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Girlfriend and Starcraft

Blogs > imjorman
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1 2 Next All
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 03:46 GMT
#1
Just throwing this up as a quick question for everyone out there. I have a girlfriend who has little to no interest in Starcraft/ESPORTS/gaming in general. I don't mind that she has no interest to play, but when we get together, I generally want to watch a series or two with her. The problem is, I have no idea how to explain it to her. We watch matches and I'm just like "uhh he's trying to kill the other guys units." The only thing she gets right now is that the higher food count is more than likely winning.

Any tips on explaining this game to people with no background in rts or gaming at all?

*
People who want power shouldn't have it.
LonelyIslands
Profile Blog Joined September 2006
Canada590 Posts
April 21 2011 03:51 GMT
#2
She watches them with you? Marry her.
My heart and my mind will carry my body when my limbs are too weak
Roe
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada6002 Posts
April 21 2011 03:53 GMT
#3
On April 21 2011 12:46 imjorman wrote:
Just throwing this up as a quick question for everyone out there. I have a girlfriend who has little to no interest in Starcraft/ESPORTS/gaming in general. I don't mind that she has no interest to play, but when we get together, I generally want to watch a series or two with her. The problem is, I have no idea how to explain it to her. We watch matches and I'm just like "uhh he's trying to kill the other guys units." The only thing she gets right now is that the higher food count is more than likely winning.

Any tips on explaining this game to people with no background in rts or gaming at all?

well.

let's SEE WHAT WE CAN DO

first. think about what interests you in the game, what drives you to watch more. then just spell that out in wording. so like, oh wow, he completely shut down his economy...he better do something fast or else he'll be out of the gayme!!
uh yeah. other than that, if it doens't interest her then try not to force it upon her, but it seems like she's giving it a shot, so perhaps another thing would be to pick up and illustrate the finesse of the players and their actions.

mucho sorry i'm a bit drunk, but i hope that helps.
it's like anything else though. like hockey, how would you explain to her what's going on? or poker, chess etc...
hope that helps

oh and does she have any hobbies she likes that you dont? does she do anything to get your interest in them?(DONT tell me boobies I already thought of that)
hope that helps
thanks for reading
roe
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25977 Posts
April 21 2011 03:57 GMT
#4
I don't get how you can't explain Starcraft easily to someone...
Moderator
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 03:58 GMT
#5
Yes. I can't multi-quote, so just so you know: I plan on marrying her :D

On April 21 2011 12:53 Roe wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 21 2011 12:46 imjorman wrote:
Just throwing this up as a quick question for everyone out there. I have a girlfriend who has little to no interest in Starcraft/ESPORTS/gaming in general. I don't mind that she has no interest to play, but when we get together, I generally want to watch a series or two with her. The problem is, I have no idea how to explain it to her. We watch matches and I'm just like "uhh he's trying to kill the other guys units." The only thing she gets right now is that the higher food count is more than likely winning.

Any tips on explaining this game to people with no background in rts or gaming at all?

well.

let's SEE WHAT WE CAN DO

first. think about what interests you in the game, what drives you to watch more. then just spell that out in wording. so like, oh wow, he completely shut down his economy...he better do something fast or else he'll be out of the gayme!!
uh yeah. other than that, if it doens't interest her then try not to force it upon her, but it seems like she's giving it a shot, so perhaps another thing would be to pick up and illustrate the finesse of the players and their actions.

mucho sorry i'm a bit drunk, but i hope that helps.
it's like anything else though. like hockey, how would you explain to her what's going on? or poker, chess etc...
hope that helps

oh and does she have any hobbies she likes that you dont? does she do anything to get your interest in them?(DONT tell me boobies I already thought of that)
hope that helps
thanks for reading
roe


I'm going to try maybe casting a few games for her and just explaining how things work out or perhaps have her watch some gsl vods! The casting archon will do a great job at at least getting her excited. Then from there I can perhaps expand into telling her a little more about units, whats going on, etc. Then perhaps play a game for her so she can see what's up? idk...

Thanks for your help though bro :D Drunk or not, you did well.

