This is the first post in a three-part series that will be posted here on the CryoLAN Party forums. I’ll be trying to address any of the questions that I’ve been asked, anticipate being asked , or may be asked in the future. Once I’ve got the series wrapped up and have given people a chance to add their own questions, I’ll put the posts together as one big FAQ.

This part of the FAQ focuses on who we are and why we’re doing what we’re doing.

Part 1: Who and Why

Q: Who are you?
A: My name is Michael Miller, though I’m most often referred to as ‘iz’, ‘izzy’, ‘izumo’, or ‘eye-zumo’ (some people really like to pronounce that ‘I’). As a frequent attendee of many LANs in the Western New York area, I’m a well known and hopefully well liked member of the gaming community here. I also have a famous, if slightly exaggerated, love for all things bacony. I am the organizer of CryoLAN Party, and am in charge of getting things set up for the event. I am also the financier of this brave endeavour.

Q: Why are you starting up CryoLAN Party?
A: Because no one else did. I’ve been pondering the idea of starting up a second LAN party in the Buffalo area for some time now. After the many questions I’ve received from people in the area about when the next MassiveLAN would be, I realized that one big LAN party just isn’t enough. There’s a great opportunity here for a new event in the Western New York area, and I hope to capitalize on it.

Q: Who are your staff members?
A: Well now, this is a three-parter, isn’t it?:

Garrett – AKA The_Kid: The youngest member of our staff, Garrett is also the most ambitious and inquisitive. I know of no one else who is as motivated as he is to learn and grow more knowledgeable in every subject imaginable. He’s the webmaster of CryoLAN, as well as our designated Server Co-ordinator. Considering that just three years ago when I first met him, he was getting duct-taped into an office chair by a freaky dude named Jym (yes, with a Y), he’s certainly come a long way.

Brian – AKA Pope, Tallica: Yes, that’s right. He has a first name. No, don’t call him Brian. Call him Pope or Tallica. Pope is a big, scary, beast of a man. A great person to have as a friend, and a fearsome person to face down as a foe. On top of being a mountain of dude, he’s also a computer technician by trade. His combination of imposing stature and technical expertise make him a logical choice as my back-up technical assistant and enforcer. He’s the perfect blend of commissar and nerd, and he’ll be the one who makes sure everything runs smoothly at CryoLAN party.

UPDATE 10/28/09:
Justin – AKA Gungen, Kualtek: The organizer of LANminds, a local gaming group from Grand Island, NY, Justin has been a loyal attendee of MassiveLAN for years, and is a great all-around gamer. He handles IT for some kind of crazy bio-medical-cyborg company that is making insane contraptions that track eye movements and turn it into mouse inputs, or something. I'm pretty sure that when the cyborg zombie apocalypse occurs, he'll be the one to blame. He'll probably say that it's not his fault, but don't believe him. Despite his involvement in the upcoming end of all that is, he's a good friend and a competent gamer. He knows his stuff and has been eager to help out with CryoLAN at every opportunity. Together with MaXiMuS, he's a boon for CryoLAN and a great addition to the staff.

Andrew – AKA UTMorpheus:ON HIATUS DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUES The first time I met Andrew, I thought he was a stuck up, obnoxious, self-important little bastard. In the years that I’ve known him that opinion hasn’t changed one bit. However, despite these flaws, he’s a good friend and he knows what he’s talking about most of the time. He’s my network and power advisor, and he’ll be helping to make sure that everything at the event goes smoothly. With over a year of experience working for Techno Phobia, and a history of building ridiculously over-the-top equipment, he’s the right man for the job.

Q: I’d like to help out. How do I get onto the staff for CryoLAN Party?
A: As of right now I am not accepting any other staff members for CryoLAN Party. A big part of my plan for CryoLAN involves keeping the staff to an absolute minimum. By making use of less staff, and picking people with varying but overlapping areas of expertise, I feel that we can meet our attendees needs in the best way possible. The fact that our staff has been selected won’t prevent us from accepting volunteers for the event, assisting with setup and other duties. We appreciate, and will be accepting, many of the offers for help that I’ve been receiving over the last few weeks and months.

Q: Why do you feel that you’re qualified to run a big LAN party like this?
A: The staff of CryoLAN have in excess of 50 years total experience in working with computers, and over 25 years experience in attending or helping to run LAN parties. You could say we’ve put in a good bit of time preparing for this. Also, a 75-seat LAN really isn’t that large. It’s an aggressive starting point to be sure, but compared to some of the truly huge LAN parties, the first CryoLAN will be rather small. This first event will be a learning event for us, and will help us prepare for bigger and better LAN parties in the future!

Part 2: How and What

Welcome to part two of the CryoLAN Party FAQ. This time around I'll be focusing on what I intend for CryoLAN Party to be, and how I plan on making the event a success.

Q: What will the size of CryoLAN Party be?
A: We are planning for the first CryoLAN Party to have seating for 75 people. This will be a "hard" upper limit, and we will be cutting the event off at that number of attendees.

(Bonus Why question!)
Q: Only 75 people? Why so small? Don't you want to have more people at the event?
A: Sure, we would love to have more people at CryoLAN Party. Quality is far more important than quantity, however, and that's why we're going to be providing accommodations for only 75 people. We think that 75 attendees is a realistic goal, and one that we can manage quite effectively. By capping the event at a definite maximum, we will be able to arrange our power and networking with near-absolute certainly. It will also let us plan out how much food and drink we will likely need, and let us give a definite attendance target to our sponsors.

Q: What kind of events will you have at CryoLAN? Will there be a lot of tournaments? Side-games?
A: We'll certainly have tournaments, and we're going to try and open things up to as many people as we can. You can expect to see some of the normal tournaments, such as a 5 vs. 5 Team Fortress 2 tournament (not definite, just an example), played elimination style. We'll also have some tournaments that are open competitions, such as a L4D survival tournament.
With regards to side-events, we're looking for some good ideas, and I think we've got some great concepts worked up. We'll wait until the event gets closer to discuss them (if at all) becasue we want to have some unique and surprising events to get people up and moving.
UPDATE 10/27/09: Expect more information on this soon. We're going to have a Metal Drift tournament, a "Meta" (multi-game) tournament, and likely two other tournaments for highly popular games at CryoLAN.

Q: What kind of network are you planning on having at CryoLAN?
A: We are planning on having a full-gigabit network for the event. If we can find a sponsor for our network, we'll gladly use their equipment and help showcase whichever companies network hardware. If not, we will be acquiring our own network hardware, including at least one fully managed switch.
UPDATE 9/21/2009: We are moving forward with acquiring our own network hardware! As stated on the main CryoLan news posts, we've already acquired three, 24-port, 10/100/1000 fully managed switches and plan on doubling that number before CryoLAN takes place!
UPDATE 10/09/09: We've acquired our core swich! A 48 port 10/100/1000 fully managed switch!

Q: What will the power situation be like? There have been some problems at local LANs when it comes to reliablility.
A:We will be supporting a maximum of 5 computers per 20 amp circuit, no matter where we go. If the venue that we obtain has less than 15 discreet 20-amp circuits, we will scale back the event slightly rather than try to fit more people in and "hope" that we're alright. The quality of service at CryoLAN is going to be our #1 concern. We're new at this, and we know we've got to get a major issue like this handled correctly. Our goal is to have zero power outages, period.
UPDATE 10/28/2009: We know we're going to be holding our event at the firehall, and we've were able to go visit the venue last week! We've got the same layout that MassiveLAN had, two breakout boxes with sixteen 20-amp breakers per box. That's thirty-two 20-amp breakers, for a potential maximum total capacity of SIX-HUNDRED AND FOURTY AMPS. Allocating a full four amps for each gamer, that means we've got enough power to support a total of 160 attendees. PLUS, we've gotten in contact with the man who built the boxes, and he'll be helping the staff set them up and ensure that the power load is properly balanced. He's the one who stabilized the power situation at MassiveLAN Party 08', and with his support we'll be able to give CryoLAN the best power layout possible.

