UCSB’s new Computer Gaming Club will be hosting its first Local Area Network (LAN) party Saturday, where students who enjoy computer games can get together with others who share their interest.

The LAN party will take place on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. in the Santa Rosa Formal Lounge. Students who want to participate should bring their own personal computers to the party, where they will have an opportunity to play computer games against other people on the network.

“As of now, the two most popular games are Counter-Strike and WarCraft III,” said Glenn Wyatt, co-chair of the club and a second-year business economics major. “But the event is not limited to these games and we will try to play whatever is requested at the event.”

The gaming club will hold a registration meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in North Hall 1109 for anyone who would like to participate in the event. The registration fee is $5 per person and includes food and beverages.

Wyatt said the registration meeting is important because it will help determine the attendance of Saturday’s event.

“The LAN party will be a watershed moment for organized computer gaming at UCSB,” he said. “It will decide how big our club will be.”

The LAN party is sponsored by ResNet, Tropicana Student Organization, the A.S. Program Board, the A.S. Finance Board, Student Affairs and the Office of the Chancellor.

The computer gaming club became an official organization at UCSB in February 2003 and currently consists of 35 members. Wyatt spoke of the importance of campuswide participation at this event.

“The purpose of the club is to bring together people who share a common interest in computer gaming,” he said. “Corporate sponsors have expressed interest in our club as long as there are enough people attending the events.”

Wyatt also spoke of his future goals for the Computer Gaming Club.

“We hope to host computer gaming events and LAN parties regularly at UCSB,” he said. “We would also like to see a UC-wide computer gaming event that would allow everyone to play on a much larger scale.”

For more information, e-mail Glenn Wyatt at gwyatt@umail.ucsb.edu.