Voytek's Gaming Room and LAN Party Center (WIP)

[Voytek85]

Hi LTTers,

 

Background

My name is Tim, born in 1985 and avid gamer ever since I first held an NES controller and played my first 486DX PC.

Me and my wife bought a house with a ton of space 2 years ago and I figured, about time I really get myself a dedicated gameroom. Back in my appartement my home office also functioned as a gameroom but with all this space I managed to give each specific thing (work/pleasure) its own room. I also host a pretty mean home lan every 6 months and now we are up to 14-16 people but more on that later. First some general info on what I am doing and why.

 

I started this thread as I think it is a cool, ever evolving work in progress and I'm very much open to cool ideas and input from you guys to make things better or optimize specific parts of the room/setup.

 

First things first, the network.

 

 

Next to our garage there is a laundry room with a seperate cabinet which I decided to use as the main network hub of the house. We also have a couple of offices in the house and they are connected with a 10gbit link, there is some basic patching from this cabinet into the living area of the house for televisions and decoders, also POE AP's. The link to the gameroom is still 1gbit which kinda sucks as I also have an RS1221 NAS in the rack now over 10gbit but currently the main usage for the gameroom is basic internet and my current connection is only 1Gbit/down so no real use for 10gbit uplink. Eagerly waiting for 10gbit internet, should take a couple of months and 1Gbit really is enough for downloading some games but the uplink is only 50mbit which is horrible obviously. (the 10Gbit is also nice to have with our lanparties)

 

Mainly using Ubiquiti stuff. Very pleased with how it manages and deploys.

Every ethernet port in the house is POE, using Ubiquiti G4 Pro's as security cameras in combination with a 4 drive UNVR.

 

There is another network hub in the office side of the house (we have 4 offices there) but that's not really relevant here. Just trying to give you guys an idea of the setup.

 

September 2021 Collection Mania

I always wanted a main media center with a big TV that had all sorts of consoles hooked up and ready to go.

 

I still have a few consoles which I had as a kid or bought myself but I started out with this:

• NES
• Sega Gamegear
• Xbox 360
• Xbox One
• Gameboy
• Switch

At this point I wasn't even using my gameroom yet for that purpose and was still playing games from my office but I decided it was time to get things going. Time to add some missing consoles to the collection.

 

 

I was very excited to discover the SNES, sometimes played it a friend when I was a kid but no real experience with it. What excited me most was the N64. For some reason, I always wanted one and I remember renting it from a video store sometimes to play Goldeneye and Diddy Kong Racing and have very fond memories of that.

 

 

Sega Megadrive (Genesis). Also never had one, this one I also played at a friend. Mortal Kombat 3!

 

Time to get some stuff together and start planning on how to set it up.

 

 

I used the 65 inch TV from Sony that I had from my appartment to have a rudimentary setup in the room and used some old tv cabinet. Nothing fancy but atleast I could play games for now on consoles.

 

 

 

October 2021

 

Being the PC masterrace guy that I am, it was about time to get my gaming setup going in the gameroom.

I needed a dedicated gaming desk that fit the purpose: gaming. I looked into the secret lab but found it to be very expensive for what it was and I stumbled upon the Ikea gaming desk they had not long ago introduced.

I HIGHLY recommend this for the price. Super rigid, cable management and the desk itself has a very nice texture and doesn't require you to use a mousepad.

 

 

As you can tell, the definition of a work in progress. A BIG PHAT MESS 

 

I added a hue lightstrip on the desk in between the open space in the desk surface. Gives a great effect and it's awesome for easy cable management.

 

 

December 2021: A minor network update to the gameroom

 

I decided to get a decent switch. Planning ahead to install a 10gbit link between the gameroom (upstairs) and the main network rack of the house.

I decided to go for a Ubiquiti Enterprise switch which has 2 x 10Gbit SFP and 8 x 2.5Gbe with POE+, plenty of grunt as a network backbone in the gameroom.

 

 

Januari 2022 part 1: Console Cabinet First steps

 

I finally figured it was time to get my consoles set up in a more decent manner. KALAX from Ikea, you are my favorite piece of furniture. I saw someone on pinterest doing something with a single KALAX using it as a TV stand with the consoles underneath and I decided to expand on that idea.

