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techgnotic — Infinity Seven Takes On the Coming Zerg Invasion
Published: 2012-06-16 02:04:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 70399; Favourites: 383; Downloads: 0
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by techgnotic


StarCraft II is the hot tournament videogame that just may breakthrough as the harbinger of the esports phenomenon and one of the great cultural game-changers of all time.



Midnight in Anaheim. Caffeinated casters boom rapid fire commentary rattling the packed hall. Elite Starcraft players from around the globe execute complex strats that would have made Rommel the Desert Fox himself proud. 20,000 are in attendance, on the edge of their seats, and cheering as loudly as any soccer match as they watch the 30-foot screens hanging from the rafters. Another four and a half million are watching the streams live. The feeling is that of an NCAA Final Four game, set in a European soccer stadium, somehow shoehorned into a casino showroom in Las Vegas. It’s all of the skill, the fan devotion and the spectacle anyone could possibly ask for.

















This is the MLG StarCraft Spring Nationals. And it may just be the next big thing propelling “esports” a bit closer to the center of our pop culture universe. The Magic Kingdom is just across the street, but no one wants a ticket to ride. Run by Sundance DiGiovanni and Mike Sespo, A Major League Gaming event like this one in Anaheim needs to be experienced over a weekend in person in order to fully grasp the surging popularity and excitement around the rise of esports as the next big thing in professional competitive sports entertainment.


South Korea is the current Mecca of esports tournaments and StarCraft created by Blizzard Entertainment is the real-time strategy game of choice. Lim Yo-whan (aka Terran Emperor aka BoxeR) was the first pro gamer to draw a fanatical following, many having now followed in his wake. The gaming fanaticism has so captured the culture that the National Assembly has become involved, enacting legislation to promote South Korean esports. South Korean “play until you die” marathon matches have become legendary, with after sales of games in which star players have conceded imminent defeat by stoically typing in “gg” (good game) only to then stage miraculous come from out of the ashes victories.


My rookie ticket to the Heart of the Swarm in Anaheim was punched by our very own zemotion . We all know of zemotion ’s on deviantART as the incredible photographer with an amazing eye. Her works of portraiture capture her subjects and tell their stories as if the camera were a mystical tape recorder. But Zemotion is also the owner and Sponsor of Infinity Seven an upstart rebel squad just beginning to make big waves in the MLG Universe. Team Member Insur took third place in the tournament over the weekend with Friday turning into a brutal a 12 hours straight marathon where he took on all comers and firmly established “Infinity Seven” as a team to be reckoned with.



















Infinity Seven Team Members:




  • Han "CrazyMoviNG" Kisu
  • Nicholas "Axslav" Ranish
  • Jospeh "jEcho" Lopez




  • Sky "Insur" Xu
  • Jonathan "Pyre" Topielski
  • Ryan "Sanddbox" Kemper









The best summary I've ever heard about Starcraft is that playing it well demands the strategic mind of a chessmaster paired with the dexterity of a virtuosic musician. It is simply astounding how much there is to the game.


aMoniker





Starcraft is an immensely popular game which can be attributed to the fact that it can be enjoyed by casual and professional gamers alike at any level of development. The innovating Battle.net system ensures that players are consistently playing against people who are at their own ability. No other RTS game has such a well balanced online play.


shadowhand














The TwitchTV community has been ready to go with esports for several years now, like many of the web entities intimately knowledgeable of churning heat sources on the cyber horizon – but now Old School media like Time magazine and CBS Sports are taking notice along with media titans like Richard Branson. With monster payouts on the line growing every year there is a Protass escalation on the way and it will be here sooner than later.


Sedentary sports (like chess, poker, fishing) have always been relegated to niche markets as “sports entertainment,” no doubt because there’s only so much visceral physical excitement a spectator can vicariously thrill to with mostly seated “sports” competitors. In NASCAR, at least there’s always imminent danger at those insane speeds. But it’s the rapid expansion of esports across America and beyond that just might finally make “watching over someone’s shoulder” a genuinely big league mass audience phenomenon. As video gaming becomes as primary to the normal growth experience of every kid as playing high school football, baseball or basketball, the growing interest in superior “hero” gamers in this new emblematic teen activity indicates a marketing bonanza just beneath the surface surely about to blow any minute. And gaming heroes and champions are rising. Sean Plott (aka “Day[9]”) has a web show drawing 15,000 – 20,000 viewers each night and has 50 million views on his YouTube channel. On the rise Jang Min Chul (aka “MC”) has 20,000 Twitter followers. Gamers are being signed to professional contracts by electronics companies like Acer and Intel. The winner of last week’s Major League Gaming Spring Championship took home big money. The field of professional star players is in rapid development, and so too is the field of esports “casters” bringing commentary to the competitions. Twitch, dedicated to streaming games, also employs the top casters. The big show is catching fire.










Why will pro videogaming succeed when professional chess and poker tournaments have sputtered? Because videogames like StarCraft II are emotionally accessible, its gameplay understandable and viscerally enjoyable in a manner far more engaging than the intellectual “solving” of a pro chess match can ever be. Did I mention it's also beautiful? Blizzard artists are some of the most skilled artistic craftsman in the world and it evident from every element of the Starcraft Universe. GlennRaneArt is one of those elite artists. Chess masters are unknowable “geniuses”. But champion videogamers are simply extensions of ourselves, more skilled and achieving better results than us, but we know the feeling of their victories and we can thrill to the vicarious delight of each of their triumphs and feel the agony of their defeats. Set this competition against the backdrop of an engaging science fiction narrative (to exploit our love of movies), rather than a sterile chessboard, and you’ve got the makings of the new American (and worldwide) sports entertainment phenomenon that marketers have been awaiting for many decades.
















