“I was one phone-call away from cancelling my XBL gold membership when I found 2old2play.”

We’ve heard this sentiment countless times. Beyond the blogs, BR strats, stats, and boobs, 2old2play has given us an internet home. A site where being our competitive, opinionated, fun-loving, geeky, immature, selves is accepted and cherished.

Since 2005, families and connections have been forming at a rapid pace. In 3 short years, membership has blossomed from the trailblazer few to a force of 15,000. We’re big. We’re going to get bigger. And we have growing pains. It’s time to level up the site and do an overhaul. You can help.

Why?

2old2play is bulky, bloated, and difficult to maintain with a community our size. It was built for 100. An overhaul is necessary to scale the framework, streamline existing functionality, and add new features the community demands.

What?

We asked and you answered. In the last month the community has been forthcoming with ideas for improvement. The upgrade will focus on improving blogs, news, forums, clan pages, and adding new community-driven features. If you’re interested in reading more of the ideas, click on over here.

When?

It will be ready when it’s ready (and funded). Without answers to a lot of questions we are hesitant to even offer a preliminary date. Gamers know software development is part art, part science. We will not release 2old2play v3 until it’s done well and meets the community’s needs- and we won't promise something we can't deliver. Updates will be frequent as we work towards unveiling the new site.

How?

You! Gametruck and Google ads help keep the lights on, but they are not enough to fully fund the project. To properly overhaul the site, 2old2play needs to raise approximately $6,000. A small contribution from each of our 3,500 active members will make a huge difference growing our favorite internet gathering place into a better, more streamlined experience.

2old2play knows that everyone is strapped for cash with the economy, the holiday gaming line-up, and gift-giving December around the corner. But we also know that if any community can band together to make this project a success, it’s 2old2play.

How you can help:

 - Donate $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, or more directly to the site. Use the PayPal, “Keep Us Online” widget on the front page.

 - Sell a game on the trading forum and donate your selling price to the site.

 - Join the Senior Citizen Card membership program to guarantee a steady, monthly donation to the site. You can learn more about that program and join here.

 - Buy a t-shirt from the 2old2play store or submit a design everyone will want to buy.

 - Donate a game or unique product (site artists –we’re looking at you) to be used in a upgrade-funding event. Artists can send a PM to BATMANKM to learn how to help. Others that want to help can send a PM to pearly_54 to coordinate donations.

 - Donate your time and ideas. If you have a great idea for a money-raising event, send a PM to pearly_54. If you’re interested in contributing news to the front page, send a PM to J-Cat to learn how to get started.

 - Organize an inter-clan fundraiser

 - Send leads on sponsors. Do you know someone from a company interested in tapping into the elusive 25-45 male market? If so, contact Doodirock via PM.

 - Keep your eyes open for exciting fundraiser auctions, raffles, and events that will be sponsored by the site in the coming weeks.

We’ve all read the stories about 2old2play bringing people together. How many hours have you happily procrastinated away at work perusing the site? How many of you have found friends through 2old2play? If the site has given you $5 worth of enjoyment, invest in getting more and give back.

Thanks,

2old2play Team for V3

After four years of development, Popcap lit up Seattle Monday night with the launch of Bejeweled Twist sparing no expense to show off their new casual game. It took four years to complete but Popcap isn't going to release a game until it's perfect. You won't play it until they believe it is a game their mom would love.

"Popcap builds games for people, not demographics," says CEO David Roberts. At the launch the founders, John Vechey, Brian Fiete and Jason Kapalka talked about the casual game market while the "Gem Girls" walked around looking sexy and flashy. Roberts talked about the casual game industry and forecasts it growing to become an $8 billion market -- not too shabby for USD $19.99 games.

Downloads of Bejeweled, of course, show no signs of stopping and Popcap explained that 40% of their revenue comes from the old concepts of "Diamond Mine." Phil Spencer, Microsoft Game Studios' General Manager, hopped on stage and explained how Microsoft saw Popcap's vision in their Diamond Mine flash game and suggested a rename to Bejeweled, the founders hated the name but took the big companies suggestion on the change.

Since then, we've had many folks attempt to clone and replicate the success in Popcap's flagship product. Complete with open bar, Gem Girls, camera flashes and glitter this game launch shows the growing casual games industry the great power and momentum of "simple" casual games.