 

 

I also added a Hue lightstrip behind the cabinet so I can create ambient lighting as I please. I plan to cover the rear of the cabinet so it is no longer see through but with individual lighting necessairy in each part of the cabinet, that's a lot of work and I wasn't really up for the job at that time. A to be continued project.

 

Januari 2022 part 2: THE FIRST LANPARTY

Ì always said, if I move into a house, I'm throwing a LAN party so end of januari it was about time. Time for some room upgrades and preparations.

 

Going downstairs causes downtime, so, first I bought a fridge for the gameroom and did some cleaning before installing some tables.

 

 

I added a table in between the console cabinet and left of my desk.

 

After a supply run, got some snacks and drinks ready.

 

I used my old dining room table from the appartment which fit perfectly behind the sofa (also recovered from my appartment) and we were able to seat around 10 people in the room.

 

 

Sorry for the poor video quality but atleast now you have an idea what size the room is and how it looks like.

 

Added the final tables, threw some cables around and the first LAN was a go with 8 people!

 

 

And offcourse in between time for some retro games on the SNES (using an Analogue Super NT for this)

 

 

 

Februari-April 2022: Minor upgrades

After a succesful LAN it was waiting for the next one so time to keep upgrading the room in between LANS.

 

 

I decided to get rid of the big table behind the couch and give the room a deserved LAN center upgrade by adding gaming desks.

 

 

These Trust gaming desks are excellent value. You can get these sometimes well under 100 EUR/USD and they are solid. I wouldn't recommend these for 49 ultrawides but for a regular 34 wide-ish gaming setup, it is perfect. Also comes with cupholders and headphone holder!

 

Also decided to do some cable management in certain parts of the room. (for the fixed gaming desks)

Dedicated power bricks per table and a dedicated network switch. Should make it easier for people. Just arrive, plug and play!

 

 

As you can tell, I also bought some gaming chairs for these tables  

 

We are MEN (and possibly some women) and we play videogames. But us men, we also like beer. So playing videogames whilst drinking beer, even better, so I got THIS:

 

Get beers from draft, always cold and works great. Perfect addition for the lan room. Also I noticed all the empty bottles were such a hassle, this is MUCH easier.

 

Then for some shelves to add some of the figurines.

 

 

I relocated the old dining table and used 2 more foldable tables and for the upcoming edition, we were able to fit 10 people in the room!

 

 

Once again, just a simple phone recording, so please ignore the bad quality, I will try for future posts to get the quality up!

Also bought some XXL mousepads for the non-gaming desks.

 

May 2022: LAN TIME

 

June-July 2022: Arcade cabinets

I always loved arcades as a kid so I decided to get some arcade machines. Could be fun to hang out with some friends and play some arcade games. These are not the real arcade cabinets but like 75% versions in size, good enough for what it is and gives a cool atmosphere to the room aswel! (also, Metal Slug is life)

 

 

I also managed to get my hands on a Sega Dreamcast. I always wanted one as a kid and I am very excited to finally grab a good deal. Console in perfect condition, lots of accessories and plenty of games for a very fair price.

Instantly had to try it out

 

 

September 2022: Another LAN Coming Up, time for expansion and upgrades!

Our lan is a huge success. I got more people wanting to come that I can seat, so I figured I would fix that issue.

 

First I gave the small tables between my desk and the console cabinet a small upgrade and installed dedicated tables again including new gaming chairs.

 

What was hard to tell on previous pictures, but there is a room inside the gameroom. I used this to expand on the LAN operation. The main room would now fit 8 people and the second room could fit 6 people. 

I used the party tables in the second room, removed the door to give it a more unified feeling instead of having everyone in seperate rooms and started preparing.

 

 

I also received my Alienware AW3423DW QD-led screen which I ordered 2 months before. An absolute beast and even though I already had very good gaming monitors from Asus, this was a major step-up that I didn't expect to be honest.

 

 

Preparing lan parties and setting tables is a lot of work and very messy 

 

 

Also decided to tackle a small bottleneck we had: downloading new games at the same time. I decided to set up a caching server. I wanted to replace my working computer at home eitherway so decided to use that system for it. It is a threadripper 1950x with 64Gb of RAM so plenty fast to fill a 10gbit adapter to the network. With some smart network layout, at most 3 people shared a 2.5Gbit link thru a switch to the caching server. 