StarCraft:
The Art

Here at deviantART we have some of the most incredible StarCraft fanart and fan fiction in the world and a huge community of fans engaged around Blizzard, the gaming company behind StarCraft, Diablo, and many other elite games. It is a unique new phenomenon in our world that in StarCraft video gaming we can enjoy playing the game, enjoy watching others play the game, or create our own art capturing the excitement of playing the game or illustrating the StarCraft story driving the game.

































































Questions
For the Reader




1Do you think videogaming tournament events will ever become as important to emerging generations as the Super Bowl is to the grown-up kids who grew up playing football?


2Why has StarCraft become the flagship game of this tournament movement? Are there other videogames you think would make for good candidates?





3What’s the longest period of time you’ve ever spent playing a videogame with no breaks? In retrospect, was it worth it?


4What’s the most fun you’ve ever had while online gaming, and what makes that one time stand out in your memory?











Credits




Writers
techgnotic



Designers
marioluevanos


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Comments: 324

amdrag-rulz [2012-09-07 23:30:34 +0000 UTC]

starcraft rulz enyone who disagres should be termanated end of dicussone

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Amendelwyr [2012-09-07 18:03:39 +0000 UTC]

1: Yes, esports will rule the sport world! (And, hey, they have to earn their cash, not just show up at the sponsor and say hey where's my money?) I've seen the paychecks of Sports Players; football, soccer, etc. And they RAKE IT IN.... Seriously, what's wrong with the picture?

2: Starcraft the flagship? Ehhh, maybe because it was one of the first Multi-National playable tournies in the world! It's been here quite a while, but SC2 is not the flagship.
-- Now DOTA 2, there's a good flag-ship. It's attracting a bigger following every day, it has the appeal of RTS, RPG, le Dota style. It will take the lead soon, because their tournament just held a $1,000,000 contest to find the world champions. --

3: 18 hrs. Totally worth it because I needed to get the most out of my boost.

4: I think the most fun comes from the laughs you get. In football, and other physical games, you get distracted by all the seriousness. You can't hear what the players are saying. You can't hear the cheer from the team saying, USA or something else, when they make a smart move. You can't see EVERYTHING. You can't auto-record and watch only what you want to see.

THAT my friends is better than the physical sports. You have all the above. For the fans as well as the coaches. The makers make it fun, the people make it fun, everyone makes it better.

+ You should've seen that Windrunner costume. IT WAS AWESOME!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Anmaril [2012-09-06 16:18:29 +0000 UTC]

1. I'm not sure, but hopefully not. I like gaming, but it is a different so watch people doing something, than polygons doing something. It is fun to watch, but definitly not Starcraft.
2. the predecessor is popular, in other hand, SC2 destroyed the traditional LANs as they were possible in the predecessor.
3. more than 4 hours, might be World of Warcraft or Battlefield 2.
4. The bugs in Battlefield 2, the game was not fun because the shooting, it was fun because the guys I played with, which makes it very funny.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

waseemhashmi [2012-09-06 10:18:29 +0000 UTC]

nic

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

naidoomofokengleboha [2012-09-06 09:37:54 +0000 UTC]

thats super cooool!!!! and awesome.......nice work infinity seven

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

lyingdyingwonderbody [2012-09-06 09:08:58 +0000 UTC]

lol. You can really see that this is an American site... I think no one but America is really interested in the Super Bowl. The soccer world championship would probably have been a better comparison.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Allanpike [2012-06-30 16:21:59 +0000 UTC]

1. What is Superbowl?
2. I... honestly don't know. Maybe because there was three distinct factions with different playstyles/lore/appearance?
3. Dunno
4. Haven't really done online gaming that much save with friends...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SorenTalon [2012-06-27 14:39:37 +0000 UTC]

funny thing, but I just played that game on a LAN network with 6 other friends today

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

GexSkater [2012-06-27 14:36:34 +0000 UTC]

I still play a lot of Starcraft Broodwar in theaters against people from around the world, is a battle as herein mentioned, in real time, fast thinking, fast acting, and much more ...
indeed, I prefer to play starcraft 1 to 2 because even though the gameplay is the same graphic style changes significantly and becomes more "animated" and not as bloody as the first ...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Sinneli [2012-06-27 14:28:46 +0000 UTC]

1) Yes. In my opinion, it already has, although not to the actual Superbowl. But yes, one day, it will probably be like Super Bowl.
2) Actually, Starcraft was one of the most revolutionary games in existence. Its first brink of creation was defined as a point where a game does not depend on levels, but rather, the whole cycle of warfare since it was a "fair fight." There was no levels, just the way of collecting and using the resources.
3) 3 hours. my mom calls me off all the time if it goes over that time.
4) None...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

StarCraft2plz [2012-06-27 02:23:09 +0000 UTC]

Hell... It's about time!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

16thSquadFukutaicho [2012-06-26 19:00:30 +0000 UTC]

I ♥ SC

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

siygen [2012-06-26 11:57:04 +0000 UTC]

cool

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

lenlenlen1 [2012-06-26 04:36:52 +0000 UTC]

1) it wont be considered as highly as the Super Bowl until it does what the Super bowl can: Put millions of asses in seats (as opposed to just a few hundred thousand) and command millions of dollars worth of advertising space.

