5punk LAN 1 - Feedback

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 12th, 2005, 12:43

'Alright chaps

How did you think it went?

Please can you give me some feedback regarding venue, servers, food etc etc

Eithor post in :

http://www.lanse.co.uk/main/viewtopic.php?p=41733

or just reply and I'll copy n' paste into there.

Ta

Jason
(BlkKnight)

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » December 12th, 2005, 13:13

All in all I thought it was a good venue, and the honesty box and smoking room were really handy.

My only main criticism (and I guess you already know this) is the fact that everyone had to decide what they wanted for breakfast weeks in advance, and I think quite a few people (I didn't go myself) thought it was a bit crap and overpriced, hence why nobody wanted to go the next day.

The chinese was nice and reasonably priced, but once again, I would have rather just found something myself, but I went with the crowd.

I think everyone apart from the 5punkers seemed a bit "put off" by all our mucking about in and out of the games, as it seemed to be a serious gamer affair, but overall we all got on, and everyone had a lot of fun.

Might of been good to have some sort of schedule up on the planb website, so people knew when an organised game was being played, and that way if they didn't want to play, they could just do their own thing.

Just a simple time/date/game thing on the front page would of been good.

There was a lot of sudden "right then we're going to play xxxxxx now" going on, and people would be half way through a game they set up theirselves, and then felt they had to disconnect and do that.

This is why a schedule would be a good thing, but also letting people know that if they want to do their own thing, then feel free to do so.

So all in all, everyone had a good time, the building/facilities were good (allthough more bog roll, and a forewarning that the floor is solid wooden gymnasium would of been nice, as I would of brougth a roll mat) and I expect we would come back on the proviso that we are able to setup our own games when we want, and not feel pressured into playing others.

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » December 12th, 2005, 13:36

Although initally sceptical about playing games I didn't have or previously played and didn't like, I did enjoy playing the games with everyone involved, Q3 freeze tag in particular was great fun!. I would have played BF2 a lot more if it didn't take 2 hours to install it.

Maybe when there was a big game going on that some didn't want to play, the RTS games for me for example, an alternative could be arranged so it didn't leave a few dossing around playing on their own.

Also as WEY said, state a while in advance when a game will be played, so if you're in the middle of a game you dont have to leave it to join in the new one.

Overall it was great, the venue, the honesty fridge and the Chinese were all super!

Any feedback about us 5punkers?

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 12th, 2005, 13:55

Thanks for that Woo, your comments are welcome

I'd just like to put my own 2p's worth in to your comments:

I think quite a few people (I didn't go myself) thought it was a bit crap and overpriced, hence why nobody wanted to go the next day.

Yes I agree the wendover's is pricy - I've no arguement with that. And it wasn't their usual high standards

However, what became an annoyance was that after the grub, I personally went round to every table and asked if the food was OK, and would you becomming back the following day as I needed to let the pub know as they needed to prepair food for the next day.

Only one person said they would not be going back.

That put me in a difficult situation with the pub as they had prepaired food for the following morning - the offer to pay for the food for those that changed thir mind was very welcome, and fortunately was not needed as the pub let me off.

Game scheduling and the like, yes I'd agree with you there it was a bit fragmented. I was supprised I did not recieve any requests for game servers to be put up (except TFC - to which i asked for server files).

Generally it seemed to run well with people playing most games. Some of the CS:S was very good, and grats to the person who did the Assault remake - it's class.

Shedualling - I distinctly remember reading in about 5 threads here how you didn't want a schedual and wanted to be able "to do your own thing" hence none was done & you weren't forced to play something

forewarning that the floor is solid wooden gymnasium would of been nice

*cough*
http://www.5punk.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1453 (first post, 4th rule)
http://www.5punk.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1804 (3rd image down)
also here:
http://www.lanse.co.uk/main/viewtopic.php?t=3259

I did have a very good weekend, I also hope you guys did.

