I'd like to go to a LAN party

I think that might make it tougher for some of the younger members who might not have a TV, etc. that they can bring and they don't have the dough to run out and buy what they need. It would also keep people like Brick who don't want to buy a 360 just to lan occasionally from attending.

This idea might be alright for some events, but I think it'd kill some of the bigger lans. That's my $.02.

What about space for so many personal tv's or monitors? That might present a problem for some hosts houses to accommodate. Though having your own monitor would be cool in the sense of full screen gaming, but might as well stay at home and play on live against thx if I can use my own monitor.

While nice in theory, I don't think it'd be as easy in practice. I think the biggest problem with what you're proposing is what Jdogg said; where would you find enough flat surfaces to fit all the stuff? The Rev had a good point as well.

You're essentially describing a PC LAN, and if I'm not mistaken, consoles are specifically made to support up to four people per box, no? The great thing about console LANs is that not EVERYBODY has to have their "OS", simply having your own controller could get you into a game.

It'd be cool, and there are definitely benefits, but I'd rather have more people vs my own equipment.

I think the two THX'ers that have hosted LANs in the past three years both have ample room.

I dont have a tv software ect. I think we could have a few exceptions for people who dont have a job.

Hey, if you guys wanna adjust the lan that way then thats cool cause Ive got a 32 in hd that would be awesome to solo on...but do enjoy having up to 4 people on a tv, it kinda adds some fun to the whole xbox lan when someone says something like, " did you see that #@%$@% that just happend?"

I, for one, think that's a great idea. No split screen. No screen-watching (inevitably, during H1 LANs, there is always a 3 or 4 way split-screen w/ someone on the screen playing on a different team). When you hear a grenade bounce nearby, you know that it's nearby YOU, not one of your teammates. It just seems like it would make for a better experience.

This is actually what I plan on doing for the upcoming b-day LAN. Not that I'm selfish, but I really don't anticipate anyone wanting to play split-screen on my 19" LCD, when there will be much larger displays to choose from. That, and I only have 1 cntrlr.

Questions:

1) Why don't we hold more LANs?
2) Why don't other people host LANs?

Uh, not as easy? That's the whole point of it. It would be way EASY to hold a LAN if everyone brought their own equipment. Show up. Plug in. Play. No having to count controllers, cables, chairs, and consoles. Show up. Plug in. Join up. Frag.

But who are these "some hosts"? I must have missed some big LANs.

Yep. I'm trying to find out a way to hold MORE LANs. Big LANs are hard enough to plan out. Big LAN's often break out into 4v4s. I'm trying to figure out a way to hold more LANs more often in more venues.

If I could get 7 people to BYOS every month or two, I'd host many more 4v4 LANs.

It's HALO 3. We can connect up to 16 boxes. If someone wants to play fullscreen, I don't see any reason why they can't if they've brought their own setup.

IF. What about the significant number of people who don't have all their own equipment? It wouldn't be a problem for me or a bunch of other THXers, but what about Xray? Jonathan? Phoenix? Beanor? Other new people?

I'd be glad to go to a BYOS LAN, but what about the people who couldn't make it?

Looking more broadly, I think there's probably a place for both. I do enjoy gaming with some folks that realistically don't have personal equipment. However, I think we could do a simple 4v4 BYOS LAN once a month without problem. Seven other people bring all things necessary for them to game, and we're good. Only extra piece of equip necessary is a switch that can handle all the gamers.

I don't think rap wishes to alienate people. What I get out of it is this:

I like to LAN and I am available for it often.
We don't LAN very often.
Why don't we LAN often?
LANs are hard to plan and equip.
Why?
Because we have to ensure there's enough equipment for everyone.
Why? Don't most people play 360 at home?
Yeah.
If everybody brought their personal setup then everyone would get to play and there's almost no planning involved.
Cool, let's LAN.

I think a GoW LAN that we didn't have to splitscreen (b/c GoW splitscreen is atrocious) would be easy to accomplish and a great deal of fun.

I'd gow to a gow LAN between here and Oct 6th. Packing up my stuff takes no longer than 10-15 minutes, driving around town is worth it. I like to LAN as well.

Mini-BYOS-LANs are a good idea. No sense in keeping people from LANing if they want to. When's the date?

I'd be willing to host one of the monthly BYOS LANs, as well. We could switch up who hosts, and w/out the necessity of having a huge HD display, I have everything else needed. Ample room, enough outlets, and some routing equipment (which would be augmented by those bringing their own sh*t). And I live <5min away from at least 4 Old School THXers.

This idea just keeps getting better as it goes...

I don't think Rap, or anyone else for that matter, is saying that they want to disclude those w/out their own equipment. And there's nothing to dictate that we don't have the HUGE "conventional" LANs that THX is known for. This would simply be in addition to what we already do on a semi-regular basis.

Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing preventing others from getting their own equipment in order to participate. It's completely up to them.

Those with an active, vested interest in doing this more often are likely to have all the necessary equipment, anyway. Those who wish to do this less frequently will still be able to attend the other LANs. Noone is or will be discluded.

I am fine either way we go. I'm willing to bring my own stuff, I am also willing to do i the other way. I like having my own screen and setup, at the same time, I like playing with my friends. Unfortunately, some people will get screwed, namely some of the Falwells, because they share equipment. But for the most part, I think this is a great idea, as far as I understand it. I haven't read all the posts so... anyway.

1. It will make setup and cleanup a lot easier and quicker.
2. It will make organizing games and teams a lot easier.
3. No hassle of being on the same screen with a member of another team.
4. Less hassle for the host, so we can LAN more often.
5. Let's do it!

I'd like to have regularly scheduled LANs. Maybe this is an unreasonable wish, but it would be cool.