She likes basketball and she gets my attention by well...ok I still hate basketball
People who want power shouldn't have it.
Darkchylde
Profile Joined January 2010
United States473 Posts
April 21 2011 04:00 GMT
#6
I think the best way to learn about the game is to play it. But since she doesn't have any interest in playing it, you should start up a game vs a computer and explain things like the main base, workers, basic buildings and units, then move on to other things.

I'm lucky enough to have a fiancee that was brought up around video games by her brother and actually enjoys playing BW (even though she plays with cheat codes).

At least your girlfriend is willing to watch, my best friend's fiancee watches TV while he plays and she mimics things she hears a lot like "SCV ready".
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 04:00 GMT
#7
On April 21 2011 12:57 Chill wrote:
I don't get how you can't explain Starcraft easily to someone...


That's my delima Mr. Moderate temperature. I want her to get it, but I also don't want to flood her head with tons of data she's not gonna use and simply confuse her. This also has other practical applications. my apartment mates have no idea about starcraft and I suck at explaining that to them as well : /
People who want power shouldn't have it.
Zapdos_Smithh
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Canada2620 Posts
April 21 2011 04:00 GMT
#8
I'm sure you didn't come out of the womb with RTS knowledge and had it explained by somebody or a caster or w.e...so why don't you teach her as you were taught? Go over basics perhaps? Build from there? I can understand how it might be difficult to get somebody to understand something...but to have no clue how to even explain something flabbergasts me...turn your thoughts into words and bam...explanation.

On April 21 2011 12:46 imjorman wrote:
We watch matches and I'm just like "uhh he's trying to kill the other guys units."


So what...you talk to your girlfriend like she's 10 years old or something?
Grobyc
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada18410 Posts
April 21 2011 04:01 GMT
#9
If it really doesn't look like she enjoys it I wouldn't force it; nothing good is going to come out of that. If she is actually interested and just initially confused I would just watch VODs with english commentary so you aren't sitting there trying to talk over the VODs explaining what's happening while she's watching.
If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
Legatus Lanius
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
2135 Posts
April 21 2011 04:08 GMT
#10
which starcraft are you showing her? better be the good kind =/
"He's the Triple H of Brood War." - Ribbon on Flash | "He's more like the John Cena of Brood War." - Aus)MaCrO on Flash
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 04:12 GMT
#11
On April 21 2011 13:00 Zapdos_Smithh wrote:
I'm sure you didn't come out of the womb with RTS knowledge and had it explained by somebody or a caster or w.e...so why don't you teach her as you were taught? Go over basics perhaps? Build from there? I can understand how it might be difficult to get somebody to understand something...but to have no clue how to even explain something flabbergasts me...turn your thoughts into words and bam...explanation.

Show nested quote +
On April 21 2011 12:46 imjorman wrote:
We watch matches and I'm just like "uhh he's trying to kill the other guys units."


So what...you talk to your girlfriend like she's 10 years old or something?


I think it's more of a lack of my ability to verbalize what I do rather than her ability to understand. She's very intelligent and I just don't know how to put such a complex game into terms that a nongamer can understand.

Watching some GSl vods will be a good start. maybe some TSL on Saturday?
People who want power shouldn't have it.
Mikilatov
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
United States3897 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-04-21 04:14:40
April 21 2011 04:13 GMT
#12
On April 21 2011 13:00 imjorman wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 21 2011 12:57 Chill wrote:
I don't get how you can't explain Starcraft easily to someone...


That's my delima Mr. Moderate temperature. I want her to get it, but I also don't want to flood her head with tons of data she's not gonna use and simply confuse her. This also has other practical applications. my apartment mates have no idea about starcraft and I suck at explaining that to them as well : /


I think you're likely looking at it in a much too complex manner. Keep it basic (resources/mining/units/techchoices/workercount comparisons), and then explain more complex moves as they happen.

There's also a chance they're just plain not interested. Can't really force it on someone, but I do feel that after watching a bunch of games they'll grow to understand it naturally.