Q: How will the event be laid out? What kind of space will each user have?
A: UPDATE 10/09/09: Re-addressed in When and Where, layout is currently being discussed by staff and will be posted to this forum upon approval.

Q: What is the plan for seating people as they arrive?
A: UPDATE 10/09/09: Deleted and Re-addressed in When and Where, also simplified immensely.

Q: What will I need to bring as an attendee?
A: Please bring the following items:
Yourself, Computer, monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, headset, power strip (with surge protection), two power cables, network cable, monitor cable.

The following items are completely optional, but some people can't live without them:
Deodorant (for the love of god, bring this and use it), swivel-bottom office chair, game disc, game consoles (find a way to use a headset for the sound, please), projector (show everyone how awesome you are at whatever you do), backup computer/parts.

Please leave the following things at home (or at least consult with us before plugging them in):
external speakers, Mini-fridge, toaster oven, micro-wave oven, personal heater/air-conditioner, waffle-iron, hot-plate, electric griddle. (we as staff will try to accommodate any people with culinary inclinations in a separate area, if space/power allows)
UPDATE 10/28/2009: Power Conditioners and UPS units are STRICTLY prohibited. These devices throw off our power plans horribly by drawing way too much load from our power system to feed themselves as well as what's connected to them. If we see one at the event, we will ask you to disconnect it. If your normal power strip has a built in UPS, please bring another strip to use

Q: I've got a console, how are you going to accommodate me?
A: Well, we aren't, really. Consoles are of course welcome, to an extent. When you pay for your seat at CryoLAN, you can put almost anything there that your heart desires... so long as it is non-disruptive to those around you. If you want to bring a console, just make sure you also bring along the means to enjoy it without being a bother to those around you. That means no speakers, so please find a way to use a headset with your awesome games. Unfortunately, this means no Rock Band or Guitar Hero at individual positions (with a few rare exceptions, ask me if you're one of them!).

Q: So... no music games at all?
A: Until we get the venue sorted out, yes... kind of. We love gaming of all sorts, but the reality is that hearing "Through the Fire and the Flames" played over and over at elevated volumes is going to cause someone to get stabbed at some point. If we have a separate area where these games can be played, we'll establish a place for them. It needs to be far enough away that the noises coming from the console area don't affect the PC gamers at all. We'll also be monitoring the volume of any consoles present, and if it's just not working out, we'll put an end to it. (if you're just playing L4D at your seat on your 360, with headphones on, you're fine, of course)

Part 3: When and Where?

Holy cow, how did we overlook posting this part of the FAQ?!?!?! The most important part!

Q: Where will CryoLAN be taking place?
A: The first CryoLAN event will be taking place at a venue that is familiar to many gamers in Western New York. We will be hosting CryoLAN's first event at the South Lockport Volunteer Firehall in Lockport, NY. This is the same location that hosted MassiveLAN in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Q: The South Lockport Volunteer Firehall, isn't that where MassiveLAN had a lot of problems with power?
A: For varying reasons, yes. However, we are very familiar with what caused these outages and how to avoid them in the future. We will be managing the balance of load on the power distribution box in a very careful manner. Plus, we will not be putting as much load onto the electrical system as we had in the past. With a hard cap of 75 attendees, we'll be well within the tolerances that we need to be within for our event.

Q: How much space will I have to spread out at my table?
A: With 8' buffet tables at the firehall, and only placing 2 people per table, you'll have ten square feet to spread your glorious gaming rig out in all of it's splendour.

Q: When is CryoLAN taking place?
A: CryoLAN will be starting on 2/19/2010, and running through 2/21/2010.

Q: When can I show up on the 19th?
A: We will be having a staggered start time, with VIP's able to enter the door at 6PM, pre-paid members being allowed in at 7PM, and at-the-door entries allowed from 8PM onwards.

