UPDATE: Registration page is complete! Click here!

Date: Sunday, June 5, 2005
Time: 10 am - 8 pm
City: Chicago, IL
Location: Holiday Inn 4th floor conference room.
Cost/person: $25 (includes cost of meeting room and lunch)
LAN capacity: 16
Maximum # of Attendees: 20
Registration Deadline: 4/30/05

Convention Pre-Party: Hosted by Norky!! More info here .

Yes you heard right! A ThinkTanks Convention will be held this summer in the Chicago area. Mark your calendars!

This is an opportunity to not only meet some fellow TTers, but an extremely rare opportunity to play ThinkTanks on a Local Area Network (translation: NO LAG) in the same room with some of the finest players in the world.

Can you imagine hearing your opponents tank exploding right next to you after you nail them with an area effect? Or better yet, can you imagine shouting "die you bastard!" directly to your opponent in person?

Our idea is this. We show up on Saturday evening or Sunday early morning. I have reserved a conference room with a central table and 17 chairs around it (boardroom style). The room has high-speed internet access. At 10 am on Sunday morning, we begin set-up. We will set up one or two LANs (depending on turnout), each with a dedicated computer to be used as a server. Ethernet hubs/routers will also be set up to accommodate 10 players per server.

Participants must bring their own laptop computer with a registered copy of TT. You will also need a 10' ethernet cable, and an external mouse (and keyboard probably too). You should also be sure to have the latest TT_Mod_Pack® installed and the MM_Observer script. Non-participants are welcome to come also.

Continental breakfast and a simple lunch buffet will be provided. I have also reserved a block of 10 rooms. For now they are King bed rooms for $89. To get this rate just tell them you are with the "ThinkTanks Convention" (yes - for real!). I will see if I can get a better rate on rooms with Queen beds.

Leopard and Chief have generously volunteered to provide servers and routers/hubs. Napalm will help coordinate software configurations. We will need a couple of more volunteers to coordinate some pleasing refreshments!

Wooooot! XD

EDIT: Hotel security is very tight and everyone who wants to just "show up" needs to actually register before the deadline (which will be around the end of April). The hotel contract is very specific and they take this very serioulsy. Registering adds your name to the attendee list which I need to submit well beforehand. Thx!
____________________________________
Registration Deadline: 4/30/05
Maximum # of Attendees: 20

Tentative participants (will be updated periodically)
See the TT Convention page for list of confirmed registrants.

Name..........I will bring my laptop?
Reagent X..........yes
Professor...........yes
Chief (UF)..........yes
Leopard.............yes (will provide a desktop system for a server)
LONEWOLF(UF)............no (will be using one of Rooster's)
Rabban.............no
Napalm.............yes
Bolo..................no (will borrow Chief's)
Nuts!.................Kinda (has a really old one)
Weentank..........no
Mystery Man.....yes
Blind Cide.........yes (will provide a desktop system for a server - Mac)
Rooster.............yes
KillinBrainCells..desktop system
MJ....................yes
MonkeeMan......no (will need to use an extra computer)
HugoBaaarain....no (will need to use an extra computer)
Ass Clone Army..yes
RustBucket.......desktop

Last edited: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 10:40:13 PM

Im leaving in 20 minutes. Cya around 1:30 or so!!

B

1:50! Reply if your there!!

Aight, is the server up? I'll be there about 4:00PM EST. XD

We finally got our LAN working!! Wooooot!! Took about 2 hours :S but we are playing TS. No landline conection to internet. Only wireless, so we still have to figure that out. We will give that a try soon, but we don't seem to have a base staion. Lot's of duct tape and string though. ;)

Last edited: Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 10:43:03 AM

A LAN made of duct tape? You have to tell me how to do that sometime...

Now that was just awesome!! Seeing you guys like that, alltogether in a conference room. Talk about important conference! Wish I was there... Oh wait, I might catch the plane from Sweden to Chicago. Waiiit for meee!! XD

Looks like you're having a great time there! Don't forget to paaarty!!

Btw, did you find out who's REALLY the best Scrummer/TBM'er? I mean, now when there's no lag and all. Did you have a tournament?