2) Its strange that its not Word of Warcraft

3) I've played Left for Dead, Portal, and Witcher for hours on end. I dont know if it was worth it but it was fun.

4) Playing Left for Dead online is awesome because the other players with you and the Zombies behave so unexpectedly and randomly.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SamSantala [2012-06-25 21:45:33 +0000 UTC]

1. With videogaming now truly mainstream it's hard to imagine that it wouldn't be considered in the same leagues as events such as the Super Bowl. It's business now turns in more cash than the entire movie economy and is accessible by all, given enough time and a bigger focus on internet gaming I think it could feasbly be even bigger.

2. I think Starcraft is the flagship of tournament gaming purely because of South Korea's fanaticism with Starcraft 1 and online play. It's a game built for strategy and skill and even the slightest miscalculation can result in defeat, with odds like that it's hard to imagine any other game taking that spot.

3. Honestly, the longest I ever played a game for without breaks was roughly 48 hours on Super Smash Bros for the N64. Me and my friends closed the curtains, stocked up on food and drinks and brawled the hours away. We hadn't even realised it had been 48 hours until we were begged to leave the room. We got kinda into it

4. The most fun I've ever had was probably on World of Warcraft. Usually boss fights are fun on their own, but when everyone's died, there's a boss at full health, a mob coming towards you, and you're not built for tanking, but you still wipe out all 4 of the enemies. You really feel that sense of achievement. I guess an extra perk was the fact the last boss and I both dealing the final blow to each other at the same time. The chances...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

keklolgloat [2012-06-25 14:40:54 +0000 UTC]

This is clearly just a another case of savy marketing from the people at Blizzard.

Starcraft 2 while a great game ( i can gaurantee to having played more hours than anyone else here, perhaps combined.)

Starcraft 2 isn't the true "e-sport" game, Starcraft (the original) is.

Just look @ Korea, the birth of the 'e-sport' for evidence of this, they hate Starcraft 2.

Blizzard needs to sell SC2 so they can make more money, people playing a 15 year old game that costs 10$ is bad for business.

Deviant art is falling into a deep cravass with all these terribad advertisements that are usually just a mind-fuck anyway.

This hard-core gamer DISAGREES with this advertisement.

Kthxbai.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SkippityDoDah [2012-06-25 12:54:48 +0000 UTC]

1. Yes, infact I'm pretty sure it's there if you think about it, with all those people online that view it *one of them*
2. Why? You ask? It's pretty obvious, the gamers take it to the next level. Its the only game that the players can change what they play for each new game. It's intense watching some of the best, and I don't think any other game could compare.
3. 16 hours? And yeah I thought it was worth it, when you play with friends. It's 10x better.
4. There's a few situations that make it worth while, but the common thing is when I have friends that play with me.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

RedRacoon09 [2012-06-25 04:33:29 +0000 UTC]

1. God I hope not.
2. I don't know, and I don't care. I've never cared about tournament games.
3. 10 hours at the least, maybe. And I assume by "breaks" you mean "get up, stretch those legs, or eat food, or take a poop, or SOMETHING, and come back in say 5 or 10 minutes at the latest"? If so, I mean, I have gotten up to go to the bathroom before, but not very long. However long I've played a game is however long it is worth--assuming the game didn't disappoint me. So that's a good question: what defines a break? Just get up and go, come back in less than a minute(haha, half-minute shits)? Or, go make dinner?
4. Online? Most online games I try are freemium, and those don't give me a lasting impression. I have thought about buying STWOR.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ColtsFan98 [2012-06-25 00:27:08 +0000 UTC]

1. Do you think videogaming tournament events will ever become as important to emerging generations as the Super Bowl is to the grown-up kids who grew up playing football?

No. The Super Bowl has existed for more than Half a Century and the NFL has existed for almost 100 years! There are VERY FEW diehard gamers out there that participate in tournament events involving gaming, and I doubt this will change significantly in the future.

2. Why has StarCraft become the flagship game of this tournament movement? Are there other videogames you think would make for good candidates?

Possibly because StarCraft defined RTS games into what they are today. Also because StarCraft is so intense, takes a lot of skill, and is very exciting to watch to gaming fans. A Nazi Zombies Tournament could also make for candidates, Warcraft III as well since Warcraft III is an RTS almost as famous as StarCraft.

3. What’s the longest period of time you’ve ever spent playing a videogame with no breaks? In retrospect, was it worth it?

No idea. I spent a great deal of time playing StarCraft II from October 2010-June 1st, 2012. I made it to Rank 4 Platinum League but then i stopped. I guess it was worth it in terms of my videogame playing time, but I probably played a bit too much.

