SNP 2010

Above is a video explaining click-by-click how to set your Steam software to offline mode before coming to the party which does not have Internet access. This is important. This is important: set your Steam to offline mode.

Along with that priority reminder, below is a list of other things to keep in mind:

• $25 donations are a minimum entry fee, this is for charity
• no outside food or drink, all consumables will be sold at the event for $1 (water, juice, caffeine, chocolate, gummies…)
• run an anti-virus check before unplugging everything and coming (it’s nothing against you, but if you have a virus it can spread across the LAN to everybody else, and who gets blamed? The sick children at the hospital, so please think of the children)
• come at anytime during the night (so if you get off work late you don’t have to miss ALL the fun)
• photos will be taken, and you can opt out on the waiver (which you should bring unless your mom is coming, too)
• expect to earn your prizes; our partners have worked hard to come up with great products for all of us
• be prepared for 12-hours of full-blast fun!

Pizza is available through a community pot. Throw in $5 at 8PM for some pizza.

No outside food or drink: the phrase haunts the best of you in your sleep. What will you do for food and drink at this event? Here is the answer you implore:

Chip in: pay $5 for two slices of pizza at 8 PM and have warm, delicious pizza just after 9 PM. Pepperoni and cheese available.

Drinks: come prepared to pay $1 for any can of soda. Some sodas contain caffeine which should help those who like to have a bit of energy at their desk.

Snacks: chocolate bars and sweets will be available at varying prices (around $1 per item) and run all night long as a canteen, where the rest of the food will be available.

All profits made from your hunger and thirst will go toward the charity fund, so go ahead and load up those plates because you’re helping the children down at the Hotel Dieu Child Development Centre! Make sure to bring extra cash and eat dinner before arriving so as to sustain yourself with hunger.

Lots of words: not on our waiver

Having dealt with all the legal jargon, the lawyers, the public dispute and criticisms, the official SNP LAN Party Waiver has been released! (In 5 provinces only, others pending.)

All jokes aside folks, you must have a waiver signed by a parent, guardian or 18-year-old-or-older-self handed in at the doors before coming into the event hall or you will not be permitted. Why is that? I thought this would be a safe and legal LAN party. The answer is that even though the chaperons, police force, and property owners will go out of their way to protect you it is by no means their responsibility and signing this waiver ensures that you legally agree to just that. Your well-being is ultimately in your hands, be it sleep deprivation, theft or a mild case of carpel tunnel. Your person, your computer and your belongings are your responsibility and if you do not want to accept this complete responsibility you are not allowed to enter the event, even if you’ve donated already.

It’s really a legal matter, as sinister as it sounds, and for those who don’t already know that SNP hosts quality events (and has kept up their venues for three years) then feel free to ask questions at the premises, Facebook, Twitter, or by the email address that is on the right-hand side of this website. Oh yes, and signing this waiver means that your photo can be delivered to any of the many corporate and local sponsors mentioned on our partners page, who are donating a plethora of prize-items, swag (swag standing for stuff-we-all-get), and food.

Click here to see the printable PDF version of the waiver. Need it mailed or emailed?: contact the email address noted on the right-hand side of the page or sign it with your parent, guardian or self (if 18 or older) at the doors.

Get onto the official Facebook page and invite, invite, invite! The event will be much more successful with more community support, offline AND online. If you have a Facebook account, it is suggested that you hop onto the official Facebook SNP Event page, RSVP and invite ALL of your contacts. If you do not have an account, it is suggested that you GET an account, RSVP, then invite all your contacts. Cheers!

Click here to visit the official Facebook page for this venue, RSVP and invite your friends to attend.

Ethernet cables keep us connected.

Internet is not in the term Local Area Network (LAN), and with this in mind I am making sure that the event runs smoothly without any Internet at all. (Gasp!): I can’t play WoW, use YouTube, Twitter or Facebook? That’s right!

Hahaha, actually as the organizer I am trying my damnedest to get Internet access for the venue and that update will be available upon arrival to the event. There is one detail that party-goers must take the responsibility of and that is setting your Steam powered titles to offline mode before disconnecting your computer, packing up and driving to the Shrine.

To set your games to offline mode, simply:

1. Start Steam online – make sure the Remember my password box on the login window is checked
2. Verify that all game files are completely updated – you can see the update status for a game under the My Games tab (when the game shows as 100% – Ready it is ready to be played in Offline Mode)
3. Launch the game you would like to play offline to verify that there are no further updates to download – shut down the game and return to Steam once you have confirmed that the game can be played
4. Go to Settings to ensure the Do not store account information on this computer option is not selected
5. From the main Steam window, go to File and select Go Offline
6. Click OK to restart Steam in Offline Mode

If you’re having any issues, wish to learn more or see the original source of this list see the official Steam website and help article by clicking here.

This detail is posted along with all other terse and important details at the event page, accessed by clicking above where it says “Events”. Take the responsibility to make sure you have a good time at this great venue. See you there!

One of the games featured as a tournament game is Team Fortress 2.

The games are chosen; the SNP LAN will feature the following tournament games for the computer: Counter-Strike 1.6, Counter-Strike: Source, Team Fortress 2 and Starcraft. Dedicated servers will be operating at the event by the DJs so even during non-tournament times people can still play their favourite games over the local area network. Prizes for each game will be announced closer to the night of the event as sponsors are still in the process of contacting the organizer. These prizes will be awarded to the top positions of the competitors in the games. Side events are unannounced until later, but include more recreational yet competitive functions.

The official poster for the SNP LAN Charity Benefit.

Above is the official poster for the event, that as the organizer, I am sending to a half dozen high schools in the area while posting them up at Queen’s campus. The poster is available for download and printing, if anybody would like to hand these out at work, school or post some of their own.

An update in sponsorships. At the navigation of this website you’ll see a page called Partners. Alienware and CPU Magazine have both accepted to endorse this event, with two special packages. CPU Magazine deserves a special description, because they have been so helpful with this venue.

They are sending each player the latest issue of the magazine, a 6-month subscription, and advertising the venue both online and in print. This will surely help gain more donations for the children at Hotel Dieu, so thanks for supporting the city of Kingston, CPU Magazine!

To visit the websites of our partners, see the Partners page above.

Wiring from the last public venue.

SNP has been hosting private LAN party events for three years, public events since last year, and now takes on the goal of raising $1500 for the Child Development Centre of Hotel Dieu in partnership with the local Masonic lodge whose goal is to raise a total of $30000 for the room. SNP is hoping to contribute partly to this goal in hosting a unique, youth-fueled event.

On the home website here you will see updates on the venue, where at the top of the page you will see tabs for other pages to access both static and updating information such as partners, photos, info and tips. Site will be taking updates from the administrator on these pages among other updates, so stay tuned for more details!