Editing LAN party

{{short description|Temporary gathering of people with computers or game consoles}}
A '''LAN party''' is a [[social gathering]] of [[gamer|participant]]s with [[personal computer]]s or compatible [[game console]]s, where a [[local area network]] (LAN) connection is established between the devices using a [[router (computing)|router]] or [[network switch|switch]], primarily for the purpose of playing [[multiplayer video game]]s together. LAN party events differ significantly from [[LAN gaming center]]s and [[Internet cafe]]s in that LAN parties generally require participants to ''[[bring your own computer]]'' (BYOC)<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/NEWS/610220401/1101
| title = CPUs get revved up in Hudson
| access-date = 2006-10-25
| last = Kalke
| first = Rushmie
| date = 22 October 2006
| publisher = Worcester Telegram & Gazette
}}</ref> and are not permanent installations, often taking place in general-use venues or residences.

The size of these networks may vary from as few as two people to very large gatherings of a hundred or more. Small parties can form spontaneously and take advantage of common household networking equipment, but larger ones typically require more planning, equipment and preparation, even dedicated gaming [[server (computer)|server]]s. As of 2020, the [[world record]] for the size of a LAN party is 22,810 visitors, set at [[DreamHack]], in [[Jönköping]], [[Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-lan-party|title=Largest LAN party|website=Guinness World Records}}</ref>

==Small parties==
{{More citations needed|section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:Lanparty.jpg|thumb|A LAN party in the Netherlands (2003)]]

Usually, smaller LAN parties consist of people bringing their computers over to each other's houses to host and play multiplayer games.

These are sometimes established between small groups of friends, and hosted at a central location or one that is known to all participants. Such events are often organized quickly with little planning, and some overnight events, with some stretching into days (or even weeks). Because of the small number of players, games are usually played on small [[Level (computer and video games)|levels]] and/or against [[Video game bot|bots]].

If the venue lacks [[Wi-Fi]], an [[Wireless ad hoc network|ad hoc]] network may be set up, thereby eliminating the need for a wired network. Providing refreshments is often also a duty of the host, though guests are usually asked to contribute. In larger parties where participants may not all know each other personally, an entry fee may even be charged. Another tradition of some small groups is to purchase large amounts of [[fast food]] for consumption over many days. Many LAN participants will also bring food or drink to consume over the course of the party—though they can be held at any hour, many LAN parties begin late in the evening and run through the next morning, making [[energy drink]]s a popular choice.

When some of the participants cannot be present or when merging a few LAN parties together, [[VPN]] software such as [[Hamachi (software)|Hamachi]] can be used to arrange computers over the Internet so they appear to be on the same LAN.

Normally, the host will host the games but sometimes at very small LAN parties (e.g. 2 or 3 people) all participants will connect to an online internet server and add a word in front of their name to tell everyone else that they are a clan or group. At bigger LANs (e.g. 5 or more people) the host or a friend of the host will use a spare PC as a game server to serve all the participants. Usually the host and/or the owner are administrators.

The group can play together in another server as well if they wish as long as they are in the same LAN.

Private LAN parties were at their peak in popularity during the late 1990s to early 2000s when broadband internet access was either unavailable or too expensive for most people at the time. Another purpose for attending private LAN parties was also the opportunity to share software, movies or music among the participants. File-sharing over LAN networks provided a convenient way to exchange content among participants, as most average internet users did not have access to the high-speed and bandwidth that a broadband Internet connection offers to accommodate large file size downloads. Since the wide availability of high-speed internet, friends can more easily remotely play their multiplayer games together, using gaming-orientated software such as [[TeamSpeak]], [[Discord (software)|Discord]] and [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. Social media can also assist in online meet-ups and communication for groups of friends to be able to play their multiplayer games online together, in the comfort of their own homes rather than the inconvenience of packing and then setting up their PC's to the LAN party host's location.