Nothing about Bejeweled Twist is simple. The game play of Bejeweled Twist aggregates all the knowledge Popcap has acquired over the last seven years to design one blockbuster title. From classic Bejeweled to Chuzzle to Peggle, the game takes pieces of each successful title and combines the game play, sounds, graphics and modes into a product that will bring casual gaming to a new level. Bejeweled Twist is going to be the new bar to reach in the industry in terms of addictive game play and a unified casual vision.

Stay tuned for the full review as we get deep into the full features of Bejeweled Twist. Special thanks to Dale North from Destructoid for hanging out for some drinks during the after party.

Developers, Media Molecule, have been nice enough to grace our site with a handful of much sought after keys to the beta for Little Big Planet, perhaps one of the largest and most anticipated games on the PS3 to date. Well, we want to give them to our community members, so read on to learn how to win...

Little Big Planet™ is a tough game to describe. Part side-scroller, part adventure game, part world creator, all fun. Take all the typical side scrolling games we grew up on back in the day, and add in what may be the single most powerful world editor developed to date, and put it on a system designed to allow users to create, swap, and play together in the same universe.

In Little Big Planet, you play as a non-descript (at least out of the box) Sackboy or Sackgirl puppet. In a world with very sophisticated physics in place, you must jump, fly, or otherwise race from one end of a level to another, dodging and and all kinds of obstacles in your way. Make it to the end, and post up your time either globally or within your network of friends, and let the challenges ensue.

Enough...how can I win???

In a game built around users creativity, we want to know what world you will build first when the game launches? What will make your level stand out above all the other Mario World 1-1 that will flood the system?

All write ins (that at least put in a good effort) will be put into a random drawing and 5 winners will be announced after the contest deadline. The contest officially expires at 12:00pm EST on September 26th. You've got just over one day to get those creative juices flowing and leave a comment on this post to win.

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Who's eligible? You must be a member since September 24th, 2008 to enter (no new sign ups, we're not looking for Ninja Looters). YOU MUST ALSO BE OVER 25 YEARS OF AGE!!! All the new people who are just signing up will be REMOVED and cannot receive the beta. Don't waste your time.

The infamous Bubba (FreynApThyr) once again takes the time to sit down and tell the tale of a LAN past as only he can tell it. What to know what you missed out on? Read on!

And then there was LAN

Chicago squats on the fetid verge of a turd lined pond called Lake Michigan. Lattices of streets look like sutures from skin grafts that cover the burn scars of the Great Fire. O’Hare and Midway airports were recently brought up to full staffing levels through an employment program that works in conjunction with Chimp Rescue. The liberated chimpanzees have been so addled with experimental drugs and electroshock therapy that it can take four full business days to clear security. After the Summer of Love, the O’Hare area was completely paved over and has been baking in Midwestern summer heat, and blistering again during the polar winters. Most of the service workers in this blacktop steppe were formerly doctors, college professors and Premiers of Soviet-bloc republics. The fall of the USSR and the return of the Cossacks sent them scurrying to the Heartland of their sworn enemies. There they were forced to take jobs getting me extra towels and yet another patty melt. The label “disgruntled employee” only scratches the surface of their murderous rage.

It seems like an obvious place for a party.

Every year the alumni of classes ‘84-’91’s chess teams, school newspaper editors and AV squad presidents pack their Xboxes and cargo shorts and hole up in some squalid hotel. There they deprive themselves of sleep, the company of those with “social skills,” sunlight, family, vitamins C, A and B complex, fiber and hygienic concern.

So, for the fourth time- I booked my flight early.

Doodi, DSmooth, Smoke, NoGame, Rau, Phreak and a cast of thousands worked like rented mules to pull together a three day party that celebrates- once again, the growth of the website that unites (and occasionally divides) us all. The first LAN of 2005 was only mythologized, not really recorded. For the LAN trailblazers, the flavor was distinctly different. Think comfort food of mac and cheese instead of restaurant style penne in vodka sauce. A couple dozen of us that had spent thousands of hours playing Halo 2 together spent a weekend nervously testing our ability to not pass out in public and split a check. It was nothing like the crowd that would come together in year two and provide a template for the years to come.

At the LAN of 2006, Dantez Inferno, aka Janks Morton, put his feet on a path towards filmmaking greatness with a short video that captured that flavor beautifully. All you visual learners should check it out. For you verbal types, read Drost's writeup. When the fledgling communities that started at 2o2p came into their own it was at the year two LAN. What we condescendingly still refer to as the “Flagship Clan” saw at once that the site had grown well beyond us.

Something changed in year three, 2007. I always enjoyed the LAN as an opportunity to get together with friends I now considered “real-life” friends rather than internet acquaintances. I’ve seen doodi, BC, TMAN, Drewsky, Kung Fu, Smooth, the Dead Doctor, Taxi, Mike James and Bliz more in the last four years than I have many of my cousins (even cousins I like). Year Three taught me that the LAN could do a lot more then just that. Clan Profanity, amongst others, reached out to me and made me welcome amongst relative strangers. Drost’s writeup did an awesome job of delivering the flavor of a gathering of tribes that was like a modern-day-culturally-co-opted Iroquois League. When taken apart they are vital communities, but pulled together by the site and an annual gathering, it’s a sum greater then its parts. It’s so much harder to take personally an argument about the BR when you’ve shared stuffed pizza with the guy on the other side of the forum. Hearing the voice of another person over the dinner table lends their posts the inflection required to turn rampant dickheadism into dry wit and subtle humor.

With my new sensibility and grandiose notions of a world made harmonious by one big LAN party, I prepared for this Year’s LAN with a lot of enthusiasm. It did not disappoint.

I want to make sure that credit goes where credit is due. In order to be sure of that you have to do things like “help” and “get involved” and “research.” I’m not real good at those things so if you are reading this and deserve credit and didn’t get it, kick Markus in the bag. Although, on second thought, a more productive solution might be to add a comment and give your own shout outs to those I forgot. You may also feel free to make fun of my poor memory and preparation skills at that time.

When handing out kudos you obviously have to start with Derek “DSmooth” Nolan. He invented the internet, the Xbox, first person shooters, social graces and once placed second in a spelling bee. Don’t forget he knows Kevin Smith.

He is also remarkably easy to make fun of and I can hardly resist the temptation to do so. He helps by willingly putting himself out there for the flack. By “out there” I mean at point, dealing with hotel employees, mundane detail, a thousand things I don’t want to do and never could fathom. No matter what it sounds like in print or via podcast, I have huge respect for the work he does to make the LAN possible. I also, for some odd reason, really like the guy. I have said things about him in front of him and behind his back that would have cost me a swirly or a locker-stuffing in High School. Derek and I laugh about it and continue to trade shots. Well done Smooth, well done. Now that I have sufficiently stroked his ego I will go back to ridiculing him in public.

The generosity of XSSmoke (and his completely-over-his-head wonderful wife Ice) is nearly impossible to overstate. Just putting it in terms of dollars and cents does not illustrate the far reaching effects that his contributions made to the LAN. Attendance peaked because of the incentives he donated out of pocket. An incredible $2,000 dollars in cash was giving out to the top leaders of the tournament in cold hard cash! His leadership in our online community translates in full to the LAN and he’s handles it like a rockstar. His ridiculous contributions to kids with cancer will help to make them happy in a time when they should never be anything but. When helping kids with cancer no longer gets you a free pass through the Pearly Gates, send me straight to hell. A thousand thanks are in order so make sure you fill his PM box with them.

Take your hats off for a moment and bow your heads in silence for the swift recovery of NoGame and Rau. Rau finally succumbed on Sunday to nervous exhaustion and was committed to the Adult Mental Health Services Department at Chicago Methodist. NoGame was taken directly from the LAN to a 28 day rehab program that declined any "further publicity." Both incidents were quite obviously brought on by the strain of dealing with the humungous egoism, immaturity and drunken antics of a bunch of people who press plastic buttons on toys rather then actually learning an instrument. All kidding aside, NoGame worked his ass off before, during and after to pull off a triumphant Rockband competition that kicked ass. Prizes got donated, setlists were painstakingly made out and NoGame took all the bitching that went with that. He also was kind enough to pester me 37 times to make sure I "also give props to Rau and TMX for all the hard work in setting up the rules, timing out the songs, etc...” but gave me zero good ideas on how to do this in a funny way…So thanks for that too! *please note that sarcasm detection software is not yet available*The concerts went off late like all good concerts should. By a stroke of "good fortune" NoGame had drank himself into insensibility by show time. Fake musicians bitched about the brown M&M’s in the dressing rooms and Drewsky sabotaging equipment everywhere he went. Anyone else would have taken a plastic Gibson and bashed in our skulls and feasted on our grey matter. Rau stepped up, kept the competition going and he and NoGame get my nod as the Fake Lollapalooza Promoters of the Year.

