By Steven Erbacher
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Friday, September 27, marks the start of a new era on the UofA campus. Afterlife LAN and UARK E-Sports co-hosted a LAN party in the Verizon Ballroom of the student union. This was the first time there had ever been such an even on the campus.
LAN is short for ‘local area network.’ So, when it comes to a LAN party, that is when a large group of people bring their computer systems to the same location to connect to the same LAN. When connected, they can all download the game from the host and proceed to play the same games together.
“It’s a really great way to get all of your buddies together,” said Collin Allen, the founder of the nonprofit Afterlife LAN. “That’s why I started doing this.”
Allen grew up in northern California, near Silicon Valley. When he moved to Northwest Arkansas while in his teens, he wanted to what his father has taught him.
“My dad showed me all I know when it comes to computers,” he said. “Other kids had TV’s growing up, our house was full of computers.”
Allen often reminisces about his childhood, and wants to make a similar impact on kids.
“When I first started gaming with a lot of these guys, we were young kids and now we have kids,” Allen said. It’s fun taking them with us and teaching them [about computers.]”
One of the kids who has made gaming a big part of his life is Jett McGaugh, a fourth grader from Lowell, Arkansas. He said he started getting into computers at the age of four.
“I used to sit on my dad’s lap and watch him play video games and that’s what got me into this,” McGaugh said.
McGaugh likes gaming because it has helped him make friends and it’s been a fun way to be in contact with them.
Allen re-emphasized why he has made putting on LAN parties a big part of his life.
“You get to connect with so many people and be in the same room,” he said. “You just don’t get that when you stay and game at home.”
Allen plans on hosting another LAN party on campus during the spring semester.