4. What’s the most fun you’ve ever had while online gaming, and what makes that one time stand out in your memory?

The most fun I ever had in online gaming was when I formed a party in StarCraft 2 of 4 people (including myself) and we just kept doing team games over at over again until we reached Diamond (highest rank at the time) in 4v4. The most fun moments were when we just easily destroyed the other teams and they started raging at us and trolling us out of anger, it was hilarious . I'll always remember those moments because I probably won't play StarCraft 2:Wings of Liberty again and won't play StarCraft 2 until Heart of the Swarm comes out.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

bcbdrums [2012-06-24 23:38:52 +0000 UTC]

1. Do you think videogaming tournament events will ever become as important to emerging generations as the Super Bowl is to the grown-up kids who grew up playing football?
sadly no. as many people do play videogames, the ones who take it seriously are far fewer. even people i know personally who can spend hours playing and are extremely good only see it as temporary and superficial entertainment. "real life" is still what matters to most people. as are relationships, and relationships are made easier face to face rather than bluetooth conversations with strangers from around the globe during focused gaming.

2. Why has StarCraft become the flagship game of this tournament movement? Are there other videogames you think would make for good candidates?
it seems like it was the first really good game of this type. involved story, but not too involved to make it unnecessarily complex or confusing. it was also a relatable story to real life, which people always enjoy more. the gameplay was also good, not too complex yet difficult enough to make it interesting. it was one of those games that was ahead of its time and miraculously didn't fail, like other future-reaching games have done before.
and, no i have no ideas for other good tournament candidates, i haven't played games in years because i grew up into an adult and "real life" took over. as much as i fight it, it's not going anywhere, and games take a backseat. although.........i think a nazi zombies tournament would be awesome.

3. What’s the longest period of time you’ve ever spent playing a videogame with no breaks? In retrospect, was it worth it?
hard to remember. there was the centipede remake for the dreamcast, which i played co-op with my brother on (and we always died on the final boss cuz i just wasn't at his level and kept dying ), i was a kid then...and since we couldn't save the game, that would take all day. then there was, of course, starcraft, which i would play for days on end, essentially only stopping to sleep, so those would be several day-long sessions in a row. then there was sims 2, which were more day-long sessions... sonic adventure, sonic adventure 2 (days long again)... oh, and how can i forget my first videogame, sonic 2! would play that one for as long as parents would let me when i was just seven years old... so basically, in the summer, i used to sit down at whatever game piqued my interest at the time, and play til i was too exhausted to play anymore. now i sit in front of a computer, browsing dA. and i kind of think i was better off gaming... (no offense, dA is one of the best sites on the net period, but there is still some lameness going on...)

4. What’s the most fun you’ve ever had while online gaming, and what makes that one time stand out in your memory?
actually, playing warhawk, because i really like games with larger layouts like that where you can strategize with teammates. endless games of capture the flag, forming alliances, making enemies... and it's because of the type of game it is, because games like call of duty can have 'capture the flag' style elements, and team strategy of course. but it's more focused on close-quarters killing than it is on strategy and teamwork, which i view warhawk as. so i think that overall, all of my warhawk experiences are my favorite. good times with good people...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

andythemarine [2012-06-24 23:27:30 +0000 UTC]

too bad everything blizzard has ever done is stolen from games workshop, even though they would never admit it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JarrettOnions In reply to andythemarine [2012-06-25 09:27:29 +0000 UTC]

agreed. first warcraft. then starcraft. haha

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

andythemarine In reply to JarrettOnions [2012-06-26 20:37:52 +0000 UTC]

and GW won't even sue them for all they've made it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

TIGERM [2012-06-24 19:46:17 +0000 UTC]

Howdy all. =3

Indeed although my first game that I got into like this was Command & Conquer: Red Alert
(Played it around 12 or 13) Starcraft was soon to follow and to be honest--Sci-Fi/Flying Space Games, Fighting games and RTS games
[alongside the waves of Multi-player online games that even Flash video games may present] are indeed changing our world in a very
(positive in my opinion) and very interesting way.

Just checkout the BILLIONS of plays on websites like Armorgames, Newgrounds and of course--DeviantART ^_^
(Go-Go Matt Roszack! >=O)

To be more specific:

1. Indeed I DO think that there will come a time -- be it a century from now or a half-century or TWO centuries from this point-in-time
[given we figure to game and obliberate each other first instead of pin-pointing a Wrld-Ending World-War ] --
that video games will indeed be "THE" sport and regarded as a sport that is just as highly regarded (if not more so) as the NFL, NBA, and FIFA. =3

"Gymnastics of Mentality" or "Psychological Workout" as it appears some are coming to understand video games to be
[as compared with a "Physical Workout"] seems to make the most sense a humanity moves more towards utilizing information in interesting ways
as opposed to simply the physical body. That is to say...

the Physical Sports and Olympics were founded to thwart the repeat of "wars as a hobby" and since now on a technological and physiological level
we have the ability to literally obliterate worlds... video games I think will allow this to be done semi-physically and digitally...
in order to satiate the ever-consuming human hunger to progress in one form or another.

In short.. just recognizing that we are able to strike down 100,000+ monsters in GemCraft and stop [gosh knows how many...] Zerg in StarCraft
and saved worlds and remove worlds in various digital medians on an individual level -- it says to me that "Peace Through Gaming"
(keep in mind that physical sports are games too and were created as such) is a "great light hope" so to speak in a world that has gone from
the ability to "simply" pillaging villages... to the ability to tell stories of a potentially pillaged world. o.o

Gaming is here to save we humans so we best had get good at it. ^_^

Seriously though

I do indeed think that since the first modem-to-modem connection was made --
Gaming had already begun to take root as a brand new "Sport" and this -- and things to come...
Are indeed stepping stones to a brighter and less physically violent future via "The Art of Gaming" (and "The Sport of Video Gaming." ^_^)

*****

2. I'll be brief since I was so long-rantie for question 1. =3 (I'm passionate about this stuff )

StarCraft I think is highly regarded as an RTS video game that is extremely well balanced.
Although my personal favorite RTS for game-play alone at this point-in-time most certainly is the
"Gamepro Game of The Month" in 2007 "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars" --
I believe that Starcraft presented a storyline with VERY different styles of gameplay for not 2 -- but 3 various sides
(with their own storylines and perspectives mind you).

