Multiplay Insomnia. What do *you* do when you go, if you go?

[DodgeeRascal]

Ive never been to one of these before but quite tempted to give it a go. Couple of Q's...

* Is there a designated PC area with loadsa desks all lined up and do you get your own desk?

* Can you sleep under your desk if you are not camping?

* Do you play on Multiplay servers against/with other people at the event (maybe even sat next to you) or is it normal internet access to play on other servers outside the event in games like BF3, CS:S etc?

There are 2 main gaming halls with rows of desks going all the way to the back and you get half a table for your monitor/pc, is a large enough space to play comfortably imo. I go with a friend so we usually pick seats on the same table .

Unfortunately you can't sleep under your desks for H&S reasons, security roam the hall now and again and will wake you up and ask you to go somewhere else. An 'indoor resting area' was trialed last event and for a small fee you get like a 2x2m area to sleep on the floor in one of the rooms there. There are discounted hotels on the site for the weekend but it's still not very cheap. I just camp

From my experience I've mostly played on internet servers but there is usually a set of LAN servers online for the popular games and people often post of the forums or send a message out on IRC that they will be setting one up for games of XYZ etc.

 

[On Holiday]

Officially, you cannot sleep under your desk, they *normally* have security that do a random check down the aisles to make sure nobody is sleeping, but at the last event they didn't bother which I'm guessing is due to the freak weather

EDIT: beaten to it

This was an event last year

Spoiler

 

[4p]

I went to all of the ones that were based just outside of Coventry, forgot the locations name.

They started to decline as the economy did really, less exhibitions, the second hall was only half full, prize money dropped, entrants fell. It was great when it was great, for me anyway.

Whilst my team and I 'competed' at CoD4 I spent A LOT of time and money getting drunk with a lot of people from the 'scene'.

Camping was a laugh, but the hostel was cheap and worth it.. Showers toilets etc..

Haven't touched a competitive game since 'the fall' of CoD4. Binned my PC and laptop, concentrated on uni and all that. However, I would definately considering going to another one in the future.

Basically, go a group of friends and you will enjoy it so much more.

edit: Just looked at prize money tourneys @ http://iseries.multiplay.co.uk/i49/tournaments/

Back in 'my day' there would be 10k-15k prize pots with huge sponsors but that stopped after a while, guess it never really picked up after that. SHame.

 

[neoglow]

Officially, you cannot sleep under your desk, they *normally* have security that do a random check down the aisles to make sure nobody is sleeping, but at the last event they didn't bother which I'm guessing is due to the freak weather

EDIT: beaten to it

This was an event last year

Spoiler

Wow, thats a lot of computers. I see what you mean about the desks, they are the flimsy type with no side panels so yeah sleeping under one would be a squeeze and may interfere with others next to you/opposite you. Im just not keen on leaving my rig in a room with hundreds of strangers and unattended whilst I go and sleep in a tent or hostel.

Im still really up for going though as it looks like good fun.

 

[Akagi]

Wow, thats a lot of computers. I see what you mean about the desks, they are the flimsy type with no side panels so yeah sleeping under one would be a squeeze and may interfere with others next to you/opposite you. Im just not keen on leaving my rig in a room with hundreds of strangers and unattended whilst I go and sleep in a tent or hostel.

Im still really up for going though as it looks like good fun.

Thousands

 

[Akagi]

Do the lights get dimmed at any point? I don't fancy gaming in bright light all the time. I prefer the dark with just the ambient light from screens

There also doesn't appear to be much space for each person?

It's also going to be a bit odd gaming while in a chair with no arms

 

[On Holiday]

Yeah they usually aren't full on like that, they're dimmed in the afternoon and at night turned off completely (or that's what I noticed at i48 anyway!)

You can also take your own chair, but that might be difficult if you don't have the room/getting a lift off someone

 

[Akagi]

Yeah they usually aren't full on like that, they're dimmed in the afternoon and at night turned off completely (or that's what I noticed at i48 anyway!)

You can also take your own chair, but that might be difficult if you don't have the room/getting a lift off someone

Hmm... It would make it easy to wheel the computer around atop my chair... I don't know how big the guy's car is yet see.

 

[skylineboy]

Decided I am gonna go. I will be sorting a LAN rig out and will need to investigate transport from Cheltenham. Any suggestions? Going on my own also I think...

 

[BigChief]

i49 is already up to 1400 people booked. Once the wedding and honeymoon are paid for I can then think about booking my ticket.

 

[orderoftheflame]

I just get royally smashed in a tent with mates I haven't seen for ages, then spend all of the days watching crap on YouTube hungover.

Not sure about this gaming lark there.

Decided I am gonna go. I will be sorting a LAN rig out and will need to investigate transport from Cheltenham. Any suggestions? Going on my own also I think...

The above said... I went to my very first I-series on my own after mates pulled out. Had a great time and met loads of new mates I kept in touch with for years.

And there'll be a load of ocuk people as well.

 

[iKettles]

I just get royally smashed in a tent with mates I haven't seen for ages, then spend all of the days watching crap on YouTube hungover.

