How to Host a Gaming Marathon

Gaming is a subculture riddled with stereotypes involving loneliness, unhealthy habits, and dark basements. While many gamers unfortunately conform to such templates, there are many more who focus on the community. Community is such a vital part to gaming. It has to be there every step along the way. The developers need to be a community, the publishers need to be part of that. A cohesive relationship. When the game is released, the gamers need to argue about it, share stories, file complaints, and even in single player games: involve each other in the game as much as possible.

Nowadays that means hopping online with some friends and playing together on a day-to-day basis. However, back before I played games they had something called "LAN parties". This involves lugging all your stuff over to someone's house, setting up multiple TVs in the same room, and playing until your brains drain out of your skull. LAN parties still happen today, but less frequently, and it isn't as special. To really capture the feeling of such an event now requires long marathons that very much sound like what a World of Warcraft addict might do everyday.

Last week I hosted a two day long marathon. On light of this I thought I would share some tips on how you too could  host your very own gaming marathon.

Plan Ahead

I mean well ahead, at least a week. Know who is coming when and make sure everyone knows the details. If you are taking the time to play games then it is almost guaranteed that you can't provide all the TVs, games, and systems you need. Give each guest a list of things they need to bring and what will be provided for them. I told everyone to bring one two liter bottle of pop and a snack, along with their Xbox 360 and a TV since we will be playing a game without split-screen.

As for meals, make them quick and easy to put together and eat. Usually you will be trying to eat and play at the same time, unless you take a break to eat. Snacks are a must. The most traditional snack is a good old bag of Cheetos, but these are extremely messy and  gets cheese all over controllers and keyboards. One of my favorite alternatives is pretzels. They don't make a mess, they're salted, and can easily be handled while playing a game.

The last thing you should know is your set-up. You will need plenty of space, especially if everyone is using their own TVs or computers. Make sure you have a window to let the hot air radiating from the systems out. Minimize the clutter space by keeping wires near the walls and providing plenty of end tables to place snacks, drinks, and other miscellaneous items. Move the furniture around to give everyone a proper viewing angle. Keep a clear path out of the room or rooms for bathroom breaks and runs to the kitchen. If you all need to be connected to the internet get a proper router and know how each system will connect to it. Wi-Fi will do wonders to removes wires from running across the floor. The more clutter free the gaming area is, the longer it will take people to become frustrated with one another.

Know Your Limits
Marathons can be rough. Depending on how long you play it can become boring and frustrating. Don't plan on playing for longer than you or anyone else can handle. Take regular breaks to keep it all fresh. The perfect time to do this is at meals. Meals are great because you can continue to talk about the game, what you liked and didn't like, and what you look forward to.

More importantly, know the limits of your guests. This is just common sense. As the host it is your job to provide the most comfortable and enjoyable experience possible. Marathons can get a little intense, and you can get on each other's nerves. Pay very close attention to this and know the difference between competitive smack talk and angry insults. When things start to get a little too negative, take a break. Be polite about it but deny them the choice to vent their frustration right there. Have them do something else for even just 10-20 minutes and the frustration should go away.

Keep it About the People

Despite everything I've said above it is also important that you don't go too far in the opposite direction. It may be important to take regular breaks, but it is equally important to do what your guests came to do. If all is well among the guests, don't try to fix it by stopping the action. It is a marathon after all.You are only going to make people annoyed by telling them to do something they don't want to.

Similarly, you can keep things fresh by switching the game once in a while. Halo or Call of Duty can easily get repetitive and boring after a while, so be prepared with extra copies of a number of games. Games which change over the course of the marathon will have a longer lasting appeal. If something isn't working out as well as you thought it would, change it.

All of this has to do with being a good host. Be the first to jump out of your seat to get drinks, or answer the phone. Feed everyone food that they will enjoy. Cater to everyone's comfort before your own. It's common hospitality that unfortunately is so rare among gaming culture.

Make it Happen

If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. Don't try and convince someone else to host a marathon. Step up to the plate and do the work yourself. Know all the details, but don't be surprised if it isn't what you expect. As a host, your job is to make sure the marathon takes place at all.

Remember: plan ahead, know your limits, and keep it all about the people to make it happen. So what are you waiting for?