Psychologically, Digitally, and Psychologically (not to mention Astrophysically =3)
StarCraft has placed and presented a balanced world and intriguing storyline
that has been perhaps as much of an impact on our current generation (currently I am 27 born 1984)
as Jim Henson's Muppets and Walt Disney! or Dr. Seuss, Freud or Erikson on our parents' generation =3

KK'ND I played prior to C&C and C&C prior to Starcraft.
There is also another game Warbreeds by Red Orb which slipped through the cracks but was fun too =3

There are many candidates, but I think the people have spoken:
STARCRAFT has been voted as "Class Rep" for the "RTS Gaming Class!"
( then again... "Hikari Horaki" was chosen as "Class Rep" over some's preference of Asuka Langley Sohryu in
Neon Genesis Evangelion =3 Buuuut... tricky to please everyone ^_^ I say go with the flow esoteric energy )

*****

3. Honestly I do not recollect.

I personally think that time is non-linear and that video games help people learn "Persistence" and "Passion" in
a way that was not available prior to this point-in-time-day-in-age and is the most current form of "Books" or "Movies."

In Short:

Human communication -> Code of Hammurabi -> Books -> Phonautograph -> Radio
Bolex "H16" Reflex -> Film -> Drive-In Theater -> Cinema -> Analog Television ->
Pong -> Video Games -> Digital Television -> Social Networks [like DeviantART] -> YouTube -> The Internet (ties it all together)

...All are forms of sharing a story. =3
Even be it simply human communication or written words.

In my humble opinion it's silly to call a person who reads Harry Potter or a Dictionary or a college textbook...
for 10 hours "Smart" or "Well-Read" or "Studious" -- but call a person who games or views a story "Brain-dead" or 'An Addict."

All are ways to share in a world that is not physically an individual's "own."
The point is communication.

How that communication takes place-- is up to each individual in my book. =3 [see I said book ]

Video games, Radio-tuning, reading a movie, watching a book... Simply different ways to take in a story!

*****

4. =3

Love & Peace Through Art! ^_~*

Forever In Love With All That Which Exists
(That Which Is Seen & Unseen, Known & Unknown),
- Writer, Artist, Musician, DJ, Eternal Student & Being of Existence,
-WAM! TIGER M [TEH-XOP Sunday * \ [ <\ O />] / * ]
-3:46 PM (6/24/2012) [Eastern Standard Time, North-of-Equator]
P.S. XOP Is a "Spaceship Flying Game" I'm playing it why aren't You? =3

This Is TIGER M! This Is TIGER M!
[link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ChubbyWubby01 [2012-06-24 18:02:21 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome! I want to buy starcraft 2!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TIGERM In reply to ChubbyWubby01 [2012-06-24 19:58:46 +0000 UTC]

You mean Part 2 of Starcraft 2 right CW? =3

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty was released two years back now! ^_^
This is chapter 2 of StarCraft 2 upcoming and I'm SO ready too!

F.I.L.,
-WAM! DJ, TIGER M! ^_~*

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ithanul [2012-06-24 11:43:13 +0000 UTC]

1. Most likely, with so many competitive video games out there and tournaments being held. Just look at Korea, more or less Starcraft is their national sport.

2. First Starcraft became big in Korea with the great balance plus the fact you could LAN with it, and started the route to it becoming a esport there. Other big names, DOTA soon to be DOTA 2, League of Legends, and quite a few others host big tournaments.

3. That would have to Phantasy Star Online ep1 & 2 back on the gamecube, got some chars with over 3,000 hours in total or more. Behind it would have to be Guild Wars 2, first open beta weekend for ppl who pre-order I think I stayed up 32+ hours playing that. Than Skyrim right behind that.

4. Hmmmm, hard one, have to be with buddies on Phantasy Star Online ep1 & 2 trying to kill Olga Flow on ep2 for the first time on Ultimate mode........pure nuts that he was one killing maxed lv200s with one hit.....who of course did not get out of the way of that laser attack. Was crazy fun trying to stay alive and kill that boss without getting stepped on by the boss.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

HochseilKouyuu [2012-06-24 06:09:27 +0000 UTC]

Idon't care if people complains about this as a promotion to starcraft, to me is one of the best summarys ever, the one who wrote this really knows the feel of the game, the thrill, the chills, the emotion, the bauty, the sadness and glory it can make in a person, i feel so so so much identificated with this sentence: "Caffeinated casters boom rapid fire commentary rattling the packed hall." that's the feel when you are in front of thousends of people casting, with chills in your neck in your back, screaming, agitated, casting a game. i used to be an starcraft 2 caster and is one of my passions and most beautiful experiences in my whole life. thanks for this, i cried while reading it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Silvanteer [2012-06-24 04:37:54 +0000 UTC]

This game is the most awesome one in the RTS genre. I've been playing it since March last year and I have to say, I've never had such an extremely challenging experience where struggling to be at least an intermediate level player is so hard.

