The Dead Gamers Society is a gaming group located in Medina, Ohio. We get together for LAN Parties where we hang out, play video games, and generally have fun doing computer related activities. Throughout the day we enjoy playing a variety of games, file sharing, watching movies on the home theater, tinkering with interesting hardware, and having dinner together (usually pizza or grilling).
What is a LAN Party? A LAN party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous, gathering of people with computers, between which they establish a local area network (LAN), primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. They can range in size from 3-4 people in a garage, to over 3000 people gathering in Dallas for Quakecon. The DGS usually hosts 10-20 people every 3 months.
Where are the DGS LAN Parties? DGS LANs are hosted by one of the admins, in his/her home. Most of the time Mike hosts in Medina, OH, which is just west of Akron. The address will be posted the day of the event on the home page since it’s a private address. Make sure to check the announcement for the general location and follow up on the day of the event for directions.
Can I come? Sure! We welcome anyone with a non-toxic attitude. Join and say hi on the Discord channel or Facebook page first! Be familiar with the information on this page and we’ll all have a good time.
Is there a cost for admission? There is usually no cost other than food sharing. This may be party-dependent so read the announcement to make sure. We do request that people bring at least one 12-pack of soda or snacks for attendees to share, and a dinner buy-in is usually around $5 for pizza.
What games do you guys play? This varies each time, but typically we can be found playing:
- Competitive First Person Shooter games such as Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Overwatch, PUBG
- Free-2-Play (or cheap) obscure games like Orion Dino Horde, Pirates Vikings & Knights 2
- Rocket League / Trackmania type car games.
- MMOs such as World of Warcraft and Star Trek Online
- Throwback old games such as Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight and Quake 3 Arena
- I always want to get a big game of Serious Sam going but it never seems to happen…
What do I need to bring? You should bring the following:
- Your Computer + Monitor
- A power strip/surge protector and all power cables
- Your keyboard, mouse, and mousepad (people always forget mousepads)
- A gamepad/joystick if you plan to play games requiring one
- Headphones (speakers may be used if they are kept at a low volume)
- A 25ft category 5e/6 ethernet cable
- Any software you may need
- A community snack or soda donation and dinner money
Do I have to bring a computer? No, you don’t have to. We do usually have at least one “house” computer you can use, although it’s not the fastest thing in the world. You might end up sharing it with other people. You are welcome to come by just to hang out, watch movies, or play on the PS3. You’ll still be asked to bring a snack or soda as well as dinner money (if applicable). But you should bring your computer! It’s worth the hassle.
What is the network like? The DGS features a gigabit network connection throughout the entire LAN. It is powered by one TP-Link TL-SG1048 48 port ethernet switch with 2 Dell 5324s in reserve as backup and uses Category 5e cable. The LAN features DHCP for easy configuration. All you have to do is plug in, and you’re good to go! Two file servers provide game installs and reduce internet traffic.
Is there internet? The party does have a 200/10 internet connection provided by Spectrum. A dedicated PFSense firewall/router acts as our DHCP server and traffic shaper. It will provide you with a decent amount of bandwidth for web browsing, IM clients, and online gaming, but it will prioritize low latency for games over fast download speeds.
How can I get games or other files at the LAN? We have a few file servers that host many of the more common game installers and patches which you can use to install without downloading from the internet. You’ll find it’s a lot faster to do it over the LAN rather than the internet. If the servers don’t have a copy of the game, chances are someone else does so it’s usually not an issue. The file server also runs a Direct Connect hub which allows users to browse each others’ files and download directly from each other as well. If you are running Windows, DC++ is a good client to use to connect to the DC hub. Remember to set up DC++ a day before the LAN to hash your files for best results.
Is Alcohol allowed? Yes, provided you don’t get drunk. Don’t get the LAN in trouble with law officials or neighbors because you can’t control yourself. If you get into any fights or anything, you’ll be asked not to come back. Also, alcohol doesn’t count towards the snack/soda donation. If there are people under 21, make sure they can’t get to it.
Is Smoking allowed? Outside, please.
As a last note and final request, the party is (usually) held at Mike’s house in Medina, so please be respectful to the house, the wife and kids, and the neighbors!