Need help hosting for a LAN Party

I'm hosting a LAN party with about 8 people coming. We've picked out a good selection of games, we have room for everyone, power for everyone, AC for everyone, and a ethernet port for everyone. The only thing I'm worried about is the server. We we're planning to use one of my friends new computers as a server to share the game files with everyone so that we don't have to install every game on every comp. Is there any problem with this? or what? can we share the files between each other so that everyone can play the same game at the same time for LAN matches? or will we have to go and install the same games on every computer?

I want to say it'll probably work, but running games on multiple pc's through a server is going to make loading and performance extremely slow compared to a computer which actually has the files locally installed. My advice would be to have everyone come an hour early and just take the time to install the games on each computer.

Make sure your router is configured for multiple pcs ahead of time. And another thing that VERYYYy important. EVERYONE should come with games PREINSTALLED!!!!

Do not do the server thing, it may not work to your liking nad itll waste al ot of time setting up. Just get everyone to come with games preinstalled so you can start right away!

well then the only thing that's bothering me is games that require CDs we we're hoping we wouldn't have to buy alot and some games we we're looking at our old and hard to find

(mechwarrior 4, flatout 2, X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter)

and lastly should I just use an older computer as a host? or could the host still be in game like if I had my friend's comp both hosting a match and playing in it...how would I configure my router to handle multiple computers it's already in a network cause I have a Work, Gaming and Laptop computer that all run on it.

it would be preferable to use a single pc to host a match. If your playing relatively new games, you will have to have a fairly fast computer to both host and play. Good luck, and have fun at your LAN...i haven't been to one in ages

so just have the strongest comp host the actual multiplayer match?

yes. if you don't have a computer dedicated to hosting matches, you'll want the strongest computer to host the matches. Basically to break it down, the computer will not only be computing the actions of the player on that computer, but will also be computing the actions of the other players as well and keeping scores etc. so the computer with the fastest processor should be the one that hosts. Hope this helps and have fun

^^ it puts my mind at ease thanks for your help :) I'll try the guys voted for Mechwarrior 4 being our main game so I've got some brushing up to do *pulls out sidewinder joystick*

Can I suggest tons of soda? :lol: