Nerdy Memories
Let me start off by saying that this post will not challenge your faith, but it may create a small pain in your head. It’s okay. It’s normal.
You see, most people can’t handle the amount of nerd that goes into scheduling a LAN party and seeing it through to the bitter 6-8am end.
And now some of you are scratching your heads. Some out of confusion because you have no clue what a LAN party is, and some of you out of embarrassment because you know me. Either way, I’ll explain what a LAN party is. Right now.
A LAN party is a collection of nerds who pack up their computers (monitors, keyboards and all) and set up shop at a friends house two feet away from them in their crowded room so that you can play computer games with/against each other while your hosts parents are sleeping. This can consist of many games and long hours, so there are a few things necessary to accomplish this feat.
- Soda. If you can swing it, energy drinks are even better, and if you really want to nerd-it-up, you’ll go with BAWLS, the official energy drink of LAN parties (Sad, yet true).
- Food. This part doesn’t really have any sort of guidelines, but mainly something that you can make/order a lot of to reheat throughout the night. Like a massive amount of hot dogs.
- Flexibility. This is especially important. You wouldn’t believe the ferocity some people get when their game is not chosen. So, just deal with it.
If you’re not cool with the LAN party, don’t worry, there are plenty of people still into it. Although, once the electric bill starts being paid by you (and your wife…) hosting 8 people’s computers just doesn’t fly as well as it used to. (I know, right?)
Anyway, my favorite game to play was Age of Empires 2 (or AoE2 for short). It’s not that I was proficient at it, no, that’s for other people. My idea of fun during LAN parties was specifically targeting the best players, and setting out not to destroy them, but to annoy them into the wee hours of the morning.
Strategy such as hiding just one person way off in the corner of the map in the midst of trees far away from everything and everyone so even after your base was destroyed, they still had to find that one guy. (Yeah, I know.)
Good times. Oh, I haven’t done that in forever. It was fun though.
Have you ever done a LAN party? What’s the nerdiest you’ve ever been? (It doesn’t have to be recent.)
i did a couple of LAN parties with my friends in high school (crap, that's over 5 years ago now). we played Quake. we probably would have done more, but they all got into an MMORPG and wouldn't do anything else. i personally hate MMORPG because they are so dense and repetative.
also, AoE2 is probably the height of RTS games not named Starcraft.
I don't like MMORPGs because they lack… story. And that's a big thing for me. Also, I like having friends, and not paying monthly for ONE game.
Never got Starcraft, and therefore, never got sucked in. I here it's the epitome of RTSs though. And that's pretty awesome.
also, the nerdiest i've ever been is right now. before that it was this morning when i corrected someone about the difference between Daylight and Standard Time. we are currently in Standard Time, Daylight Time is what we do during the spring and summer.
Done one? Yes. Played? No. Supplied the food? Yep! With pleasure.