A large room in Kulhavi Hall was lit only by the unearthly glow of 70 computer monitors and cases this weekend.

The Big Shot Gaming Local Area Network (LAN) Party opened its doors Friday to about 75 participants and lasted for 36 hours of competitive gaming action until 6 a.m. Sunday.

A LAN party is a gathering where many gamers get together to compete in games and enjoy seeing their potential deathmatch victims in person.

While LAN parties classically refer to a gathering of computers on a LAN in order to play PC games, they often encompass console games as well. The event had several Xbox 360s, a Nintendo Wii and a Nintendo 64.

“It’s still better than any LAN I’ve been to. The variety keeps it going,” said Ryan Lawera, a Macomb Community College junior from Romeo.

Big Shot Gaming is the alumni group for the Student Electronic Gaming Association (SEGA), a registered student organization.

Lawera drove 2.5 hours to participate in the gaming celebration.

Three Oaks resident Justin Horak, Bridgeman resident Chad Shafer, Bridgeman resident Cory Schiller, left, and Grass Lake junior Colin Hennessy play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in room 142 in Kulhavi Hall Saturday during the three day long Big Shot Gaming LAN party which went from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday. This is their sixth year attending the event. (Jeff Smith/Staff Photographer)

Controller masters

Several tournaments were held throughout the night, including “Left 4 Dead,” “Super Smash Bros. Brawl,” “Wii Sports Resort,” “Mario Kart 64” and “Team Fortress 2.”

“It was fun. I slaughtered in ping pong,” said Nick Fedewa, a DeWitt senior.

Fedewa claimed the gold medal in the popular “Wii Sports Resort” tournament and also won several items at the raffles and giveaways held throughout the party.

Prizes ranged from computer accessories to T-shirts to energy drinks and mints. Many of the items were furnished by the sponsors of the event, which included several national computer hardware retailers as well as the Central Michigan University Bookstore.

Fedewa was able to take home one computer part he’d been particularly hoping for — a fan.

“I did want a fan. This is awesome,” Fedewa said.

E-mail the author: Connor Sheridan