I'm sorry that you (woo) felt that we applied pressure to get you into some games, but I think with better communication it would work better

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » December 12th, 2005, 14:36

Nah I didn't feel pressured that much, I was just trying to make some constructive criticism to help you out.

As for the images I must have missed that bit, and didn't read the post.

There was lots of info all over this forum about details of the LAN, and it might be a good idea to have a dedicated web page on your website http://www.lanse.co.uk with all the necessary details/images etc... as opposed to being on a forum.

Like I said above, I'm just trying to give you useful feedback, as opposed to "yay it was brilliant" which isn't much use to you at all.

I can safely hold my hands up and say that I was probably wrong about the "not wanting a schedule of games" thing that I posted on here, as you obviously have more experience of LAN parties (as you mentioned) and it's better with lots of people playing 1 game.

The reason I said this though was because not only was this my first LAN (and I didn't know what to expect), I had images in my head of me being made to play CS:S for 3-4hrs when I don't really like the game.

That's why I think a schedule of 2 hrs set gaming, 1 hr free for all, 2 hrs set gaming, 1 hr free for all...... would be a good idea.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it and would come back, but I'm only trying to help by offering constructive criticism, otherwise there's not much point in having feedback at all is there

Post by **TezzRexx** » December 12th, 2005, 19:57

I throughlly enjoyed the entire thing however:

The breakfast a bit over priced and shit (IE cold everything and a pint of coke costing £2.20).

The random shouting of "we're playing something something now" when we were half way through a different game, thus making it seem pointless to leave, and sometimes if we were playing a big game, mos of LANSE would randomly leave after one map, thus taking the team playing out of it and making it just a 5punk game.

The Chinese was fucking brilliant, I only wished I had a bigger stomach (I'm gonna work on it though)

caveman900 · Post by **caveman900** » December 12th, 2005, 23:05

all good, id agree on the breakfast, was very nice but a lil pricey for my purse.

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 13th, 2005, 8:16

So bottom line:

Put Wendovers into touch - use tesco's instead (other side of town).
Do a schedual with time allocated for "own stuff"

mrbobbins · Post by **mrbobbins** » December 13th, 2005, 9:58

BlkKnight wrote:So bottom line:

Put Wendovers into touch - use tesco's instead (other side of town).
Do a schedual with time allocated for "teabagging"

Fix'd

Fred Woogle · Post by **Fred Woogle** » December 13th, 2005, 10:56

I'll pop a message up later, and come and post the messages on your forum

*edit* just sene a couple of the guys have already been over there and posted, I will post the rest over there*edit*

Post by **FatherJack** » December 13th, 2005, 14:11

I'm a little confused by some of the feedback.

While some of the LanSE people were saying "Worst LAN ever" (due probably to not having a schedule) - others say "The organised games were great...until all our lot left the game"

Which is it?

I appreciate that the 5punkers were probably dicking around a bit more than regular LAN-goers are used to, it being the first time many had gone to a LAN event, the first time some of them had met each other and perhaps it was more a big party than a LAN Party.

People often seem rather mystified at how anarchic and shambolic we appear, even though at times we manage to be quite organised(1).

(1) by which I mean everything from having a board at all, having game servers, turning up at the correct time for 5cheduled games, and special events like this one.
Of course none of these would be possible without the dedicated individuals behind them, who deserve thanks for making the rest of us look like we know what we're doing

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 13th, 2005, 15:21

Lo,

I actually had a pretty decent time. There was a few "oh, everyone's going different things at the moment & don't want to do an all in game" moments - and even after some encouragement didn't leave their games.

Looking at the feedback (breakfast & temp aside as they can be easily fixed), I'm getting it -ve feedback from two camps:

1. The camp that want's to do their own thing and doesn't want to be "encouraged" to do all in games

2. The camp that wants to do big all in games.

I can't please everyone all of the time

Having said that, a schedual would have resolved some issues here as camp 1 your see that some free time was comming up soon, and camp 2 would be pleased that camp 1 would be joining them in some all in games.

