The "PC Games" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
You've got a new PC so what should you do with your old PC connect them together and play over LAN of course. You'll need 2 NIC and a Twisted pair cable, configure it and play. But you'll end up having to buy 1 cd for each PC. So is it really worth it?
Page:
Going to be building a LAN server for our works and home between a couple of mates of mine here, all 3 of us have ADSL so should be having a bit of a laugh either online when at home or (soon) over 100mb network at home.
A LAN is, in gamers eyes, the equivalent to all yer mates coming over and playing on the console with the screen split 16ways and multiplying it by like a million.
The hassle of setting up a lan is secondary to the amount of fun you can have. First and foremost the screen isn't split and therefore you can actually see what you are doing :). Another benefit, although some more dishonest people will see this as a drawback, is that it is harder to see where people are. By this I mean you can't see what other people are doing, in a FPS game you can't see who and where people are camping. Brings out the element of suprise (especially great for dark atmospheric games like Aliens Versus Predator).
This type of gaming is better, yes better, than playing over the internet as the connection is pretty fast only really the speed of your computer can dictate if your pc slows down(I am speaking generally here). Plus on most occasions you actually know who you are playing and brag when you have managed cut your mate in half while running up a wall in Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast (amazing game, mp is not as good as single player though).
If you are thinking that lans are expensive, well yes and no. Firstly if you are having it in your home then yeah the electricity bill will jump up (that's okay if you live a home and don't pay rent), that takes care of the location of the lan. You can ask all your mates to come round with their pcs therefore no need to shell out on buying computers (they need to have their own network cards, costs very little from Special reserve).
How do you connect these computers, this is the most expensive part in most cases, you will require Network cables and if you have more than 2 pcs a HUB. I think all are available at Special reserve, I haven't checked in a while, however if you get all your lan mates to contribute some dosh then it's no problem. My quick advice is that if you are paying thousands of pounds for all this then your buying the network components from the wrong place. It is a good idea to have a good assortment of games with various genres. Counterstrike is always a favourite along with Command and Conquor and Starcraft varants. Usually you don't require the cd's to play mulitplayer but if you do go to "http://www.##########.###" (website address removed so message could be displayed) and you can get files to allow you to play multiplayer without the cd.
LAN WARNING: LAN's can be detrimental to your school/university work and may result in lack of sleep.
The hassle of setting up a lan is secondary to the amount of fun you can have. First and foremost the screen isn't split and therefore you can actually see what you are doing :). Another benefit, although some more dishonest people will see this as a drawback, is that it is harder to see where people are. By this I mean you can't see what other people are doing, in a FPS game you can't see who and where people are camping. Brings out the element of suprise (especially great for dark atmospheric games like Aliens Versus Predator).
This type of gaming is better, yes better, than playing over the internet as the connection is pretty fast only really the speed of your computer can dictate if your pc slows down(I am speaking generally here). Plus on most occasions you actually know who you are playing and brag when you have managed cut your mate in half while running up a wall in Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast (amazing game, mp is not as good as single player though).
If you are thinking that lans are expensive, well yes and no. Firstly if you are having it in your home then yeah the electricity bill will jump up (that's okay if you live a home and don't pay rent), that takes care of the location of the lan. You can ask all your mates to come round with their pcs therefore no need to shell out on buying computers (they need to have their own network cards, costs very little from Special reserve).
How do you connect these computers, this is the most expensive part in most cases, you will require Network cables and if you have more than 2 pcs a HUB. I think all are available at Special reserve, I haven't checked in a while, however if you get all your lan mates to contribute some dosh then it's no problem. My quick advice is that if you are paying thousands of pounds for all this then your buying the network components from the wrong place. It is a good idea to have a good assortment of games with various genres. Counterstrike is always a favourite along with Command and Conquor and Starcraft varants. Usually you don't require the cd's to play mulitplayer but if you do go to "http://www.##########.###" (website address removed so message could be displayed) and you can get files to allow you to play multiplayer without the cd.
LAN WARNING: LAN's can be detrimental to your school/university work and may result in lack of sleep.
i dont need to do that as we have the college network. oh its true its true.
I'm considering i11.
Ooh, I was considering fragworld...at least you get a net connection there. Must get more of you people to i-series..
This message comes to you from the Fragworld LAN party (www.fragworld.co.uk)!!
There's about 90 peepz here and we're just setting the lot up. Sub-20 ping on CS - mmmmmm...
There's about 90 peepz here and we're just setting the lot up. Sub-20 ping on CS - mmmmmm...
Hum..would've replied before..but I was at a LAN. i10. 904 people, ownage. Excellent fun, but no escape when you lose and the victors can come over and taunt you.
"One CD per machine"? Hell, Jedi Knight was played abit on friday, about 20 people were playing it, by the end of the weekend every other person had it.
"One CD per machine"? Hell, Jedi Knight was played abit on friday, about 20 people were playing it, by the end of the weekend every other person had it.
well well well, lannage!!!! I love lanning and i par take in it frequently. I have been to a 20 person LAN before and it was fine, we all played Counter Strike, AvP2 and MOHAA. Other games included Red Alert 2 but not many people really could be bothered to play it. If u wanted to organise a LAN like that you would need to a rent a hall or like us, have a house to yourselves. We used an 18 person hub and another 4 person hub I believe and it all ran smoothly once we managed to get everyones network settings up or if u were like me, realise that you network card has been disabled in the Properties. I am going to a LAN this week as it happens. Its not going to a be a big one but there should be about 6 people there.
In general, you don't need a CD per machine, but there are exceptions I know of (mainly FPS's).
The simplest form of networking is peer-to-peer, but I don't recommend it for more than two PCs.
Your best best is to to go with the RJ45 hub/NIC set-up. Can be pricey (depends if you go the 10meg or 10/100 route) but can be used to share peripherals such as printers as well as setting up file sharing.
If you're only after multiplayer gaming, a 10meg network is all that's needed on a small network (16 or less machines) and is pretty easy to set-up.
The simplest form of networking is peer-to-peer, but I don't recommend it for more than two PCs.
Your best best is to to go with the RJ45 hub/NIC set-up. Can be pricey (depends if you go the 10meg or 10/100 route) but can be used to share peripherals such as printers as well as setting up file sharing.
If you're only after multiplayer gaming, a 10meg network is all that's needed on a small network (16 or less machines) and is pretty easy to set-up.
Page: