Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
lan-parties:-revival-and-evolution-in-2023 lan-parties:-revival-and-evolution-in-2023

Industry News

LAN Parties: Revival and Evolution in 2023

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

In the early 2000’s, LAN (Local Area Network) parties made up a large part of what some call the golden age of gaming. But as Wifi connections became stronger and cheaper, multiplayer gaming moved online, and LAN parties took a step back from the limelight.

Even though they may seem extinct to some, there’s still a strong LAN scene. With Insomnia the Gaming Festival taking place from the 7th to the 10th of September, domain and hosting experts, and event guest, Fasthosts, wanted to explore the current state of LAN parties in 2023, rounding up some of the biggest events taking place worldwide.

Originating in the 70s, it wasn’t until the turn of the millennium that LAN parties became the driving social gatherings of the gamer community. It was common to see teens transferring their heavy setups to friends’ houses to revel in hours worth of gameplay in bunker-like basements and dated living rooms. LAN parties were the first true form of multiplayer gaming and involved each player to BYOC (Bring our Own Computer), and gather together in the same physical location and connect their computers or consoles to play offline LAN-compatible games.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Nowadays, most game servers no longer support LAN connections. Nonetheless, informal small “friendly” events take place across the world alongside larger tournaments. Interestingly, they have witnessed a shift by partially merging with the competitive world of eSports. Many tournaments recognise the appeal and importance of keeping their novelty alive, and have incorporated social gaming, and BYOC areas where participants can enjoy more casual playing sessions with friends or acquaintances.

With their rich cultural history and nostalgia, they are still enjoyed by avid gamers worldwide and bridge the gap between the past and present world of gaming. In fact, there are plenty of events that promote LAN style gaming and casual play – here are some of the largest events that are reviving the classic spirit of gaming:

Insomnia the Gaming Festival (UK)

Insomnia is the biggest gaming festival in the UK. Each year it hosts eSport competitions, meet and greets, cosplay, and gaming-related events. Insomnia are hosting their i7i LAN party on the 10/09 where you can compete in tournaments or friendly battles.

QuakeCon (USA)

QuakeCon is an annual video game convention that takes place in Texas. It is primarily centred around id software’s game, especially the Quake series. It will be the first in-person event since 2019, and it is said that this year’s convention will bring greater emphasis to the BYOC side of the event.

LanTrek (Finland)

LanTrek is an annual gaming event that started in 2001. Aimed at all young people interested in computers, consoles, board games and gaming, it features competitive tournaments, exhibition areas, and a BYOC option where individuals can enjoy casual gaming with their friends.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The Gathering (Norway)

The gathering takes place in April of each year in the Viking Ship in Hamar. As Norway’s biggest computing event, they celebrate Easter with games, eSport competition, lectures, and concerts. It is also run entirely by volunteers and non-profit organisations.

Dreamhack (Worldwide)

Dreamhack is one of the largest LAN party and gaming festivals globally. It started in Sweden but soon popped up in various other locations, including the US, France, India, and Spain. Each event combines eSports, LAN gaming, concerts, meet and greets and more.

Gamers Assembly (France)

Unlike others on this list, Gamers Assembly is solely a LAN gaming event. Organised by the FutuoLAN association it attracts thousands of players each year looking to take part in the tournaments from popular eSport titles to more niche selections.

Assembly (Finland)

The biggest gaming convention in Finland, it attracts an average of 30,000 participants every event. Centred around gaming, eSports and digital culture, for the summer 23 edition, Assembly announced their largest ever LAN area to date.

PAX (USA & Australia)

PAX takes place in numerous locations around the US and Australia. Although primarily a gaming event it offers a BYOC/community playing option alongside other fun features such as talks, game demos, concerts, and tournaments.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Industry News

Public Voting Starts for Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0

Published

on

public-voting-starts-for-ortak-x-bfth-arena-awards-3.0
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

The highly anticipated Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0 has officially entered the public voting phase as submissions are closed.

More than 70 game providers have turned in over 160 submissions, including Tom Horn Gaming, Pragmatic Play and RubyPlay. Public voting involves enthusiasts casting their votes to pick the winner of the Game of Public Choice category.

The Public voting phase ends on December 1st 23:59 GMT+4.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Concurrent to public voting, the first phase of private voting also starts during which all participants who have submitted entries get the chance to vote for one favourite in each category. An international auditing company oversees this phase to eliminate duplicate votes and self-votes. This phase ends on November 19, 23:59 GMT+4.

The second phase of private voting will also take place with a jury of industry experts making their decisions based on the shortlist picked by participants during the first phase.

