The LAN (local area network) gaming event, LAN of the Damned, saw about 40 people bring their computer rigs and Xboxs together to compete in hours of multi-player gaming goodness. 

Event administrator Jason Thornton said about 40 gamers attended the 27th LAN of the Damned, which first ran 10 years ago.

“We actually had more people show up than expected and a really positive response this time around,” he told The Standard yesterday.

“Locally they’re not quite as popular as they once were because more people prefer to stay home in their room and play online, but we prefer the more social aspect of these events, getting together in the same room.

“We’ve learnt a bit since the start, gathered a bit more equipment, changed venues about three times, and the nature of it has evolved as the internet plays a much larger role in gaming as when we started.

“At the start it was all games you could play without the internet, but now you can’t get by without it.”

As well as 26 hours of social gaming, Mr Thornton said the event featured prize giveaways, a “fastest-computer” contest and gaming tournaments.

“We have local business sponsors as well as larger companies donating prizes to give away.

“There’s a local bloke who has built an arcade machine from scratch so we had a bit of a competition with some old-school arcade games like Zero Gravity, Space Invaders, Street Fighter and that turned out to be pretty popular.”

j.pech@standard.fairfax.com.au