Every year at TusCon, a small subculture gathers and does what they do best: Play video games. TusLAN is the single largest local annual gathering of video gamers who desire one thing – to have fun playing video games without the lag. If you have only played games online over the Internet, you know what lag is and hate it. The only currently known way to eliminate that lag is to play locally over a mini-network known as a Local Area Network (LAN). TusLAN provides the LAN, sponsors donate many computers during the conference, and the truly cool gamers who are willing to share hardware bring their own computers (BYOC). BYOC’ers also get to save some money on the TusCon entrance fee.

Slide 1 of 4.
(A) Gamer fuel? Check. (B) Headphones? Check. (C) Awesome gaming-related slogan? Check. (D) Do I want to play video games? Nah. Who would want to do that?
Source: TusLAN websiteSlide 2 of 4.
An older gentleman who enjoys a good video game.
Source: TusLAN websiteSlide 3 of 4.
People of all ages are welcome at TusLAN.
Source: TusLAN websiteSlide 4 of 4.
Including kids. Bring the children and have fun.
Source: TusLAN website

As you can see, gamers of all ages appear at TusLAN and seem to have a good time. It is a fairly well-organized event so hardware doesn’t simply walk off (i.e. get stolen) and everyone plays the same game at the same time – some form of competition is involved, but seems to be more about having fun than competing. Obviously, not all genres of game are played by everyone, but there is plenty to see and do besides play video games at TusLAN. Don’t like real-time strategy games? Let someone else play and go visit other areas of the conference during that time slot.

The games that are scheduled to be played this year are:

World of Warcraft (leveling contest) (PC, 2004) – 81%, Rank #422, MMORPG
Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC, 2004) – 92%, Rank #18, FPS
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (PC, 2005) – 78%, Rank #615, RTS
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC, 2007) – 84%, Rank #271, FPS
Unreal Tournament 3 (PC, 2007) – 83%, Rank #310, FPS
Halo 3 (XBOX 360, 2007) – 73%, FPS

Other games being considered are:

Battlefield 2 (PC, 2005) – 85%, Rank #190, FPS
Battlefield 2142 (PC, 2006) – 80%, Rank #530, FPS
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (PC, 2004) – FPS (The regular storyline is 93%, Rank #11), FPS
Counter-Strike: Source (PC, 2004) – 91%, Rank #22, FPS
Team Fortress 2 (PC, 2007) – 94%, Rank #4, FPS
Serious Sam 2 (PC, 2005) – 74%, Rank #853, FPS
Call Of Duty 4 (PC, 2007) – 89%, Rank #85, FPS
Serious Sam Second Edition (PC, 2002) – 85%, Rank #185, FPS
Call Of Duty (PC, 2003) – 89%, Rank #88, FPS

TusCon this year is November 13-15 (Friday-Sunday). The entrance fee schedule is as such:

$40 until September 1, 2009. $45 after that and at the door.
One-day passes are $20 (Fri), $35 (Sat), and $15 (Sun).

For video gamers going to TusLAN and bringing their own computers that meet the minimum requirements, prices are reduced somewhat to $15 (Saturday only) or $30 for all three days when casting the magic words “TusLAN BYOC membership”. Must contact TusLAN before the event to sign up for the reduced pricing.

It may only be Thursday, but if you have nothing to do this weekend, you are already aware of that fact. Given that you have nothing to do and want to hang out with people who enjoy gaming of all sorts, perhaps stopping down at the free Ides of Gaming: Tucson’s Game Day event this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at Espresso Art (right next to the University of Arizona).

Espresso Art, 944 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719 (Click for Interactive Map)

What is the Ides of Gaming? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure but since it is hosted by the Southern Arizona Gamers Association (SAGA) and that organization seem to be mostly into board games (generally of the Dungeons & Dragons type), I would wager they tend toward that genre. They do appear to be open to all types of gamers, including video gamers. At the very least, it could be worth stopping by if you are already in the area around lunchtime to see what is up.

The Ides of Gaming is an event that takes place on the third Saturday of every month. Parking is free on Saturdays but get there early for a good spot. Definitely visit their website if you plan on going or just want to learn more. The website has a nice, clean layout that is ad-free.

If you do stop on by at the event, comment on the experience below. Readers here would love to know more about this local event. Unfortunately, I already have plans for Saturday or I might stop by.

If you are like me, you love a good video game.  I’m not talking about Solitaire, Freecell, or Minesweeper.  Those games came with your computer.  They offer fifteen seconds of distraction and two hours of frustration.  If you enjoy those, then you would also enjoy burning $35 for the first month and $15 per month after that on World of Warcraft (WoW) and think that game is also great.

If the above describes you, then Gamerz is not really for you. I may occasionally cover the more mundane games since I don’t discriminate and play all categories of video games. I just don’t enjoy some categories as much as others.

To start this blog off on the right foot, let us dive into a fun game that only those with years of gaming experience can truly appreciate. The first game here is a wonderful little Flash-based game called: “Robot Dinosaurs…That Shoot Beams When They ROAR!” (Click here to play – Arcadebomb.com)

Robot Dinosaurs = Awesome game

This game is awesome due to the following formula: Robots + Dinosaurs + Shields + ROARING + LASERS + Explosions = Awesome!

Personally, I can’t think of anything ever going wrong with the above formula.

It took a genius game developer to come up with that formula and there is even a cool storyline with it. While I’m not the author, I can imagine what was going through the author’s mind as they added each game element. “Okay, I’ve got this idea for a game with flying robots in the ancient arcade parallax side-scrolling genre…what else should I add? Dinosaurs would be cool. Wait a moment. Let’s combine robots and dinos! Yes! I’ve got the magic formula! Awesome! Now…what else can I add…”

About half the people who play the game think it is dumb. The other half think it is the best game ever. The latter are what I would categorize as true gamers. They have played enough video games they see the pure genius behind this simple Flash game. And it leaves them wanting “MOAR”. This is perhaps an insight into the psychology of the hardcore gamer: They appreciate games like these while the rest of the population thinks it is terrible.

A little about myself: My name is Thomas Hruska. I’ve been playing video games since I was a kid. I have never owned a console nor have I the desire to own one. The PC is the most versatile platform in existence – games are developed on it, for it, and then played on it. I’m also a software developer and I work for Tucson Newspapers. See that poll above this paragraph? That’s my latest bit of handiwork. The games aspect of my life is just for fun. Developing things like the poll tool for the bloggers on this site is serious business. I take my job seriously but I take my video gaming just as seriously. I get the job done and then I have fun.