Halo 3 LAN

THX'ers that are in:

Mintz
JDogg
dirtyJ
rapture

Don't know if anyone else was invited.

Others are going to get in via Crackdown. Seems like several are going to be buying Crackdown.

I'll want to try the game on LAN ASAP. I'll host. Would be sweet to have a lot of people over to play.

No doubt I want to be the first to LAN this. There might be a lot of other popular "clans" or "communities" out there, but none of them LAN like THX.

I got the email confirming I was selected as a beta tester. So I will be in whenever it comes out...im excited to see it.

I'm in the crackdown crowd. Mountain Dew, double cheeseburgers, maybe some pizzas, 360, monitor, 2 controllers, 2 headsets, Crackdown CD, and maybe one copy of GoW will be transported to any LAN that materializes.

Yeah I'm buyin crackdown too, so I'll probably come if I know what the date is and can get off work.

EDIT: I can bring all the cables that came with my box and a VGA cable that I bought for my computer monitor, so I could play on a monitor since I don't have a tv to bring or nothin, and 2 wireless controllers, but I would need to know the date soon so I could request off work.

Holier than thou.

I updated the initial post with the obligatory huge list of stuff.

I'm gettin' crackdown, so I guess I'm in.

Thanks for taking the lead on this, Mintz.

I foresee two types of LANs:

1 LAN pre-Crackdown testers
1 LAN w/Crackdown testers

I'm going to want to LAN H3 ASAP, even if that means we've only got 4 installs.

Uh, isn't crackdown coming out Tuesday? Are we anticipating the Beta coming out before then? Maybe that morning, but Are you talking about LAN'ing Monday Night at midnight.

No.

The H3 beta won't be online until late 1Q or early 2Q.

The H3 beta will essentially be downloadable content for the Crackdowners. It will hit the marketplace at a later date.

The Bungie friends and family program is a way to get scores of people in on the beta.

The Microsoft Connect invitations are a way to get hundreds of people in on the beta.

The Rule of Three program is a way to get a thousands people in on the beta.

The Crackdown content is a way to get tens of thousands of people in on the beta.

Different doors for different people will be opened over time. People purchasing Crackdown next week shouldn't expect to play HALO 3 until a later date.

Right, gotcha. Looks like we will be waiting.

Looks like we won't.

Just curious: where did you get this info?

According to the faq it looks like everyone should be playing at the same time. Also, if i can make it I will have 2 360 controllers.

Assuming this info is correct (and it seems very likely) it looks like Eric and I will be the first people to play for sure (Friends and Family) then we can get Jdogg and dirtyj's box (unless either of them is in the F&F beta).

rap, would you want to host a big lan for a two-box Halo 3 lan?

Update: Nevermind.

I'm just going to stop posting in this thread, it seems everything that has come out of my keyboard on this topic has been incorrect.

It was my speculation of Microsoft Game Studios' statements about the beta being scaled over time. Now it looks like only Friends and Family will get in early.

You'll have to wait until the H3 demo is made available to the public which be some time after the Crackdown launch. No H3 beta next week as you buy Crackdown.

You're fine. It's perfectly logical to assume that the beta would release alongside Crackdown.

If the beta was made available WITH Crackdown, then very few people would be playing Crackdown.

People assumed they wouldn't play Crackdown anyway, but the one-two punch of "only initial shipments have the beta" and "the beta won't be available initially" does make a perfect opportunity for people to actually play the game. Pretty clever, Microsoft...

1 controller (the other blows goats) (might have a second if I get paid enough by then, doubtful)
Component cables for 360
I've got a little screen I can bring, but it's really only big enough for one person to play on. Should be able to toss a few bucks towards pizza or food. Arbys will probably still be doing their 4 for 5 deal, so that's always good, plus Taco Bell is right up the road. I just need to know what day it's gonna be as far in advance as possible so I can get days off before/after/during it and actually be there for longer than a couple hours. I also need to find the AC adapter to my camera so things can be recorded and all that jazz. Still haven't found it, and I've dug through all my stuff here, so someone has it somewhere. :(

DJ

I added the Halo 3 beta's date. Should we do the LAN on that Wednesday?

As of right now I think Friday would be the better choice because I don't want to all-out LAN before I go to school the next day (especially that close to the end of school).

I will be in town at that time. Will be able to bring a 360 and download H3 beta using someone's internet connection, but I won't have a TV to bring.

Thanks for stepping up and taking the lead on this, Mintz.

I'll offer up my place for the LAN. Usually equipment avail.

I'm not going to make it. I'd love a chance to see if I need to go buy a 360 just to play H3, however, thats also the tenative release date for the much anticpated "Speck". I'll probably sit this one out, even if we haven't downloaded it yet.

Aren't you guys jumping the gun on this? I haven't seen any information on the Halo 3 beta having system link support. Am I wrong on this?

...probably.

It's easy to cancel a plan that's in place. It's difficult to plan on short notice.

The military has files upon files of plans for major wars with everybody you can think of. If North Korea comes across the DMZ then everybody and their mother will know the exact plan of action the hour it happens because it's been planned years in advance, possibly to never even be used.

What's the cost of planning an event? A little bit of mental sweat and typing.

Do they have plans for if Canada invades us? Those shifty eyed Canucks and their flannel and their "Ehs". Can't trust them I say!

