Spring Break
Digital Overload coming back to R.I.
Marian Gaviola
Issue date: 9/16/08 Section: Entertainment
BYOC: bring your own computer. That's what the first rule of Digital Overload is. Hosted by Tim Buckley, creator of the webcomic Ctrl-Alt-Del, Digital Overload is a LAN party/gaming convention dedicated to CAD fans. This March it's coming back to Providence, for the fourth year in a row.
Tim Buckley is a renowned author world after creating the webcomic Ctrl-Alt-Del, a gaming-related comic, (also an animated series,) that shows the life of "video game addict" Ethan and his best friend, Lucas.
It all started in October 2002 and the story has now evolved to include Lilah, Ethan's fiancée and a quality gamer herself; Zeke, a robot Ethan built from his Xbox console; Scott, their other seldom seen roommate, as well as various other characters that show up and build the plot. The comics include random four-panel gags and longer story arcs that hook its readers in to coming back for more.
In his comics, Buckley's even gone so far as to develop a holiday for gamers, called Winter-een-mas, which lasts from Jan 25 - 31 every year. Many readers now celebrate it in their own ways and the holiday generates more revenue for CAD through sales of branded Winter-een-mas merchandise.
Since then, Buckley has expanded into other fields and media. Premium members only pay for a service that includes episodes as well as other materials such as exclusive wallpapers and strips. He has also published collections of CAD volumes and another comic book called "Analog and D+Pad," with characters based on Ethan and Lucas set in an alternate universe where they are superheroes.
Buckley has also started CADMedia, a review site for video games.
In 2006, he went even father and started Digital Overload. With the help of Ni! Networks, Buckley set up DO, a LAN party full of tournaments, games and fun. Welcoming all sorts of gamers - from tabletop to console - Digital Overload has grown to attract more than 600 attendees since its inception.
There are all sorts of things to do while there. Digital Overload hosts tournaments for PC games and console games, and a table games area is also set up to give people a break from watching monitors (but allow them to still have fun).
Tim Buckley is a renowned author world after creating the webcomic Ctrl-Alt-Del, a gaming-related comic, (also an animated series,) that shows the life of "video game addict" Ethan and his best friend, Lucas.
It all started in October 2002 and the story has now evolved to include Lilah, Ethan's fiancée and a quality gamer herself; Zeke, a robot Ethan built from his Xbox console; Scott, their other seldom seen roommate, as well as various other characters that show up and build the plot. The comics include random four-panel gags and longer story arcs that hook its readers in to coming back for more.
In his comics, Buckley's even gone so far as to develop a holiday for gamers, called Winter-een-mas, which lasts from Jan 25 - 31 every year. Many readers now celebrate it in their own ways and the holiday generates more revenue for CAD through sales of branded Winter-een-mas merchandise.
Since then, Buckley has expanded into other fields and media. Premium members only pay for a service that includes episodes as well as other materials such as exclusive wallpapers and strips. He has also published collections of CAD volumes and another comic book called "Analog and D+Pad," with characters based on Ethan and Lucas set in an alternate universe where they are superheroes.
Buckley has also started CADMedia, a review site for video games.
In 2006, he went even father and started Digital Overload. With the help of Ni! Networks, Buckley set up DO, a LAN party full of tournaments, games and fun. Welcoming all sorts of gamers - from tabletop to console - Digital Overload has grown to attract more than 600 attendees since its inception.
There are all sorts of things to do while there. Digital Overload hosts tournaments for PC games and console games, and a table games area is also set up to give people a break from watching monitors (but allow them to still have fun).