Also, it helps to lure people in with personalities/storylines. Show em' games between big named players with storylined backgrounds. (Idra/Cruncher thingy, Mondi's return, etc. etc.) Quality commentary where the casters explain and get excited about these storylines or moves within the game helps. (Because they end up doing the explaining for you.)
♥ I used to lasso the shit out of your tournaments =( ♥ | Much is my hero. | zizi yO~ | Be Nice, TL.
mikeymoo
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
Canada7170 Posts
April 21 2011 04:17 GMT
#13
Does she really care about the game or does she want to spend time with you? Does she have any interest in learning what the hell you're watching?
o_x | Ow. | 1003 ESPORTS dollars | If you have any questions about bans please PM Kennigit
Chimpalimp
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1135 Posts
April 21 2011 04:24 GMT
#14
I think more or less she doesn't give a care what your watching, she just wants to spend time with you. If she really cared a little, it wouldn't be very hard to explain the basic idea of the game to her. I would consider thinking about what she wants to do, you might just be boring her by watching games while she is around.
I like money. You like money too? We should hang out.
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 04:26 GMT
#15
On April 21 2011 13:17 mikeymoo wrote:
Does she really care about the game or does she want to spend time with you? Does she have any interest in learning what the hell you're watching?


I think it's both. She wouldn't watch it if I wouldn't have presented it to her, but like because we watch it she is interested in learning about it. At least at a spectator level, I doubt she'll ever be a player so I don't force the issue. I think I'm just gonna let some GSL/TSL VODS do the talking for me and try to fill in the gaps. Seems to be a general consensus. I'm still open to new ideas, however :D
People who want power shouldn't have it.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25977 Posts
April 21 2011 04:27 GMT
#16
On April 21 2011 13:00 imjorman wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 21 2011 12:57 Chill wrote:
I don't get how you can't explain Starcraft easily to someone...


That's my delima Mr. Moderate temperature. I want her to get it, but I also don't want to flood her head with tons of data she's not gonna use and simply confuse her. This also has other practical applications. my apartment mates have no idea about starcraft and I suck at explaining that to them as well : /

Just explain the basics. The basis of the game is getting resources. Players make units to kill each other. Tell them about unit control and if something cool happens, explain what the player physically did that makes that cool.

I can't really help any more. I've never had any problems explaining it :O
Moderator
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25977 Posts
April 21 2011 04:28 GMT
#17
On April 21 2011 13:17 mikeymoo wrote:
Does she really care about the game or does she want to spend time with you? Does she have any interest in learning what the hell you're watching?

Irrelevant. I've never seen anyone have Starcraft explained to them well and show no interest.
Moderator
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 04:29 GMT
#18
On April 21 2011 13:24 Chimpalimp wrote:
I think more or less she doesn't give a care what your watching, she just wants to spend time with you. If she really cared a little, it wouldn't be very hard to explain the basic idea of the game to her. I would consider thinking about what she wants to do, you might just be boring her by watching games while she is around.


She has said before to me that she would enjoy the game better if she understood. So we decided not to watch anymore games until I could figure out how to explain it better. Also I plan on making a thing out of our first viewing: hook laptop up to tv, make popcorn, drinks, like a "movie night" kinda deal.
People who want power shouldn't have it.
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
April 21 2011 04:30 GMT
#19
I appreciate your proper capitalization of ESPORTS.
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
imjorman
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States580 Posts
April 21 2011 04:30 GMT
#20
On April 21 2011 13:27 Chill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 21 2011 13:00 imjorman wrote:
On April 21 2011 12:57 Chill wrote:
I don't get how you can't explain Starcraft easily to someone...


That's my delima Mr. Moderate temperature. I want her to get it, but I also don't want to flood her head with tons of data she's not gonna use and simply confuse her. This also has other practical applications. my apartment mates have no idea about starcraft and I suck at explaining that to them as well : /

Just explain the basics. The basis of the game is getting resources. Players make units to kill each other. Tell them about unit control and if something cool happens, explain what the player physically did that makes that cool.

I can't really help any more. I've never had any problems explaining it :O


Your also a top caster
People who want power shouldn't have it.
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