MPCon

Sponsors:	Mythlogic

Photo of MPCon XXIII

MPCon is an organization established in south-eastern Michigan which hosts LAN Parties to bring together gamers of all likes for a 3 day event, 2-3 times a year. This event is Bring Your Own PC, and is open all day and night with festivities including tournaments, free game play, and free pizza.

History

MPCon has its roots at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, ranked #9 in the nation for Gaming Colleges ^[1]. The event filled the Mary and Arthur Kochoff Hall in the University Center building, and the Recreation Organization Center before that. In August 2007, they moved to Eastern Michigan University where they have held their events ever since.

The LAN party started in 1997 as a LAN party for a QuakeWorld Team Fortress clan called Ministry of Pain. ]MP[ was a well known clan throughout the Team Fortress community. The ]MP[ banner lives on in Blizzard's World of Warcraft, and more recently in Team Fortress 2. MPCon stands for ]MP[ Conference, or Ministry of Pain Conference. Today, however, we encourage everyone to attend.

MPCon had teamed up with Gamers Outreach Foundation (GOF) to host a charity event called Gamers for Giving, a combined event featuring the MPCon LAN Party and an Xbox 360 Halo 3 Tournament. All proceeds were dealt with by the Gamers Outreach Foundation.

They have also teamed up with Penguicon. MPCon hosted a Gaming Room & LAN party at Penguicon 6.0 and 7.0, and the internet and PC room at Penguicon 8.0

Since 1997, they have hosted over 25 major events.

MPCon In The News

• MPCon has been featured on the UPN 10 o'clock news and the Detroit Free Press. The University of Michigan - Dearborn was ranked #9 in the nation for Gaming Colleges because of MPCon^[2][3][4]
• MPCon is also featured in the Sepbember 2006 issue of Reporter ^[5], a University of Michigan-Dearborn faculty/staff newsletter, as well as the University of Michigan - Dearborn News. It also appeared on the University of Michigan - Dearborn Homepage ^[6].
• MPCon was featured in the University of Michigan - Dearborn Alumni Legacy Magazine Spring 2007 issue^[7].
• MPCon XVIII received some attention from the Detroit Free Press on June 10, 2007.
• The Gamers for Giving event hosted by the Gamers Outreach Foundation and MPCon was featured on Fox 2 News Detroit
• The Second Gamers for Giving event had a plug the Thursday before the event, where GOF founder Zach Wigal was interviewed by Fox 2 News Detroit ^[8]

MPCon Event History

Event Name	Date	Location	Attendees
MPCon I	March 12–14, 1999	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	50
MPCon II	June 18–20, 1999	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	60
MPCon III	March 18–20, 2000	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon IV	July 14–16, 2000	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon 4.5	January 26–28, 2001	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon V	March 9–11, 2001	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon VI	June 31-July 2, 2001	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon VII	September 22–24, 2001	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon VIII	January 11–13, 2002	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon IX	March 8–10, 2002	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon X	June 14–16, 2002	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon XI	November 1–3, 2002	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon XII	February 28-March 3, 2003	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	155
MPCon XIII	June 25–27, 2003	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	160
MPCon XIV	March 5–7, 2004	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	170
MPCon XV	December 3–5, 2004	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	184
MPCon XVI	June 16–18, 2006	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	196
MPCon XVII	January 5–7, 2007	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	185
MPCon XVIII	June 15–17, 2007	The University of Michigan - Dearborn	209
MPCon XIX	August 24–26, 2007	Eastern Michigan University	61(Test LAN)
MPCon XX	February 29-March 2, 2008	Eastern Michigan University	400+ (Includes Halo Tournament)
MPCon XXI	April 18–20, 2008	Troy Hilton (Penguicon 6.0)	1000+ (Including Conventioners)
MPCon XXII	July 25–27, 2008	Eastern Michigan University	200
MPCon XXIII	February 27-March 1, 2009	Eastern Michigan University	450+ (Includes Halo Tournament)
MPCon 23.5	May 1–3, 2009	Romulus Crowne Plaza (Penguicon 7.0)	1100+ (Including Conventioners)
MPCon XXIV	July 24–26, 2009	Eastern Michigan University	344
MPCon XXV	July 9–11, 2010	Eastern Michigan University	275
MPCon 25.5	March 19-20, 2011	The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	55 (Test LAN)
MPCon XXVI	TBD	TBD	TBD

References

1. ^ http://www.ggl.com/colleges_survey.php
2. ^ Detroit Free Press Article (pdf)
3. ^ Page 1 of article
4. ^ Page 2 of article
5. ^ Reporter Article
6. ^ U-M Dearborn Homepage Screenshot
7. ^ University of Michigan - Dearborn Alumni Legacy Magazine Spring 2007 issue
8. ^ Fox 2 News Detroit Interview