Taxi made an Excel Spreadsheet with colors on it and then talked about it like he did the coding for the Mars Landers. Thanks a lot. And while we’re at it, thanks for only kicking one Chicago senior citizen in the spleen. Smoke once again gets mad props for crazy effort in pulling together a triumphant Halo tournament that married MLG krazy killahs and Big Team fancy pants. For those not acquainted with this weird subculture, that’s a little like getting the Palestinians and Israelis to agree to the rules for a slap fight without the tanks rolling to the border. Both of them deserve a ton of credit for organizing that logistical nightmare.

Gaius (that’s pronounced Gay-us, not that there is anything wrong with that) Caesar didn’t even come to the LAN. That didn’t stop him from lending a beautifully crafted, psychologically scarring, preternatural twist that turned the raffle from a magnificent gesture of altruism for a noble cause into a Freudian nightmare. I can see by looking around the site that some of you are violating the first rule of surprising-a-hapless-victim-who-just-wanted-to-win-a-copy-of-Peggle-into-being-the-proud-owner-of-a-metal-dick-club. That rule, of course, is “you do not talk about surprising-a-hapless-victim-who-just-wanted-to-win-a-copy-of-Peggle-into-being-the-proud-owner-of-a-metal-dick-club”. But since the cat/metal dick is out of the bag, we get to acknowledge the generous, magnificent, and disturbing craftsmanship of the guy that made it possible. He also turned Lbsutke into a ravening Barbarian War Chief (big stretch, I know). Way to go Caes. Next time send cheesecake too please.

Hey! Chicago Marriot O’Hare! Thank you for finally getting it! Three years, three different hotels, and walking into what they had set-up for us on day one was like walking into a cathedral. The set-up was flawless. The staff was solicitous and showed us how to control our own lights, temperature and posture-pedic vibrochairs. The fountain of blood on the sacrificial altar was refreshing and not too gooey, and the breakers didn’t go out once- except for the guys that brought the 46” Plasma, their plug-in Real Girl, and three toaster ovens for “even browning of Pop-Tarts.” Additional ‘thanks’ for making the $5.00 price tag on the 20 oz. bottle of Evian big enough for me to read. If I had gotten charged for that I might have beaten the desk clerk like a red-headed step child, or (more likely), gotten my ass kicked by her.

Microsoft, Gearbox, Bawls and PopCap Games filled two tables with swag. Harmonix donated grand prizes of Full Rockband kits. You can spell it Micro$oft if you want. You can giggle like a three year old as you make “Bawl sack” jokes. You can make disparaging comments about “casual gamers” and Bejeweled 2. However, before doing any of this, remember their generosity helped those same kids we are applauding Smoke for helping. So tip one out for them at least, or even better, hit the donate button with what you can and match their spirit of generosity. Then we can all go back to condemning the Great Satan Bill Gates with a clear conscience.

Mike James is the heart of 2old2play. I don’t have any jokes or smartass remarks to add to that- it is just the case. The number of members that started at 2o2p because of his efforts and the efforts of those he brought represent most of the 14,000 people that have found our gaming sanctuary. Even more importantly though is that quality he possesses that is so clearly evident at the LAN each year. He Is Mike James- Bitches. As he moves through group to group, rarely playing anything, never sitting down, always tying us together, he weaves people into a community. In a year when it would have been easy for him to stay home and nurse some of the rough wounds that life can dish out, Mike came again and showed us all you’re never Too Old to Play.

As I’m typing this next bit, I’m anticipating the response it will get. Mark, Tammy and I have entered into a little enterprise together known as Phreaks on Geeks. In the process of hours of “effort” putting a podcast together we’ve become a lot closer then I would have deemed possible. Hopefully before Christmas, you will get to hear TDrag say some really nice things about the chemistry we have. Explaining out loud to her the handful of times Phreak and I have met in person, and that this was the first time I’ve ever met Markus, Markus Jr., Markus III and Markus IV in the flesh, just brought home how unlikely it really is. I’m not sure just how pathetic it comes across, but I stopped worrying about that a long time ago. I made friends at 2old2Play. Based on what I saw at the LAN, I’m not the only one.

Both of them put a lot of effort into getting to the LAN. Tammy packed up like a Grand Canyon burro guide, drove 5 hours each way, filled requests for special deliveries, target runs, Airport shuttle service, ran a youth hostel out of her hotel room, spent untold money on special hardware, software and raffle supplies, coordinated delivery of said-metal dicks, and generally made sure none of us starved or passed out in the bathroom. Mark overcame more personal demons and baggage then any man of his age and intelligence should be saddled with, endured my feeble attempts at humor and sacrificed a weekend with a saint of a wife and the cutest two-year old to ever throw crabs on cue or ambush a Hooter girl. He also has a secret switch none of us knew about that turns him from a miserable sad sack into the chattiest bastard on the planet. It seems to be activated by some unknown quantity of Sierra Nevada Pale Ales, so after some careful experimentation in the off-season we’ll get him pre-gamed for next year.

None of the three of us takes compliments very well and we would all rather look out for others then take care of ourselves the way we should, so I have total confidence that they will take it like I mean it when I say to them both- Sukadik.

There were people I missed at this year’s LAN. That says a lot about what has come before, but while I’m thanking people it only seems right that I shout out to them. I encourage you to add to the list in the comment section.

TTB, Knaab, Ebola, the west coast crew Sugar, Lotus, Rich and swoosh, Fade, Bijiks, Defasum, Coolarrow, CP and his entire family of the funniest people I’ve ever played Halo with. Tri, Sha, Wilderz and Pimp and everybody else whom I have misplaced only because it has been too long, you were gone but not forgotten. Make your plans earlier next year bitches.

I don’t know what doodi does with his days- other than dailies and raiding I mean. He doesn’t post, blogs quarterly, quit playing Halo and only uses his 360 to run pr0n. This year I had to explain to him how to put a monitor in a box, use a powerstrip, tie his shoelaces and where the bathrooms were in the hotel after an unfortunate incident with the Lutherans. I found out he has a brother because before SubT got married to a hottie and started thinking straight he played Halo with us. I found out he has a sister because she was appointed by the state to move in and take care of him after Bliz had to move to Florida. It certainly would never have occurred to doodi to have mentioned them because of the perpetual fog.

Despite the shroud of mystery, obfuscation and general laziness one thing I know is true. None of this happens without him. If Mike James is the heart of 2o2p, doodi is the soul. As unlikely a candidate as a chubby twelve year old Amish girl named Lisa is for that role it’s still true. He had a vision of never letting anyone tell him or his buddies the right way to do things and that vision of obstinate, obnoxious, fiercely inappropriate tribal loyalty lives on at 2o2p and every year in August we kick it in the ass to make sure it’s ready to pounce.

Thank You Doodi and Long Live the LAN!

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I love epilogues. It seems like every time I write anything for the site it has some goofy post-script. It usually gets tacked on when I look over at the page count and say to myself “holy shit wrap it up, everyone stopped reading ages ago.” In that spirit here is my cry for help. Each year everyone talks about documenting the LAN and doing a write up (or a video) and at some point a week or two afterwards some poor schmuck finally puts it together- and then it gets treated like a Gutenberg Bible. Nobody writes a sequel, nobody completes the thought, nobody expands on what was missed. Don’t let that happen this year. Let Dantez' video be an inspiration to you. Follow Pearly’s lead and blog about what went on. Throw your own shout outs up in your Clan forums. Write some more news for the front page about what actually happened. At the very least hit the comments button and thank who made your LAN special to you.

2old2play's own DantezINFERNO, for those of you that don't know, is none other than acclaimed filmmaker Janks Morton. Whether or not you have met or played with Dantez, one thing is for sure, he is one of the most talented members of 2old2play.

In his powerful documentary What Black Men Think, Janks challenges the stereotypes and myths that are perpetuated about black men in society, and the film has received kudos and media coverage from all major outlets.

For those of you that have been to past LANs, you may remember Janks filming portions of the LAN back in 2006, after which he released a short documentary on his trip to the LAN.  Well this year Janks one-upped himself and put together a little piece on 2old2play that speaks volumes.  Here it is for your consumption...

 

Enjoy...

Derek

By now most know 2old2play's community is very caring when it comes to helping out a fellow community member. Without asking, someone takes up the torch to bring happiness into the lives of our friends in need.

Our community has continued to support JollyRoger with hopes, prayers, assistance and positive thoughts when it comes to his lovely daughter Megan. Megan has Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, a life altering disease that, currently, has no known cure; it can be slowed, but science has not developed a solution. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. Without proper working Mitochondria the body begins to fail as less energy is generated within the cells of the body, severely compromising ones way of life, often leading to death.