Next year, expect your friend wiz to be there!

Last edited: Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 12:05:38 PM

I'm here at the Hotel were is everyone... :S
Did everyone go hide?
Reminds me of the public servers...

Wow , I thought Sluggy and I looked old. Hey guys, have a good time. Look forward to hearing the good times you guys had.
Paco, Laggy and I wish we could have been there to meet you folks. Duff

In 35 minutes, I'll be on TT, and you guys can tell me all about it. Hey Duff, haven't heard from you at all...

Wow, there are people that are as crazy as I am! ;)

Back row (L to R): MonkeeMan, MJ, Bolo, Mystery Man, Lonewolf, Leopard
Middle row (L to R): Nuts!, Napalm, Rooster, The Professor, Blind Cide
Front row (L to R): KillinBrainCells, RustBucket, Reagent X

Last edited: Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 9:34:26 PM

Omg, those are creepy pics... Maybe I'll skip next year... Anyways, I'm coming on, and I'l be doing an exclusive interview.
But beware, for I am armed with Fraps and a possible file sharing account... So ya never know with online interviews!

Wait, where did the server go? I don't know which one it is...

Wow, that's some geek convention!! :P Haha, looks like lots of fun.

For a moment I was wondering who the woman was in the 2nd pic sitting to the right of NUTS! and then I realized it was Lonewolf! LOL! No offense Lone!

I think I recognize most of you guys in the 1st shot. Is that Bolo in the back with the blue hawaiian shirt and the mountain man beard?

Lol, I was able to get the movie where Reanget sets up the camera and such and near the end we can see some other 2 guys (cant see who) setting up a computer screen on the other side of a table, but it has been deleted fromt the server :P, its on my HD (lucky me :P)
I cant post it tough, good quality, if thats the quality the video broadcast will have, we're all well served!

Oh hows it going along XD?

Last edited: Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 1:15:13 PM

I'm here in the West Coast TT conference in the computer room at the Duff household. Only 3 computers linked up. It's sooo confusing.. Who is who, and which one is Bolo? Nice mullet? Lonewolf! And who are the slightly balding guys? I still have half my hair. Duff

OMG! XO
Is this a TT convention or a Senior citizen home?
WHERE"S THE VIAGRA?

Hey folks it's 10:15 we just stopped in Ohio for the night
I wanna thank ReagentX and all involved for an awesome Convention
I had a blast!
The hours we played after Blind Cide arrived with the switches were incredible
What an amazing experience playing LIVE!!!!!
The sights and sounds were so much comedy
I will carry these memories all my life
Heh! Heheh! Heh! Heeeeeenh!!!!!
Roo

< breaks down and crys.... There is too much bad things happening today!! My last day of being on PTT is the same day I dont go to the TT convention!! WHAAAAA

WOW! I didn't realize that Jack Black was gonna be a guest celebrity player. Wait. That's just Bolo.

Holy crap that does look like him.

I want names!

I so so wish I was there. You would have had a tough match beatin me on that LAN. XD

label please....
Looked like fun!!

Predator scopes out the Lan Party.

3p

Names added to group picture above.

Thanks to all who came! What a blast! Next TT Convention will be on the West Coast! Wooot!

Check this out. Can you believe this!!??

Here is out hornet's nest of wires. Not all that bad actually. Blind Cide's 20 port switches worked great!

-Rx

Last edited: Sunday, June 05, 2005 at 10:00:46 PM

Ahh much better now I can put a face to the players when I slaughter them... XD
bolo wass uppp bud getting a little out of shape...???
DAmn! LoneWolf I thought mullets went out in the 80's
Mystery Man should have remained a Mystery..
Monkey Man, it all makes sense now..

Last edited: Monday, June 06, 2005 at 1:59:30 AM

Hey guys,

Glad to see y'all had a good time - sorry I missed it, but I never made it past Louisville KY on Saturday......

Where's HankstaTanksta in that picture? His insecure ass is hiding at home. Too scared to show your face tanky? Online personality much more interesting than the one that used to get picked on at school? You're acting the fool.

That totally looked like it kicked ass! Great pics!

-Did you photoshop that, Hank?