When I first bought the game, I started practicing with friends and against AI as Protoss player before going through ladder matches, and when I first played the placement matches, I got ranked silver. A few weeks later, the large amount of losses got me dropped to bronze, and I'm still bronze until now . I barely have time to play it regularly, anyway.

The thing is, this game requires a heck load of practice and patience, but in the end it's very rewarding, and it taught me a lot of things.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AvSkyggene [2012-06-24 02:14:49 +0000 UTC]

1)
It's possible. But I can't say I'm excited for that happening. There are few things in the world as boring as watching other people play video games.

2)
Because it's a very well-made RTS. It requires players plan their actions based on variables like the units themselves, resource management, and the opponents they face doing the same. There's almost no room for sheer luck making a difference unlike a FPS where a twitch in just the right area can change the entire game.

3)
I really can't remember. But I'm sure it wasn't because my eyes hurt afterwards and no one was paying me to do it.


4)
There used to be a CoD4 group called SRS. Great group, we played for fun and excelled at it. Sadly it broke apart after a time.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

dehydromon [2012-06-24 00:02:39 +0000 UTC]

  • I'd say it's certainly possible, but it could take a long time. After all, how long did it take sports to become as important as they are to people? Still, videogaming tournaments are already more important to me than the Super Bowl and other sports events, so that's a start.


  • Unfortunately, I haven't yet had the pleasure of playing StarCraft, so it's not really my place to say. However, based on the MLG tournaments I've watched, StarCraft is an extremely competitive Real-Time Strategy game with a very diverse set of units that each have very specific uses, and each faction is equal to the others, with totally different units that act as legitimate counterparts to the corresponding units of other factions. Because of these traits, each faction is very well-balanced, which focuses the gameplay more on how quickly and critically the player can think, rather than just how well-suited one type of army is against another specific one.
    As for other candidates for competitive videogame tournaments, I'd say it's a very tough choice. Unfortunately, I've had a very limited number of games to play for the past few years, so the only game I can say from experience would be a good candidate would be Halo, and that's already one of the MLG official games, but I'm sure there are other games that are better suited for it.


  • I honestly can't remember the longest time I've ever played videogames, but I suspect it is something like 15 hours straight, but I probably stopped for meals and stuff.


  • Wow, that's a tough one, but I'd have to say it was the time that I invited two or three friends over and we we went on matchmaking for Halo: Reach and acted like total idiots. We really didn't go for any objective as much as we went for having as much fun as possible for whatever given gametype and saying very obscure and strange things into the microphone for the rest of the players to hear. This stands out for me because, even though I didn't really do anything good for my reputation (in fact, it may have made it worse), but I actually genuinely had fun that night, and I didn't get mad at the other players when they caused me to lag or when they were clearly cheating. It's one of those rare times when I payed for a good time rather than to play competitively.

    • 4What’s the most fun you’ve ever had while online gaming, and what makes that one time stand out in your memory?

    👍: 0 ⏩: 0

    Ly-Metall [2012-06-23 21:59:56 +0000 UTC]

    1. As important? I don't know, it's very possible, seeing as the young people embrace the Internet. But it has a long way to go and a bit of social stigma attached to it. It certainly is on the way, but we need the developers to listen to us a bit more.

    2. DotA2 certainly comes to mind, especially because of its built-in features that make spectating very easy. Starcraft is interesting - it's not too hard to understand what is going on (unlike WoW Arena for example), there is always something happening (unlike most LoL games where the main events are the kills), it has a high level of difficulty and is hard to master, and just fun to watch. Seeing a really smart strategy or a really risky one is ridiculously fun, mix in the mechanics and the way people use them (Kiwikaki's mothership play, Tempest's insane dragoon play with 30 kills) and you have a near-perfect game to watch.

    3. It's always worth it if you're having fun. That said, I don't think I've ever exceeded 6 hours. And I think it was Skyrim.

    4. I will NEVER forget the feeling of uncovering Tirisfall Glades while playing World of Warcraft for the first time. Absolutely mind-blowing and magical.

    👍: 0 ⏩: 0

    SpiderDeathy [2012-06-23 16:50:49 +0000 UTC]

    Really nice to see this featured here. Starcraft 2 as an Esport is amazing. Rather then fight over stats of it's legitimacy, can't we just embrace the love for the game?

    👍: 0 ⏩: 0

    Ori-ConceptArts [2012-06-23 15:46:45 +0000 UTC]

    I apologize if the following does not corrosponds with DA attempt to promote Starcraft:

    1. No, While Starcraft may improve some skills it is less refined than chess and yet it is not a physical sport. Since the 'Sport' is dependent on a piece of software that may change tomorrow, furthermore unlike chess or physical sports the skills produced by this game have little to no use in the actual world because in the Real world the rules and tactics do not follow this approach:
    thus it will never receive the same recognition as traditional sports that require people to take their ability to the limit...

    2. Simple: Popularity and Availability of service, when you compare StarCraft to an other RTS games it doesn't have any inherit advantages save for three: Excellent and extensive Map Editor to allow to create any RTS game-play mode imaginable + it was the first RTS game to be supported by Battle.net : The highly accessible and carefully designed online multiplayer service and so it picked up a following in the online community.
    Also the game's factions are very well balanced so in Asia they stuck with it over the competition that failed to provide the above(the C&C series)

    3.~18 hours and no its rarely worth it because outside of the game most of what you learn amounts to nothing so the payoff of playing the game is false, aside from maybe Social P&P role-playing games.