== Console-based LAN parties ==
[[File:Private console LAN party image.jpg|thumb|A console-based private LAN party]]

While traditional LAN parties have solely consisted of computer gaming, the widespread adoption of network-centric console platforms, such as [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]], has led to an evolution in LAN parties. Modern consoles equipped with Ethernet ports are able to communicate with each other over standard routers or switches, much like traditional computers.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Console-LAN attendees need only their console, games, and television to garner the same local gaming experience as their computer-based counterparts.  Many popular multiplayer games for the console have also been ported to the PC (e.g. ''[[Battlefield: Bad Company 2]] and [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'').  Developers have given consumers the choice to enjoy the same multiplayer games on multiple platforms, paving way for an alternative stage in 21st-century LAN parties.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==Larger parties==
{{More citations needed|section|date=September 2021}}
[[File:Winter 2004 DreamHack LAN Party.jpg|right|thumbnail|A photo from the world's largest LAN party, [[DreamHack]]]]
[[File:AMDExtravaLANza2012AutoAwesome.gif|right|thumbnail|AMD Radeon ExtravaLANza Event in 2012]]

Many commercialized parties offer various tournaments, with competitions in such games as ''[[StarCraft]]'', ''[[Warcraft III]]'', ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', ''[[Counter-Strike: Source]]'', ''[[Counter-Strike: Global Offensive]]'', ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'', ''[[Fortnite]]'', ''[[Kirby Air Ride]]'', ''[[PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds]]'', ''[[Garry's Mod]]'', and games from the [[Quake (series)|''Quake'']], ''[[Left 4 Dead (series)|Left 4 Dead]]'', ''[[Call of Duty]]'', ''[[Battlefield (video game series)|Battlefield]]'', [[Doom (series)|''Doom'']] and [[Halo (series)|''Halo'']] series. Prizes may be awarded to winners, and can include computer hardware such as overclocking kits, cases, lights, fans, graphics cards and sometimes even complete computers (often considered humorous as typically the winner of the competition would already have (and be competing on) a custom PC far superior to the prize).

The duration of events is not standardized; organized parties often last for a weekend.

Big LAN parties often offer a quiet place to sleep, shower, and eat, as well as [[Security guard|hired security]], alternative entertainment (such as music), and a dedicated support crew, as well as a professionally managed network including a connection to the Internet. Catering might come in the form of a [[bar (counter)|bar]], delivered food such as pizza, or nearby shops. Some parties come fully catered in the form of regular barbecues or even employment of a catering staff running a public canteen.

[[Clan (gaming)|Gaming clans]] — groups of gamers that often play in team games—often use these gatherings to meet one another, since they typically play together over the Internet between other parties with little real-world contact. Their goal is often to win tournaments. Clans are often in "ladders" where they move up after winning a match. As well as counting for standings in national and international gaming leagues such as the [[Cyberathlete Professional League|CPL]] there are regular events such as [[QuakeCon]] in which the very best players from around the world compete against one another, much like in popular sports. Practice matches are usually held prior to a match so competitors can get a rough idea of what they are up against.

Often [[Case modding|case modders]] and [[Overclocking|overclockers]] attend these events to display their computers, which otherwise would be seen by few. Some come just to display their computers and look at others' computers.

Some attendees also use these parties for the purpose of [[file sharing]]. [[Copyright infringement]] via file sharing is often discouraged or forbidden by the larger parties. However, enforcement is rare and spotty due to the time involved and often a lack of desire by organizers. Some LAN parties actively support file sharing for legitimate purposes (game patches, updates, user-contributed content), and may run [[Direct Connect (protocol)|Direct Connect]] hubs or other P2P service servers. One of the main reasons for running such servers is so file sharing can be monitored/controlled while standard Windows file sharing ([[Server Message Block|SMB/CIFS]]) can be blocked, thus preventing the spread of SMB/CIFS-based viruses. Most P2P setups used at LAN parties also have a 'centralized' chat area, where all members of the LAN party can converse in an [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]]-like environment.

There are also other kinds of parties not referred to as "LAN parties" where temporary LANs are built but are not used as the main attraction. Amongst these are [[demoparty|demoparties]] such as [[Assembly demoparty|Assembly]] and [[hacker con]]ventions such as [[DEF CON (convention)|DEF CON]].

