It has been said that you should never return to the scene of a crime. Fortunately for the TTL Gunslingers, and a few distinguished guests, that same pearl of wisdom does not hold true for LAN parties – especially when the scene in question is a beach. Thus, on Memorial Day weekend, Tied the Leader held a repeat performance of last year’s AtLANtica event.
Telling the stories engendered at a LAN party is always a tricky proposition. Photos from the scene usually end up depicting faces frozen in a mask of tactical concentration. The camera is rarely trained on the attendees when the party erupts into exaltation. The competitive electricity in the room escapes the snapshots. The tension and suspense of live competition and social camaraderie defy illustration.
Thanks to the video stylings of one Sunburned Goose, this problem is solved in living, breathing high-definition. We bid you welcome to come along with Goose on his journey. Should you crave a higher resolution of this video documentary, register for a login here, and access the Downloads menu in the lower right-hand corner.
All told, 37 attendees graced us with their presence, their gunfire, and their company. Through the execution of a [not-so] silent auction, $1,200 was raised to benefit wounded combat veterans via the Tied the Leader Foundation. It was, after all, Memorial Day!
Special thanks go out to all who provided discounted services, contributed personal funds, or donated schwag to serve as fodder on the auctioneer’s block. They include: Bungie Studios, Electronic Arts, EE Knight, Hoover AV, JINX, Microsoft, Steve Downes, Red Bull, Los Jacklos at Easton Exchange, and Venus.
This event was many things. It was a vacation. It was a tournament. It was a live assembly of the membership from a virtual social network. It was introductions among new friends and reunions among old friends. It was a fundraiser for charity. Above all else, it was a party.
Tied the Leader is a community that finds it roots in LAN Parties like this one. When we played Halo: Combat Evolved, we didn’t have Xbox Live. We didn’t have hotel meeting spaces or 40” plasmas, either. Events like this one are always a much-needed reconciliation with the truth – that we are gamers in a clan to enjoy ourselves, as well as to enjoy the company of each other.
Next stop… Chicago. For the third time. After all, if one scene is worth returning to, so is another.
To those who attended AtLANtica, 2.0: Thank you, and Good Game.
They get better every year. To old friends and to new ones!
Incredible video Goose. I think you really captured something wonderful there.
oh i am sooo excited for chicago
It was great meeting so many people again and meeting others for the first time. It sort of sucks when you have to go back to work the next week. Here’s to Chicago!
Good game everyone!
Nice video Goose, but ummmmm isn’t your camera supposed to be turned off during take off and landing?
WOW!!! Great video man! That looks like a lot of fun. I was wondering about filming planes before, during and after takeoff as well.
Good thing you look like an honest person!
And to think that all of that was for a good cause.
Hoo-Ah!
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great video goose,
looks like alot of fun was had…
and alot of money went to a good cause…
congrats guys…
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Great video guys. Looks like you guys/gals had fun, and that’s what it’s all about.
I reeeeally want to go to ChicagoLANd!
Goose!!! Fantastic job!!! Beautiful video. My favorite part is the TTL on the beach!! That rocks!
I cant wait to see you all in Chicago!!!
Venus
It was an awesome first LAN for me and it was great to make a lot of new friends, I can not wait for next year.
Great video!
Goose, that was amazing! You shouldn’t have done such a good job, because now we’ll have high expectations for Chicago ;P
Excellent video man!
Fantastic video Goose and MAD Props to all!
Goose, that was great! Nice work! I wish I could have been there.
Great work Goose. Impressive video recording and editing. I have got to join in sometime.
Thanks again for the awesome LAN party. The TTL crew did a great job organizing it and the video is awesome.
Wow. I wish I knew about this earlier. I live about a half hour away from Satellite Beach and would have loved to attend. Are you coming back to FL again?