So it turns out that when your community grows you actually need more then 2 people to run it. With that in mind, we decided to finally add some fine folks to the ranks of 2o2p leadership. Check it out.

Administrators

First things first we needed more admins here to help people out with account issues, spammers and the general direction of 2old2play. To be honest we have known for a long time that we needed help, but never really had the time to train or trust someone with the 2old2play reins. Well that time is over and I'm happy to welcome our two newest admins on 2old2play, Drost and Taxisquad27.

Drost has been editor and chief here at 2old2play for quite a while now and so it made sense having the person who manages all our content move in to the admin spot. Taxi has been with 2o2p since its beginning and as a moderator has done more then many of us admins to keep 2old2play clean, over 25, and functioning.

These admin additions also help us split up some of the work around 2old2play and focus on individual areas of expertise while leaving the modding to the moderators. A list of staff rolls should be up in the forums and at the bottom of this post to help give members and idea of who they should contact with their issues or ideas. As always if you have problems that only an admin can help with, feel free to PM.

Moderators

The other issue with the site was our moderators or lack there of. We had a lot of mods that went MiA and almost triple the amount of spam. So we decided a mod group of 3-4 just wasn't going to be enough to hold off the old man porn and viagra spam. To help combat this we are adding a mod team of about 15 members to help keep the site clean and orderly. As of this post we still have a few more people to add, but we wanted to introduce the currently line up anyway. If you are interested in becoming a mod (and have the time) feel free to shoot doodirock a PM for more info.

• lbsutke
• Rock
• Geekboy
• LB75Player
• RogueRedneck
• SoupNazzi
• Spooky
• ThyEnemy
• Dixon_Tufar
• meemoos

Hopefully this will grow over the next week or so, but i hope you guys welcome the newcomers with open arms. We tried to pick members from all over the community and globe to make sure that many different time zones and styles of gamers were chosen. There should be a mod around the site almost 24 hours a day once we get a couple more on the roster. Hopefully this we keep things spam free and organized for years to come.

The Staff

As promised here is a break down of the 2old2play staff and their rolls here. The list is very incomplete but should give you an idea of our staff structure.

Admins

• Doodirock - Site Development
• DSmooth - Industry Management
• Drost - Content Management
• Taxisquad27 - Business Development




Staff

• Waterborn- Community Manager (external)
• Caesar - Community Manager (internal)




Moderators

• lbsutke
• Rock
• Geekboy
• LB75Player
• RogueRedneck
• SoupNazzi
• Spooky
• ThyEnemy
• Dixon_Tufar
• meemoos

We just wanted to take this time to publicly thank the people at Microsoft, Sony, Sega, Gearbox, Popcap, and Tritton for donating all they did in support of the 2old2play LAN and the Child's Play Charity.

Each year we ask for support from industry leaders within the gaming world and while our LAN may not be the biggest out there, we still manage to aid our favorite charity with the help from these giving companies. This year was no different and their generosity, as well as our members, help to bring in over $1,000 dollars at the raffle.

This type of support is why we all love the gaming world so much. We have seen countless acts of kindness in our time here on 2old2play and year after year it never ceases to amaze me. So on behalf of all the staff and members here at 2old2play, we would just like to take the time to say thank you. Thanks for the great gear, memorabilia, and most of all the support for our community. Without companies like yours, the 2old2play LAN could never have been a success.

Check out some photos below of our raffle table. You can see some really cool stuff like the Tritton back pack, signed copies for Borderlands (by the devs) and more. Also, thanks to Avery over at Microsoft for the signs. They were a big hit!

As always if you want to help the charity out on your own, visit Child's Play Charity for more information!!!

Yes, the awards. You knew there were going to be awards, did you not? What's that? Oh, yes, they're like achievements on Xbox Live, only for things you do in real life that actually matter.

Welcome back everyone to this week's addition of "Smarter Then You."  While I know everyone has a lot of questions about the upcoming release of 2o2p V3, we need to shift gears slightly because it is that time of the year again!  Just like we have every year since its inception and just like we will every year forever, it's time for us to round up the activities of the Chitown LAN and recognize those site members that made it special.  We do want to do things a little bit differently so instead of shamelessly pumping up read statistics for old posts we have painstakingly polled the rank-and-file to make sure that these really are the people's results. 

