Some photos fade. This one stuck.

INTERNET LEGENDS:

DUCT-TAPED
GAMER.

Before everyone was online,
we were in the same basement.

A documentary film by Tyler Knowles

Get the backstory

EST. 03.29.2003 • MASON, MICHIGAN, U.S.A.

The original 2003 LAN party photograph: a gamer suspended in duct tape above friends playing on CRT monitors.

ARCHIVE_023.JPG

THE PHOTO THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND REPOSTS - AND ONE UNFORGETTABLE STORY.MAR 29
2003

BRING YOUR OWN PC.STAY FOR ONE MORE ROUND.DON’T FORGET THE DUCT TAPE.LAN NEVER DIES.

01 / THE BACKSTORY

You’ve seen the photo.
Now meet the guy.

March 29, 2003. A basement in Mason, Michigan. A group of friends, a LAN party, and an idea that ended up on the ceiling.

Internet Legends: Duct-Taped Gamer returns to the night behind the viral photograph. Meet the friends who were there and discover how a basement prank became internet history.

Watch the original teaser

WELCOME TO THE LOCAL NETWORK

No matchmaking.
Just your mates.

Heavy monitors. Tangled Ethernet cables.
“Who’s hosting?” One more round at 3 a.m.

basement_lan.exe— □ ×

SERVER INFO LOCAL NETWORK

Server: Mason basement
Date: 03.29.2003
Connection: Bring your own cable
Seating: Check the ceiling

> Memories loaded. Ready when you are._

02 / THE PLAYERS

The people behind the pixels.

4 PLAYERS IN THE LOBBY

SLOT 01READY

PLAYER 01

Drew Purvis

The Duct-Taped Gamer

The man, the myth, the legend. Finally, his side of the ceiling.

SLOT 02READY

PLAYER 02

Brian Schaeffer

Photographer & Spotter

Helped get Drew up there (he’s nearly 7 feet tall). Took the fabled photo.

SLOT 03READY

PLAYER 03

Tyler Knowles

Producer & Director

A filmmaker and fellow LAN-party kid, bringing the story to the screen.

SLOT 04READY

SUPPORT CLASS

Duct Tape

Best Supporting Actor

Quite literally holding the whole thing together.

Internet Legends: Duct-Taped Gamer official film poster. Get wrapped up in the true story.

Download the film poster

03 / STILL MAKING THE ROUNDS

From the basement.
To the internet.

The film, the photo, and the threads that keep the legend alive.

PRESS ARCHIVEPC Gamer, VICE, Kotaku & beyond BEHIND THE FILMInside scoop from Tyler Knowles THE BACKSTORYWhy was a gamer taped to a ceiling?MEDIA ARCHIVEOpen the media archive

The legend lives on Reddit ＋

Blursed LAN Party The view from another angle A photo for the next generation LAN party nostalgia

04 / STAY CONNECTED

Don’t disconnect just yet.

Film news, behind-the-scenes updates, and the next chapter of the legend.

Questions, press, screenings, or a LAN story to share.

DUCT-TAPEDGAMER.

You’ve seen the photo.Now meet the guy.

No matchmaking.Just your mates.