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What is a LAN Party?
A local area network (LAN) party, is a gathering of people in a physical space to hook up their computers or gaming consoles to the same LAN, typically using Ethernet cables connected to a switch and server, to play multiplayer video games.
What Does a LAN Party Mean?
The idea of a LAN party is to enjoy low-latency gaming and compete against friends. Popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, LAN party events were common before widespread high-speed Internet-enabled online multiplayer gaming. As dial-up Internet was expensive and connections frequently dropped, LAN parties were a solution that allowed gamers to play against each other for extended periods without interruption.
Gamers can use PCs, gaming laptops, or consoles at a LAN party. Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles have built-in networking functionality to support multiplayer LAN gaming.
Now that high-speed Internet connections with low latency are more readily available, gamers at some small LAN parties now do not use local networks but play online while in the same room.
Key Takeaways
- LAN parties became a popular way for gamers to play together back when Internet connections were too slow to support online gaming.
- Participants gather in the same location and connect their devices to a local network to join multiplayer games.
- First-person shooters, battle royale, strategy, and racing games are well suited to LAN parties.
- LAN parties are organized by gamers through online discussion forums or word-of-mouth. Parties can range from small groups of friends hosted in a private home to large commercial events with hundreds or even thousands of gamers.
- Although Internet speeds now allow gamers to play with anyone, LAN parties still exist for social interaction.
What Do You Do at a LAN Party?
Gamers gather in LAN parties to play video games with friends or other gaming enthusiasts in a more social, interactive environment than playing alone.
Organizers often set up tournaments or competitions with prizes to bring some excitement to their LAN events. Participants can engage in one-on-one matches or team battles, and gaming sessions can often last late into the night. In addition to gaming, partygoers attend these events to socialize and eat and drink together.
Some LAN parties run live streams to connect with a wider audience, share the excitement, show off their gaming prowess, and interact with other gamers in real time.
Are LAN party events still popular in 2024? While these parties are no longer necessary for connectivity and have declined from the heights of previous decades, LAN party culture remains popular among gamers, and large tournaments continue to attract competitors.
LAN Party Types
There are many types of LAN parties, which can have different setups depending on the size and location.
Small LAN parties involve a small group of gamers who each bring their own computer or console to one of the players’ homes or another private space. They can set up the party through a network switch or an ad hoc wireless network.
A large LAN party, by definition, is a competitive gaming event, typically held in a large venue such as a convention center or esports arena. Some organizers will provide computers or consoles that gamers can use, while others will require them to bring their own.
These bigger events offer marketing opportunities for tech companies and game developers, and some of these may provide sponsorship. An example of a large LAN party is the annual QuakeCon convention in Texas. What is the largest LAN party in history? The November 2013 edition of the DreamHack event in Sweden holds the record, hosting 22,810 visitors.
Lock-Ins
Lock-ins, or overnights, are large LAN parties in a dedicated space that provides a fixed number of gamers with unlimited gaming sessions. As these events tend to last several hours – or even all night – they also include food and drinks.
Computers are most commonly used at LAN parties, but game consoles can also be used as manufacturers have incorporated Ethernet ports and network connectivity. Certain multiplayer console games have become popular at console-based LAN parties, such as Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros.
LAN Party vs. Online Gaming
The main difference between a LAN party and online gaming is that players usually engage in online gaming alone using an Internet connection, whereas at LAN parties, gamers play together in the same location and share a local network connection.
While online gaming platforms can connect players anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, LAN parties are limited to players who can travel to the same location.
LAN parties require more organization than online gaming sessions, which individual gamers can initiate at any time.
7 Steps to Set Up a LAN Party
Here’s what you need to do to set up a LAN party:
- Determine how many people you expect so you know how much space and equipment you will need.
- Choose a location. If you are hosting a few friends, your living room may be sufficient, but if you’re inviting a larger group you may need to use a garage or another space.
- Set up the network equipment. Each player needs to connect to a network port, so the number of routers or switches you will need will depend on the number of players. If you plan to livestream, set up a camera and streaming platform. You will also need plenty of extension cords running from different power sockets so that all the players can keep their machines powered up and avoid overloading a single socket.
- Arrange seating. You need to provide enough tables and chairs for all the gamers and their equipment to fit comfortably.
- Decide what to play. Choose which LAN game to play and configure it to be ready to go.
- Test the setup. Test the network in enough time before the event to make sure that the equipment and furniture work and that you can fix any issues.
- Create a fun environment. LAN parties can last many hours or overnight, so provide food and drink, areas to rest, and other fun activities for when players take a break. This will also help to promote social interaction.
What Are the Best Multiplayer Games For a LAN Party?
Here are some popular multiplayer games that work well at LAN parties:
Are LAN Parties Secure?
LAN parties should be secure as devices are connected to closed local networks. However, people who connect to the network could potentially snoop on your device or infect it with malware.
To ensure a LAN party is secure:
- Check that all devices connecting to the LAN have firewalls enabled to prevent unwanted access
- Ensure that computer operating systems (OS) and games are updated and have antivirus software activated to limit vulnerabilities that could be exploited
- Use a strong network password so that only authorized participants can connect to the LAN
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt traffic and personal information. What is the best VPN for LAN parties? This depends on factors such as the number of players and the venue
LAN Party Pros and Cons
- Low network latency for optimal multiplayer gaming
- In-person social interaction with other gamers
- No need for a stable, high-speed Internet connection
- Requires physical space and time to set up, unlike spontaneous online gameplay
- Requires transporting computer or console to the venue
- Large parties can be challenging to organize
- Limited to gamers who can go to the physical location
The Bottom Line
The definition of a LAN party is a gathering in which gamers come together in a physical location to play multiplayer games over a local area network. High-speed Internet connectivity with low latency supports online gaming and has reduced the need for LAN parties. However they remain popular among gaming enthusiasts who enjoy combining competitive gaming and social interaction.
FAQs
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References
- QuakeCon – Home (Quakecon.bethesda)
- DreamHack – Where the gaming community comes to life (Dreamhack)
- Largest LAN party | Guinness World Records (Guinnessworldrecords)
- Nintendo Support: How to Use the LAN Play Feature of Nintendo Switch Sports (En-americas-support.nintendo)
