Real-life KC startup bros create virtual basement gaming vibes, turning once-isolated streaming into a familiar party

In today’s connected world, gaming with or against relative strangers — or “friends” a player only knows from a specific game or platform — is the norm. A Kansas City startup’s new streaming venture aims to recreate old school gaming-with-friends-in-the-basement vibe in the digital world.

Available on Steam for free when its beta goes live May 1, LAN Party allows users to create a fully customizable virtual 3D environment to which they can invite friends to play a game, stream content or just hang out together. 

“So (you could stream) a game that you’re playing on your other monitor, or … you can stream your browser and share YouTube or Twitch or anything like that in (LAN Party),” said Ryan Hesse, founder and CEO of LAN Party.

“You can put TVs and PC monitors in your (LAN Party) room and someone can stream directly to (one) and they can literally watch it by just walking up and looking at it like they would in real life,” he added.

Virtual basement illustration within LAN Party; courtesy image

Reality reset button

Ryan Hesse and his brother Evan — COO for LAN Party — didn’t mince words: their platform aims to recapture elements of their youth and the original LAN party experience.

Ryan Hesse, LAN Party

Think basement, couches, snacks, beverages and networked gaming PCs. A group of friends comes together, rigs their computers together and plays an RPG or other fave game. Maybe people pair off to play other games or play something solo for a bit. Feeling screen fried? Get up and walk around, watch over a friend’s shoulders and maybe talk a little smack as they quest and battle. 

“Growing up, some of my most cherished experiences with friends were sitting around playing games together, whether on the couch or at a LAN party,” said Ryan Hesse.

So why not just … get together IRL? 

“As I’ve gotten older … for my friends in college and everything, we all move across the country, so it’s not really something we can do in person anymore,” Hesse said.

“Even my friends in Kansas City, we can only really do it once a year because it’s a big logistical thing to get everyone together, find a weekend that works for everyone when we all have jobs, families, responsibilities, all that sort of stuff,” he continued.

Virtual basement illustration within LAN Party; courtesy image

Make it feel real

One of the best things about the real-world LAN party experience is the thought that goes into a gathering. The best hosts create a space that’s memorable and comfortable, and the Hesse brothers — the sons of Dan Hesse, former president and CEO of Sprint (now T-Mobile) — have zeroed in on that important aspect, they said.

Evan Hesse, LAN Party

“We really want to emphasize … creativity and customization, because especially in 3D environments like this, that’s something that people … really value — self-expression through the avatar you use, through the rooms that you design,” said Ryan Hesse. 

This is where LAN Party shines. Giving users the ability to make their rooms’ assets and their own avatars look exactly as they want them to. And, for those into 3D modelling and who already have assets they like to use, such elements can be imported into LAN Party. 

And if a user isn’t a 3D modeller? 

“One thing that we have in the app that’s completely optional, we’ve integrated with Meshy,” Evan Hesse added. “So, you can generate 3D assets via an AI text prompt.”

(Meshy is an AI-powered 3D model generator used by game developers/studios, 3D modellers and extended reality creatives.) 

Don’t have 3D assets and aren’t sure you want to dive into creating them just yet? 

The Hesse brothers have included an as-of-now free application marketplace to which users can upload their designs for others to download and use. Later this year, they plan to convert it to a more traditional pay-to-download environment. Designers would be able to upload avatars 3D models, set a price and split revenues with LAN Party.

Asset selection scene in LAN Party; courtesy image

Monetizing downstream

While the Hesse brothers intend to always offer a quality free version of LAN Party, they are working to launch a premium subscription with features like a larger room, an allowance for more participants, etc. 

Currently the default LAN Party room accommodates six individuals. Other paid perks might include higher bitrate streams — 4K streams, for example — as well as exclusive customization options.

Longer term, Evan Hesse has his eye on brand partnerships and custom experiences for events and releases. 

“You’ve seen this with games like Call of Duty, Fortnite or where a new movie is coming out — a new Spider Man movie is coming out, and maybe we have a Spider-Man outfit on the marketplace,” he said. 

The brothers don’t have firm partnerships in place yet because, as they note, having a sizable user base first is a must.

Other use cases could include large-scale watch parties — like live sports, esports, private show or movie screenings, convention experiences, etc.

Haines Eason is the owner of startup media agency Freelance Kansas. Previously he worked as a managing editor for a corporate content marketing team and as a communications professional at KU. He has written for The Guardian, Eater and KANSAS! Magazine among other places. Learn about him and Freelance Kansas on LinkedIn.