Friday through Sunday, November 7-9, 2008. TusLAN setup will start in the morning on Friday, so if you show up early you will be put to work ;-) We should be ready for participant computer setup about 3PM, and will try to start gaming about 5PM, and shut down about 11PM. Saturday hours will be 10AM to 11PM. Sunday hours will be 10AM to 4PM. The TusLAN room will be locked and secured when it is not open.

2.

Will you be charging an admission fee for this party? If so, how much?

Yes. TusLAN is being hosted by TusCon, the annual Tucson science fiction convention. Thus, all participants at TusLAN must be members of TusCon, and all TusCon members may participate in TusLAN. Some TusLAN sponsors will be providing computers for the use of TusCon members who don't bring their own computers. TusLAN participants who bring their own computers will be given a special discounted rate for their TusCon membership. Regular TusCon membership pricing can be found at the TusCon web site (link below). Discount for TusLAN participants! Every TusLAN participant who brings a computer (Bring Your Own Computer: BYOC) will only have to pay $15 for Saturday, $30 for all three days! But they must register with TusLAN first. TusLAN staff members will be asked to pay $20 membership fee. For more information about the host of TusLAN, see the homepage of TusCon.

3.

Is attendance at the party open, closed or capped at some number?

Attendance at TusLAN will be capped at 50 computers, which is the AC power capacity of the room.

4.

Will this party offer prizes?

Maybe. We would like to offer prizes, but we have no sponsors for this as yet.

5.

What games will you be playing at this party?

Since TusLAN is facilitated by a science fiction convention, we will feature games with a science fiction or fantasy theme. This will include: Unreal Tournament 2004, Unreal Tournament 3, Star Wars: Battlefront2, Team Fortress 2, Serious Sam2, and others. We will also try to get demonstrations of newer games, such as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Certainly, we will consider other popular games, such as HL2/Counterstrike:Source.

6.

What game variations will you be offering?

Cooperative play, team deathmatch, capture the flag, assault, domination.

7.

Will you be using custom maps/scenarios (that is, maps or scenarios that do not come with the original game)?

Yes, a few for UT2k4.

8.

If you will be using custom maps and scenarios, what maps/scenarios will you be using?

For UT2k4: ChaosUT and ECE Bonus Pack.

9.

Do you mandate the use of headphones?

Yes! Speakers create an incredible racket and drain excessive power.

10.

Will this party include Internet access?

Most likely. The TusLAN location is equipped with broadband Internet access, and it worked well last year.

11.

What equipment should each guest bring to the party?

A computer with a TCP/IP Ethernet NIC for 100Base-T, monitor, keyboard, mouse and mouse pad, a power strip with surge protection, headphones (no speakers please!), a long CAT5e Ethernet patch cord.

12.

Will guests have to perform a viral scan before they can log on at this party?

Yes.

13.

Will guests be allowed to drink at this party?

No drugs or alcohol are allowed at the LAN Party. Anyone caught drunk or stoned on the premises will be kicked out.

14.

Will guests be allowed to smoke at this party?

No smoking. It's unhealthy, and it irritates many of our players. If you want to smoke, take it outside.

15.

Will you be serving food and drink at this party? If yes, what kind?

Yes and no. Since this event is taking place in a hotel's function space, you may eat any food you buy from the hotel in the gaming room. The hotel’s food sources include a restaurant, gift shop and vending machines. TusCon (the convention hosting TusLAN) will arrange to have the hotel provide snack foods, water service, and probably coffee at no additional charge to you. We are trying to arrange for the hotel to provide restaurant-menu food service in the gaming room. The hotel reserves the right to be the only one who can "serve meals" in function space, so bringing food into the game room is NOT allowed, even on an individual basis, unless it is purchased from the hotel. There will be food provided by TusCon at a hospitality suite offering snacks and beverages, but these must be consumed in the hospitality suite.

16.

Will minors be allowed at this party?

Yes, but a signed parental permission slip is required.

17.

Will guests be required to sign a legal waiver before they can play at this party?

Yes. Parents of minor participants must also sign the waiver in person at the event.

18.

Will you allow nonparticipants to hang around this party and watch?

Yes, but they must be members of TusCon (the convention hosting TusLAN).

19.

What side events (noncomputer game activities) will you hold?

A large number of noncomputer games will be available since the hotel ballroom used by TusLAN is also used for general gaming at TusCon (the convention hosting TusLAN). These games will likely include: Dungeons & Dragons, RPGA Living Campaigns (Greyhawk, Arcanis, Spycraft), plus Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, Call of Cthulhu, GURPS, LARP, Magic the Gathering, card game tournaments, Hero Clix, Mech Warrior, and much, much more.

20.

Will you have a lost and found at this party?

Not specifically, but TusCon (the hosting convention) will have one.

21.

Why have a LAN party at a science fiction convention?

Well, why not? Historically, SF conventions were some of the earliest places people could find computer games (and role playing games, too). Today, many SF con attendees are interested in playing computer games, even though they may not bring a gaming rig (or even have a good gaming rig). This is why SF cons like to get sponsors to provide computers for attendees to game on. For a computer gamer who brings a hot gaming rig to a SF con, this is known as a "target rich environment". More seriously, the SF con provides a facility that would otherwise be too expensive for a LAN party, but in exchange requires that all LAN party participants buy memberships in the hosting convention.

For more information on organizing and running computer gaming at a SF convention, see the article in the ConRunner Wiki:

http://conrunner.net/wiki/index.php?title=Video_and_Computer_Gaming

22.

What is a science fiction convention?

A gathering of and celebration for fans of science fiction in literature and media (movies, TV, etc.). For advice on how best to enjoy a Sci-Fi convention, see the

Science Fiction Convention Survivial Kit for Newbies

Link back to TusLAN home page