We attend a lot of LAN parties, and every time we go to one, we are asked the same question: "What's the LAN party scene like where you guys live?" Up until this point, we didn't really have an answer to that question. That's not to say there aren't any LAN parties in Ohio, but many of the LAN events that happen regularly in Ohio are very small and not well publicized. There are a number of these events that have a very loyal following; most just don't have a following as well attended as out-of-state LAN parties seem to have. After doing some reconnaissance, we found an event in Ohio that we thought might be worth checking out. Dayton LANFest is a LAN party that just appeared on the radar this year, and although it is a new event, it has some very good things going for it. Join us now, and we'll tell you about what happens when you combine a LAN party with one of the largest computer fairs in the central U.S. The fact that it is held in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation pioneers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, should tell you about the ingenuity and genius that can arise from commonplace and often overlooked areas of the country.

There may be some of you who are confused as to what the term "computer fair" means, so let's get that explanation out of the way now. Picture this: vendors as far as the eye can see, more computer parts than you can possibly hope to see all of, and some of the most interesting new concepts since the PC was perfected. Still confused? If you've ever been to a flea market, you know that they're nothing more than giant, organized (or disorganized) garage sales. The Dayton Computerfest is rungs up the ladder from a flea market, but the simple concept is very similar. There are ungodly amounts of computer and electronic parts available to the public; presentations are given on subjects related to and dealing with the computer industry, and there's even an area dedicated to nothing but food; so that you can make sure you don't have to leave until your absolute deadline. To put it in a nutshell, it's a computer enthusiast's dream.

Although The Dayton Computerfest is the largest event of its kind in this part of the country, it has never before been paired with a LAN party of any kind. In fact, as far as we know, this is the first time that any computer fair has been held concurrently with a LAN party. We feel that this is a very important step in the right direction: it's the merging of two worlds that have a number of things in common. The LAN community is made up mainly of hardcore gamers and enthusiasts, although there are some exceptions. The market that events like the Dayton Computerfest caters to is also made up mainly of enthusiasts. The only difference between these kinds of enthusiasts is that they focus on different areas in the computer industry. What's interesting is that while their areas of interest might be different, they both rely upon and need each other. What good would hardware be without software, and vice versa? What good would technology be without consumers and gamers?