The post Public Voting Starts for Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 3.0 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Industry News

BC.GAME Launches Exclusive Airdrop for Polymarket Users, Rewarding Participation in U.S. Election Prediction Markets

Published

on

bcgame-launches-exclusive-airdrop-for-polymarket-users,-rewarding-participation-in-us.-election-prediction-markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Following the frenzy surrounding the 2024 U.S. presidential election, global leading crypto igaming platform BC.GAME has officially announced an exciting airdrop campaign aimed specifically at Polymarket users. This initiative will bring BC.GAME’s gaming entertainment together with the wisdom of Polymarket users, offering a much-needed opportunity for those who actively participated in the election prediction market.

Airdrop Frenzy Amid the Hype: Special Rewards for Polymarket Users

Following the intense activity during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Polymarket saw an unprecedented surge in user participation. Thousands of individuals placed bets on the election results, turning this prediction market into a major financial event.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

To capitalise on this momentum, BC.GAME is launching an exclusive airdrop for Polymarket users. The campaign will reward active participants with exclusive prizes and access to BC.GAME’s expansive gaming ecosystem, creating an exciting opportunity for those who took part in one of the most talked-about prediction markets in history.

Exclusive Airdrop: A Chance to Turn the Tide

The BC.GAME airdrop campaign will offer Polymarket’s active users unique rewards, creating an exciting and unparalleled experience in the crypto gaming space. By leveraging the buzz surrounding Polymarket, BC.GAME aims to bring its innovative gaming ecosystem to more users, giving them the opportunity to earn substantial rewards through this airdrop. Polymarket users will not only enjoy exclusive games on the BC.GAME platform, but also have the chance to claim specially designed rewards. The BC.GAME team guarantees a transparent and fair process throughout the event, ensuring that every participant receives maximum benefits.

BC.GAME: Igniting the Future of Crypto Communities

BC.GAME has always been at the forefront of innovation, providing users with a never-before-seen gaming experience. According to data from 1ml .com, BC.GAME is ranked 14th globally in the crypto gaming space and supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies, including Poly, providing users with diverse payment and gaming options.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

In addition, BC.GAME actively participates in the development of the crypto community by investing in NFTs and supporting the growth of the metaverse. For example, BC.GAME has invested 700 ETH into various NFT projects to foster growth in the metaverse and iGaming sectors. By engaging with Polymarket users, BC.GAME is lighting up new possibilities in the crypto world and paving the way for the future of digital entertainment.

The post BC.GAME Launches Exclusive Airdrop for Polymarket Users, Rewarding Participation in U.S. Election Prediction Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Industry News

Double win for Kaizen Gaming at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024

Published

on

double-win-for-kaizen-gaming-at-the-sbc-awards-latinoamerica-2024

Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, had an impressive double-win at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024 on the 31st October in Miami, Florida. Awarded ‘Brazilian Market Entrant of the Year’, and ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’, the two wins follow an impressive year of growth and exposure for Kaizen Gaming, as well as its premium brand Betano, across Latin America and globally.

Betano is rapidly growing its user base and presence in Brazil, serving as the main and title sponsor of Brasileirão Betano and Copa Betano do Brasil. As a founding member of the ANJL and IBJR regulatory bodies, Betano is recognised for its dedication to upholding the highest standards of responsible gaming and integrity. Furthermore, the Betano brand has launched multiple CSR initiatives across the country in partnership with sponsored team, Clube Atlético Mineiro. It also recently launched the “Juntos em Campo” long-term program in cooperation with CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to promote initiatives focused on gender equality.

Awarded for the results and creativity of its innovative “Football in America” marketing campaign, Betano successfully introduced Latin America to its “Confia” brand platform by leveraging on its CONMEBOL Copa America™ 2024 sponsorship. The campaign chimed with the spirit of fans across the continent by celebrating Latin America’s rich football heritage, playfully responding to Kylian Mbappe’s 2022 comments questioning the region’s football quality.

Vangelis Skarkalis, Kaizen Gaming Senior Commercial Director LATAM, said: “Latin America is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting regions for i-gaming. Being recognised as a leading player in this important market with two wins at the prestigious SBC Awards Latinoamérica is a great honour – especially on the heels of our recent double-win as ‘Operator of the Year’ at both the EGR Operator Awards and SBC Awards. Achieving this success requires an exceptional team of dedicated, ambitious professionals. This award honours everyone’s hard work and commitment to always going above and beyond in delivering the best experiences for our customers not only in Latin America, but worldwide too.”

Continue Reading

Trending