Most of you will know me as Soepkip, but in real life my name is Rob. I started Intel Pack4DreamHack together with Intel back in 2007 and from there on out it grew to the biannual event it is now. Partnering up with Duh-Events and Stefan has been of of the best decisions Intel ever could have made with this concept and since the first tour bus in 2009 we just keep on growing. After having the biggest Winter event ever with 150 gamers, this Summer again breaks records for the Intel Pack4DreamHack concept.

We are with 66 Gamers (a full row at DreamHack, that’s why the number is exactly 66) from the Netherlands and Belgium, and we are all sitting next to each other, having fun all day long. I’ve been going for almost six years now and it’s still so much fun to have a new Packer coming up with stories you have experienced yourself a long time ago. First there is the obvious amazement about the size of the event (it is huge), next the tables are being critized (“Pallets with wood? Really? Swedes are crazy!”, they always say) and after a few hours they come with “What’s up with all those hot chicks over here?”. It’s sad that i can’t just be with every moment the Packers have over here, since I can’t really split myself 66 ways, but that would be the perfect way to experience this event.

It does make me think however, due to my actions five and a half years ago, this all started. I’m sure Intel would have found someone else to do it eventually, but it feels good to be in some way responsible for all these moments we all had over the years. Meeting new people, forging new friendships, having an a-m-a-z-i-n-g time, winning big tournaments, meeting girls (and sometimes hooking up with them), sleep, dream and just talking to each other about the experiences of the day. In some way I think DreamHack would be very different without Intel Pack4DreamHack. Those 66 Dutch and Belgian guys do bring a whole different experience for everyone they see, talk to and ‘touch’ during the event.

And after five and a half years of DreamHack it is still different every time. Most of the crew are maybe the same, the location is the same, but the experience is different each and every time. I’ll have bunches of stories for my children (and grandchildren) in the future, so much crazy stuff happened here in Sweden. From stories about a guy getting arrested at the club in the centrum to the random girls that where running after some of the Packers. Meeting crazy swedish people (wearing a cleaning lady outfit as a guy? really?) to getting an insight of the swedish lifestyle. I’m still do not completely know everything, but it is always fun to learn more.

DreamHack does always feel like coming ‘home’ in some sense. The place where I can really be myself, express myself and have a lot of fun with my friends from the Netherlands and the friends I have in Sweden. Stuff like meeting Matilda each and every time and catching up with her life and work at DreamHack (she does Security and enjoys kicking out drunk guys and cutting their bands). to randomly finding out on DreamHack that a girl I met here in 2006 was setting in the Hall next to us the whole event and catching up with her. DreamHack is an experience everyone should have, even if your not completely in love with gaming or e-sports. Because it doesn’t matter at all, I haven’t started a game at DreamHack for the past two years. And why would I, gaming can be done at home, having an awesome times with (Swedish) friends not that often. \

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