EPTAttending a large LAN or competitive eSports event is a privilege that the majority of people do not have. With MLG just coming up, and DreamHack Summer just around the corner, I thought I’d share with you my experiences from some previous DreamHack events. The live experience and everything it entails for me. I’ll also be doing a video series on this from DreamHack Summer, hopefully!
Two times a year, DreamHack rolls out. Summer & Winter, the majors. There are some minor things with DreamHack branding, Stockholm Invitational, Skellefteå and such, but those don’t really count. DreamHack is the LAN experience. DreamHack is a festival of the likes that you cannot believe until you experience it.
Since me and my brother don’t like queueing and getting up at 6 in the morning before pulling all-nighters, we typically show up at around 11 AM to 1PM. Get through the gates, get our passes, chat to your mates who are on crew ‘cause they’re nerd ballers just like you, and then get your orientation. Every single year we make it our priority to head to Hall D. Entering Hall D, especially the first time, is quite an experience. You get on an escalator and head down with a spectacular view of what is colloquially referred to as the “Sea of computers”.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/TCcf8.jpg)
Now, this effect is somewhat alleviated if you happen to show up early, before the opening ceremony and lights-out (setting up your computer in the dark is hard). But once the lights go out, the atmosphere changes. With light shows everywhere and the glow of 6000 monitors, it takes your breath away. The chassis glow and whizz, and everyone’s got their own style. Plexiglasses, lighting, water cooling; If you can think of it, it’s at DH.
Typically we’re a bit peckish by this point, so we go get some food. I’ve heard some rumblings about prices at MLG, but it’s quite good at DreamHack. Good food for good prices! In the good old days one would get traditional Jolt Cola, but they went out of business sadly. Rockstar took over. It was the end of an era, but Rockstar is doing a fine job of bearing the torch.
At this point, we typically get a tad bored of the D hall. We head over to the exhibits, check out all kinds of cool shit that’s on display. Lots of 3D last year. An actual F1 car to play a racing game was amazing. Displays that go around you in semi-domes. Extreme overclocking, gaming of all sorts - DreamHack is an exhibit for new gaming technology as much as it is a celebration of nerd culture.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/kfF2Y.jpg)
By this point the tournaments have usually started the groups stages. It can be hard to find a place to really watch the early stages. For example, to watch HoN last year I had to stand behind the pro-gamers and watch them play, which lead to a terribly one-sided impression. It did have some positives though, Fnatic pro-gamers coming up to ask you how the game seems to be going is quite a cool experience. Games don’t get to use these in the early stages, but they have huge projectors and canvases in each of the main gaming halls. They are used more for events and such.
For last year’s StarCraft content, there was a small spectator area set up for the group stages. This is typically just a bunch of benches set up and you can just sit and chill. There are speakers set up and a couple of 50”-ish TV’s. StarCraft 2 was full most of the time last year, so I fully expect them to expand the section a bit this year. As one watches the games on the TV in front of you, one might think the viewing experience is not very different from the home.
This could not be further from the truth.
The experience of sitting and watching the game live as it’s being played in front of you while you can see the commentators and feel the audience watching intently is indescribable. The crowd ooh’s and aah’s for every event, and when something really cool happens everyone starts clapping. The intensity eggs the casters on, and you can really see the excitement in their faces once the games really get going. Day[9] nearly passed out last year during a game in the group stages, the sheer intensity of the game and the length of their casting sessions catching up to him.
![[image loading]](http://www.gosugamers.net/general/images/news/day9-apollo-dhw10.jpg)
Image courtesy of GosuGamers
It can be hard to find games to watch with a good audiovisual setup during the group stages. For finals though, all bets are off. Less popular games get to be played on the big stages in B or D hall (A sweet SF4 final comes to mind), but the majors get the DreamArena Extreme.
The DreamArena Extreme is an eSports viewing experience like none other that I’ve ever seen. It’s a theatre setting, and meant for large productions. It can seat about 1,100 people and it delivers an absolutely phenomenal viewing experience. A truly gigantic screen, massive amounts of speakers, the players on stage in front of you with about 50” TV’s to show their FPView and the whole place is packed with screaming, passionate fans. The energy during the final sets is absolutely palpatable and the crowd adds so much to the experience. Screaming for every probe kill, every drop and an unbelievable celebration when the “GG” comes. It gives you such a connection to the game you’re watching.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/48BGs.jpg)
Every live event or LAN has it’s own flavour. But they all have something in common: Passion. Where ever you decide to go, you will find people who are extremely passionate about what they do, who care, who aren’t afraid to get excited when they see that clutch drone getting killed before seeing the Stargate. Don’t be afraid to take a chance, drive an extra hour or whatever it takes.
Take the leap.
It’s worth it.