Not sure about this gaming lark there.

This

It is an awesome weekend regardless of how much gaming is done. Camping does add to the fun but after the blizzard of i48 I'm firmly set on hotels from now on

Here's a good read about the security situation:
http://forums.multiplay.co.uk/insomnia48/94636-security-issues-solutions

It's not necessarily the other 2500 participants on the rob, day spectator passes can be had for £5 and the general population of Telford seems to consist of teen mums and gippos (no offence to any Telfordians here..)

There certainly is a security problem however this is the first event in the 6 I've been to where there's been more than one reported theft. Taking the usual precautions like kensington locks and taking peripherals back to tent/hotel at night is a good idea. Whilst if a thief wants to steal something they will get it, making it harder for them along the way definitely puts them off Make friends with the people down your row and ask them to keep an eye on your stuff and you shouldn't have any problems.

I really would recommend going with a clan as the build up to LAN is always exciting and whilst I haven't been to a LAN on my own I can imagine you twiddling your thumbs as the social aspect to LAN is pretty dominant. TFU (thefallenunit.co.uk) consists of plenty of OcUK members, we attend both Spring and Summer LANs and are a friendly bunch of guys/girls BigClan also take on board any refugees for the weekend, they can be found over at their website or on the Multiplay forums

Give us a shout if you want some more info!

 

[orderoftheflame]

I'll reiterate what Kettles says about security. I've never had a problem at any of the ones I've been to, but obviously people do.

I Kensington lock everything on my desk, including peripherals. You can get some locks where you can thread cables through as well. Alternativly ziplock it to a Kensington cable, if they need tools to get something, it's not worth the effort.

Anything not bolted down goes in my bag and in the car overnight. If people are going to grab something it'll be something left quick and easy to swipe.

Also ask the person next to you to watch your kit when you go away quickly to get food or have a cheeky whizz. And do the same when they do.

Also I learnt my lesson last year, I'm bringing a towel and actually having a shower this time. I was thinking of festival style showers so avoided it but they sounded quite decent and a very nice thing to have in a morning (while I was sat there stewing in my own juices ).

You better do. It's bad enough with Craig flat out refusing to wash.

 

[Admiral Huddy]

There is a loop for a padlock on my case, I guess i could just use that. But it looks like someone could just bend it repeatedly and snap it off.

Like most things, if they want it bad enough, they'll have it.

Staples do a really large plastic box (145l) that could be easily be modified for padlocks so you can put all you stuff in there, incl your case, then lock it to the desk

 

[iKettles]

At a previous LAN (Newbury) one of the TFU fellas found an old box and converted it to the "lockbox of win"

Fits everybody's peripherals and beer etc, beefy padlock and then a large chain to the wall. Certainly saved a lot of hassle

Dwarfy on Multiplay forums used to be able to get something similar made but I'm unsure if he still does. Definitely a worthy investment for a large group Here's the thread:
http://forums.multiplay.co.uk/general-chat/67803-clan-security-boxes

 

[Akagi]

Just booking my ticket. Do we have an OcUK clan? So I have something to put in 'clan tag'

 

[Woogie]

Decided I am gonna go. I will be sorting a LAN rig out and will need to investigate transport from Cheltenham. Any suggestions? Going on my own also I think...

If you are looking for a large group to go with then you are more than welcome to come and sit with and say hi to the bigclan group. We meet new people every event and are constantly growing, happy group of people. Just pop over to the website (in my sig) sign up to the forums and introduce yourself. At last count we have close to 50 members paid up for I49 and as I said we welcome anyone with a sense of humor with open arms.

At a previous LAN (Newbury) one of the TFU fellas found an old box and converted it to the "lockbox of win"

Fits everybody's peripherals and beer etc, beefy padlock and then a large chain to the wall. Certainly saved a lot of hassle

Dwarfy on Multiplay forums used to be able to get something similar made but I'm unsure if he still does. Definitely a worthy investment for a large group Here's the thread:
http://forums.multiplay.co.uk/general-chat/67803-clan-security-boxes

One of our group Dwarfy has been doing this for ages to the point where after the spate of thefts at I48 he got requests to make them for others again on the Multiplay forum

 

[valkia]

LAN is amazing and we are booked for the rest of the year also. Next is the summer LAN which will be my 10th or 11th LAN.

It would be good to get a presence from the OcUK forums going down, most likely i'm looking to run a competition to win some tickets too! So that should be pretty good.


Pub quiz / gaming / exhibitors hall / opening ceremony / BOAT RACE!

Regards,

Valkia

(I normally never tip on the boat race, this was an order from the ED) haha

 

[Akagi]

What is this boat race of which you speak? Also, is there an OcUK clan or shall I leave the clan box empty?

 

[Woogie]

What is this boat race of which you speak? Also, is there an OcUK clan or shall I leave the clan box empty?

Drinking competition between punters and Multiplay

Tried for a while to get Bigclan included in it so a 3 way and they said no.

So bigclan had there own boatrace at I43