    4. When I played VTMR P&P Online with my internet friends, it was the most immersible and thought provoking game experience I had to date.

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    Masked-Imposter [2012-06-23 14:22:02 +0000 UTC]

    SC2 also has a very awesome map maker that's a lot of fun to use. Personally I like to make maps similar to the single player missions.

    What's the best place to watch SC2 matches? Something better than youtube, haha.

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    fourdaysofdeath [2012-06-23 13:48:32 +0000 UTC]

    Hnnng I know this just adds to the Korean stereotype, but Starcraft <3 <3 <3

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    grimdrifter [2012-06-23 08:04:59 +0000 UTC]

    1) Absolutely. This is inevitable because of the rate video games are disseminating through society, to the degree that everyone from young children through middle aged adults play them. Also as technology evolves, the interactive capabilities of the games will increase to the degree that some video games may introduce physical components altogether no different from live action games like football, except they can be conducted through cyberspace. Who knows, perhaps StarCraft V (if they continue the genre that far) may involve real people actually running around a simulated map (though in reality they are running in an open field or vacant lot), carrying our their objectives in an environment created by special goggles or glasses.

    2) Balance has been named as a reason, and it is a good one. However, another reason is that each race in StarCraft has unique capabilities and game play styles that can be adapted into a myriad of clever strategies and reactions to strategies, so that one game can drastically vary from another game, even between the same players. Blizzard has a particular skill at doing this, creating incredibly unique game play experiences which can be explored in depth without breaking the intricate balance between those experiences. I think the Total War genre has the ability to produce games that can also break into this tournament environment, though for vastly different reasons. Total War has greatly broadened the depth and technology of strategy games, growing closer and closer to realistically simulate real tactical situations.

    3) I estimate it was no longer than 7 or 8 hours, it's hard to concentrate on one thing without breaks longer than that, especially considering the degree of concentration that my favorite types of games require. It was indeed worth it, though I do try to break my sessions into more manageable chunks.

    4) That's a difficult toss-up. I would say World of Warcraft has provided me with the most entertaining experiences, there's really nothing like being able to synergize with excellent players who work well as a team while exploiting the unique capabilities of your own character.

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    kylarynn [2012-06-23 04:51:25 +0000 UTC]

    1. It's possible.


    2. Because it's balanced. Star Craft is a strategy game which is completely devoted to being balanced, thus making it competitive. You can't take games like Street Fighter and CoD as seriously because they have random elements involved. Shots don't register, the game lags, etc. Star Craft requires a lot of fast thinking, acting, and there are tons of variables. As for other games that would make good candidates, I'd have to shrug and suppose other strategy games would fit the bill. My own personal bias would love to see Halo make a comeback and strut its stuff like it used to, but... well... that's iffy. XD

    3. Longest period of time would probably be like 12 hours, maybe more. I was super obssessed with online games growing up, and I can still sit down for an easy 5 hours no problem.*cough*Like I did last week on FFX*cough* Of course it's worth it! On my days off blowing time on video games feels like freedom!

    4. Meh, too many times to name. I can remember several times I'd be up late, sleep-deprived with the giggles and having a blast being the most random person you'd ever meet online

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    KingoSwing [2012-06-23 02:59:43 +0000 UTC]

    Can't believe that buy this random game called Starcraft: Brood War expansion Pack on my birthday would change my life so much. Thank you Blizzard

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    WeisseEdelweiss [2012-06-23 00:39:27 +0000 UTC]

    Very much loved StarCraft growing up as a kid. : )

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    Arcticus-v [2012-06-23 00:30:37 +0000 UTC]

    1. A good question. In my humble opinion, I think it's hard to eSports replace actual sports. They are something that are here since the dawn of mankind, the competition between humans. Actually, talking about this kind of replacement is a bit strange, since eSports is still a kind of sport, pure competition.
    2. Starcraft has a big root in the competitive scenario. In South Korea, their tournaments are huge, and this happens since the first game. Well, we have another games that made a big amount of success in the competitive scenario, like Counter Strike, for an example, but they didn't changed, while Starcraft keeps changing until today, adapting itself to a better experience. For another candidates, nowadays we have the big MOBAs, like League of Legends. League of Legends is one of the peaks of eSports nowadays, not because it's enjoyable, but is easy to get into it, while Starcraft gets some effort. And the number of titles being developed and released with some promise for the eSport scenario just grows. As I mentioned Counter Strike before, today there's Counter Strike: Global Offensive being developed, and of course, Dota 2, another big name in the competitive scenario. The future of eSports is really bright.
    3. With no breaks, I guess I can say it was for hours, maybe 7h~8h. But if you consider breaks, I played some games for days, stopping only to do what's necessary, lol.
    4. When I was a kid, I used to play Dota a lot in LANs. And the players were just so cheerful. Every little thing inside the game was something for us to joke about, to make fun of someone, and we all enjoyed. Nowadays, I just love to watch big tournaments like MLG or GSL, the games played there, they just give me the chills, make me scream of excitation. Pure awesomeness.

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    DashadyAlien [2012-06-22 20:21:48 +0000 UTC]

    Wooo love SC2 loved the campain , loved the way they made it so awsome again and can't wait for heart of the swarm.

