LAN brackets bring big crowds, and big problems when the network fails. Lessons from campus esports events.
Esports brackets fill faster than almost any other event, and they fail in predictable ways.
Run a full-load test the day before with every PC connected. A dropped match in a final is the fastest way to lose the crowd.
Teams want to know whether it is best-of-one or best-of-three, and when the semi-finals start. Put it in the event rules, not on the day.
Fest season packs a year of music, competitions and new friends into a few weeks. Here is how to plan it so you catch the best of it without burning out.
Never been to a hackathon? This is what the 24 hours actually look like, how to pick a problem, and how to walk into judging with something that works.
The closing-night concert is the loudest part of any fest. A quick checklist for passes, entry, staying safe in the crowd and getting home afterwards.