EPTFirst, some background. I came to SC2 with only the most rudimentary experience of competitive RTS play: a few games of Starcraft with my wife several years ago, and a couple of lunchtime games of Age of Kings with work colleagues. Unfortunately for all concerned I had always been a terrible loser: I have the misfortune of being a fairly bright chap and thus expected success to simply fall out of my ass the moment I brought my vast intellect to bear. Yes, I was one of those guys.
By lucky chance, the arrival of the Starcraft 2 beta coincided with a period of unusual self-awareness and introspection, and I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to stop looking stupid and feeling miserable. Thirty-five years is long enough to spend as a martyr to my own ego, I think.
With that goal in mind, I threw myself into the beta. I found the TeamLiquid website, Day[9]'s excellent dailies, and with their help started to get my head around the idea of taking pleasure in the process of becoming better rather than being good. I'd been unconsciously operating on the assumption that I was bound to turn out to be The Chosen One at something, sooner or later, but it turns out life isn't like Star Wars, or The Matrix, or any of the sci-fi/fantasy I'd read in my formative years - and that's perfectly ok, too. There's no shame in having to work hard at something.
I picked Zerg for some reason; no idea why, and despite my aforementioned lack of RTS experience rocketed straight into Copper league. My plan to get used to losing was off to a cracking start. It was a lurching, chaotic ride, pitted against toddlers who had clicked on the SC2 icon looking for the CBeebies website and unstoppable architects of fiery doom in roughly equal measure. But it was also fun; the first genuine fun I'd had in a competitive game. I wasn't any good, and somehow it was fine.
And then, all too soon, the ride came to a halt mid-loop. The beta ended, and everyone had to just cling to the restraints as best they could and wait for the game to hit the shelves...
Coming up in SDtL: Release, Placement and That Sinking Feeling.