Q: Why the staggered start times?
A: For two reasons. First, it gives people an incentive to pre-pay. There may be goodies available at the beginning the event that are first-come first-serve. VIP's will have first crack at them, then pre-pays, and at-the-door entries get table scraps. Secondly, and more importantly, the staggered start times keeps people from stacking up all over each other when they walk in. Spreading out the times when people are setting up might help keep things from being too hectic on Friday night.

An address for the venue would be cool

Too true Load.

The address for the event is:

5666 South Transit RD, Lockport NY, 14094

Also, for anyone who is wondering when we're going to wrap up this shindig, the "official" answer to that is 2PM Sunday. We need time to wind the event down and get things cleaned up. We won't be cutting anything off early right at 2PM, and if there's a tournament going, we won't be ending it early. Besides, by 2PM on Sunday after an event like this, most people are ready to head home anyways.

Hi, I have a few questions about your lan party. My friend has a 13 year old boy that would really enjoy this event, and I am contemplating accompanying him to your lan party. Here are my questions...

Is this going to be an alcohol free event?

Is there any age restrictions? I am an adult (sort-of!) and I will be there to supervise.

Do we qualify for a group discount?

Will there be a place to take naps while we are there? I'm assuming that the event runs non-stop, unless we have to leave each night. I have been to a few of these events in San Diego and usually we crashed on the floor in sleeping bags, at least until some joker tries to iodine some warpaint on you or whips out with a bullhorn... LOL

Will there be internet access over the network?

Thank you.

Not sure at the moment, we will get back to you.

No age restrictions, but we are not baby sitters. Be sure he won't be running around and potentially breaking things.


Not unless you find 3 more people (you must register as a 5 person group to qualify)


We'll only be using half of the area in the fire hall for computers and equipment, so the other half will be completely open for whatever - though oftentimes people do just crash under their desk.



Enough to do basic browsing and for steam to connect, but nothing more is guaranteed.

Nooo, my beautiful post!...

Always hate that damned backspace key.

Quick answers to your questions then.

1. We will not be serving alcohol as a part of CryoLAN. However, the firehall does have a private bar attached to it and we cannot make them shut that down during the event. Since we have at least one firehall member who will be attending the event, I'm not going to say that he can drink while everyone else cannot. We will, however monitor the event and will not hesitate to require anyone who has had too much to drink to leave. We don't want to deal with disruptive people whether they're sober or not.

One thing I will say with regards to drinking and minors is that our event can be compared to a sporting event when it comes to alcohol. Would you take a 13 year old to a professional sports game at a stadium that serves alcohol? If the answer is yes, then you'll be fine at CryoLAN. If the answer is no, you may not want to bring someone that young.

2. There are no age restrictions, but we expect any minors to have an adult responsible for them and their behaviour. If they do not come with an adult, we will require a contact phone number for their parents and will expect those parents to reached at in case of any issues. We are a LAN party, not a babysitting service.

3. You will qualify for a group discount if your group is 5 members or larger. If you don't have that many people, consider attending some local gaming events and trying to get in with them. You could also ask around on the forums if people who haven't pre-paid yet are looking for a group to join and sign up with them. The $5 group discount really is meant as a way to get people to talk to each other and socialize a bit. It's our way of promoting the computer gaming community in Western New York.

4. Approximately 1/4th of the total event space will be left open and apart from the LAN party setup. This will leave plenty of room for sleeping bags and stretching out. We will also have a "quiet time" from 3AM till 9AM every day to give people as much of a chance as possible to wind down and get some rest.

5. Internet access will be available, but don't expect to be playing any online games with it. We will have a single cable internet connection available at CryoLAN, and that will be enough for people to check e-mails, use IM services, and authenticate to Steam and other gaming services. Don't expect low pings or great throughput though, because even a great cable internet connection isn't going to be able to let an event of this size support online gaming. All appologies to any WoW or Modern Warfare 2 players, but unless you want to pay for a T1 loopback to be installed at the firehall, you're out of luck.

Hi, thank you for the very detailed responses! I will talk to his mom and see if she will let him go.

Damn though, I guess I can't run around and break things either.