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Elden Ring strategy guide
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ShackCon 2.0: A gathering of like-minded 'idiots'

ShackCon 2.0 kicked off this weekend in Vegas after months of planning. We tell you what you missed and why the event is so special to the Shack faithful.
John Keefer
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A person coming in off the Las Vegas strip into room 1419 at the Platinum Hotel would probably see just a party, with people chatting in one corner about important topics of the day, another corner watching the television intently, while yet another group sat at a table playing a party game. Upon closer inspection, however, they would find that this was not your average social gathering. This was ShackCon 2.0. The real topics of the day were Diablo III's end-game and how the next generation of consoles would compete with each other. The group at the television? They were playing Spelunky on XBLA, Soul Calibur V or Street Fight x Tekken. And the party game isn't something you'd normally play with the wife and friends at a wine & cheese party. These were strategy board games with such titles as Dungeon Lords, Alien Frontiers and Cosmic Encounter. Twenty-nine people from around the United States (and at least one from Canada) crammed into a two-bedroom suite to celebrate games and the Shacknews community that has been growing for more than a decade.

Chungathebunga, jimmy_legs and laurgasms chill out in the party room at the Platinum hotel.

The get-together was spearheaded by Lauren "laurgasms" Kates, a Shacker for about 10 years. The core group of Shackers used to congregate at QuakeCon or through regional Shackmeets to talk about games and socialize, but Kates said that by 2010, she felt it was time the group had an event of its own. And the plans for the first ShackCon began to form. Last year's event in Vegas brought 55 people for games and socializing at different venues in the city. It was more of a structured event, Kates said, with much of the time planned out with specific events during the four-day informal convention. Not long after that event ended, Kates (and a few other dedicated Shackers such as Travis "H@rvester" Booth and Brandon "BlackCat9" Rotkel) began planning this year's shindig. "I'm a masochist," Kates said of her desire to plan an event such as this. "It's the only chance I have to hang out with these idiots." ShackCon posts in Chatty began roughly four months before the event. People who attended last year's gathering were anxious to return, but in the final tally, the turnout was about half that of last year. Kates was not deterred. "Nerds can only get vacations away from their families once every two years," she said. It made this year a bit more informal, but no less fun.

Omnova, ctrl-phreak and Blackcat9 talk about games, and all the food.

Among the activities planned over the five-day Con--besides the games and socializing--were buffet lunches at a couple of the more upscale hotel venues, an outing to the Tuscany Hotel to learn to play craps, a trip to the Pinball Hall of Fame and a night out at the Cirque du Soleil production Ka at the MGM Grand. Stephen "Haxim" Elaschuk came down from Edmonton, Alberta, to hang out with the friends he has made on Shacknews Chatty since he joined the group in 2008. "You get to know each other through the posts made and it's a great chance to hang out with like-minded people in person." And while everyone may be friends, the competition can be intense. I had the pleasure of sitting in with Ulreh "deathlove" Vogt, Phil "hawkeye" Kates (laurgasms' husband), and Haxim in a strategy game of Alien Frontiers. I had never played before, but the explanation of the game as "Yahtzee in Space" made it easy to grasp. As I pulled ahead in the late game, the three friends had no qualms about ganging up on the new guy to keep me in line. I won, but not without withstanding some good-natured ribbing about noob luck. At the TV, Thom "ThomW" Wetzel and Matt "askedrelic" Behrens, friends from opposite ends of the country, paired up on XBLA to tackle the recently released Spelunky, while Kates and Patrick "jimmy_legs" O'Shea worked some kitchen magic to create hors d'oeuvres for the hungry crew gathering for the Friday evening party.

Hatchet165 (standing), deathlove, Gaplant and NinjaGamerGirl play a card game with a guest.