We also shamelessly stole people's pictures and are not giving them credit.

And the first Award of the Year...

Most-Time-Making-Sure-Everyone-Knows-I-Have-An-iPhone: The Winner Is Caesar! Caesar easily could have also won the coveted Most-Decorated-Award as well because he also won, Worst-Abuse-OTC-Stimulants-Open Division, tied for first with BC, Beldar and Team Canada for Most-Delusional, as well as, Biggest-Heart-As-Long-As-He-Wasn't-Getting-Stomped-In-Some-Esoteric-MLG-Warm-Up-Variant-Then-Sulking-For-Thirty-Minutes.

Worst-Effort-at-Estimating-Monitor-Usage:  In a shocking upset (to some) the award goes to Doodirock.  While many wanted to pin the debacle on Taxi, more informed LAN goers are well aware that he's not really Asian.  Therefore his math estimates should carry no more weight than say, a girl.  In addition to effectively killing all fun forever, Doodi also managed to manufacture plausible reasons for running more auctions, raffles, fund-raising drives and bikini car washes while producing no measurable results.  Calls to "Media Crumb" to inform them of the award went largely unanswered until 9:00 AM Delhi time when a man with very broken English explained that hey had never heard of "Joel Albert."

Best-Person-At-Making-You-Feel-At-Home (As long as "home" for you included a largely absent father figure that only stopped ignoring you long enough to make palpable their very real sense that everything you did was not good enough and that without you their life would have been better): For a fifth consecutive year the winner is Drost- Despite some stiff competition from Dean, who is seen here in the T-shirt his wife made him wear to appear more approachable but who is contemplating what, exactly, those young people think they are doing.

Worst Upset:  After spending most of 2009 and 2010 ordering "power band" upgrades for his Soloflex and taking delivery of HGH from a "guy that knew Lance Armstrong", Dixon Tufar had to suffer the indignity of being upstaged in the ridiculous muscular development category by Taxi's old friend from D-Block, Jay.  Jay is seen here explaining to BC just how much more likely his survival will be on the "Great Day of Cleansing" when "hippie mistakes" are removed from the gene pool and the rightful order of meritocracy is reestablished for all time.  I'm comfortable disclosing all of this because doodi promised me there would be no more LANs.

Best Clan Banner:  Despite low entry turnout, competition in this category has never been tougher.  Perennial favorite Profanity made a strong showing as did the artfully mounted newcomers 2old2shoot.  Ultimately though it was the skillful use of improvised medium and chiaroscuro to define the negative space and encapsulate the gestalt of their clan that won the day for Digital Violence. Nice work boys.  Way to represent!

Most Needy:  It was not even close this year.  It might have been desperate cries of help such as the inordinate amount of "bribing likker" he brought.  It could have been the unholy amount of gear he packed, transported and spent hours unloading and setting up in a bid to make himself feel "important." However, ultimately it was this little act of rebellion that won Rau the prize.  Truth be told, this chiropractic table that sat outside our conference room for three days was begging for it.  We all thought about riding the pony but only Rau sacked up and did it.  I'm completely jealous. That picture is a double scoop of sweet with awesome sauce on the side.  Check it out again...

Most Improved Score: This year's winner has had previous comments from our confidential Post-LAN evaluations that have ranged from "kind of a cold fish," (DSmooth), to "stuck-up bitch," (Markus), to "who?" (Phreaks).  This year, rocking awesome scores like "not so bad once you get to know her," and "smelled better this year," TDrag rocketed all the way to the top of the bottom third of popularity amongst the site's 16,000 members.  Experts are projecting that the 2010 Fall Season could see her cracking the fiftieth percentile!  Way to go Tara!