Actually I think Phoenix and Torrent both have the equipment necessary. I don't know about Beanor, but Xray may have a problem. That is not to say that he cannot fix that problem. I am sure he could find some equipment.

The more I think about it, I really don't think this will exclude as many people as I originally thought.

I'm down for anytime, even this weekend. Will bring everything for me including the 360, cables, GoW, my 22" monitor, a chair, and an ethernet cable. All I need is a switch to plug into and two wall outlets.

BYOS LANs will also be easier to plan on short notice.

Disavowed's house would also offer options to SOs (they could chat/sew/cook together).

I see what you're saying, and I agree. The big thing for me was people, and I like how you clarified that no one's being excluded, we'll just have more LANs for those who are capable. Good stuff.

There are exceptions to every rule. If a few people who don't have their own equipment want to attend a BYOS LAN, they could group together and pool (or borrow) the necessary equipment between the individual group(s), i.e. 1 360, 1 software disc, 1 relatively large monitor, and X # of cntrlrs, along w/ the necessary peripherals (Cat5 cable, chairs, food, etc.)

Here's the count so far:

People concerned about others who don't have equipment: many
People without equipment who have expressed an interest in lanning: 1, who's less than 12 years old, which is understandable

This entire issue is a red herring.

If people want to participate in a LAN badly enough then they will find a way. God didn't make me responsible for ensuring the fun of every Xbox 360 gamer in Huntsville, AL.

So the host should plan the LAN, equip the LAN, and go to great pains to use multiple mediums to inform others of it? Hell no.

Who's going to help me participate in a Corvette convention by loaning me a Corvette? Any takers?

Fair is something that comes to town once a year.

I will probably be atleast able to bring a controller.

You've got a good attitude, Xray. You're trying to do whatever you can, and it's appreciated. However, nobody expects you to have your own stuff at your age. I think your best bet would be to get one of your brothers to come and splitscreen with him on his 32" TV. That would work out pretty well.

Now, just talk one of them into coming. :)

To be clear to anyone who might be new. It looks like BYOS(bring your own stuff) LANS might be coming to a THX near you. These are different than our mega-LANS that are held every once in a while. Smaller, more impromptu.

1. Bring your own screen, 360, chair, and accessories.
2. One person per screen, unless you've got something worked out with a friend/family member to use their screen. Don't assume.
3. The THX Birthday LAN is *NOT* BYOS. It's open to anyone.

How is the picture of the 360 on a 19 inch CRT? Im assuming it is much better than just the plain old tv because of the higher resolution? Does that make it hd quality?

Yes, it would be HD.

The widely accepted definition of "high definition" is 720 or more horizontal lines of resolution. Horizontal resolution is generally the defining factor because that really determines the quality of the image. Vertical lines (which are lined up from left to right on your screen) just determine field of view.

A standard TV has 480 horizontal lines and 640 vertical lines. (640x480)

A 720p native television has at least 720 horizontal and 1280 vertical lines but may also have 768 horizontal and 1366 vertical line.

A 1080i native TV has 1080 horizontal lines and 1920 vertical lines.

Monitors are made with all kinds of native resolutions. A modern 19" definitely has at least 768 horizontal lines and may have 1024 or 1050 horizontal lines, so it's definitely HD.

Did that help or make it more confusing?

Yeah, I understand all the hd jargon on lines and such, but was unsure what a regular crt monitor would be able to output from an HD perspective...I assumed it to be near or actual HD quality since mine is atleast 1024x768. So yeah that definitely answers my question and now its off to ebay to score some vga cables and pick up a female to female vga adapter from somewhere.

The xbox 360 VGA cables plug directly into your monitor.

For more CRT monitors he will need a female to female adapter. The CRT monitor probably has a male end. The XBOX 360 VGA cables have a male end.

Female to female adapters come with the new HDMI 360 boxes for this very purpose.

JDOGG: I bet you can find the adapter around town (Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc.) for a couple of bucks.

One thing people need to be thinking about is their AUDIO. How the heck are you guys going to get audio from your XBOX?

Slayer uses portable PC speakers. Most people have at least one pair of old computer speakers somewhere. You can get small speakers for $5 at some stores.

Heck, Creative makes some really cool portable (travel) speakers. They go for about $10 on eBay.

While you are at it, you might want to buy an RCA to 3.5mm adapter so that you can plug your RCA audio cable into the adapter then into the speakers. Again, the HDMI enabled 360's have this adapter.

I think this might work, but I'll check to see if anyone's tried it. I'd like to plug the RCA Audio outputs from the xbox (L and R/white and red) into a female composite to female 1/4" stereo adapter, and plug headphones into the female 1/4" stereo jack. The composite audio outputs from the 360 SHOULD be a line-level signal, similar to the level of signal headphones normally receive from devices like a walkman.

I know for a fact that the opposite works, i.e. an adapter w/ a male 1/4" stereo to two male RCA plugs, and using it to send my iPod's line-level, headphone signal to my receiver to play on my home stereo.

My logic would tell me the that vice versa is true, but I've been known to be wrong before... ;)

Yeah, I have to get a female-female adapter to connect the 2 since mine has the male end. I do however have an RCA - 3.5mm adapter so I should in theory be able to just plug that into my little sub to get the audio out...i think.

since Fou1breed and i are the only Falwells with 360/TVs.i'm totaly up for split screening with my bros,i just wana effin LAN some stuff!!

Purchased: Joytech Xbox360 VGA Cable, new, $20
Purchased: Cheap Satellite PC Speakers, new, $15

I'm ready for a BYOS.

Currently Playing: CoD4 Beta, Bioshock

I've sold some stuff on eBay recently. I'm thinking about getting the Tritton headpwns.

Sweet. And it's good to hear you didn't throw your money away on a more expensive cable. ;)