April Armageddon in Irvine

[CSN NewsBot]

Ownij LAN Parties is gearing up for April Armageddon to be held in Irvine, California. The event, a 24 hour fragfest starting at 10 AM on April 26th, has a limited number of spots available! Hurry up and save your spot if you're near Irvine! Included is free pizza and plenty of gaming action.



In addition, Ownij Digital Entertainment (the LAN center holding the event) is looking to form an Irvine-based clan that will be sponsored by the center. E-mail Duane if you're interested and live within 50 miles of Irvine

[Jason X]

OOOO right on my birthday -- I wish I could go

[garry]

is there really free pizza

[tutur_le_frenchie]

[Patrick_Bateman69]

Yeah free pizza. I was thinking of going and checked out the site. I might go, but a few things bug me. First, only 5 days left to RSVP and only 28 people (out of 80) have even signed up.



The event is exactly 24 hours long, straight. The cost is $20. That's less than a buck an hour, but nobody is going to stay awake that long anyway. Maybe 10 hours. So, let's say $2/hour. And it's at what appears to be a cyber-cafe type place, open weekdays for business as usual. $2/hour is a good deal, but not phenominal.



This seems a little like a discounted cyber-cafe offer disguised as a LAN party by providing free pizza and giving away socks (to make it "fun".)



Don't get me wrong though, this is a good deal for good LAN gaming, I suppose, given that cyber-cafe rates are generally more than $1-2/hour (I think, I've never been to one. I have cable.)



Lastly, the worst part of the situation is No Alcohol. I understand they are a business and are just protecting themselves, but other LAN parties sponsored by businesses that I've been to managed to have alcohol freely flowing. Granted the kiddies might go nutso but I'm 27. I should be able to drink at a LAN "Party" for crissakes.

[garry]

get hammered before you go in

[crazyhongo]

You make some valid points. We have been slowly re-building our lan sizes. However, we do intend this to be a LAN in every sense of a LAN.



We offer socks for prizes only because if we offer cash or prizes people tend to get too serious and that causes security issues. We want everyone to have fun, not to break up a bar brawl.



As far as alcohol is concerned, same issue applies here. There is always a certain percentage of people that drink who get beligerent and cause problems. Again we want the LAN to be fun for everyone, and its no fun kickin the crap out of drunk people and throwing them out or having them picked up by the cops.



Further, we do have raffles at our LANs to maintain the value. We give away motherboards, cases of bawls, hats, keychains, t-shirts, etc.. Whatever we can scavanger off of sponsors and at our larger lans we will buy prizes to give away.



Finally, I would say to you dont knock it until you try it. We have a very loyal group of regulars who come every month and we have a real good time. You'll never know until you give it a shot!

[Patrick_Bateman69]

Hongo, thanks for the comments. I'm planning to swing by the place and talk a bit, and if I like what I see I'll try and sign up.



I still disagree on the alcohol. IMHO, by "LAN" I assume you mean "LAN Party", and Party means Booze. The risk of having to kick the crap out of a few people and call the cops is pretty minor compared to the fun of making it a real party with booze and whatnot.



It doesn't seem to really be an issue, because since when do geeks get belligerent when they drink? The last LAN party I went to, there were people passed out on their keyboards, on the floor, people vomiting everywhere, but not one fight in 3 days, no problems. Good times. :) Then again, I hear stories of gang fights at cybercafes, so then again...



The best parties are thrown at a financial loss, no "bottom line priority", because the party comes first.



I suggest Ownij use a new term instead of LAN Party. More like "company-operated for-profit LAN gaming event". Which is fine, but it ain't a party, but there's nothing wrong with that, there's room for both types. I'll swing by and check the place out. I need some socks anyway. :)

[-:Nighthawk:-]

Somebody's never seen the Bill Braskey (or whatever his name was) video, ugh.



"its no fun kickin the crap out of drunk people"



I'm sure there's differing opinions on that. But it's a valid point, regardless. :)

[TorchedN00dle]

Some flies will lay eggs in flesh that has only been dead for as little as 2-3 hours.