LAN Party Legends

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

The hosts reveal their annual inside-joke-filled DLGCon gathering and tease a deep dive into the changing world of LAN parties.

The episode begins with the hosts referencing their annual DLGCon event, an in-person gathering filled with inside jokes, setting a casual tone. They immediately dive into the topic of LAN parties, questioning whether a LAN requires physical Ethernet cables or if modern Wi-Fi and portable devices like Steam Decks count. Amanda describes seeing LANs at PAX with games like Warcraft and a spaceship co-op game, while Taylor recalls playing Age of Empires II on country roads. The hosts debate essentials for a good LAN party, with Bobby humorously listing deodorant and the energy drink 'Bawls', and others adding good internet, pizza, and a positive attitude. They explore whether LANs are still relevant, noting the decline of internet cafes in the US, the ease of online play post-COVID, and the social shift toward introversion. Personal stories include Bobby's experiences at QuakeCon with massive rig displays and bandwidth issues, Taylor's awkward LAN with strangers, and Amanda's memories of gaming cafes with friends. The hosts discuss the challenges of moving heavy PCs and the rise of virtual LAN services like Parsec. Community contributions highlight LANs with up to 25 people playing games like Giants: Citizen Kabuto and Command & Conquer in venues like churches. The episode wraps with the hosts selecting their ideal LAN games: Bobby picks Gunfire Reborn and Team Fortress 2, Taylor chooses Dawn of War and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, and Amanda opts for Civilization 7 and Halo 2. They promote community engagement on Discord and tease a future spooky-themed episode.

As heard by us

A brother's-house LAN setup opens into QuakeCon's huge, eccentric culture of in-person gaming.

LAN parties frame this episode as a warm look at what changes when gaming happens in the same room. The conversation moves from a few people around a table to the scale of QuakeCon, with Bobby's 2016 visit giving the review its strongest thread.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a loose, joke-threaded tour from a tiny brother's-house LAN to QuakeCon's massive, gloriously strange gaming floor.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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