    1) I think so yes , these days technology and video interaction seems to be creeping into schools at very early stages so it's possible those generations that grow up will have a great affection for events like these.Just hope they go out and do some sports emselfs aswel.

    2) No idea rly as far as i can remember SC has been the game for it so coulden't say what or who. Only other game i can remember that whas done clan based in the day i played sc whas either counterstrike or half life deathmatch and team fortress.

    3)Hmm that would be 12h in the weekends or so , a bit more in the vacation but no longer , defenatly with World of warcraft , constantly playing to level and get better gear, exploring and so on. Whas it worth it ?? back then yes , now , not so , wow got a bit boring , still looking forward to the next exspansion but not as eagerly when burning crusade came out.

    4) To finally kill a boss we where wiping on constantly with the guild ( still wow ) One fav moment in it whas when we where doing Kharazan a raid instance in wow with the guild and there whas this boss a mage we had to kill and we had a hard time , i think whas a tank back then with my druid. We finally after so many tries killed the boss and everyone of the guild went to his corps to check out the loot. Little did they see the boss casted a spell right before he died. The mechanic whas something u had to stay still and not move and if u did u would burn or get fire damage over time and go boem. Needles to say the raid wiped and only me standing there laughing them out becouse they missed it. So i rezed a healer and so went back on our happy raiding way.

    Love Blizz games , they all have sutch great stories and lore in em , they realy suck me in playing it. Got Wow , have SC2 and alse Diablo 3 , way to go blizz lets hope ure new project Titan rocks aswel.

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    Azchara [2012-06-22 18:41:46 +0000 UTC]

    1. Probably not, isn't that popular and i don't think it would be one day. But i wish they would.
    2. Starcarft is that because it was a light game it fit almost in every computer (talking about system requirements), also everyone owned a computer, and it was the best strategy game ever, with great core and fair graphics. b) For global tournaments, i wish they would of SSBB but not eveyrone own a wii XD
    3. Longest period XD (>.>; i feel guilty) well around 12 hours. Worth it? of course, but i won't be doing that again ever.
    4. Dam, i have so many that i can't chose one. But the thing i would chose was the online PvP, it's the most adrenaline maker on the games and that is what i like most.

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    fenrysk-art [2012-06-22 17:42:20 +0000 UTC]

    1. It's already reaching that level.

    2. Starcraft 2 is building on the legacy of SC1 and SCW, if not for that, SC2 wouldn't be where as big as it is; many pros still consider BW the superior game to SC2. other than that, it's the combination and tension of being forced to balance economy with combat tactics and over arching strategy. other RTS tend to have a focus on one or two.

    3. i don't remember but it was not worth it. I should've been working on my art so i could join the ranks of *Mr--Jack and ~Arsenal21

    4. my favorite online gaming memory was leveling up with friends during classic World of Warcraft, where the combination of social interaction, world exploration, and storytelling made for a really fun experience.

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    Tlsonic214 [2012-06-22 17:27:50 +0000 UTC]

    Great.

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    TitaniumAnimations [2012-06-22 16:50:54 +0000 UTC]

    1. Indefinitely. I can envision teams representing entire countries as they compete. I can, in Starcraft's case, already tell who would always dominate the global ladders though. ;D

    2. Starcraft, in general, spearheads the eSports scene because of the way it is presented. It promotes competition alongside with simply have a good time, which is how physical sports are presented.

    3. For Starcraft: Brood War, back in 02', I spent an entire day playing it, which is the longest continuous gaming session I have ever had.

    4. Having a LAN party at a friends house as we all installed and played SCII. By far, one of the coolest experience with video games I have ever had.

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    littlebigdog [2012-06-22 16:07:32 +0000 UTC]

    Soooooooooo Kooooll!!!!

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    zwimmy [2012-06-22 15:55:03 +0000 UTC]

    1. Call me crazy, but yes, I think someday they will. Video games now make more money than films, would most people back in the 80's have predicted that?

    2. It's kind of hard to explain, but SC is just a really solid game. It's not overly complex like some other RTS games, but it still allows thousands of different possibilities. It's very well geared towards tournament play. I think fighting games have a good chance to be big for tournaments, as they have direct 1 on 1 play on a single screen and are very engaging to watch. FPS games are problematic when it comes to spectating.

    3. The first time I played Halo about a decade ago, I played it for about 6 hours straight.

    4. Playing with your friends is always much more fun. I have many good memories, but I remember one game of StarCraft probably from around 2005 or so where me and my friend were playing on an islands map and we both flew our dropships towards each other's island at the same time and as they met in the middle, we both turned back to our base, then turned around again, then stopped for a few seconds right beside each other trying to figure out what to do.

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    alvinsanity [2012-06-22 15:30:06 +0000 UTC]

    1. It is in Korea since the first Starcraft came out.
    2. Can't think of any. Blizzard makes god-like perfection strategy games.
    3. 12 hours straight (with pee breaks) playing Final Fantasy 9. Worth every childhood minute.
    4. It's more fun if you're playing with friends that are in the same room/place as yours... I used to play Ragnarok Online for hours!

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    fenrysk-art [2012-06-22 08:16:19 +0000 UTC]

    Hey i'd also like to point out that some of the art you listed as fan art is actually professional contract work for Blizz, and that *Mr--Jack is actually a blizzard employee too (he's a concept artist on the SC2 team)

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