Gents as you know we had 3 LAN virgins here are 2 of the 3 feedback will post up more when I get it
QuoteMyopic Sniper
1. I liked the organisation - I felt like things ran well, you coped with problems well and people were patient!
2. I hated the steaks that the restaurant served. I'm not sure if I was just unlucky - both my steaks were cooked beyond all recognition and I complained both times. When I go back, I think I'll steer clear of them! Also the quality of the meat in the 4 steaks that I cut into sucked. For a £20 meal, I expect something a bit better.
3. My expectations of the LAN weren't really aligned with what you provided. I expected more competitive play. I understand now that LAN is more about getting people together and socialising. I personally would run it with a larger quantity of competitions - maybe introduce leagues for players who don't play a game so often. I felt bad when I got whooped by a player who plays something regularly. I noticed that Ninja also got so mad that he rage-quitted rocket league. During the csgo team matches, I was put in a squad with a load of new players who couldn't shoot for toffee - I didn't enjoy it at all. Maybe you ought to separate the newbies from the regulars now and again to foster the idea of people learning a game? it'll also improve the enjoyment for all involved.
4. Finally - to end on a good note. I love the community. All the guys are really nice - even the ones that are a pain in your ass. I didn't meet anyone that I wouldn't get on with. I really hope to be a useful part of this group for some time to come!
Quote RougeTaylor
where to start.... first of a big thanks to you and ninja for sorting the whole thing out. Both you did a great job and i felt it went all very well and i dont think i could thanks you enough for it, the both of you were very freindly and considerate. It was a amazing weekend and i can't fault it at all. The whole thing ran amazing and was just a blast to be there with everyone, to enjoy game and to meet some new people aswell. The whole thing felt very social which surprised me in a way i was expecting people to just sit at their tables and that was all but a lot of people were there to talk and just enjoy the whole thing not just the games.
The LAN was amazing tho toby i enjoyed every bit of it ands was sad when i got home to think i won't get to see them guys for a few months now till the next one which i just have to come out now i had a taste of it and just need to come to more to meet all you guys again and just have a good weekend with this group of people which feels like a family in a way. If aloud i would love to join in on the next one and if i can help in anyway then please say, i will try to think of more ideas for the next lan to make it a bit more different one of them was maybe getting people to play unreal tournament 3, since this might be a game where we can all play with out having trouble getting together and it's based on one of the games they had at the first LAN.
QuoteJewelzy^
The best way to give you my feedback would be to just give you my overall experience. I set off from my house at about 7am and after 2 and a bit hours of Kareoke and talking to myself in the car insanity was just about starting to kick in. Anyway when I arrived at 9:30 to the Oliver Cromwell I walked through the door nearest the LAN hall and swiftly discovered no receptionists or reception area. I walked, rather awkwardly, into a hall with various computer setups and people staring at me whilst I stared back. Then much to my relief a man with long hair said "Jewelz????" And then much to my relief the awkwardness was over and No Peanuts introduced himself. Shortly after Myopic Sniper introduced themselves and they both very quickly offered to help get my gear out the car.
Top marks for helpfullness - Something you would naturally expect from dMw. I think the original awkwardness could be fixed by a welcoming team or something like that? Sure it was 9:30 and people were having breakfast/still in bed. But yeah, you get the idea. Only a minor thing cause it was literally seconds, but boy were they long seconds.
Back to the story.
Once all my gear was gathered in the corner I swiftly plugged everything in.. and no post.. Swarms of people started to gather, cables were checked and oh.. display port not plugged into properly. Doh! Thanks Gunda. Whilst installing my PC I am greeted by many people, Rogue, Sparko, yourself. Sparko (I think) then introduced me to the people having lunch whilst we went to get my key (we were sharing a room) Shortly after we went to shops to get supplies for the weekend ahead, I got myself some sweets, minirolls and some coke, naturally.
As we returned to the LAN I wasn't too sure what we was meant to be doing, I'm not much of a daytime gamer. So I played some Overwatch with Gunda which then people joined 1 by 1 as they saw us playing. It spread like wildfire and shortly after we were setting up 6v6 full of LAN go'ers. Madness! As the day went on I felt I knew half the room and all my mental images of people had been swapped with their actual faces. But that still left the other half which I still don't know who they are.