Why-The-LAN-is-Awesome-Award:  Could have gone to this amazing entry of duct-tape-pwnage.  It could also easily have been Emminnent who, in addition to taking the time to have an overly specific ironic t-shirt made to ridicule a clan mate, also remembered to pack a dress shirt so he could raid the open bar at one of Saturday's weddings.  It could even have gone to whatever retarded juvenile brought a water balloon slingshot for late night shenanigans. Ultimately, though it's the little things.  Here is one of those gags that will never happen over XBL.

Biggest Mooch:  No surprises here either...As a veteran of six LANs and a skilled practitioner in the fine art of surviving on box cheese, untended beers and floor wings, BC "you going to eat that?" Kinetic wrapped up a second consecutive award in the mooching hall-of-fame. Seen here monopolizing someone else's rig to play a singleplayer game at a LAN Party (while a line of people wait for the money he owes them), BC also deserves the award for once again exposing this year's LAN Doormat, killthrash.  After only eight minutes of wheedling killthrash secured his award by parting with several hundred dollars' worth gaming gear that his mom bought him for his birthday.

Saddest Table At The LAN: There was a time when WoW addicts proudly reigned at the LAN as the Uber geeks of a geekdom.  This year though, as the sadly depleted ranks slogged their way for the three hundredth time through the same raid without speaking to one another we were all reminded of the glory that was Rome.  The last three people on the planet playing WoW, who are not employed by a North Korean Gold Farming Collective, shuffled lifelessly through the weekend's events and recoiled sharply whenever exposed to natural light. Where are you when we need you Jack Kevorkian?

Most Surprised:  Bubba.  There is nothing like returning home and seeing irrefutable photographic evidence of your rapid descent in to old age and decrepitude to send you in to a shame spiral of comfort food, relentless masturbation and inconsolable weeping.

Finally, the Award you waited all year for, the Grand Daddy of them All!!

Attention Whore of the Year:  As per usual there was no shortage of people to choose from this year.  The perennial 2o2p "Susan Lucci" of attention whoredom TaxiSquad27 made his usual strong bid but may need to settle for a "sorry-we-never-got-to-you-lifetime-achievement-award."  First time nominee MNvikesfan made a surprisingly strong challenge as well this year by breaking the seal for the hopelessly depraved alcoholics in attendance and ordering the first of many sport drinking props.  Ironically though it was the Farvre-esque performance by the queen of drama at 2o2p that would overshadow MNvikesfan's  inaugural effort.  With his on-again-off-again-aw-shucks-toe-dragging-attendance plans, fashionably late arrival, and refusal to move from a single spot requiring LAN attendees to pay homage in his court,  for This Year, For Every Year, Undisputed, Undefeated, Attention Whore For All Time Award Goes To...

I'll be back next week with the regular quality Q&A Feature you have all come to love and respect.  Until then, feel free to check out all of the photos from this Year's Last and Final Chitown LAN.  Post up your own stuff or just grab some and make up your own snarky awards.

Oh yeah, DSmooth was there.  Even with a table full of prizes in front of him nobody would talk to him.

Ever dream of standing up on stage screaming out to a crowd of thousands of people and having them chant your name as you belt out the songs that make them scream? Well none of that is going to happen at the LAN. We are however going to be giving you a chance make a complete fool of yourself in front of some strangers as we launch the 3rd annual (sadly the last) Rock your Face off Rock Band tournament.

Sound interesting? Well get your plastic clickety clacks polished up and get ready to throw down against the best 2old2play has to offer…at least the best that shows up for the LAN. The format for the tournament is going to be a little different this year to make it more enjoyable for everyone read on for more details.

This year we will enjoy the laid back “PARTY” edition of Rock Band.

• To hell with the set list.
• Forget a difficulty setting (NO FAIL).
• There’s no sign up.
• No entry fee.
• Zero pressure.
• No one’s keeping score.
• It’s nowhere near anything that could be confused with a competition.

What will be there is a laid back group of your fellow gamers judging you. The judges will be drinking and will be halfway paying attention. What the judges will be responsible for is awarding $100 dollars in Best Buy gift cards. Gift cards will be given out on an unfair and purely biased basis. The Rock Your Face off is about having one last hurrah with 2old2play before we move towards event driven community gatherings.

TIME: Immediately after the raffle.

