Thoughts on 2nd LAN (Dec)

[Bluepixie]

I was just wondering what you guys thought of the LAN and any suggestions you have to improve the next one.

I'm sorry about the shaky start to our fragging, I promise that an exam shall never get the better of us again! However, apart from that I thought it was a good LAN. People trying new games and a strong turn out on the Sunday were definitely good points and The Hidden. Bad points on the other hand including deliberate sabotage of a player’s game and general whinning were not so good.
The timetable seemed to work to a certain extent despite the balls up in the morning and unless people are opposed to it, I shall make a new one for the next LAN. Much further in advance this time though!

Would also like to know how you found out about GUNS. You see, I’m thinking of making proper posters for the next one and would like some idea of it’s effectiveness first.

Smoke and a pancake?

[Sideshow]

You missed out the 'It was OK, but it would have been a lot better if someone competent was organising it, like DAve'

[DAve]

Who got out of bed on the wrong side of the morning?

It was actually my fault that the tables weren't there on time. I went to see the bedellus about getting loaned the tables, and got his assistant. WHen I eventually got to see the bedellus himself, he said there was an exam on Saturday. Had I had time, I would have organised a quick table move on Friday, but I had prior plans.

I can only say "sorry" and try harder to make it run smoother the next time.

[Sid]

I thought it was a bit shit, to be honest. The fact that we never even started playing games properly until after 3pm was a bit poor. Even when we did start playing games the whole weekend was full of network problems ie. Why can't I see the game server etc.

Sideshow: I don't think there's any need to allocate blame to Bluepixie. That's rather unfair. There wasn't really too much he could do.

The networking structure needs to be sorted out first and foremost. I don't know how much money is available but we need a large gigabit switch and 30 long lengths of network cable. 10 people running from a hub plugged into a port of a switch is a joke. Ideally, no one brings a network cable or their own hub or anything. People arrive and pick their seat where they'll find their network cable which is directly plugged into the switch.

Another main issue is an internet connection - the entire LAN needs a shared internet connection - I don't know what the rules are or whatever with using the university network but in my opinion, the internet is a must for a LAN. Plugging in the cable to computers individually is a nightmare.

As for the gaming and the timetable, I felt that was fine and doesn't really need much improvement.

[Wind_Steaker]

My main problem was that my Pc is at home so I had to use my laptop, that will be fixed by the next LAN though. How was the sunday? We left at about 11am (Me, Nemesis and Last Chance Hotel).

Oh yeah, I found out about the club because I went looking for it on the glasgow uni site before I moved up.

[Sideshow]

I don't think there's any need to allocate blame to Bluepixie. That's rather unfair. There wasn't really too much he could do.
Shit. I forgot. (http://guns.snakebomb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=70) Dammit. Will try harder in future.

[Bluepixie]

hahahahahahahaha! :P What are you like Iain? :lol:

Anyway.

I agree with you sid, the networking was a bloody mess. The equipment is partually to blame but it's more down to the fact that no one was overseeing the setup. I had to go off to Exuus's place to sort Fogger, Yega and myselfs Steam accounts, I didn't think/know about the Internet connection in our room you see. I did get Sideshow to do the table moving while I was away but because people started arriving at the right time, they just setup on the tables there. By the time I got there, about 2ish, the whole thing was a mess of cable, computers and bodies. I really wanted to cry. I could have had the whole setup done at 8:30 when I first got there but instead I just had to improvise.

We wasted alot of time sorting network and Steam problems. It totally messed up the timetable the first day.

Next time, the network setup WILL not be a problem as long as we get the tables first thing.

I'm glad you liked the timetable. I shall make a thread regarding it so people can suggest changes, want to keep it flexable. :D

[Fyndir]

Needed more orginisation on the network, but that's something that's been discussed already.

Otherwise all was fine and peachy as far as I'm concerned. (other than my dodgy graphics card disliking Source based stuff.)

[Sid]

Will try harder in future.

You really should.

Cheers

Next time, the network setup WILL not be a problem as long as we get the tables first thing.

Yeah, fingers crossed...

[Sideshow]

Don't worry, it's not your fault. You'll make it, in the end.

[Sid]

Don't worry, it's not your fault. You'll make it, in the end.

Please explain what you mean by this statement.

[Fyndir]

Don't worry, it's not your fault. You'll make it, in the end.

