Introduction, Registration, BYOC waiting line, Shelby GT500 unveiling

More than 2,600 gamers (and counting) rushed the doors of the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas today to kick off North America’s largest computing gaming event dubbed Quakecon 2009. More than 3,000 gamers are expected to fill the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) section to capacity by the end of the three-day event. Check out all the action from Day 1 of Quakecon 2009.

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More than 2,600 gamers and counting rushed the doors of the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas today to kick off North America’s largest computing gaming event called Quakecon 2009. More than 3,000 gamers are expected to fill the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) section to capacity by the end of the three-day event. The first Quakecon event was held in August 1996 at the Best Western hotel in Garland, Texas, a mile or two away from the id Software company offices. The first event started with only 30 people, but quickly grew to 100 by the end of the weekend. Now, Quakecon is the world’s largest free LAN party and is showing no signs of slowing down.


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Registration began bright and early as eager gamers stood through long lines to secure themselves a spot on the BYOC floor. This line never seemed to dwindle throughout the day.


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Every spot on the BYOC floor were already “sold out” during an early online registration on Quakecon’s website, but that didn’t seem to dim the hopes of these gamers waiting for a chance to game at Quakecon 2009. Several lines formed in the waiting area with hopeful gamers looking to set up their rigs and frag some of their friends at this annual event.

 

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id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead unveiled the Ventrilo Ultimate Power-up Contest to give 100 lucky ticket holders a chance to win a 2010 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Coupe.

 

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To earn one of the 100 available tickets, Quakecon gamers can enter a variety of drawings and gaming competitions to try and secure one of these valuable tickets.


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Quakecon history and highlights (courtesy of id Software):

Quakecon is a four-day, non-stop celebration of games and the people who play them. Free to all and open to the public, QuakeCon 2009 will feature North America’s largest Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) LAN party for nearly 3,000 people, drawings and contests for over $75,000 in cash and prizes, the $50,000 QUAKE LIVE Duel and Capture the Flag Championship tournaments, exhibits with the latest games and hardware, and non-stop entertainment, parties and events. First created in 1996 by a group of friends on IRC and now going into its fourteenth year, QuakeCon remains true to its original mission as an event created by gamers, for gamers. Sponsored by id Software and other industry-leading software and hardware manufacturers, QuakeCon continues to be run by a dedicated group of volunteers, including an executive team with more than 75 years of combined experience producing the event. 6,000 people attended QuakeCon 2008.

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