In a time when gaming is increasingly moving into the online world, where players communicate through headsets from their own rooms, a small community in Gornji Kuršanec decided to bring things back to the old ways – and show why it is still special. There, enthusiasts gathered around the association Fellowship of the LAN (hereinafter FOTL) launched events that revive the spirit of the former LAN parties, places where games were played “over the wire,” with real contact, laughter, and camaraderie.
From a humble idea to a full community center, their events quickly attracted not only registered players but also casual passersby, children, and curious onlookers who spontaneously joined in playing or at least witnessed an atmosphere rarely seen today. It is this blend of nostalgia and authentic socializing that has become the reason why LAN culture – at least here – is making a strong comeback.
For Virus.hr, we spoke with Filip Jurišaga, who stands behind this initiative, and tried to find out what organizing a modern retro LAN party looks like, why this way of playing is gaining popularity again, and whether this story can grow into something even bigger.
How did the idea for FOTL come about?
The idea for FOTL developed slowly, through life – but it concretely came together during our recent round 30th birthdays. At one such gathering, childhood friends came together, precisely from the time when PC games and LAN gatherings were a big part of our growing up. We looked at old photographs from the early 2000s – around 2004 – where we were all gathered around one computer. It wasn't just about the games. It was about conversations, sharing experiences, and different perspectives on gaming. Someone wanted to finish the game as quickly as possible. Someone explored every detail. Someone played on the hardest settings and, through constant attempts, sought a way to get past a certain part. Each person had their own approach – but we were all together. Those photographs and conversations raised the question: where has that way of socializing gone? Through conversations with my beloved wife, I revisited my childhood, explaining how everything looked back then and how I see it today. Those moments helped me better understand who I am and what kind of friends I was surrounded by. We grew up in the center of Čakovec, where there were several PC gaming centers, but one left a special mark – MCX Marconix. It was a gathering place, a place where a community was formed. As a child, I had a desire to one day have such a place – to play games all day and have “the best computer.” Today, I understand happiness in life differently, but that idea has never disappeared. Over time, we talked more about how gaming has changed. Today, everything is online, wireless, and remote. It’s not the same to play online and to be physically in the same room. Online, it’s easy to give up – you hit ESC and exit. But when you’re in the same room with the crew, that’s simply not an option.
How difficult is it to organize a LAN party today?
Organizing a LAN party today is feasible, but it requires a good network of people who have the will, interest, and readiness to dedicate their time. Today we are adults, we have families and other obligations, so free time is limited – and that is the reality for all of us. During that period, I read The Lord of the Rings and realized how important it is for everyone to contribute in their own way – through the knowledge, experience, and tools they have. That's how the name of the association came about – Fellowship of the LAN (FOTL). Through conversations with people, I saw that there was interest and many good ideas. We started building “piece by piece” – from the technical part to the organization itself – and simultaneously educated ourselves in areas that were needed. In that process, other people began to get involved who recognized the idea, and together we built the story, each through their knowledge, time, and contribution. We had to learn how to actually establish an association – what is needed for it to exist legally and how to request the use of a community center for holding events. Over time, we gathered a team and divided roles – everyone took on a part where they could contribute the most. David took over the technical part of the infrastructure – from electricity to assembling and setting up donated computers, while Dino manages the LAN program, launches servers within games, and ensures that everything is organized and fair for all participants. Without that team, this story would not be possible. FOTL is not a project of one person, but the result of the collective effort of people who recognized the same idea. The biggest challenge, however, was to gather people again. We talked to many people, aware that from the great interest, only a smaller portion would actually come to the event.
Participation and Registration
Participation is open to anyone who shares an interest in gaming, socializing, and that “old LAN feeling.” Due to limited space and technical conditions, it is necessary to register in advance so that we can organize the number of places and ensure that everything works as it should. The first three LAN parties were free, with mandatory registration. As the project grows, real costs arise – from fuel and maintenance of the space to organization and prizes for competitions. Therefore, starting from the fourth LAN party, we will introduce a minimal donation, so we can better organize the event, cover basic costs, and improve the experience for all participants in the long run. The goal is not to charge for attendance, but to enable FOTL to last together.
What computers are used for gaming?
Games are mostly played on modern computers, but the games themselves are retro. This means we use today's computers for stability and simplicity, but we play titles that marked a different era, such as Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4, Counter-Strike 1.6, Warcraft 3, or Unreal Tournament. Some participants bring their own computers, which adds to the authentic LAN feel, but through the development of the association, we have also secured our own equipment. Thanks to donations, we have collected a larger number of computers, monitors, and other equipment, and we have assembled and prepared ten computers for use at the event itself. A large part of that equipment came from people who decided to help and support the story. This allowed those who do not have their own equipment to sign up and simply come – sit down and play. Of course, there is also a desire for real retro computers. We already have an idea to further develop a retro corner, where we would set up an old CRT monitor, a recognizable “white” case, and other equipment from that time – like a small museum corner that takes us back to the beginnings of PC gaming. The essence is not in the technology, but in the experience – playing together in the same room. Retro equipment is part of that story, but what we are actually bringing back is the way of playing and community.
Response and impressions of participants
We are very satisfied with the response, especially considering how it all started. We called the first LAN “the first working LAN party” because we were not yet fully prepared – neither with equipment nor with games. Given that we all have our obligations and lives, it was not easy to arrange everything in advance, so we decided to create an event through which we would simultaneously work and spontaneously play. That first meeting was more than just playing – we were setting up equipment, laying out LAN cables, setting up consoles, but we also immediately started living what we want to create. Even then, it felt like this story made sense – not just for us who started it, but for everyone who participated. The second LAN was the first one we opened to the public. 17 participants signed up, and along with them came locals, friends, and family – some just to support, and some out of curiosity to see what it looks like. The third LAN was the largest so far. 20 participants signed up, and additionally, people came who wanted to see what we were doing and eventually got involved in playing themselves. At that LAN, we also had our first mini-competition with the support of sponsors, which further elevated the atmosphere and added a new dimension to the entire event. The greatest value of all is the reactions of people. People do not come just to play – they come to socialize, reminisce about old times, and feel again what they once had. It’s beautiful to see when someone comes “just to look,” and in the end, stays to play all night.
Future plans
Our plan is to hold LAN parties once a month, with a break during the summer months. Our goal is not only to organize events but to gradually build a community and raise the quality of each subsequent LAN. As we grow, we want to improve the infrastructure, expand the number of spots, and further develop the content – from mini competitions to a retro exhibition corner. A PlayStation 5 corner is also planned, where fighting games and football simulations will be played, as additional content for participants. In addition to the events themselves, we are active on social media like Facebook and Instagram, where we regularly post content related to FOTL. On Fridays, we publish the FOTL Retro Report – a short reminder of games that marked certain years and what they brought new, along with a few in-game photos. On Saturdays, we share FOTL Retro Press, where we share pages from old gaming magazines that we still keep from childhood, like Hacker, PC Play, or Enter. On Sundays, we publish FOTL Gameplay, short video clips of games that we still love to fire up and play. In this way, FOTL is not only active at events but also throughout the week, where we further connect people through shared nostalgia and gaming culture. We see FOTL as a long-term story that we build together – not just as an event, but as a community of people who share the same feelings about games and socializing. FOTL is not just a return to games – it is a return to people.
Thank you for the conversation and we wish you much success in further organizing LAN parties.