In the traditionally active [[demoscene]] countries, such as those in [[Northern Europe]], the LAN party culture is often heavily influenced by demoparties. This is due to the fact that many of the largest demoparties were already well established in the early 1990s and their facilities were also suitable for large-scale LAN party activity. This eventually led to gaming clans and other similar groups to attend these events and regard them merely as large LAN parties. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for "pure" LAN parties in Northern Europe to organize some demoscene-like [[compo (demoscene)|competitions]] in areas such as computer graphics or home videos.

=== Sponsorship ===
Many computer companies, including [[NVIDIA]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/content/sponsorship/frmsponsorship.asp|title=Events - GeForce|website=www.nvidia.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> [[Cooler Master]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmstorm.com/en/esport/news/57/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922022756/http://www.cmstorm.com/en/esport/news/57/|url-status=dead|title=Cooler Master|archivedate=September 22, 2012}}</ref> [[Cyber Snipa]], [[Antec]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antec.com|title=Welcome to Antec|website=www.antec.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> [[Corsair Gaming|Corsair]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/community/LAN_parties.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029005151/http://corsairmemory.com/corsair/community/LAN_parties.html|url-status=dead|title=Corsair Community: LAN Parties|archivedate=October 29, 2006}}</ref> [[Alienware]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alienware.com/sponsorship/sponsorship.aspx|title=Alienware|website=www.alienware.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> [[SteelSeries]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://steelseries.com/|title=SteelSeries|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> [http://www.tesorotec.com/ Tesoro],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aybonline.com/sponsors/|title=Sponsors – All Your Base Online|website=www.aybonline.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> and [[Thermaltake]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thermaltakeusa.com/Contact_lanparty.aspx|title=Thermaltake - U.S.A.|website=thermaltakeusa.com|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> offer sponsorship packages to large LAN parties, with funding, prizes, or equipment given in return for advertising. Many large-scale LAN parties seek such sponsorship, in order to reduce operating risk (often the organisers risk losing tens of thousands of dollars) and provide prizes for attendees.

==Culture==
[[File:2550T-PWR-Front.jpg|thumb|right|A 50-port plug-and-play Ethernet switch, which can provide network and internet access to up to 50 simultaneous computers or consoles]]
[[File:Adsl connections.jpg|thumb|right|A typical home or small office router, which commonly comes equipped with 4 LAN Ethernet ports]]