Buisc and dave are just having a general winge because 1. not enough DOTA (which you guys should really give a go) and 2. not enough variety in games (BF1942, Quake 4m C&C Zero hour - which are not on PlanB's machines).

Fragmentation is the bane of all LAN events (with 50 or less players), and I've spend years trying to minimise it. Yes schedualling does help, but it needs players co-operation to work. You still get the stubborn group that want to continue to do their own thing regardless of what's going on - but I'm not going to horse anyone to do something they don't want to do.

Having thought about it (and should a large number of you want to come down again), I would change the format of the weekend slightly:

Friday night would be for installing ALL games that you don't have installed so that you are ready for Saturday.

I enjoyed the 5punk v LANSE, so i'l like to continue that theme throughout the weekend - but instead of just CS:S / BF2, we would rotate through loads of games, spending an hour or so on each (with free time in between) - that way everyone plays a game they are good at & you get to experience loads of games.

Comments?

Post by **TezzRexx** » December 13th, 2005, 15:34

I like the idea of installing all the games on Friday and having allocated free time and allocated main games.

Its just awkward with people wanting to do there own thing and people wanting to be organised...

Post by **FatherJack** » December 13th, 2005, 15:35

I was most confused about why people were leaving the organised games.

Was it because people weren't playing "seriously" enough, or just that they weren't that keen on the games being played?

I know CoD and CSS are big 5punk favourites, but not to everyone's taste, and we rarely play Quake or Unreal-based games.

Post by **TezzRexx** » December 13th, 2005, 15:37

FatherJack wrote:I know CoD and CSS are big 5punk favourites, but not to everyone's taste, and we rarely play Quake or Unreal-based games.

I hate quake with a passion, but I still played and enjoyed it (kinda).

However, Quake 4 looks quite nice.

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 13th, 2005, 15:45

I'm just putting it down to noobishness

.

It was most of your guys first event, and the way we usually run things is fairly regimented - which is understandably difficult for people to get their heads round (espcially for their first event).

Bottom line is it takes a small bit of organisation from me (scheduall & getting you to prepair properly on Friday), and co-operation from players & admins - so we stich to the schedual and try not to over-run - so that the Team & individual guys get some time to do the stuff they really like.

Next time will be better!

J

Post by **FatherJack** » December 13th, 2005, 15:48

TezzRexx wrote:However, Quake 4 looks quite nice.

It does, but it plays very similarly to Quake 3 in multiplayer. We had a few games a while back, but it was a bit much on the eyes/brain for more than an hour at a time, and interest died away after a week or so.

People have their favourite games, though - and as BlkKnight said, you simply can't design a schedule that will please *everyone*. While some people might think (for example) BeeF2 with a WWII mod is just the same thing as BF1942, others would disagree completely.

Post by **Dog Pants** » December 13th, 2005, 15:57

Although I didn't go to the event, I hope to be coming to the next one. I personally would not mind at all playing games I wouldn't usually play - it makes a nice change, and you may even find something you like. All it takes is a bit of give and take - people agreeing to play games they may not like so that other people will play the games that they might not like. Despite the chaotic nature of 5punkers I think we're mostly pretty mature and reasonable and would agree to this.

Hell, I'd even play C&C if it means everyone enjoying the event more

EDIT: Blimey, lost of posts since I started writing this!

BlkKnight · Post by **BlkKnight** » December 13th, 2005, 16:00

That was my one dissapointment narf, I was looking forward to the 5v5 LANSE v 5punk

Post by **Dog Pants** » December 13th, 2005, 16:20

BlkKnight wrote:That was my one dissapointment narf, I was looking forward to the 5v5 LANSE v 5punk

I'd like to see a few competitive games, especially a cross-game (ie, one round CSS, then say Warcraft 3 and so on) competition. However 5punk culture is based around not being a clan, more a collection of like-minded gamers. This is most probably why other LANers (clans) might object to our messing about, and why we might object to being too organised. So long as everyone expects to be playing a bit more competitive than we do normally though there's really no cause for complaint.