LENGTH: 2 hours

PRIZES: Awarded immediately after.

ANNOUNCED CATEGORIES:

• BEST PERFORMANCE
• BEST GROUPIE
• NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP SINGING
• BIGGEST FAILURE
• AND MORE…

FYI: Judges may yell or scream at participants during the event, so don’t be surprised. Or whine like a bitch.

The Chicago LAN is fast approaching and will be here in little under 2 weeks. Make sure you are ready for the mayhem and find out what you can do to help even if you cannot attend!

The Hotel

First things first, if you still have not book your hotel rooms at the The Chicago Marriott O'Hare then your time is technically up for our group rate of $89 a night. However a call to the front desk and a bit a begging could work in your favor so if you still haven't done it, get off your butt and do it now!

Tickets

If for some strange reason you still have not picked up your LAN tickets then make sure you do it now. They are still on sale on the lan page, and this year we decided not to raise the price in the final weeks. Head on over there and get one NOW for the final Chicago Lan Party!

http://www.2old2play.com/lan

What to Bring

Remember the only thing we can't provide at the LAN is the games and the console. We got you covered on almost everything else so don't forget your system if you want a guaranteed spot at one of the LAN tables. If you like to through caution to the wind, it is possible to play on another members system, but you're at the mercy of their kindness and level of sobriety. Be warned!

Money

This seems like a no brainer, but you wouldn't believe how many people forget to bring cash with them to the LAN. They usually end up homeless in a Chicago underpass by the end of the weekend so make sure you remember to bring your hard earned cash, Mayor Daily will thank you for it.

The Little Things

Don't forget to pack a camera to snap shots of all the retarded action on the LAN floor. How else will anyone believe that you saw a real life tea bagging at 4am in smokey hotel room!. Also, don't forget to pack those I.D. so you can get checked into the LAN area. If you bought a ticket you should have a conformation email via paypal. If not we should have all the records and can identify you via your ID so don't forget.

For those that can't make it

As many know, we do this for charity as much as we do this as an excuse to fly across the county to get drunk while playing video games. As with the last 2 years, we will be giving all our proceeds to the Child's Play charity which helps sick children brighten up their days with donations of games, toys books and cash. We are asking those that spare the cash, help donate to the 2o2p auction for a chance at some swag and to help a child. Items for auction are not yet locked down, but will be posted the weekend of the LAN for those of you who want a chance at some gear and to help a child.

More then likely we will put up and area on the 2old2play.com/lan page for people to donate and win gear from the LAN auction. Thanks for your support and see you all at the last and final Chicago LAN!

Hey, you. Yeah, you, the new guy (or gal). We know it's not always easy to meet people when you're the new kid on the block, so ... we're taking the pressure off. Whether you like to shoot or drive, we've got a game lobby for you. All you have to do is show up and play.

What's a community playdate? You might have seen them on your Xbox, where MS lets an internet gaming community host a bunch of visitors while playing their favorite game. Well, this is like that, only we're not Microsoft. We're your new home for gaming on the 'net, and like you, we're old enough to know we'd rather join our octagenarian brethern in beating down the timmies of ther world instead of being subjugated by them.

We're aware a bunch of you may have just stumbled onto 2o2p after having seen an article with our feckless leader, "Doodirock," in OXM, and we figured we'd throw a soiree to welcome you to the community. We're glad you're here, and we hope you'll come game with us.

2o2p site community playdates are typically the first steps toward participating in the 2o2p community. Once you've played, you'll start seeing familiar names in the forums, and taking part in esoteric discussions about things like "spawn control." Before you know it, you'll be in a clan surrounded by a whole cadre of gamers who also love your game of choice (and more than likely share your particular skewed view of the world). A month after that, you'll find yourself in site chat, and only then will you stop to think, "What did I ever do before I found 2o2p?"

So take that first step. Come game with us. Gaming is where the magic happens.

Or something.

The Chicago Lan as we have known it for the past 5 years is going to be coming to an end this August as we make way for new clan lans and other 2old2play meet-ups. It's not all bad news though, read on for more info!