@ 44

That's 'cause the "behind the scenes footage" of "HankstaSpanksta" from the convention is just now making it onto the 'net......

All in all, I'd have to say it was quite the experience hooking up with these guys! Too many characters in the same room at one time. WOW!

The only thing I would say that would need to be improved is the networking and the room. Not that it was bad by any means it worked well once we ironed out the DHCP issues. The room only had wireless access to the web. Ironically all the other conference rooms were hard wired to the web. All were booked solid so we decided to concentrate on the LAN games and just have some fun.
The iChat video broadcast seemed to take a bit longer than I was willing to wait for. It was also difficult to hear anything coming from my power book so I had to hook up some headphones. I waited a while and then bailed to play the game. Exactly why I suggested getting it working before the convention.

We hooked up a server and started playing a random rotation of 35 maps. After lunch we broke into teams and we went at it in a 3 on 3 set of games, on 2 servers.
I feel it was a great experience being able to meet all of these guys! Some I have spoken to many times in the game and through email or support for specific things.

Monkee Man, KBC, and Rooster, definitely got me pointed in the right direction as far as the modding in concerned. It was great meeting you, and again I say THANKS!

Some of the other admin group guys, Lonewolf, Leopard, Roo, Blind Cide, Reagent X, it was a privilege getting to meet you. I am positively certain that we are doing the right thing keeping the community a great place to come the game. The Admin circle works, just as it should.

Leopard, don't forget to contact me about the golf course. I hook you up the best I can.

Rust Bucket, MJ, I didn't really have much interaction with either of you in the game other than playing. Really good guys, and great players. I hope we know have a portal to keep communications flowing, Great meeting you both.

Boy O Boy,
It's not everyday you get to get in the same room as some of the elite BM'rs and Scrummers. For me the guys I remember in the early days of when I started were Professor and Bolo, then Mystery Man. HOLY COW! How often do you get to stand behind one of these guys and see that they absolutely ARE FOR REAL?

I mean shit; Bolo walks in around 2:00? Sits down on my MAC, and takes control of the game. It's not hardware or ping folks, they are factors, but just knowing the game and positioning gets it done.
I was amazed at how quite, and smooth the Professor was. I had always imagined some guy just working up a sweat and beating the keyboard to death. Not at all like that. Very fluid and smooth. An absoutly nice guy. I don't know how it would ever be difficult hanging with this guy. Results oriented, very likeable person. Thanks Prof!

Probably the guy that I speak to the most, and I'm not sure why this guy keeps bugging me? LOL
NUTS:
Nuts and I talk almost everyday, through IM that is. This is one sick and perverted guy. I knew that going in, but OH MY! J/k
I really knew this was a nice guy as well, Turns out he was even nicer than I had anticipated. This freak, for whatever reason, knows just how get me going, or get me straightened out. I have enjoyed all of the discussions and finally meeting NUTS. I appreciate all of it. Thanks Nuts!

Reagent X (Re-agent X) (I had been mis-pronouncing this since day 1)
Thanks for being the proactive kind of person to make the suggestion of getting together while your in town on business. From the small inquiry of should we have a gathering, spawns a small convention in which people form across the country travel to meet some on-line competitors and friends. You have done quite a bit for the community and have helped me when I had some concerns about the community. Thank you for all you do! (I hope to one day kick your ass in scrum)

Thank you to everybody who showed up to make this a great gathering.

Oh ya! How about all that food? WTF? That was great too!!!!

Here are a few snaps that I took. I only got 7 for some reason.

Last edited: Monday, June 06, 2005 at 8:46:48 AM

@Rx
Thanks......priceless. It was a great job done by all those involved getting us all up and running.
:)

I had a blast. It was great playing and meeting some truly awesome people.

Good time was had by all! Had a blast meeting everyone. Truly a great bunch of people. The day went by much too fast! It was amazing to have 6 on 6 games filled with great players and no lag!

The thing that really stood out was how cool it was to shoot someone and hear your bullets hit them across the table. "Which one of these guys is Rooster?" Shoot a few shoots at him and look around the room. Clang! Clang! Clang! There he is. :) Bounce back power-ups were too funny! You'd fire a few rounds and just listen to them bouncing around the room. XD

Special thanks to MonkeeMan who let us use his room as a smoking lounge!

