to the questions above. If you want to keep things low-maintenance, shoot for a smaller crowd. But if you have the time, resources and help from planning partners, the more the merrier!

Step 2: Pick a Place

  • Selecting a location for you LAN party will be much easier once you know how many gamers to expect. Keep these pointers in mind when deciding on a venue:
  1. Space: Remember to account for the fact that LAN parties are BYOC-- Bring Your Own Computer. Whether in your own home or a local community hall, make sure there's enough room for every player to fit comfortably in his or her space with a corresponding machine plus equipment and a chair.5 The more comfortable guests are, the longer they're likely to stay and join in the fun.
  2. Amenities: Even if you've got the food and beverage situation figured out (more on that in step 6), it's a good idea to hold the LAN party within close proximity of a convenience store or some other 24-hour food retailer.4 Snack runs are almost inevitable.
  • Think about lodging concerns, as well. If you have enough space for people to crash in your home, then you're golden for hosting the event. But if housing that many people is close quarters, it may be a good idea to play in a place that's within walking or very short driving distance to lodging, since game-play can go on for days.2
  • Check out a local community hall, a friend's neighborhood clubhouse or a hotel conference room if your pad doesn't fit the bill.

Step 3: Select a Game or Games

  • The main attraction at a LAN party is, of course, the games themselves.
  1. Decide on a genre (e.g. first-person shooter or real-time strategy) ahead of time so gamers know what they're signing on for.5
  2. Pick games that lend themselves to LAN fun. LAN party veterans suggest Unreal Tournament, Quake 3 Arena, Motocross Madness 2, Half-Life and Counter-Strike, among others.6
  3. Plan noncomputer-related activities to break things up and keep people fresh.

Step 4: Work Out the Logistics

  • (Creative Commons photo by Michael)
    (Creative Commons photo by Michael)
    There a lot to think about whenever multiple computers are going to be running in one room. For the best technical LAN performance, you will need:
  1. Router: Depending on who you talk to, you'll hear that either a router, a hub or a switch is necessary to connect all the machines at a LAN party. Most tech experts agree that hubs are outdated for that purpose.7 Instead, choose a router. A small LAN party of up to 10 players will require a basic 24-port switch as well.3
  2. Switch: The switch plugs into the router and people then plug their individual computers into the switch.8 You'll also need enough cables to connect each computer to the switch.
  3. Dedicated server: If more than eight gamers are expected, make sure there's a dedicated server to handle inter-PC communication.4 A dedicated server is simply a single computer computer that serves the needs of the network (or LAN).9
  4. Extension cords: Even if there are enough electrical outlets within plug-in distance of the computers, extension cords are necessary so you don't overuse any one circuit.10 See more about power and circuitry in step 5.
  • For optimal game play, ask party-goers to bring their own:
  1. Computer system (including monitor, keyboard, mouse and mouse pad).
  2. Network/Ethernet card.
  3. Surge protector or power strip.
  4. Headphones.
  5. Microphone.
  6. Money for food.
  7. USB flash drive (for exchanging files, demos, pictures, etc.).10
  8. Overnight clothes, toiletries and sleeping bag (if necessary).

Step 5: Set it All Up

  1. Tables and chairs: Plan on two players per 6-foot table for comfortable gaming, and it at all possible, arrange to borrow or rent chairs that aren't too uncomfortable.11
  2. Power concerns: A good rule of thumb is to plan on 4 amps of power per gamer, or six people per 20-amp circuit in North America.12 For safety purposes, check your circuit breaker box for which circuits correspond to which electrical outlets (if you're hosting at home).12 You'll want to map them out to make sure no outlets/circuits are overloaded (e.g. five people per 20-amp breaker circuit and three people per 15-amp).
  3. Individual connections: Set up the router and switch in a place that's easy to get to. Then make sure there's a path from that spot to all corresponding gamer stations.

Step 6: Remember the Details

  • (Creative Commons photo by Aaron Giambattista)
    (Creative Commons photo by Aaron Giambattista)
    No matter what kind of party you host, or how big it is, it's attention to details that often means the difference between success and failure. For example:
  1. Sustenance: What's a party without food? You never know low long a LAN party may go, so make plans to feed your small crowd. Whether it's chipping in for pizza, patronizing a local restaurant en masse or hiring a caterer, plan for more than enough food and get plenty of help to cover the costs.10
  2. Caffeine: Sleep is the last priority at any LAN party, so caffeine is a top priority. Make arrangements to have a hefty stock of energy drinks and/or coffee on hand round-the-clock.2
  3. Individual instructions: A great to kick off the festivities and make sure everyone is on the same page is to print a page of instructions (or "FAQ" sheet) for every gamer, which includes his or her individual IP address for game play and a schedule of breaks or meals during the event.13
  4. Transportation arrangements: Depending on how long your party lasts, people may need to travel between the game-room location and eateries or lodging.14 If these locations aren't within walking distance, carpooling is a good way to go. Make sure everyone has directions and/or maps.
  5. Ventilation: All those machines running and all the excitement of gaming indoors can lead to a lot of stuffiness.4 Open windows, run fans or turn up the air conditioning to keep things comfy.
  6. Tripping hazards: One false step over a group cord can result in a premature ending to game play-- or even worse, injury. Keep the gaming area uncluttered and take the extra care to ensure your gaming environment is a safe one.5

Conclusion

  • If you still feel a little out of your element as a host, or it's just been awhile since you attended a LAN party and seen how it all comes together, there are seemingly endless opportunities to be part of one-- no matter where you live.2 Check out a party of any size to get great ideas for yours.
  • There are all kinds of LAN directories on the Web to point you in the right direction, such as:
  1. Blues News.15
  2. Google Directory.16
  • On the surface, hosting a LAN party may seem pretty simple: Invite a few people over and play a game or two. But there's more than meets the eye. Take the time to plan out technical and social aspects of your party down to the littlest detail. If you go the extra mile, your guests will return the favor by staying longer to prolong the fun.

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References for How to Host a LAN Party

  1. ↑ PCmag.com: LAN party
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 NYtimes.com: Go to the mattresses, page 1(July 10, 2005)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 SmallNetBuilder.com: LAN party how-to, page 2(April 20, 2005)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Tweak3D.com: How to set up a LAN party, page 1(Aug. 10, 2000)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 PCmag.com: Multiplayer gaming comes home(Sept. 21, 2004)
  6. ↑ Tweak3D.com: How to set up a LAN party, page 2(Aug. 10, 2000)
  7. ↑ Softpedia.com: Switch or router?(April 28, 2007)
  8. ↑ Tweak3D.com: How to set up a LAN party, page 3(Aug. 10, 2000)
  9. ↑ Webopedia.com: Dedicated server
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 PCmag.com: LAN party essentials(Nov. 1, 2006)
  11. ↑ SmallNetBuilder.com: LAN party how-to, page 4(April 20, 2005)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 SmallNetBuilder.com: LAN party how-to, page 6(April 20, 2005)
  13. ↑ SmallNetBuilder.com: LAN party how-to, page 5(April 20, 2005)
  14. ↑ SmallNetBuilder.com: LAN party how-to, page 3(April 20, 2005)
  15. ↑ BluesNews.com: LAN parties and local events
  16. ↑ Google.com: Google directory


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