We are glad you asked, a LANParty is a group of people who all bring their computers together at a specific location to play computer games together on a network, and drink Mountain Dew. The first thing most people usually ask is: "Why do you want to do that?" and then continue with "A computer is an expensive (and heavy) piece of electronics that does not take lightly to being moved around alot, one whose performance is negatively impacted by the accidental application of Mountain Dew." But the fact is, a LANParty is the most fun you will ever have with your computer, especially if you like to do any type of gaming.

     Hold on, We're not kidding. Let's assume that you're a computer gamer and you're playing against someone in a killer game of (Quake III)deathmatch. As you rocket jump through space to land next to your opponent on his remote island of floating debris, duck his last ditch effort of survival(rocket launchers are not a good choice at close range), and humiliate him by cutting him in two with your gauntlet.

  (If you were at a LANparty) you could celebrate your victory by:

• Savoring the expression of humiliation on his face
• Scream across the room, "learn to suck it in, loserboy!"
• High-five your teammates
• Start yelling "Who's yo daddy?" directly in his face
• Announcing that he couldn't kill you with a BFG in a narrow tunnel
• Crank up the "Humiliation" wav file on your computer and let it loop infinately.
• Savor the moment of greatness by kicking back in your chair and let the other gamers laugh at him.
• Or just continue the trash talk until the rematch is setup

• Checking your email
• Kicking the cat
• Watching your favorite show on television

     It is the difference between going to see Michael Jordan play or watching him on television. Sure, you can see all the replays from different angles -- but there's nothing like actually being there with the screaming crowd as he slams another one from the free throw line.

  Another advantage of playing games at a LANParty is the LAN itself. As opposed to the Internet, which stands for "Really really big area network slowed down by people actually trying to do productive things like homework."

  When you play games on a LAN, you're naturally going to be relatively close to the server as well. When you and your friends attempt to shoot each other, the weapon will fire instantly, while it's still pointed in the general direction of your enemy. It can be seriously intense! Whereas when you play games over the Internet using a dial-up modem, you will often have time to catch a rerun of your favorite TV show between the time when you fire your weapon and the time it eventually makes its way to the intended target, who by this time has gotten married, had 3 kids, and moved to Chicago.

  Anyone who has tried to compare the two will state that playing over the net can never compete or even compare with the adrenaline rush of playing on a LAN.