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Show HN: I built a(nother) house optimized for LAN parties

(lanparty.house)
1117 points kentonv | 7 comments | 16 Nov 24 15:52 UTC | HN request time: 0.838s | source | bottom

I wasn't quite sure if this qualified as "Show HN" given you can't really download it and try it out. However, dang said[0]:

> If it's hardware or something that's not so easy to try out over the internet, find a different way to show how it actually works—a video, for example, or a detailed post with photos.

Hopefully I did that?

Additionally, I've put code and a detailed guide for the netboot computer management setup on GitHub:

https://github.com/kentonv/lanparty

Anyway, if this shouldn't have been Show HN, I apologize!

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22336638

Show context
jgeralnik ◴[16 Nov 24 20:11 UTC] No.42158881[source]▶
What DDR pads are those? Are they custom made?
replies(1): >>42159000 #
1. kentonv ◴[16 Nov 24 20:24 UTC] No.42159000[source]▶
They are L-TEK Ex Pro X. Shipped all the way from Poland!

They seem to work pretty well. Have been using them frequently for more than a year with no issues yet.

replies(3): >>42159216 #>>42162474 #>>42188496 #
2. jgeralnik ◴[16 Nov 24 20:52 UTC] No.42159216[source]▶
Thanks, those were the main recommendation the last time I looked into it (a few years ago), good to hear you recommend them too!
replies(1): >>42217222 #
3. manbash ◴[17 Nov 24 07:05 UTC] No.42162474[source]▶
Is Stepmania still the go-to DDR clone? This is very nostalgic. :)
replies(1): >>42164224 #
4. kentonv ◴[17 Nov 24 14:03 UTC] No.42164224[source]▶
To be honest I've been using the same Stepmania 3 installation for decades. Never updated to Stepmania 5 because the step chart format changed and I didn't want to find all the songs again. I have not kept up on recent developments.
5. garfieldnate ◴[19 Nov 24 21:53 UTC] No.42188496[source]▶
What do you use for the other controls? Start, select, exit, confirm... I have an older L-Tek and I really wish I had one with all nine step buttons (for other dance games) plus control button on top. Also kudos for not using a cheater bar :D. I don't see the old-school no-bar playing much anymore but I find it much more impressive.
replies(1): >>42194364 #
6. kentonv ◴[20 Nov 24 14:49 UTC] No.42194364[source]▶
I have a wireless keyboard nearby that I used to select songs.

Yeah I have never used the bar. Probably because I learned to play at home, starting on a basic foam pad, and so obviously didn't have the bar available.

7. nvarsj ◴[22 Nov 24 20:42 UTC] No.42217222[source]▶
L-Tek is probably the best option by far that is somewhat affordable.

Definitely penny-mod them too (just remove the panels, tape washers under the edge of each metal contact point - it makes the pads way more responsive and more fun to use).

You can also buy a portable barre bar on amazon, that's what I use. Super stable and easy to stow away. A bar lets you maintain form on crossovers/jumps, and I recommend for anyone not super casual (playing 12+).

Lastly, if you are really serious, you can buy a replica DDR pad from China for about 4-5k, or a used real pad for similar. The arcade feel is much better than L-Tek, but you need a lot of space for these. [1]

1: https://www.globalsources.com/Dance-pad/DDR-metal-dance-pads...