2old2play can't cure Mitochondrial Disease, but there are other ways we can help. Armada99, one of our prized community members, has taken the initiative to support Megan's cause by donating time and his own money to create Buttons for Megan. He's not asking to recover the cost of producing the buttons, so all proceeds go to the cause: raising money for Megan.

How do I help?

Donate USD $10.00 to Buttons for Megan and you'll be sent three buttons marked with the support website AskMeAboutMegan.com, an in-development support website about Megan and her Mitochondrial Disease. Your donation goes to helping JollyRoger and his family: a wife, two boys and Megan through the trials of their everyday life.

What is the goal?

The money raised won't cover all their medical needs, but allowing them to pay less attention to finances for a little while or to take a trip somewhere with the family and help them mentally cope with life's challenges. With a daughter needing so much care and attention it's tough to remember you've got two boys that need love too, the struggle is more than just medication but balancing a busy life and giving time to all your families needs.

It should be our goal to raise as much money for Megan and her family as possible. You don't have to stop at USD $10.00, you can buy as many buttons as you want. There are very few families that can fully understand how hard it can be to watch your child handle a disease like this, having to bring your child to the ER for a common cold or cough; living with the fact that your future is handled on a day-by-day basis can be a nightmare.

Once you've had a child you understand how parents put everything aside for their family. There is absolutely nothing you won't give to protect your young ones--even your own life. Imagine feeling near powerless to protect them and having only your faith and the help of others to get you through each and every day.

While you sit at work on a stressful day asking yourself, "why do I do this?" or look through your bills struggling to manage your income, keep in mind there are people out there hoping and praying their family stays safe and secure for years to come. Go home, give you child a kiss and be thankful for each day you have with them. Everyone hopes their children will out live them, we can hope the same upon JollyRoger and his family.

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We at 2old2play thank Armada99 for initiating this and are humbled that we didn't think of it ourselves. Remember, you don't have to be 25 or older to help out, anyone can stand out in the crowd.

The LAN is over and everyone has finally gone home. Now is the time we relax and reflect back on one of 2old2plays biggest and best LANs in history.

In the coming weeks we hope to give you a round up of everything that went down at the LAN. The $2,000 Halo tournament, the Rock Band Give-a-way Tournament, raffles, videos, pictures and more should all be on their way soon. For now we just wanted to give everyone a huge thank you for all the work done at the LAN. It looks as though we raise a good bit of money for charity without one of our members being hauled off to jail for drunken misconduct.

I'm sure everyone will be able to see this for themselves in the hundreds of photos taken so keep your eyes pealed around the site and clan forums for pics from attending members. Also, if you did take picture at the LAN, please send me a PM so I can gather up a nice montage for all those that couldn't make it.

Thanks again to everyone that helped make this LAN memorable. I can't wait to do it all again next year.

Sorry about the delay, we had a bunch of technical issues, but the LAN cam is up and ready on the home page.

Hopefully we can get some more time to show you some of the cool events like the FFA Halo tournament or the Rock Band concert. For now enjoy what you are missing

Make sure to check into the chat room to chat with all the people at the LAN as well. Go to http://www.2old2play.com/modules.php?name=SiteChat for more info.

What I have set up now is only a small 3rd of the room. i'll try to change the angles when ever I have some free time.

Back to drinking....

The time is finally here as we enter into LAN week for our largest Chicago get together since the LANs humble beginnings only 3 years ago. Find out more about this sold out even and how you can still be a part of it even from your own home.

First off I just want to say how great it is that we were able to sell out so fast. Initially we wanted to have a 100 members cap, but that all had to change after that cap was reached almost 2 months ago. We finally put that cap at 120 people and were easily able to hit that mark. We're sorry to those who have been contacting the site looking for extra tickets, but we simply cannot accommodate any more people with our current space. Hopefully next year more people will buy tickets early and we can expand our square footage even more.

For those that couldn't make it

Just like last year we will try as best we can to cover the LAN as it happens. More then likely this will include a live stream of the LAN on both the home page and the LAN page at www.2old2play.com/lan. We invite all members to take a view at every thing that goes down at the LAN so they can see join in on the fun. We will try to get as many events on camera as we can, but keep in mind there is a lot of running around going on so some things might be left off screen.

