Off Topic Discussions

[red5]

Just looking for some thoughts and suggestions as I plan the redesign. I have to get things up and running by sometime in October for our annual FRAGfest.  The yellow area is countertop that will be mounted to my block wall in the basement. I plan to have shelves at about eye height (when standing) to hold PC towers so people can show off their rigs while gaming and keeping them off the floor. I'll also be having outlets ran and flush mounted into the countertops using 2 dedicated 20 amp 110 volt circuits. On the far left wall is where the TV will go for console gaming.  The 3 black squares in the middle of the room are support posts for the floor joists. They're actually round and only about as big around as roll of toilet paper.  Waiting for a callback from a contractor to get some estimates.

[negahnepoc]

pretty sure you've over estimated the amount of seating. Seeing as the dimension is 32' and your not going all the way to the end, your only giving roughly 2.5'-3' of room per setup.

[red5]

My previous setup used individual desks in a row, and they were only 30" wide. I had dozens of people game on them and nobody complained. I had 10 of those desks with PCs at them, and then if anyone wanted to bring their own rigs I had 6 foot long tables they could set up at.

[red5]

[negahnepoc]

• Cool looks awesome. I wasn’t knocking your plan at all just pointing out how close they were together. Not sure how long ago it was like that but with todays troubles with Covid and whatever might consider a tad more elbow room. But no one knows your clients better than you since you’ve done this before. If your looking to add more that right hand wall looks ideal for more stations. 

[red5]

I actually probably will make that 4 along each section of wall to be safe.  Opposite that I'll have space to set up those 6 foot tables with folding legs for overflow. Yeah Covid is still a thing, so I'll have to make sure people aren't showing up if they have symptoms or have been around people who test positive.  ** edit - they aren't clients, just friends, family, and random strangers who join our Facebook gaming group and come over to game.

[negahnepoc]

Sounds good I think 4 per area should work great gives a little room to rage lmao. 

[filinux]

First off, your $#*@! AWESOME!!  

In a world where we are more and more separated from actual human interaction, often by the technology that is supposed to bring us "together",  you are doing the work to have the best of all worlds come together in the name of FUN!!  I used to love to host LAN parties and have lots of happy memories of gaming, meeting new people, and groups of young nerds (Nerd Cred is a badge of honor to me) battling just as much about how the tech should be setup as they actually fought in the games.  If some of the folks from those days ever see this I say with pride TOKEN RING DID NOT BECOME THE STANDARD!!!  Yes I stooped down to a told ya so.    More then anything in this post I want to applaud you for your efforts to be the guy that makes it happen.

When I first looked at your setup area per player/equipment was the first thing that caught my eye like others have said.  Not for COVID but just area needed for peoples setups and to be comfortable.   Looks like you are already looking into power & distribution and with todays PC's gulping it down your needs will be great.  The HIGH temps here in Ohio the last few days also has me curious about cooling, condensation, and fresh air.  A basement is usually great for keeping things cooler but it can also turn into a sweatbox if there is even a little moisture.    Have you decided what type of router & switch your going to use yet?

I hope that we get to see more pics & updates as things progress.  It is not a possibility for me at this time but seeing this makes me hope in the future I will be able to do the same again myself.  

Have F U N !! 

[DazzlingCrimson]

You bring up a very good point about AC...it could potentially get very steamy down there.  I hope the OP reads and considers this!

[red5]

I've had 19 PCs gaming at one time in the middle of July and it got a whopping 72 degrees. LOL.  I think that was even with the AC vents closed.  It's an 1,800 square foot basement so it's easy to keep cool. I have a dehumidifier down there, plus the AC vents, so it isn't humid or anything. It's nice and comfy. 

To whomever said something about cubicles, there won't be any walls between people. It will just be a long desktop surface.  A circular setup with people facing each other would just waste space. People are looking at the screens constantly while gaming, so they're oblivious to the people around them. Then after a round, or a match or whatever, people will usually push themselves away from their desk and talk smack to everyone.

Here is a short video of a bunch of us playing Heroes of the Storm a few years ago. You can hopefully get a grasp on why having a bunch of people playing in person is so much fun. The level of engagement is just something you can't get playing online.  I've never had anyone come to a LAN party and not prefer it over online play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_yjvVCir7E

[red5]

@filinuxHey, I'm in Ashland, OH.  You should join our Facebook gaming group if you'd be interested in attending LAN parties.  That's the best way I've found to organize events and keep in touch with everyone.

[red5]

I have a Nighthawk AC1900 router.  I have a Netgear Prosafe 16 port gigabit switch and then 3 or 4 gigabit dumb switches I set up as needed depending on how many people attend. I have several 6 foot tables I set up for overflow.  My internet is 300 down and 20 up, and generally low latency.  Gaming really doesn't take that much bandwidth. The Nighthawk has built in QoS to prioritize gaming traffic, so it works really well.  I have multiple 20 amp circuits in my basement, so power is not a problem either.

[DazzlingCrimson]

Honestly, I really like the idea of people facing each other and being able to see each other's faces - or at least part of them - while gaming.  I think having people isolated in their own little cubicles lined up side-by-side defeats the purpose.  If you can't see the other people you're playing with, then why not just stay home?  I would love to see the seating layout redesigned so that it's set up like a big circle, around the poles.  To me, that would just make it more sociable.

Just my two cents.

[burstfadehc]

When designing a new LAN gaming setup, prioritize comfort and ergonomics with a comfortable chair and proper monitor placement. Use ambient lighting for atmosphere, manage cables for a clean look, and choose a theme or color scheme that reflects your style. Invest in a spacious gaming desk, consider a multi-monitor setup if possible, and personalize the space with gaming-themed decor. Ensure proper storage solutions for accessories and showcase your gaming PC if it has a visually appealing design.