Student Clubs/Events/LAN parties

International Game Developers Association

(The Wiki definition) "A LAN party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous, gathering of people together with their computers, which they network together primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. These local area networks (LANs) come in various sizes, from very small (two people) to very large (more than 10,000 people). Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually require a fair amount of planning and preparation on the part of the organizer".

Lan Parties can also be referred to or called Video Game Parties. It is an excellent way to generate and recruit interest in your organization. LAN Parties can be held as daily / weekly events or targeted directly. LAN Parties unlike tournaments are designed as an open event not for competition but for entertainment and video game awareness. LAN Parties can be anything or combination of PC, console or online games, music and video entertainment, and student projects. They can be held in computer labs, libraries, cafeterias, even gyms.

At [FalconTech], LAN Parties are held daily during lunch hours in the computer lab. This is a great recruiting and retention tools for students. It draws in new students’ everyday without any advertising other than peer networking. Students already enrolled, have a place to call home and creates a 'culture' giving them an outlet and motivation. During specific video game release launches (hot titles), we hold after-school parties open to the campus. This will generate tremendous attendance and great to hold other mini-events like guest speakers, recruiting, sponsorships, etc.

VG Parties require a lot of work before, during and after. The key is to have administrative understanding for their support and an even bigger key; for the student by the students.