Also if you didn't grab a ticket but still want to help the cause, please feel free to head on over to www.2old2play.com/lan and click the donate button. All proceeds from the LAN go to Children with cancer in order to help give them better lives and a touch of happiness. We know times are tough, but 2old2play has always proven to have a heart. Last year saw more then $2,000 raised for Children Memorial and my hope is that this number will be even larger. Any donation via he lan donate button will also enter that person into our raffle!

Check List for LAN

If you did manage to get a ticket then just remember now is the time to go over all the stuff you need to bring. 70 monitors will be present as stations for the LAN, but you MUST bring your own consoles in order to fill those spots. We always say do not rely on others to bring the games, controllers, cables, and consoles, becuase before you know it there will be nothing there to play.

Also remember to label ALL of your gear as things have and will get moved around from time to time. We also seem to lose one or two things during a LAN so keeping a watch on your gear is a good idea. Some masking tape and a sharpie should be more then enough to get you by without issues. If you want to be even more hard core about it feel free, but just remember that other members will play on your console from time to time. As we know consoles do red ring so keep that in mind when you are jumping from station to station.

We also need those extra items from the closer members in order to have enough to network, power, and connect all the stations. If you need to know what else to bring, you can head over to the Chicago Lan Forum and click on this thread for more information. Basically and Cat5 Cable, power strips, speakers, or VGA Xbox cables will help us tremendously. If you don't have those items do not worry, we will run out and pick up whatever is left over.

Update all your games! You wont believe how many people forget to do this at home and it ends up causing issues at the LAN. There is a net connection, but assume it will not be available to you. There is no way to hook up 70 xbos's to one stable internet connection so its best if you do this all at home. That includes new maps, patches, and downloadble content.

Finally, don't forget your cash. I know this sounds simple enough, but you wouldn't believe how many people end up paying out the ass for cash station fees because they do not have enough on them. Remember this is also a vacation and more then likely you will partake in the kickassness (a new word) that is Chicago. That means food, beer, and do not forget the raffles and events for charity.

Events at the LAN

Don't forget this years LAN is going to have some event added that we didn't see last year. That includes the Rock Band Rock Off and the $1,000 Halo FFA Tournament. Times are subject to change, but both of these even should be held on Saturday. Make sure you are around as both will be first come first serve for all members. The same plan will go for the raffle. We did a lot of good last year and made most of our charity money via the raffle so we encourage people to sigh up and give what they can. The raffle will close the LAN Saturday night so stick around.

See you all there. Travel safe!

Looks like people are really excited about the LAN this year as demand has reach an all time high for tickets to this years event. For the first time in LAN history we may have to close ticket sales to make room for all the new attendees.

Over 109 people have already bought their tickets to this years LAN with only one more week to go before sales must come to an end. As a reminder, the tickets have reach their maximum cost and can still be purchased for $105.00 dollars while supplies last from www.2old2play.com/lan. If you are still planing on going we urge you to act now as we will have to close out sales to ensure that enough space in our LAN is available to all members.

At this time we have 70 monitors available for stations at the LAN which all require a specific amount of power to run. Because of this we simply cannot go over our project size or we will start to run into power issues and blackouts. As a reminder, LAN patrons are encouraged to share their stations with all members of the LAN to allow for everyone to get a chance to play with their friends and clan members.

If you are a first time member to the LAN please remember to mark ALL of your gear, games, controllers, and loved ones in case they are lost. We have also started a thread in the Chicago Lan Forum of tips for you newcomers and reminders to you veterans on what to bring with you for the LAN. You can find this thread by clicking over to the Chicago Lan Forum or just clicking the link below.

http://www.2old2play.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=46726

We also have a thread up for some extra gear that might be needed for the LAN which attendees can help volunteer to bring. So far it seems almost everything is in place and we shouldn't need to much extra, but it is helpful if members check back often to review the list. You can check out the thread titled Things I need people to bring for the LAN for more information.

Finally, check out the LAN games list thread to see what types of games people are bringing to the LAN. As most can assume there will be a lot of Halo 3, Rock Band, Call of Duty 4, and Gears of War, but don't forget those other gems out there as well!

We can't wait to see everyone there and want to remind you all that any proceeds from the LAN will go straight to helping some kids in need at Children's Oncology Services, Inc. We plan on opening up donation once the event has started to also allow members of 2old2play to help give even if they cannot attend the event. Hopefully we can also stream this whole event to you LIVE from 2old2play. Thanks again to everyone attending and everyone that can help Children's Oncology Services create a brighter future for kids with cancer.