PauseGaming is a fun, friendly, Glasgow University society. We are run by students for students.
The largest event that we do is a weekend long PC gaming LAN, starting on Friday evening and lasting until Sunday night (including overnight on the Friday and Saturday). Everyone brings their PC, we network all the computers and play games against/with each other all weekend. We run a range of friendly tournaments, often with prizes.
We also have a console gaming event once a month, which includes gaming on the PS3, X360 and Wii. Again, we hold fun tournaments with prizes. There is also a regular get together every month to play games on the DS and PSP systems.
In addition to all of this, we also organize a number of social nights out throughout the year to bowling, cinema etc. and there's always a crowd down the pub once a week or so.
We have a wide range of members, over 100 in total, I believe. Some are tall, some are short. Some are boys, some are girls. Everyone is here to game, have a laugh and meet new friends. Everyone is welcome. Even crab-people.
We've been around for over 6 years in one form or another. LGSoc (LAN Gaming Society) started in 2001 with a small handful of students gaming in people's flats. That began to die out and so in 2005 merged with "GUNS" (Glasgow University Network-Gaming Society).
In 2006, GUNS changed their name to "PauseGaming" as part of a move to freshen up the club's image and we've been going from strength to strength since.
The first step towards getting involved is to register yourself on our website. It’s free and once you’ve done that you can sign up for events, chat with other members on the forums and generally get involved in the club.
To take part in an event, you’re more than welcome to just turn up at the venue with your computer, pay on the door and start gaming.
However, in order to guarantee your place, give us an idea of numbers, request a lift to the event etc. it’s best to visit our events page and click “Signup” for whichever events you fancy.
Membership costs a pound and you'll get a nice shiny membership card for your money, which you'll receive at your first LAN. In the meantime you can join the forum by registering on the site.
We work a purely pay-as-you-play type system. If you come to one of our LAN events, it's £5 for the whole weekend. That includes the option of staying overnight in the QM and free transport to and from the event for you and your PC.
Every penny of money taken goes straight back into club funds to pay for publicity, upgrades to our network setup, and new servers.
The events are held in the Food Factory in the Queen Margaret Union, right in the middle of the university Campus, so nobody should have any problems finding it.
Many people however are left with the question of how to transport their PC. PauseGaming run a free transport system that you can sign up for to say that you need a lift. Then one of our members who has a car will see that you need a lift and offer to come round to your house to pick you up and then drive you home afterwards.
We've always had enough drivers in the past and nobody has ever not gotten a lift.
Really, you need to bring everything to get your computer running as it would do at home. If you're bringing a laptop you shouldn't really need to think much about it other than the laptop, headphones, mouse and your power cord. For the desktop users, here's a rough guide for you:
We provide a tuck shop during the LAN's which sells a range of fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate. There is also a selection of products which are supplied by Kustom PC's such as Jolt, Bawls, Mountain Dew, Monster Juice and other gaming related drinks and snacks. Kustom PC's also offers a service for hardware, ask on the forums for more information.
For those of you that are planning on staying the night it is recommended that you bring a sleeping bag and if possible a camping bed or something. The QM floor is not that comfortable! You can use a row of chairs however or retreat to the TV room upstairs which is carpeted.
Don't worry about leaving your equipment in the QMU overnight if you plan on going home in the evenings. The QMU is locked up every night and there is 24hrs surveillance provided by the QMU staff. There is generally always at least one committee member staying over each night to keep an eye on things as well. We have operated in the QMU for the last 2 years now and never had any thefts.