[edit] Key Points

• Develop correct permission forms for both campus & parents. The [ESRB] has many publications available to educate. Look at industry video game tournaments for examples on permission forms, legal information and VG rules. We use two forms, one for permission to play games if students are under 18. The other form to be present in the classroom for any LAN party event.
• Game Violence - Video games are synonymous with violence, the media is always against you. With enough homework you can provide the opposite argument on how games provide education, entertainment and everything else schools support traditionally in sports and clubs. Sometimes the key is to shadow what other schools or organizations are doing to show how it already relates. When it comes to the students’ side, it’s vital to instill a sense of ethical gaming in students with rules and consequences. Cheating, bad sportsmanship, obnoxious behavior, and above all...cursing. This stuff gets ignored in traditional sports, but there is always a magnifying glass on gaming. I use traditional methods to enforce and discipline but not overboard. Cleaning, loss of game time, and push-ups. Lots of push-ups seems to work out, 5 for every curse with the next one at the power of 2 (5, 10, 20..). As they do their pushups they have to recite our club manta. The games themselves, there are games under the 'M' & 'A' rating you must be pro-active about. Then there are games the media brings exposure to (GTA, Manhunt, Counterstrike). Counterstrike doesn't show up on the top violent games list but this game like Doom is blamed or used as an example during many school shootings. I've banned the game as a pre-emptive precaution, though it is one of my own and students’ favorite games also used within the professional sports video gamers.
• Planning - As G.I. Joe emphasize, knowing is half the battle! As a club, everyone decides while the council votes and you advise. If this is your first party, stick with your club members at first before inviting the public. Everyone should have a job, everything should be on paper. The day before is the best way to setup. Don’t get stuck deciding as you go or setting up when the doors open.
• Equipment - Some items to ensure you have. //Microphone or PA - video games are loud, students wear headphones. This is on top of the list! //Power - surge protectors, high voltage power cords //Tape & Marker - used to identify equipment, mark off area, nametags //TV & Projects - they both have their pro's & cons, consider TV for consoles & leave projectors for your use (advert, videos, photos, etc) and finals //Speakers & Headphones - PC should only use headphones, speakers are needed for projectors //Clipboard & Sheets - sign/out sheet, equipment sheet, forms in hand, extra paper, passes.
• Size - Determine where to host event, it needs to have room enough for +-50 in attendance. Ensure plenty of seats. Situate close to restrooms and trash compartments. Lighting for security. The best place is a room with computers or library. BYOC refers to Bring Your Own Computer, this is a nightmare and not recommended. It wastes a lot of time with setting up and tech support. If you decide to BYOC ensure lots of power, tables, network, LUCK!
• Student workers - club members or other students provide the bases for this to be a success...PERIOD. They should both be working and enjoying themselves. Teams of two usually works out when assigning jobs, the more students you have the better! They should be identifiable and visible to you and everyone else at all times (we use lab coats). Meeting before the event ensures success, meeting after the events ensures an even bigger success on the next event. Job tasks can be: Checking ID's, ensuring sign-in, running consoles & servers, trash monitor, security monitor, foods & drinks, VG techsupport, entertainment manager (music, video, sideshows).
• Security - ensure enough adult supervision to prevent unforeseen problems. Students leaving early, students walking out, unprofessional behavior, personal belongings. Adult presence makes for at first a deterrent. On big events, consider putting personal belonging not being used in an isolated room that can be checked out. Have a sign in/out sheet, create passes to go to restroom/outside event, check ID's and make sure they are visible. For High School events we do not allow any that is not a HS student, even if friends or family members of student participants. It is a good idea to have your students’ do invites, if so know who they are before not during. Take note of their drivers license and where they are at all times.
• Pickup - parents should have an understanding on when the event will be over. There should be ample contact information from both sides. Give out your personal phone aside from your office number; you should be able to contact every student participating. Students need to be consistently reminded before the end of the event to contact parents or share phones. Walking home at night should be avoided without groups. You should be the last person leaving the event rather than sending students out and you leaving them behind. Events should run about three hours as standard. We have successfully rand ten hour events.
• Games - when running PC events, copyright is rule. Not enforcing or teaching about copyright is the start of a downfall. You can play all the latest game title by playing their demo's. LAN Parties should provide lots of different games to try out other than the specific titles, students already own games and therefore your asset. There are also plenty of 'open source games' (use this as your search term) or indie games that are free. Consoles games are easier. Gather as many TV's or projectors as you can. Ask club members, other students or place in your advertising for BYOC (Bring your Own Console). Label non-permanently and visible their consoles, game pads and games and ensure the owner is close-by monitoring their equipment. Make it a point that no one touches the consoles, even to reset or put in a new game. Have them play at almost full cord length away.
• Advertising - this is the most exciting part for students, from the design to placement. The best method is peer-to-peer networking. Public service announcement, webpage, flyers, posters, news bulletin all work too. Have the student work to promote their event. Advertising should also be outside of the classrooms also.
• Sponsors - many local businesses and organizations are willing to sponsor your events when the numbers are right. Consider sticking with sponsors that relate to your organization like colleges, universities, or companies that understand the business of gaming students already use daily. Bestbuy, Gamestop are your friends. Sponsor marketing materials on your wall only emphasizes your club more. Sponsors should be invited to your party as a guest. Unless they want to, sponsors only need to be there for about an hour or so. During the middle or end event to talk to your students or promote themselves.
• Speakers - guest speakers emphasize the importance of gaming in our culture and provide awareness outside of the games themselves. Guest speakers should come from post-secondary, industry or even online formats. Teachers and students alike can also be used to share their own video game passions and experiences.
• Food - its inevitable, this can kill or make a party from their side or yours. We have tried it all with many failures. What has worked is the following: Club should decide on how the food will be purchased, with fund raising money or charge at the door. We use the latter, we keep our fund raising to buying games and consoles as we have just to many events throughout the year. Charge $5 or $10, keep it simple as change creates a new job. The money should be entered into a database, receipts should be given. Once you gather the money, the committee should decide on what to purchase immediately. Stick with ready to eat or pre-packaged. Pizza and soda (cans) always work. Little Ceasears rules here with their Hot'N Ready. At $5+ dollars and already made, your students will be there and back. We use the ratio of 3 to 1 with +3 as backup. You and your workers should eat FIRST. You should be pro-active about monitoring the food DIRECTLY, if you don't every scenario from students being left out to student gluttony will happen. I myself setup the food, hand out the food. Student should get a few slices so everyone can eat then get back in line for seconds after awhile. When it comes to drinks, make sure they are using cans. Cups are a disaster even though buying 2-liters is cheaper. They should drink before returning back, but the reality is that they will bring it back with them. Its amazing that I have had only one incident with a cans vs. the cups of hell. Make them an example of not protecting their can from a suicide spill. Of course food and trash go hand on hand. Trash bags themselves are not effective, large barrel drums are the best. During the event, stop all activities and everyone should play the trash game. No one plays until its all done and you do a walk-through.
• The Stuff - swag, hand-outs, prizes