It’s all about the details when it comes to organizing a weekend of nonstop gaming. If you want your event to be a success, then you have to get serious about making lists and checking off the boxes as you prepare. It’s also not a bad idea to come up with an overarching theme and notify your visitors of your dress code preference.
Guest List
Who shows up at your party will have a major impact on the amount of fun you have or not. Don’t invite people who aren’t into gaming or who you feel will only cause drama. Your goal is to host a pleasant and entertaining weekend of enjoyment where everyone who shows up feels welcome and has a passion for gaming like you. Put together a guest list and remember that it’s probably best to keep your event to a more manageable number of people, especially if you’re funding it. Send out invitations early so people can mark their calendars and not have any excuses for why they can’t attend.
Location
Think about where you’re going to want to host your weekend of nonstop gaming. For example, maybe your apartment building has a large game room where everyone can fit nicely, or you live in a home with a finished basement and would like to invite your guests into your personal space. Keep in mind that you might be getting a bit loud and rowdy, so you may want to consider having visitors into your home so you can be as into the gaming experience as you’d like. Be sure to have enough seating and comfortable chairs so everyone feels included and the people playing the games are as cozy as possible and have a front-row view.
Variety of Games & Activities
Don’t assume that you have to be glued to the television screen the entire weekend of your gaming experience. Bust out the board games or head to the local casino and play these casino games with your group. It’ll be nice to get out of the house for a while and experience a change of scenery. As for the video games, make sure you have a wide variety of options and ask people who have games you find pleasurable playing to bring them over when they come. You want to make sure you have enough options to last you through an entire weekend of fun.
Gear & Consoles
People are coming over expecting to participate in playing different types of games, so don’t let them down. Make sure you have the right gear and consoles for what you plan to play over the weekend. You’ll want to keep it fresh by switching out what you’re playing and doing on a regular basis. Consider what controllers and headgear you’ll need so the maximum amount of people can play at one time. You also want to know what games everyone wants to play ahead of time, so you have the correct systems ready to go and aren’t scrambling at the last minute to locate a solution.
Food & Drink
Remember that this is not only an opportunity to play games but that it’s also a party and chance for you and your friends to hang out. Every successful event has delicious food and a variety of drinks to offer guests. Work ahead to plan out a menu you think everyone attending will enjoy. Proactively seek out any special requests in advance, so you’re prepared to serve those with food allergies or who are vegetarians or have dietary requests. Also, while some may want to drink alcohol, you should also be serving beverages for those who would like a different option. Have plenty of food available throughout the weekend, so you don’t run out and have to go out to the store in the middle of your gathering.
Taking Breaks
Although this is a weekend for nonstop gaming, you should plan to take short breaks and let everyone decompress from the activities and use the bathroom. You’ll all have more energy and be more productive when you let your mind rest for a few minutes here and there. Schedule breaks throughout the day so you don’t get engrossed in what you’re doing and forget. Use these intervals as a chance to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and interact with those around you. You may have some guests who think you don’t need to have any breaks, but this is where you need to speak up and take them anyways because there will be some people attending who will need them.
Encourage Collaboration & Socializing
While you don’t want to spend too much time away from your games, your get together is also a great opportunity for others to meet new people and spend time socializing. It is another reason why taking breaks is so important. Not only share about yourselves but give each other pointers on the games and learn from the different experience levels present. While it’s fun to compete against one another, also foster an environment of collaboration and working together to conquer difficult levels of play. Leave plenty of time at the end of each day to debrief about the various games and what tips or tricks you have for the future.
Conclusion
Hosting a weekend of nonstop gaming is a great idea and a fun activity to look forward to being a part of. Spend time planning out the details so you can guarantee that it’ll be a successful event without any big problems or hurdles. Do your best and learn from your organizing mistakes so you can improve your gaming weekend going forward. When all is said and done, ask for feedback and thank your guests for coming.
