LANtastic

With the high stakes nature of LAN gaming nowdays, it's always refreshing when an event harks back to the earlier days, days when CounterStrike did not dominate gaming existence and people were there to have a fun time first and foremost. The Atomic

With the high stakes nature of LAN gaming nowdays, it's always refreshing when an event harks back to the earlier days, days when CounterStrike did not dominate gaming existence and people were there to have a fun time first and foremost. The Atomic WorldLAN GibFragCon '97 XP was such a LAN. The competitons were still happening, but the vibe was definitely blissful.

Held at the Union Hall of the sunny Bundoora campus of Latrobe University in Melbourne, the WorldLAN gathered together a bunch of people to shoot shit, throw hardware and generally have a good time. Kicking off last Friday and running through to early Sunday morning, the gaming action was relentless as wide eyed, jolt-crazed gamers of all ages gibbed, fragged and conned their way through the weekend. The rare breaks from the PC were filled with bouts of sausage sizzling, FrisbeeMarking, XBox playing and a lot of loitering and laughing.

The net result was thousands of dollars raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Victoria, lots of happy prize winners, one exploded tin of Spam (stolen from Zeddicus), loads of happy gamers and some very tired, but happy, organisers. Big thanks go out to Mael, MODZ and the whole damn crew of Atomicans that have given their time and resources as part of the superhuman efforts that went into the planning and running of the event (Mael has posted a list here). The pros from Shafted ensured that the network ran smooth as silk, and that the gaming was fun all weekend. They all helped to make the event something special and we are all eternally greatful.

Huge thanks also go out to all those who donated prizes for the event. MSI, ASUS, Microsoft, Logitech, TDK, Prolink, Innovision, Anyware, Activision, Gamenation and Jolt cola were amazing with their support. The crew from VIA was also there in person with a pile of Shuttle prizes to give away.

It was an event that I am sure will live on in my memory for years. This was above all a celebration of community, a community that you Atomicans have built from nothingness into something truly amazing and unique. To all those who helped out, attended, bemoaned the fact they couldn't make it or watched the action unfold through IRC and via the webcam; Thanks.

Check out this page for photo's and lots of incriminating evidence.

--John Gillooly