LAN parties have their own unique culture. Enthusiasts often show off computers with extravagant aftermarket cooling systems, LED lighting effects, multi-display setups, and custom-built cases, and many other enhancements.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dan Evans, Nathan Edwards |title=Build It: The Ultimate Game Room; Stun your friends with the best place on earth to play games, including an amazing (and amazingly expensive) LAN party scoreboard. We show you how | work=PC Magazine |volume=25 |issue=5 | date=March 1, 2006 <!--| access-date=2006-11-08 -->}}</ref> Highly caffeinated drinks, termed [[energy drink]]s, are very popular in these events to improve concentration and stamina, since LAN parties often run into the early morning hours.<ref>{{cite web|title=As In Risking Ours, For Science |work=The Life |url=http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/u0904/61r04/61r04.asp&guid= |year=2005 |access-date=2006-11-08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20061018135016/http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/u0904/61r04/61r04.asp&guid= |archive-date=2006-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Large parties can last for several days with no scheduled breaks. Most of the time, sleep is compromised to play for extended periods of time lasting from night to morning. There are also designated rooms separated from the LAN party for sleep.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==Notable events==
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* [[Assembly demo party]], held annually in [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]], the world's largest gathering of [[demoscene]] programmers.<ref>[http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2001/08/45786 "Girls Dig Demos Too"] by [[Steve Kettmann]] of [[Wired magazine]]. (August 3, 2001)</ref>
* [[CampZone]], the world's largest outdoor LAN party held in the [[Netherlands]].
* [[Cyberathlete Professional League]], formerly one of the largest LAN events in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
* [[DreamHack]], claimed to be the largest LAN party in the world.<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2008/01/080107.aspx Guinness World Records site January 7, 2008]. Retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref> Held twice annually in [[Jönköping]], [[Sweden]].
* [[:es: Euskal Encounter|Euskal Encounter]], the largest (6000 people) and oldest (since 1994) LAN party in Spain, celebrated every July at the [[Bilbao Exhibition Centre]] in [[Barakaldo|Baracaldo]].
* [[Fragapalooza]], one of the largest LAN parties in Canada. Held in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]].
* Frag Infinity Tournament, F.I.T.E.S. LAN<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fites.net/|title=Frag Infinity Tournament, Inc. - FITES LAN Party - www.fites.net - Portal|website=www.fites.net|access-date=2016-12-31}}</ref> is a major event held yearly in [[South Central Pennsylvania|south central Pennsylvania]].
* [[Gaming Scotland]], the largest Scottish LAN<ref>[http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/features/All-game-for-a-laugh.1733833.jp Falkirk Herald Website]. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2011.</ref> party held at the Dobbie Hall, Scotland.
* [[Lan ETS]], the largest LAN party in Canada. Held in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]].
* [[Minho Campus Party]], LAN party held annually in the [[Minho (province)|Minho]] region, [[Portugal]].
* [[Multiplay#Insomnia Gaming Festival|Insomnia Gaming Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insomniagamingfestival.com/|title=Home|website=Insomnia Gaming Festival &#124; A Celebration Of Gaming}}</ref> the largest LAN party in the United Kingdom, hosted by [[Multiplay]]. Held twice annually at the [[National Exhibition Centre]] in [[Birmingham]], [[England]].
* [[NETWAR]],<ref>[https://www.netwar.org NETWAR].</ref> LAN party held bi-annually for charity in Omaha, Nebraska since 2003.
* [[Organised Chaos LAN Party|Organised Chaos]], [[Africa]]'s largest monthly LAN party (1200 people). Held in the [[Bellville Velodrome]] in [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]. Posted Over 2 days in the Weekend.
* [[PDXLAN]],<ref>[http://www.pdxlan.net PDXLAN].</ref> is one of the largest family and friend oriented annual LAN parties in the Northwestern US.
* [[Pittsburgh LAN Coalition]], holds Iron Storm, a major semi-yearly LAN in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]].
* [[QuakeCon]], largest LAN party in the United States{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} Held annually in [[Dallas, Texas]].
* [[The Gathering (party)|The Gathering]], held in [[Hamar]], [[Norway]] is one of the world's largest computer parties<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techserver.gathering.org/notalan|title=The Gathering Tech:Server|website=techserver.gathering.org|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[The Big LAN]], held in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] is currently the largest LAN event in Australia. It runs four times a year and focuses more on casual/fun tournaments, rather than esports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thebiglan.com|title=The Big LAN Tech:Server|website=thebiglan.com |access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref>
* NAG LAN, held in various places in [[South Africa]] is currently the largest LAN event in South Africa. It runs once a year usually around early December.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2023 |title=NAG LAN {{!}} Southern Africa's Largest BYOC LAN |url=https://www.naglan.co.za/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108173509/https://www.naglan.co.za/ |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date=8 January 2024 |website=naglan.co.za}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2023 |title=Experience South Africa's biggest BYOC LAN |url=https://www.rageexpo.co.za/event/naglan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108173642/https://www.rageexpo.co.za/event/naglan/ |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date=8 January 2024 |website=rageexpo.co.za}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Block party]]
* [[Install fest]]
* [[MIDI Maze]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
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{{commons|LAN party}}
* [http://www.thelpx.com The LAN Party Exchange - US LAN Party List]
* [http://lanpartylist.com LAN Party List - Worldwide list of LAN Parties]
* [https://www.lanlink.network LAN Link Network - Australian LAN Party Information]
* [http://www.lanlist.org lanlist.org - A List of LAN Parties], with a focus on the UK
* [http://www.lanpartyeh.com LAN Party EH - A List of LAN Parties], with a focus on Canada
*[http://www.tomsguide.com/us/lan-party-how-to,review-438.html LAN Party guide] at Tom's Hardware Guide
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131015103036/http://www.uk-lanparty.co.uk/faq/running-one/ Running a LAN] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131015103039/http://www.uk-lanparty.co.uk/faq/lan-survival-guide/ LAN Survival guide]
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{{Parties}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Local area network Party}}
[[Category:LAN parties| ]]
[[Category:Video game culture]]