Tony "at0micgarden" Capecci, a Shacker since 1999, explained his infatuation with ShackCon simply: "derp, derp, derp," a meme the Chatty crew has used to describe something stupid. And to keep with the inside jokes of the evening, an occasional call of "Free Haxim" would rise above the din, with raucous laughter following immediately after. Haxim was banned for a month by the mods for some overzealous trolling, an event even he laughs at, reflecting the good-natured, yet occasionally contentious, camaraderie of the Chatty group. So in the end, what is it that drew them all here? "Having spent so much time with these people, I love them," said Andrew "Omnova" Schenck, who has been a regular since 2003. "You don't build relationships like this every day. It's a great way to continue the friendships. None of that would be possible without Shack." It's a sentiment that carried through from long-term Shackers such as CJ "hirez" Miller, who has been a regular since the days when Shacknews was Steve Gibson's Quakeholio in 1997, to the newer members such as Robert "Gaplant" Scott, who has been a lurker since 2010. "Shackers have been more of my best friends than some of my best friends in real life," said Dustin "Clasifyd" Leen, who came from Palm Bay, Florida. "On our deepest level, we are all exactly alike."

H@rvester and trOmblyj are dressed to the hilt for dinner at Gordan Ramsey steak house.

    Check out what Shacknews members have to say each week in our regular Chatty column every Saturday.
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    • Shacknews legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      July 7, 2012 9:30 AM

      John Keefer posted a new article, ShackCon 2.0: A gathering of like-minded 'idiots'.

      ShackCon 2.0 kicked off this weekend in Vegas after months of planning. We tell you what you issed and why the event is so special to the Shack faithful.

      • trOmblyj legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 9:38 AM

        Nice job Keefer!

        • rms legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury super mega
          reply
          July 9, 2012 7:19 AM

          yay! Good reading, and enjoyed the pics

      • [deleted] 1114310971 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 9:40 AM

        [deleted]

        • Sailor of Fortune legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 10:14 AM

          Last year our huge dinner was streamed as well as other small moments. I enjoyed spot posting at the events with pics.

      • mrwolf710 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 9:50 AM

        Next year. Next year I wanna do this.

      • cyclonebee legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 9:56 AM

        Awesome, great to see the community in the spotlight.

        • Mecha Tofu Pirate legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 10:02 AM

          They've been talking about the community a lot lately. It's pretty awesome.

          • Sailor of Fortune legacy 10 years
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            July 7, 2012 10:14 AM

            That's the best part about shackmeets.

            • Mecha Tofu Pirate legacy 10 years
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              July 7, 2012 10:37 AM

              Has shacknews covered shackmeets before?

              • Sailor of Fortune legacy 10 years
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                July 7, 2012 10:59 AM

                I remember it covered before from old alumni in places like Evening Reading.

                Also I think there was one for that meet that Gamefly did in TX or something after they bought Shacknews.

              • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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                July 7, 2012 11:01 AM

                No. They aren't as elaborate and harder to cover. The Orlando one I went to was dinner and Dave & Busters. I doubt there will be any coverage there.

      • David Craddock legacy 10 years mercury mega
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        July 7, 2012 10:00 AM

        Great write-up, Keef. I hope I get the chance to attend ShackCon one of these years!

      • H@rvester legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 10:07 AM

        http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=27469129#item_27469129

      • H@rvester legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 10:08 AM

        http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=27469129#item_27469129

      • sposh legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 10:09 AM

        nice pants jimmybro

        • Dusty_Slim legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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          July 7, 2012 10:14 AM

          Pretty sure jimmylegs should get also get medal for Best Hair.

        • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 10:18 AM

          They changed hands (or legs) a few times last night.

      • [deleted] 48042586 legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 11:15 AM

        [deleted]

      • RomSteady legacy 10 years mercury ludicrous
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        July 7, 2012 11:18 AM

        SPOILER THAT SHIT!

      • Rice-Rocketeer legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
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        July 7, 2012 1:39 PM

        Haxim is Edmontonian?!?! WTF!

      • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 2:10 PM

        Next up: the pinball hall of fame. Owner was a great interview. Lots of good quotes.

      • glio1337 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
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        July 7, 2012 2:27 PM

        Keefinator, seriously, you are awesome. This ShackCon story is awesome and I didn't even realize there was a separate "Chatty" column that the team has been doing. Please continue these awesome things. +Respect for all of you.

      • [deleted] 1220350752 legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 2:49 PM

        [deleted]

        • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 2:57 PM

          We are still at the pinball HOF. We should be done soon but not sure when. There appeared to be a split vote about going back to the hotel before the buffet.

          • trOmblyj legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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            July 7, 2012 3:12 PM

            I'm hearing the buffet is at 5:30 not 4pm - so head back to the hotel.