 

Say hello to the tower of doom! (bottom is the caching server, top is my racing rig I decided to use as my main gaming rig, my old gaming rig in silver I used for a friend who didn't have a computer)

 

The big Lian Li case on top used to be my main rig in 2016. 3 radiotors, 2 reservoirs, 2 pumps and hosted the threadripper and a 1080ti SLI setup all custom looped. I love that case. Currently it hosts a 5800x and 3090 with a simple cpu loop.

 

Supply runs for the lan include toilet paper. Poop of Thrones volume 1

 

I have an extra toilet right next to the lan room so that is quite handy. We only need to leave the 'area' for food now 

 

Also added some more shelves and bought a lot of stuff in the meantime console wise.

 

 

Also added an extra fuse and some new power outlets around the room to spread the power load for 14 computers.

 

Nice overview showing the progress including all the network cables, power outlets on the tables. No more wires random on the ground and no chance to trip. Pleased with the result!

 

 

Also added a screen to monitor the LANCache server on my setup.

 

 

October 2022: FINAL LAN PREPS AND LANPARTY TIME

 

Final room tour!

 

 

LANparty in motion:

 

 

December 2022: Dedicated LAN PC's

 

I do have quite a bit of hardware around so I created some extra LAN pc's. Had to buy a case or PSU here and there but had several GPU, CPU and mobos around and my old 1440p 165hz gaming monitors. Bought 3 identical 60 percentile Sharkoon SGK50 boards (which are insane for the price, trust me, I'm a keyboard guy), 3 new headphones and 3 gaming mice.

 

 

Now it's easier for a friday evening get togheter with some buddies, have a beer and play some quake champions or consoles. 

2 systems running a 1070 GPU, 1 system my old 1080 ti. Still works great for those competitive multiplayer games. 

 

Februari 2022: Upcoming plans and LAN party

 

End of april we have another LAN for 15ish people. Been super busy at work so not a lot of time recently so I opted to order what I needed already and start installing as soon as I have some spare time.

 

Yesterday got home, a big pallet with 6 gaming tables to upgrade the second room to gamedesks.

 

 

I already had ordered the gaming chairs to match also 

 

 

Next up is installing a stairs.

You can't really tell from the pictures but there is a second floor inside the gaming room that currently is not accessible. Early april, a company will install a custom small footprint rotating stairs. 

Not sure what I will do with the layout but I have 4 more arcade cabinets coming and thinking about creating a small arcade upstairs.

 

Pic to show the upstairs:

 

 

I will put the stairs now where the table is right about where the Zelda poster hangs.

 

My current console collection sits at:

- Gameboy OG (oem en black)
- GBC
- GBA (fully modded IPS)
- New 3DS XL (NIB in orange en CIB modded)
- NES
- SNES
- N64
- Gamecube
- Wii
- Switch
- PS1 Phat
- PS2 Phat
- PS3 Phat
- PS5
- Mega Drive 1
- Dreamcast
- Gamegear
- Analogue Super NT
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
- PSP1000
- PSP3000
- PS Vita 1000

 

Still looking for an OG Xbox, Sega Saturn, Sega Master System and a TurboGrafx / PC-Engine (mainly waiting on the Analogue Duo)

 

To be continued...

 

 

[Voytek85]

March 2023

 

They finally came to install the new stair to access the second floor inside the gaming room.

 

First had to remove the big table we used as 2 additional seating spots for our homelan.

 

 

You can tell, the upstairs space is big and will allow for lots of storage and projects such as storing additional game collections, perhaps a retro setup and I'm considering a mini arcade with some 75% machines like the ones from Arcade1up.

 

 

I did cover off the dedicated LAN pc's I currently have setup there to protect them against dust.

 

It took about 5 hours for them to install it and I can say I'm pretty happy with the result!

 

 

(yes, still very dusty as you can tell, will clean later)

 

I will need to rearrange a few things as the stairs is a bit close to the door into the second part of the room but this was the best option. I'm gonna look into moving up the doorway to make access a bit more comfortable but all in all pretty pleased. Guess first thing to do now is get some cabinets so I don't have to store additional games on the fridge in the LAN room 

[Aseigan]

I have to admit seeing your growth and progress is an inspiration to me. I have been in the loose stages of planning a local LAN in my area for a group. It would be fun.