As crazy as it sounds, I bet we do. It probably goes like this:

1. Canada invades
2. Send in the Minnesota National Guard
3. Miller Time

It'd make for a great snowball fight.

Kidding aside, we don't need H3 system link to have a LAN, we've been LANing for years without H3. If system link isn't supported, then everyone can at least check out what H3 is going to look like, and then LAN H1 or GOW. We need to get together more often than we do anyways.

Heck, we don't even really need to LAN to get together. There was no sign of an X-box at Outback the other night. A subset of the younger THXers already hang out together all the time. There's bowling, and there's tons of fun to be had putt-putting with ... interesting...people.

Exactly. Besides, we could all hook our boxes up to a couple switches and jack them into rap's 'net connection to play each other through Xbox Live.

I completely agree that we should meet up more often.

I'll add your info to the list, Middy.

Shadowrun LAN anyone? I'm expecting to hold one after the release of the game and after I've got my second gaming system built (just need a GPU and CPU now).

Hopefully a large chunk of THX will have adopted the game by then. I think I can get several beta testers to plan on coming out. Maybe I can convince a FASA dev or two to come out?

Once Midnight gets back, I'm hoping more LANs will take place.

I'd be up for that. This would be an interesting LAN considering the mix of computers and consoles.

I'm game. Don't know if I'll have the funds to buy the game, but I can rent it for the LAN.

Does the SR Beta have system link capability? If so then we could LAN it on our proposed H3 LAN if H3 Beta doesn't offer system link.

There's no System Link in the beta. There are Private games, though.

Game should be out in June.

Rgr. Sounds like we could still play some lagless games at a LAN (pre-June) as long as we could all connect to XBL. After June then it's a no-brainer.

New 16-port 100Mbps switch so that we can all connect easier at LANs?

Check.

GG! I'll soon be in the market for a 8 or 12 port switch to network my house. Your 16 port will make networking LANs super easy. But what is Brick going to do now?

I think I'll manage to find something to occupy my time. :/

I'm pretty sure he'll be sitting at my computer near my USB bottle warmer.

Why is it on a wednesday?

Hey Rapture, I am having problems with the comcast cable modems. When I connect the xbox to the network the computers stop working and the same the other way around. Did you have this problem? Being in the same hood you might have had this happen.

Midnight, I see you are going to be here in May? Cool this hood is getting stronger and stronger.

Other clans know they don't just roll up into this hood. I've been marking this whole area with THX logos. Represent.

I suggest powering everything down for 5 min.

Then connect the modem. Let it idle for about 5 min.

Then connect your router. Let it idle for about 5 min.

Then connect your XBOX and connect to Live.

Then connect your PC and boot it up.

If you are still having trouble, let me know and I'll walk over there to see if I can help.

This shouldn't happen. Unless of course you're plugging the Xbox into the cable modem directly. Which is a big no no.

Explanation of your setup might help.

Sweet. Now we just need long cables.

Just to make sure, switches are hubs without collisions, right?

That's just the date the Halo 3 beta comes out. I suggested we do it on a Friday, but I haven't gotten feedback yet.

I've got a 100-ft and 50-ft ethernet cable.

I have a 10 foot cable I can bring. even though wednesday was a weird I requested off work anyways. -.- so.....if you guys could tell me the real date we're having it like at least 3 weeks in advance that would be really good.

I'll likely be bringing a 22" LCD monitor and Xbox 360 VGA cables in addition to my 360.

Is anyone running his 360 at 1680x1050 via VGA?

We did at the HD LAN, of course.

I've got about 300 feet of multi length made up cables for use, including a 100ft one I brought last time. In addition, Wednesday is a day off for me, so I *will* be there, and I won't have to leave after a few hours :).

DJ

So what time can we expect to start showing up and how late are we allowed to stay? :)

10 DAYS..

DJ

Daaate people, when will it happen? Wednesday or the Weekend? I vote weekend.

Wednesday is best for me, as I'd be able to actually play more than a few hours :\

DJ

So, are we going to run some 2 v 2's this week?

I think I read somewhere the other day that confirmed no system link in the beta, but I can't remember where I read it. Has anyone else read that? If I'm remembering correctly, I guess that means lagless xbl games at this event?

No system link for the beta; however, there will be 2-player splitscreen.

Looks like it'll have to be a party on XBL on Bungie's playlist.

No custom games. No local play.

We could still meet at your place and hook every box up to the intertubes, because I'm sure you can still go into matchmaking from a lobby with friends.

Cool I can play then.

I'll play 2's on XBC ;)

I'm going out of town this weekend. So, no playing then.

I've got the 4-yr Anniversary next week. Unsure if I can get the house on Sat. More later.

BTW: Talked with Rayne today. She said we could LAN at her place. She just needs some heads-up.

Well, let her know it's May 16 or May 19.

If it's the 19th I can't make it.

DJ

I'm not so sure an H3 LAN would be practical. I didn't realize how restrictive the games would be if you can't customize the map or gametypes or settings. There's also no LAN play.

I'm thinking that an H3 LAN might not be fun because you can't LAN the beta or play what you want to play.

It's also limited to 4v4.

Count me out of a H3 Beta LAN next Wednesday. I plan on using the afternoon/night to familiarize myself with the game.

Yeah, count me out as well...i will be on live though.

Yeah, no Beta LAN. Let's keep this thread for the launch of Halo 3, though.