            • spazzium legacy 10 years mercury super mega
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              July 7, 2012 3:40 PM

              Yeah we're hanging out at the plat keeping out of the oppressive heat.

      • spazzium legacy 10 years mercury super mega
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        July 7, 2012 3:39 PM

        Nice John! This is a great article,

      • [deleted] 491575983 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 3:52 PM

        [deleted]

      • mad-d00d legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
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        July 7, 2012 3:59 PM

        But how much alcohol was there in that suite?

      • valcan_s legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury super mega
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        July 7, 2012 5:02 PM

        Awesome, very cool thanks for this :) \m/ good times I bet.

      • Sailor of Fortune legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 5:25 PM

        Great article, wish I could have made it. At first it got canceled due to scheduling conflict and then all of a sudden I could go at the last minute but there were prohibitive costs and timing.

        Hopefully this article will make ShackCon 3.0 awesome!

      • edgewise legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 5:32 PM

        Take plenty of pictures so someone else can get caught looking moronic and take the mantle from me

      • the archvile legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 5:36 PM

        Awesome; I saw the images and said, "Hey! I know some of these people!" I wish I could go, but hopefully I'll see some of you at next year's PAX East.

      • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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        July 7, 2012 7:51 PM

        Heading back to the hotel to write one more story then leaving Vegas and ShackCon behind. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. It was sincerely a pleasure.

        Here's hoping I can actually LEAVE Vegas ...

      • Slowtreme legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 7:55 PM

        Still holding out for the ShackCon KeyWest!

        • Keefinator legacy 10 years
          reply
          July 7, 2012 8:03 PM

          We can only hope ;)

        • Sailor of Fortune legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 8:44 PM

          Ha! When Mercury Accounts get exclusive beta access.

        • Vincent Grayson moderator legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
          reply
          July 7, 2012 9:39 PM

          Still holding out on a ShackCon on the east coast somewhere less Floridian.

          • shirif legacy 10 years
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            July 7, 2012 10:30 PM

            Canada?

          • Slowtreme legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
            reply
            July 8, 2012 5:24 AM

            that works for me too I guess.

            I was born in Vegas, spent a lot of time there. I don't need to go there for vacation.

          • dantastic legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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            July 8, 2012 9:18 PM

            where do you go that everyone would be willing to want to go to and there's tons of shit to do and isn't super expensive?

        • kikilupo legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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          July 7, 2012 11:25 PM

          It is this weekend. It is currently still awesome! though I am not in Key West, I'm up at Duck Key

          • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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            July 7, 2012 11:39 PM

            Duck Key? Not bad. Know the area well. Big fan of Islamorada, Penekamp State Park, and the southernmost tip of the United States ;)

      • [deleted] 1845307313 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 9:44 PM

        [deleted]

        • Keefinator legacy 10 years
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          July 7, 2012 11:40 PM

          That's what happens when you don't read it all the way through to the end. It gets better as it goes on.

      • [deleted] 92559685 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 7, 2012 11:30 PM

        [deleted]

      • RevRaven legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 8, 2012 12:58 AM

        I hope one day to be able to go to a ShackCon. I have a goofy work schedule and Las Vegas is so far away from me, but man I think it'd be fun. You all attending, I hope it's a blast. To all those who organized it, you guys kick ass. That's why we have one of the best communities around.

        • Keefinator legacy 10 years
          reply
          July 8, 2012 4:44 AM

          It is definitely worth the trip. Even if it was only to beat haxim, deathlove and hawkeye in a game of alien frontiers ;)

      • pyide legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        July 8, 2012 1:13 AM

        Harvester, how do you not wear that every single day?

      • Alice O'Connor legacy 10 years
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        July 8, 2012 1:32 AM

        Damn, Harvester.

      • Childofheinlein legacy 10 years
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        July 10, 2012 12:14 PM

        Hi all! This is the person who was NinjaGamerGirl's guest. I just wanted to thank you for not kicking out the loud annoying guy that night! :-D It was pretty fun listening to your Cards Against Humanity game! I hope I can get to know some of you better and join you next year!

      • NinjaGamerGirl legacy 10 years
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        July 11, 2012 9:40 AM

        HAH! My face is hidden, like a ninja!

    Hello, Meet Lola