Planning a Video Game Night... Need some ideas.

[alexandre]

Mario Party is a good game. Just focus on those mini-games.

[Harvey]

Dragon Warrior IV. See who can get the furthest in 30 minutes. Or just have everyone watch you play. That'll get the party started.

[JDMThoughts]

The Duck hunt idea seems novel, I would also recommend Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.... you also might wanna add something like Goldeneye which is fun for multiplayer deathmatch. Virtua Tennis is always a good game as well. Wii Sports is a nice idea... Rockband/Guitar Hero would be good.... perhaps some Madden.

[crux]

I long for the day when I could play ten player Saturn Bomberman or seven player Death Tank Zwei.

For the most part, though, despite being a old-school lover of multiplayer console games, I'm a bit miffed as to how well a pure video game party could go. I'd imagine it would be best if games weren't the sole focus of the party but rather a theme. Meaning some video games should always be going, but that people should feel free to ignore them if they're so inclined. Perhaps that's a given - I don't know.

[Niode]

Whenever I've tried to host video game related parties it always ends up with people getting bored with games far too often. So have plenty of games ready to play on standby. Make sure you have lots of controllers available, if they are wireless, make sure you have lots of spare batteries in case remotes go down. Most importantly make sure they work as well.

Have lots of comfy chairs/sofas around, and make sure they're laid out so that everyone can see the TV. Also make sure there's alternate entertainment for the people who aren't playing. Either have a separate system available for people to play or have some board games available. If you can have some music playing and have space available for people who want to have a break from gaming can go and be sociable with other people who aren't playing.

That kind of format has been successful for parties i've hosted before and for parties that i've been to as well.

Have fun and above all, don't take things too seriously. If you are better at games than people, don't gloat, nobody likes a showboater.