The Pittsburgh LAN Coalition

Hooray!

Pittco has secured a group rate for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of Video Games Live on July 11 at 8:30 p.m. and July 12 at 2:30 p.m. at Heinz Hall in downtown Pittsburgh.

There are several pricing levels; you can sit wherever you would like:

1. $80.50
2. $48.50
3. $40.50
4. $32.50
5. $24.50

There are also student tickets available for $15 in the Gallery and $25 in the back of the Orchestra. Check out the seating map for more information. It seems that those who spoke up first will be in the student sections or in the level 4 and 5 seating.

To order tickets, call the PSO at 412-392-4900 and tell them that you are with Pittco. They’ll confirm the group rate and take your payment information.

If you are going, you should post something in the forum thread—some folks might organize a group dinner somewhere around Heinz Hall before or after the show.

If you have any questions, please contact Colin Dean at cdean@pittco.org or (724) 216-6371. Please note that we are not chaperoning this event—children under 18 should probably be accompanied by a sibling or parent. Pittco won’t be responsible for minors.

Here’s a blurb about the show, in case you missed the first email:

Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music
from the most popular video games of all time. Your Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh perform
along with exclusive video footage, synchronized lighting, solo
performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique
audience-interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment
experience!

Video Games Live™ bridges a gap for entertainment by exposing new
generations of music lovers and fans to the symphonic orchestral
experience while also providing a completely new and unique
experience for families and/or non-gamers. The show is heralded and
enjoyed by the entire family. It’s the power & emotion of a symphony
orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and
the technology and interactivity of a video game all completely
synchronized to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals,
state-of-the-art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments
with the audience.

Created and produced by industry veterans and world famous video game
composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, Video Games Live™ features
the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most
popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present.
Games include: Mario™, Zelda®, Halo®, Final Fantasy®,
Warcraft®, StarCraft® II, Sonic™, Metal Gear Solid®,
Kingdom Hearts, Chrono Cross™, Myst®, Tron, Castlevania®,
Metroid®, Interactive Frogger, Interactive Space Invaders,
Interactive Guitar Hero™, Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix™, Civilization IV, Tomb Raider®, Medal of Honor™,
and more!

Okay, so the “bring the rain” reference has nothing to do with ISXI per say, but i did happen to see Transformers 2 over the weekend and that line is pretty epic…

So, if you haven’t noticed it’s getting close to crunch time. If you haven’t already registered , do so. And for all you console players out there when you register make sure you choose a seat, it makes it a lot easier for the staff to plan out the seating arrangements.

Just a few notes for this upcoming LAN: Burgh.net, a server/co-location company right here in the heart of SWPA, has stepped up to offer us some of the finest latency-free PC gaming. This time around you’ll have more public servers than your little eyes can stare at. Also, expect this LAN to have the largest console gaming section in LAN in Pittsburgh. Since we’ve started to focus on console gaming, this section of our LAN has grown 10 fold. ISX sported over 75 console gamers alone… i expect to see more!

Remember everyone, it’s cheaper to pre-register than to register at the door. there’s no sense in paying $10 more than you have too. Also for you console teams out there that dominated at the last LAN and half price admission was part of your prize, send a PM to saberwolf of BobK in the forums and we’ll get you set up with the right payment.

Console Gaming / PC Gaming / Jackass Tournaments / Great Prizes / Fun With Friends … what else could you ask for?

This is Pittsburgh’s Biggest LAN Party… and we plan on holding that title for years to come!

From Steam:

We’ve just announced that Left 4 Dead 2 is coming later this year! It’s a much larger game than the original, and features new co-op and versus campaigns, all-new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, as well as melee combat.

Check out the teaser trailer!

Left 4 Dead 2, the sequel to the best-selling and critically-acclaimed co-operative multiplayer thriller, promises to set a new benchmark for co-operative action games and become one of 2009’s marquee titles. Set for release on November 17, the title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball bat, and more. Featuring new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch. Left 4 Dead 2 is targeted for release on Xbox 360 and the PC on November 17, 2009.

There’s some cool pre-concert stuff happening and the event itself should be awesome! Tickets can be purchased at www.pittsburghsymphony.org and more info about VGL is at www.videogameslive.com!

July 11 at 8:00pm - Tickets
July 12 at 2:30pm - Tickets
Heinz Hall

Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Your Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh perform along with exclusive video footage, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique audience-interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience!

Video Games Live™ bridges a gap for entertainment by exposing new generations of music lovers and fans to the symphonic orchestral experience while also providing a completely new and unique experience for families and/or non-gamers. The show is heralded and enjoyed by the entire family. It’s the power & emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology and interactivity of a video game all completely synchronized to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals, state-of-the-art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience.

Created and produced by industry veterans and world famous video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, Video Games Live™ features the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present. Games include: Mario™, Zelda®, Halo®, Final Fantasy®, Warcraft®, StarCraft® II, Sonic™, Metal Gear Solid®, Kingdom Hearts, Chrono Cross™, Myst®, Tron, Catlevania®, Metroid®, Interactive Frogger, Interactive Space Invaders, Interactive Guitar Hero™, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, Civilization IV, Tomb Raider®, Medal of Honor™, and more!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH– Pittsburgh LAN Coalition, Inc. (”Pittco”) plans to hold its eleventh major event, IRON STORM 11, on August 8 and 9 at the Castle Shannon Firehall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittco is opening the doors for 200 gamers for 24 hours of non-stop gaming, competition, camaraderie, and fun.

Pittco’s Iron Storm attracts gamers from throughout the greater Pittsburgh area, the eastern seaboard, and even into Canada. There are 200 seats available, and registration is open immediately.

“Iron Storm 10 was our second largest and most successful event,” Pittco President of the Board Sean Potter of Turtle Creek said. “More than 160 gamers, staff, and spectators enjoyed the competitive tournaments, the prizes from our gracious sponsors, and the atmosphere of gaming and fun.”

Pittco’s largest event was Iron Storm 8, but Iron Storm 10 was just seven attendees shy of that record.

“We have even been lucky enough to have people from all of the country, as well as Canada and Europe attend our events,” Nik Parenti, Pittco Executive Manager and Iron Storm event organizer, said.

Regardless of the number of attendees, Pittco promises to have more PC and console gaming action than ever before.

Prepaying for the day-long event costs $25, and the walk-in door price is $35. Pittco recommends prepaying for the event not only because of the cheaper price, but because choice seating is available to those who registered beforehand.

Iron Storm 11 will be held at the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department located at 3600 Library Road Castle Shannon, PA 15234. Pittco has enjoyed this location for more than three years.

Pittco announced six official tournaments for Iron Storm 11: three PC games and three console games. 1v1 Starcraft: Brood War, 5v5 Counter-Strike: Source with $25 buy-in, 4v4 Left 4 Dead are the PC tournaments. 4v4 Halo 3 and 4v4 Gears of War 2 are the Xbox 360 tournaments, with 2v2 Super Smash Brothers Brawl for the Wii tournament.

A fourth official PC tournament featuring a freely available, open source first person shooter may also be organized, ensuring that every attendee will be able to play something at Iron Storm, regardless of their budget or choice of operating system.

In the past Unreal Tournament 3 and 2004, Team Fortress 2, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Battlefield 2 and 2142, Day of Defeat, Call of Duty 4, WarCraft III, and Quake 3 have been organized as pick-up tournaments by staff and attendees. If there is a popular game that a gamer desires to play, odds are that that gamer will find someone at Iron Storm who wants to play it with them.

Several well-known gaming groups announced their participation in Iron Storm 11 planning, as well. Rec0il Gaming, a primarily console gaming group from Pittsburgh, will be providing several Xbox 360 consoles and monitors for attendees. Can’t Stop This, a gaming group spawned from within Pittco, will be organizing the Quake 3 Clamato Bowl tournament in which gamers will compete to win a case of Bawls, or be second place and drink a clam and tomato juice beverage known for its pungent smell and unique flavor.

In addition to our gaming tournaments, Pittco will be hosting many other things to do at the event, including Pittco’s heralded “Ice Head Competition”, held at the end of every LAN party. The goal of the Ice Head Competition is to see who can hold their breath the longest, upside down, in ice cold water. Ice Head, Karaoke and Extreme Musical Chairs are just a few tournaments that Pittco is planning to organize throughout the event.

Also at Iron Storm 11, Pittco will giving gamers a chance to win some serious cash and prizes in its 50/50 ROFL(Raffle). Pittco will be supplying the raffle with several hundred worth of the latest and greatest computer components. Sponsors for these items will be announced soon.

The Pittco staff is positive that having some of the latest games mixed in with old fan favorites will draw a bigger crowd to the event, as well as win over many new prize and equipment sponsors. Past sponsors include Gigabyte, CPU Magazine, Alienware, Cooler Master, Crucial, Slappa, NZXT, and Thermaltake, as well as Pittsburgh locals King of the Mountain Electronics, ThinkComputers.org, and BIOSLEVEL.com.

Registration for the event is now open, and is accessible via Pittco’s website (http://www.pittco.org/register/). The cost of the event will be $25 pre-paid, or $35 at the door. Drinks and snacks will be made available to everyone, and pizza will be provided for an small, additional cost.