Please explain what you mean by this statement, if you meant anything.

He meant "Oh shit, I have to keep my postcount higher than Fyndir, he's catching up!"

[DAve]

OK, we're all generally agreed that organisation is a good thing:

So how about we all pitch in for an hour or two on Friday night, get everything set up then and we'll all be set to literally turn up on Saturday morning at 10am, connect and start playing by 10.30.

It's going to need a bit more effort, some floor plans, a lot more network cable and some duct tape but I think it's worth it.

Aaron and I did this once last year, and it was a lot smoother, and took the blind panic out of Saturdays.

If you lot are going to be in the pub on Wednesdays, we can discuss it more then.

[Fyndir]

So how about we all pitch in for an hour or two on Friday night, get everything set up then and we'll all be set to literally turn up on Saturday morning at 10am, connect and start playing by 10.30.

Or a couple of us could turn up at the SRC building earlier on Saturday and set it up then, shouldn't take too long if we plan it out.

[DAve]

Yeah, we could do that. Ideally, it would mean a later start to the LAN. Say 12 noon to give us enough time to set everything up. Not a huge amount of gaming goes on in the early stages anyway.

[Fyndir]

Yeah, we could do that. Ideally, it would mean a later start to the LAN. Say 12 noon to give us enough time to set everything up. Not a huge amount of gaming goes on in the early stages anyway.

Well whatever works, someone just tell me when I need to be there and I'll turn up.

People going on Friday to do setup could even bring their computers and have them set up to test that the network is working right, then leave them overnight and that saves some time on Saturday leaving more time for helping others get sorted.

or something..I dunno.

[Strings]

Sorry I havent posted sooner.

What was hurting me Sunday night killed me by Monday. Where I spent the entire day vomiting and lying in bed.

Bit better now though.

I dont think it was Pixie's fault that it was a late start. Was just a real unlucky conflaboration of events.

But in all serious. The money made from these LANs should go towards really decent hardware etc

Aside from the late start etc and my death on Monday morning I had a really good time at this LAN.

[YegaDoyai]

Nice to know you survived Strings.

[Viper001]

If it hadnt been for thoes damned tests down stairs everything would have gone alot smoother. I still really enjoyed it though, it was great to have so many people playing on sat. Sunday seemed more chilled out.. but still great fun. What really pissed me off was bloody Steam; it told me 3 times that I couldnt launch a game in offline mode, even though it had been working fine in offline mode before that. Thoes valve guys really need to sort tht out!

Lookin forward to the next one already (so i can get pwned in CS some more :roll: ).

AHHHHH... the hidden is RIGHT HERE!!!! NOOOOOO ;)

[Rolento]

I thought it was good. I've never been to a LAN without its share of problems so if you guys say that it's usually run better then I'm impressed.

Sorry if it seemed all the Chinese guys were being antisocial but Steam was being a bugger and NFS is really not my thing. To the dude who asked us to play Halo, we were in the process of setting up UT already so sorry man! Maybe I should have tried the Hidden, didn't even realise it was being played until the end.

Good to see some strong CS support too!

[Wind_Steaker]

do you guys play the halo demo or the full version, I usualy play the demo seeing as I mostly play that multiplayer map anyway

[Bluepixie]

Nice to know you survived Strings.

He may have survived, but is he ok now?

Strings?!?! You ok? :?

[Bluepixie]

do you guys play the halo demo or the full version, I usualy play the demo seeing as I mostly play that multiplayer map anyway

Aye, we play the demo. Not much point playing anything other than blood gultch anyway.......

[Phizz]

Sorry I haven't posted earlier but I've been working a hell of a lot and have been having problems again with XP and my master drive. At the moment I'm working from Linux and command line work is getting me down. Will post more and hopefully sort out problems for next LAN otherwise I'll be watching from the sidelines till I can sort a new comp.

[Bluepixie]

Sorry I haven't posted earlier but I've been working a hell of a lot and have been having problems again with XP and my master drive. At the moment I'm working from Linux and command line work is getting me down. Will post more and hopefully sort out problems for next LAN otherwise I'll be watching from the sidelines till I can sort a new comp.

I wondered what happened to you. Totally sucks man, but just think. One day you shall have a bright new shiny machine. And it will love you and do everything you want it to. Awwwwww

:D