As the day was coming to an end dinner time come about and boy was I ready for Steak! The tables went in, one by one, and as we were the last table we sat at the bar. Myself, Pesteh, Tox, Blunt, Rogue and some other guy. As we sat down for dinner the other guy walked away to which I asked the table - who is that? Nobody knew/couldn't remember his name. He clearly wasnt a CSGO'er we'd of known him. He came back and we sat talking about pets/gaming blah blah blah. 5 Minutes after I had finished my steak the LAN speech? had begun and my initiation was due. This was were I was introduced to the LAN with shots. Thank god it was shots, I can't do pints. I felt rough doing all those shots after my steak, but I managed to keep it down, which is good, and saved me the embarrassment.
After being introduced to the LAN I felt much more at ease, everyone now knows who I am after all, the only problem being I don't know who they are. The evening went on and we eventually got ****ed and played CS:GO. Fantastic, all talk on, singing along to various crap and generally ****ing about on the public server. Something that never happens normally, so a welcome change. At about 1am the night fizzled out and I went to bed.
Saturday morning, tournament day! My body clock woke me up at 7am, as it does everyday, except this time was daughter wasn't there to poke me in the eye. Morning Daddy! I sneak around my hotel room and try not to wake Sparko up. I get my shower things out of my bag and wake Sparko up, balls! Skipping past this bit, I have a shower and have breakfast. Mmmm fry ups, Sparko and I join Ninj who is sat on a table on his lonesome. 1 by 1 other LAN goer's trickle in all bleary eyed and gather their breakfasts. Breakfasts are finished and we head into the gaming room. I enter all competitions because, you've got to be in it to win it, right?
1st Comp - Rocket League.
Now this is something I've played before. I got paired with Paddy, he has also played before. We destroy our first opposition, 5-1 I believe it was. 2nd game was abit closer, we were 2-1 with 30 seconds to go and came back to win 2-3. Then the final. 8-1 up after 3 minutes. Slightly unfair to say the least. Potentially, luck of the draw? Maybe experienced players could be paired with non-experienced players.
2nd Comp - L4D2
Well let's just not talk about this. We got destroyed. I cried for hours.
3rd Comp - NvG Deagles.
First off, what is Nvg? Who is it? I got paired with Pesteh with this, a CS:GO player with a similar skill level to me (although I'm slightly better ;) ) Sure enough as a lot of people expected us too, we won. And why shouldn't we? We both play CS:GO nearly every night. Again, slightly unfair teams (see rocket league) but all very good fun! Also, why does this comp have a trophy and the others don't?
4th Comp - Overwatch
Being a new game, nobody really had an edge on this. I had a good team of FPS'ers and we still lost. There is alot more to this game than just being good at shooting. This has dMw written all over it. Work as a team or fail. A fair competition and fun ever for the losers. Well done to the winners.
5th Comp - CS:GO
Granted this turning into a bit of a moan, but unfair teams again. I was in a team where I was the only CS:GO reg against a team with with 4 Regs. Sure to say we got destroyed, which was unsurprising, but we all laughed it off. Well played team.
That was it, competitions over. 2 wins out of 5. Not bad for a LAN virgin.
The night went on, cider was consumed and CS:GO was my game of choice. I appear to play better when ****ed, or it maybe because everyone else was more ****ed. Either way, I was doing well and was very happy, as I have been all weekend. The night drew to a close with some rocket league, which was hilarious. And I went to bed at 1am again.
Sunday morning, going home day. Breakfast was had, PC was packed up, speeches were made, tears were shed, handshakes were traded and I headed home on the hottest day of the year. What a fun day to sit on the M2 for an hour. It took me 3 and a half hours to get home.
A few criticisms in there, but please don't take offense. The LAN was run perfectly and they are criticisms because you asked for them, because you wanted them!
My suggestions would be -
A welcoming team/person. Someone to greet the newcomers and introduce them to everybody.
Fairer teams - Maybe a bucket for game regs and a bucket for 'noobs' then you can spread the regs out.
Alternative comps - They all seem very shooty.
Feel free to post this for others to see. Grab me on TS if you wish to discuss.
Thank YOU for a fantastic LAN. I will be trying my best to get to the October LAN, if you'll have me.
Adam
It's unfortunate that Myopic came away feeling like that.
I didn't have steak as I was so skint so unaware of the kitchen's performance. He should have received his money back tbh.
Not sure I agree with the comps comment. If we had 50 or 60 gamers then yes we could run leagues and probably play all night. I guess he doesn't understand that we're catering to a wide audience.
What I did notice about Myopic was that he was consumed by some single player game he was playing.
I'm glad that Rogue had a good time. We went the extra mile with him as he was so uncomfortable in large crowds.
OP has been updated!
Not a bad idea about splitting up the regs for comps. Easy enough to do and may make it a little more fun?