For more information, contact Greg Baden, Pittco sponsorship manager, or Colin Dean, Pittco Board secretary. See also http://www.pittco.org.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH LAN COALITION, INC.
Pittsburgh LAN Coalition, Inc. (”Pittco”) was founded in 2003 to organize the greater Pittsburgh LAN scene. The mission of Pittco is to provide a safe, entertaining, and competitive environment for video gamers of all ages. Since its inception, Pittco has held twelve events and has received much attention in the LAN party community. Its web site is www.pittco.org.

Recoil Gaming LLC will be holding a 23hour LAN party on May 22nd/23rd

Where:
Duq. Annex Vol. Fire Co. #2
1620 Pennsylvania Ave,
West Mifflin, PA 15122

What: LAN PARTY!

When: Saturday, May 22nd to the 23rd, 2009
Doors open at 4pm, we have to be out by 3pm the next day

How Much:Cost: $20 Per person, there is a 70 person cap however so sign up soon!

Games: CS:S, CS, WC3, and many, many others.

Website: http://rec0ilgaming.com/

To Pre-register you MUST Prepay. We will take Paypal, Check by mail, or a pre-arrange meeting to pick up payment.

Please Email (Sales@Rec0ilGaming.com)

Or Call 412-551-6861

Taipei, Taiwan, April 2, 2009 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards today is pleased to launch their latest  graphics card. Building on the ultimate kernel of ATI Radeon™ 4890 art-of-the-state single-GPU architecture and advanced GDDR5 memory technology, the GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B delivers seamless frame rates with massive graphics processing muscle for any tomorrow’s demanding applications. In addition, the GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B features a wide range of the latest graphics technologies, including TeraScale graphics engine, Dynamic Geometry Acceleration, Quad mode ATI CrossFireX™ multi-GPU support, UVD 2 and PowerPlay™. Just take crazy control over your game and max out the settings at your will.

The GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B features ATI’s latest TeraScale graphics engine, boasting it’s over one teraFLOPS of GPU computing power with 800 stream processors and nearly one billion transistors. With 1GB GDDR5 memory, the GV-R489-1GH-B provides twice the data per pin of GDDR3 memory at the same clock speeds. In combination with 24x custom filter anti-aliasing (CFAA) and high performance anisotropic filtering, the GV-R489-1GH-B is able to create true-to-life graphics for everything from grass to facial features so you can max out the settings of the most demanding next generation games or revitalize your favorite titles. Also, with ATI Stream Technology, every user can easily use the massive paralel processing power of GPU for physics, attificial intelligence, stream computing and ray tracing calculations, and tackle demanding tasks like video transcoding with incredible speed. Deservedly, the GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B graphics card provides DirectX 10.1 graphics capabilities to support Shader Model 4.1 for life-like realism and stunning 3D gaming effects.

Benefiting from Avivo™ HD video and display technology, the GV-R489-1GH-B fully supports UVD 2 for decoding processing-intensive content for 1080p HDTV and HD video with additional support for dynamic contrast and enhanced DVD upscaling. The GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B also provides advanced connectivity to TVs and displays with HDMI with 7.1 digital surround audio support. Delivering the ultimate solution for high definition home theaters, the GV-R489-1GH-B is able to take full advantage of Blu-ray functionality with dual-stream, picture in picture (PIP) capabilities and one-cable HDMI™ connectivity.

For breakthrough efficiency of power consumption, the GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B is equipped with ATI PowerPlay™ technology, maximizing performance per watt by delivering the highest level high performance when needed and conserving power when the demand on the GPU is low. GIGABYTE graphics products are also 100% RoHS compliant, from manufacturing to on the store shelves, GIGABYTE provides greener computing solutions with better power efficiency.

For more details of the GIGABYTE GV-R489-1GH-B, please visit the GIGABYTE VGA website at:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Default.aspx

Maria Sciullo of the Post-Gazette wrote a wonderful article about Pittco’s recent event, Iron Storm X.

Read Videogamers come together in Castle Shannon for 24 hours of competition at post-gazette.com.

See more press coverage of past Pittco events on our new Media and PR section.

Rec0il gaming is having their next Halo 3 event this Saturday. For those of you who don’t know Rec0il gaming was at Iron Strom X and provided a lot of equipment for the console section.  Pittco thinks them greatly for their support and we hope that all of you will support them as well.

The event will be held at:

Duq. Annex Vol. Fire Co. #2
1620 Pennsylvania Ave,
West Mifflin, PA 15122

What: HALO 3 Tournament

On Saturday March 28, 2009 with registration opening at 1:00PM.

Entry fee is $40 per team, or $5 for spectators.

Check out Rec0ilgaming.co for more information.