Most of the shots on my extremely dated camera are useless, but here's a few.

BTW, did anyone ever pick up that large package from a Mr. Tally Ho at the front desk? The one that supposedly needed two people to carry it up?

Yes the wife and I had a blast ! :P
We only wish we could of stayed longer ! :(
As far as the gaming went it was unreal. It was funny to watch & play with all of you ! In some cases like The Professor & I would through each other a look over the top of our monitors every time we killed one another ! All In all I think it went very well !

@ Reagent X
Thanks for all you did to put this together for us ! Hope you like my present I gave you and Rooster & Monkey Man

@ Monkey Man
I hope you like the present I left in your room for you ! %)

@ Norky
Thanks for putting up with us wild tankers on Sat night. Had a great time and loved the view from your deck ! Sorry you never showed up on Sun.

@ Napalm
Can you get a monitor any bigger ! Oh by the way stop the squealing over there too! XD

@ Rooster
Had a blast with you and your wife ! Hope we can do it again real soon.

@ MJ
After meeting you, I will never argue with you again ! J/k

@ Rust Bucket
Its good to know I am not the only short one in the bunch !

@ Mystery Man
What can I say you are still a mystery to me ! :P

@ Blinde Cide
Thanks for the switches. Next time though we want some Home Brew ! :)

@ KBC
I forgot my cigar man :(

@ Bolo
Wish I could of had more time to play with or against you but there is all ways next time !

@ Leopard
Never really had a chance to talk much with you but I hope this has open the door way for the future !

@ The Professor
With arms like that man, its know wonder you are good with your guns !

@ Nuts
It was great to see you again my friend ! I must say though either old age has kicked in or to much parting in my younger years but I had forgotten what you looked like since High school ! MB
Next time though buddy, no cheating by looking at my screen. %)

@ All who couldn't make it
All I can say is you don't know what you missed out on my friends ! I hope you can make it to the next one ! B)

Last edited: Monday, June 06, 2005 at 9:45:07 AM

Dam straight!!

I had a blast. Got there late but I stayed around til like 11 or so that night.

Was great to meet everyone!! Lots o fun and all.

Thanks for everyone letting me jump off and on your machines!! It was cool experiencing different people's setups...

Also that kinda disproves the bolo codes :)

Special thanks to X for setting everything up and taking a hit on the bill. Thanks blind and everyone for the network setup.

Wish I was there the night b4 and the morning but my schedule didnt work out. Spent 6+ hours on the road sun and got 5 hours sleep sat and sun night....its worth it for TT!!

BTW in that pic lep is not standing on a stool :) others might be...

Ill be at the next one!

B

Lone bring me a present next time!! Lol

Depending on location it might get opened early :)

Talk with ya next time for sure

B

Hey guys, me and wiz had an idea last night about having a mini-TT convention in Calgary, Alberta next month during Stampede week! I know that ZeBoLoBoT and Maverick live in Calgary (so do I)!

@ Bolo
Will do buddy :P

That does it, I am SKIPPING NEXT YEAR, too! Lol, after seeing that LONE looked like Joe Dirt (no offense, but seriously)... Too much, man. Just way too much.

@ All conventioneers, Glad to hear you had a good time. Wish I could have joined. If it was in Phila, I'd have been there. Maybe and east coast thing can be worked out.

Unreal!!! Way to go guys.

I still think kidnapping me and taking me to chicago was a good idea..... ;)

It was great meeting all you rascals! It was a blast playing TT with all those great players around 1 table. Hearing the words "AREA EFFECT POWERUP!" coming from across the room was hilarious. Everyone looking up from the computer to all the faces in the room and saying "ok, who has that?!" lol

Big thanks to Reagent for getting this together. Thanks to all those that let me play on your comps, who brought equipment and set up the network. Thanks for the present LW. ;) Thanks to Nork for having us over to your place Saturday night. I only wish the weather would've cooperated so we could truly enjoy the magnificent view of downtown you have.

Good times... Good times...

See y'all at the next convention!