Here at 2old2play we like to think of the LAN as the ending of a gaming year and the beginning of a new one. It's a time to meet up with old friends and get to know new ones. Over the years we have seen members from more then 15 different 2old2play clans make the trip out to Chicago for 3 days of drunken debauchery. That being said, we feel like it is time to let those clans make LAN memories of their own.

So why are you stopping the LAN?

Money

One of the biggest issues with the Chicago LAN has always been the cost. The money it takes to hold a LAN in Chicago can sometimes be overwhelming. We have to think about space, screens, power, internet, and all the little hidden costs that go into holding an event like this. It was easy when the LAN was in a small hotel room that held 30 people and cost almost nothing, but with more people each year the cost only rises.

On top of this cost is the cost to the actual members in the form of tickets. In order to pay for the LAN the ticket price has to rise and with an already shaky economy, only the die hard LAN members can afford to make the yearly trek out to Chicago. This year we did everything we could to get tickets cheaper, but in the end the cost had to remain the same in order to ensure the room and screens could be paid for.

Other Clans

Another reason we decided to stop the LAN is the competition from our own clans here at 2o2p. As always we would rather have clans book their LAN with the 2o2p site LAN so that everyone can meet up, but we understand that clans have a tendency to be exclusive and introverted here on the site. This creates a contradiction with our attitude of promoting clans on 2o2p. It is hard to promote a 2o2p Clan LAN when you are fighting to get people to the site LAN at the same time.

Instead we would like to be able to promote Clan LANs all around the US and actually help those clans throw their own LAN parties via 2old2play. We feel like it would be a lot cooler to have a list of multiple 2old2play clan Lans happening around the US where people could meet up and hang out with certain clans and their 2o2p members. Our hope is that these clans will embrace the 2o2p public as a whole and bring new members in via their meet-ups.

This also makes LANs like the So-Cal LAN a lot more accessible to the general 2o2p public. You wont have to spend $90 on a ticket or fly across the country just to meet some people from 2o2p. Instead you find the closest LAN near your area and hop in a car. The great thing about smaller LANs is the cost to throw one is much much cheaper and they can end up being just as fun as a huge one.

With no Site LAN, how will I live?

Don't jump off that bridge just yet, because while the Chicago LAN might be coming to an end, we have a lot more plans for 2o2p meet-ups in the future. What we would like to do instead is create more events like the Gamers Gone Wild party at PAX East with 2o2p and SFX-360.

We feel that piggy backing a 2o2p event on top of something like PAX East brings more value to 2o2p members as a whole. Instead of just a room with some consoles in it, we can have 2o2p events that show off the industry itself. At the same time members will be able to meet-up and hang out with each other at after party events held by 2o2p. We think that's pretty cool.

So that's it? I hate you...

As with all things in life, plans could change. We could be able to find a much cheaper location for the LAN or find that people just don't want to share their LANs with new members from the site. Anything is possible, but as for now the Chi LAN will be on hold until further notice. Instead we would encourage members to think about meet-ups of their own and sharing those meet-ups with everyone else on 2o2p.

So if you have a meet-up you would like to plan feel free to shoot us an email or PM and we can work to promote your Clan or Member Lan. Until then we always have this August to hang out once more and shoot the shit while we down some beers and space aliens. If you have never been to a Chicago Lan before or have but are not sure you can make it, I would suggest you make it to this one. The only regret you will have is missing the last Chicago Lan. See you in a couple weeks!

On a personal note, the Chicago Lan has given me some of the best times of my adult life and I hope that others get a chance to have that much fun with the 2o2p community.

About 4 days ago a member on our site posted a nasty rumor disguised as truth that actor and former marine R. Lee Ermey was dead. As many of you already know this rumor is completely false.

We had the opportunity to speak with R. Lee Ermey people today and were assured he is very much alive and well. We want every one to understand that 2old2play does NOT condone this type of behavior and remind its members that their ideas and opinions posted on 2old2play are their own. Be smart with what you say and how you say it.

We also wanted to post this article to make sure all the members of 2old2play understand how dangerous it can be to post false or fake information as truth especially when it comes to something as serious as ones life or death. On top of that when dealing with celebrity of any kind you put yourself and this website at risk when posting false information that could be viewed as slanderous and/or a defamation of character.