Monkee

OMG! Those pictures.....bolo....you look like...ok....your cool man, cool....
you're all, you know...adults....heh....allright....

@ Rx: How the Hell can you use a trackball !!! :o

Whos is the one at the head of the table and is that a 21" ??. And whose the one using the PowerMac G4??

How funny was it walking around the hotel wearing a name tag that said, "NUTS" or "KILLINBRAINCELLS" or "MONKEEMAN" or "MYSTERYMAN"? I'm just happy Stinkfingers wasn't there.

Could you keep the room cool with all that equipment in there?

Any of the guys try to...how shall I say...'buy a date' with a 'tankgirl' while out of town?

Anybody check the parking lot to see if Tanty was driving around the perimeter?

Does Lonewolf need a new nickname?

Did Bolo still complain about lag every time he was losing?

Looks like everyone had a lot of fun. Bigger and better next time.

All good questions.
How funny was it walking around the hotel wearing a name tag that said, "NUTS" or "KILLINBRAINCELLS" or "MONKEEMAN" or "MYSTERYMAN"? I'm just happy Stinkfingers wasn't there.
Besides us, no one even noticed.

Could you keep the room cool with all that equipment in there?
Was hot in the morning, but never noticed it after that.
Amazing thing was that there were only two electrical outlets.

Any of the guys try to...how shall I say...'buy a date' with a 'tankgirl' while out of town?
Don't understand the question. It was the TT Convention. Women were dripping off of us.
...well Prof at least.

Anybody check the parking lot to see if Tanty was driving around the perimeter?
We were on the fourth floor. Tanty's a diver. Wasn't pretty.

Does Lonewolf need a new nickname?
No, but I'll never call his wife Mrs. Lonewolf again.

Did Bolo still complain about lag every time he was losing?
No. Bolo just kicked ass on any computer he got on.

Looks like everyone had a lot of fun. Bigger and better next time.
YES!

Last edited: Monday, June 06, 2005 at 9:04:08 PM

Yes I agree it was great to finally meet people I have played with for years. It is amazing what a classy group of guys showed up! Everyone who came is actually really nice. It was funny as hell to hear different combinations of people burst out screaming simultaneously as a great play was made.

After reflecting on it for a day what strikes me the most is that everyone just enjoyed the experience of playing. The scores were irrelevant. It wasn't about winning. It was basically sensory overload to just participate in the group experience. This was so refreshing to me I can't even tell you!! Playing against great players just for fun! Insane.

I think we learned a few things that we can do better for next time as far as the set-up, but all in all I would say this was a smash success! The time just flew by! Thanks to everyone for being brave enough and insane enough to come out and make this happen.

A popular comment at the convention was "I can't believe I drove/flew to Chicago to play a video game!". I know I said it more than once. :P

However, I'm sure glad I went. The convention and Norky's party were a lot of fun (missed ya on Sunday Norky). We had a lot of laughs and everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves. I know if/when there is another one of these get togethers, I'll try to be there. The virtually lag free play, the relaxed atmosphere, the jokes and friendly jibes all made these some of the most enjoyable TT games I've played. Hearing the sounds of the game coming from all around the table was so different from my normal playing experience. Sounds of shots being fired from one computer and of a tank being hit on another, the power-up announcements, people calling out "pass" or "arrow ready". RX had his powerbook sitting behind my laptop. I'd hear the sounds of a tank getting shot and start evasive manuvers or look around to shoot back, then realize it was RX getting hit. :P

Knowing how intense games can get, I was a little worried about yelling, cussing, etc. And hotel management having to pay us a visit or even shut us down. Fortunately, it was never an issue. We had a great bunch of guys who showed up to have some fun. I think not having a tournament might have been a blessing. We just played for fun and didn't worry about scores.

Thanks again RX for making the hotel and VIP suite arrangements! It was a blast!!

@44 here is my picture
Insecure?
I'm probably the most secure person you will ever get to write a message to bozo.

In High school I used to help skinny geeks like you from getting slapped around by the class bully.
If there is a convention in L.A. Area I will be there just to ring your neck fool.

Last edited: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 at 3:26:43 AM