We thank the people at R. Lee Ermey's management team for bringing this post to our attention and wish him well in all future endeavors in life and on the silver screen.

Again, think before you post.

photo provided by wikipedia from the freely licensed media file repository.

"We have front row seats for this theatre of mass destruction. The demolitions committee of Project Mayhem wrapped the foundation columns of a dozen buildings with blasting gelatin. In two minutes primary charges will blow base charges and a few square blocks will be reduced to smoldering rubble."

Greetings fellow Gamers! Come join Project Mayhem for our first ever Community Playdate, Friday, April 30th.

The game? Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

We'll be mixing it up with both Conquest and Rush modes, so the more the merrier. We would love to host more of these in the future, and what better way to get to know other people in the community than to actually play with them. So if you're up for a lot of laughs and a ton of carnage, hit us up. We'll see you on the Battlefield.

If your clan is interested, please PM OutcastB (PRM Outcast), esptim (PRM Phade), or LetheanGrazer (Lethean Grazer), or hit us up on XBL between now and Wednesday, April 28th for more details.

Pack up your gaming gear, find a sitter and mark your calendars for the 5th annual LAN event at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, August 6th-8th, 2010.

Join us as we all explore innovative ways to pwn your fellow 2old2play gamers. This year’s conference will include over 60+ screens; Xbox 360, PC, Wii, and station play in over 3000square feet of gaming and playing space. The more you play the greater your chance is to win some amazing raffle gifts and the opportunity to help some kids in need at Child’s Play! Updated information and meeting agendas will all be posted online as we get closer to the date, so check back here often and register while space is still available. We will be limiting our tickets this year to 80 tickets only in order to ensure the size of our LAN room is adequate, so be sure to act fast.

Dates: August 6th-8th, 2010 (Feel free to show up early as many members do)

Location: Chicago Marriott O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois

Limited Tickets

This year we have decided to limit the amount of tickets sold to 80. The reason for this is to ensure we have the right size room for the LAN now and every year following. Each year we have to make a rough guess as to how many people are going to show up and that hurts our ability to secure the correct size room. Limiting the number of people gives us an opportunity to choose a room size that fits our number. If we sell out of that number quickly then we know for next year to book an even larger event. So what does this mean for you? Get your tickets ASAP.

What to Expect

• Um Fun
• Networking Opportunities with other 2old2play gamers
• Exciting charity events to help Child’s Play
• Partner and sponsor showcase booths
• Social events
• Full Bar near the LAN Room
• Gaming (Duh)
• Raffles
• Big Screen TV Wii matches
• Rock Band Concerts
• Tournaments
• Multi Platform Gaming

Registration & Conference Fees

Conference fees for LAN Event include event materials, Lan Room, and Screens for up to 70+ consoles.

Registration Costs:

March - the end of May = $90

June August 5th = $100

Annual LAN Event Location

A departure from ordinary Chicago Airport hotels, the Marriott Chicago O'Hare Airport hotel represents a first-class landing offering convenience, an established reputation and state-of-the-art technology. Located near the O'Hare International Airport and 15 miles from downtown, this renowned hotel in the Chicago O'Hare airport area combines the distinguished atmosphere of a Marriott Hotel with charming accommodations and innovative amenities.

Tentative Schedule

Hotel Registration Details

A block of rooms has been negotiated by 2old2play at a discounted rate of $89/night at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare. To check out the accommodations, visit www.marriott.com. The discounted rate of $89/night is available until July 27th. After 12pm on the cut-off date, the hotel will release these rooms and the rate will increase! Make your hotel reservations now! Your credit card will be used as a guarantee to confirm your room reservation and will not be charged until checkout; however, should you cancel your reservation less than 72 hours prior to arrival, you will be charged one night room and tax. Please understand that 2old2play needs to secure 130 rooms with the hotel so all members MUST make sure they tell the hotel they are with 2old2play! The number for hotel reservation is 1-773-693-4444

Now that we have everything covered, what are you waiting for! BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE!!!