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Preface:
+ Show Spoiler +As some of you may know, I am currently in the beginning of my blog about professional StarCraft II players. I started out with the controversial RE: EG.IdrA, and will be publishing RE: Day[9] soon. My Day[9] blog will take a bit longer because it is more inclusive, less opinionated, and I am waiting to see if Sean would do me the favor of answering some interview questions. I emailed him a couple days ago, and since he is so busy with graduating I'll give him about another week, then I'll go ahead and publish the blog without it if he hasn't responded (if he doesn't, no big deal, he's still awesome ♥). So everyone cross your fingers, cause this could be big. Expect the blog by Tuesday next week at the latest.
Today's topic:
That Adrenaline Rush
As I am writing this blog, I keep hitting the wrong keys, and it's hard to focus on anything in particular. Why's that? Because I have a surge of adrenaline rushing through my veins. It's that feeling you get in the midst of a big battle, or when you've dominated a superior opponent. (Darn those splanchnic nerves and those signals to my adrenal medulla.)
Your hands get cold.
You get tunnel vision.
Your hairs stand up.
You're ready for war.
I'm ranked 13 in my 2v2 Platinum League. Not extremely impressive, but not rubbish either. About 10 minutes ago my partner and I dominated a team who tried to do everything to win. 6 pool + cannon rush, into void rush, into DT harass. Oh, we kept the Zerg player dead for a while. We could never out-right kill him though.
Doesn't it feel good to slaughter an enemy who will do just about anything to win? An enemy who is higher ranked, and performed his cheese without flaw? It does.
So, good reader, the question falls to you: When was the last time StarCraft II gave you an adrenaline rush? Has it ever? Do you think it helps or hurts you? How do you nerds* feel about that adrenaline rush?
*used in a totally polite way.
 
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I used to get them quite frequently whenever I got to a stage where I had to try some new micro trick or I had a lot of micro to do. My armpits would water and my heart rate would elevate.
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On May 12 2011 08:38 Hidden_MotiveS wrote:
I used to get them quite frequently whenever I got to a stage where I had to try some new micro trick or I had a lot of micro to do. My armpits would water and my heart rate would elevate.
Sometimes I wonder if losing while under the effects of adrenaline is why some people rage.
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It could be, though I don't usually rage after losing. I tend to calm down in game, slow down a bit, ask for vision, and then gg.
I do recall getting agitated whenever someone pulled me away from the game, or someone tried to offer advice.
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The adrenaline is what keeps you going.  I've never really gotten it from SC2, but then again I don't really play it that seriously/much at all anymore. I get it all the time in BW though, so I can relate. I'm kind of a wuss I guess, cause my adrenaline gets pumping over the most mundane of things sometimes. 
Will my sunkens morph in time?
Why is the consume animation so long??
BURROW FASTER!
And things of that nature. But hey, if you don't get pumped when you're playing, then you shouldn't be playing at all imo.
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Opposed to us though, you ever notice how a pro gamer, or even a good starcraft player... right before the game starts, they get all serious?
Like suddenly their only focus is on what's happening in front of them. They're calm, and collected. I think that's what differentiates them from the average player who also plays a lot. They can give close to their full focus on the game, and they can practice 10 hours a day.
Right now I'm trying to be like that. I'm trying to force myself to be able to do stuff in a completely focused state of mind.
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It happens to me whenever I think I should win the game.
For example, if my opponent and I are both playing well with no real advantage my way, I don't really get a major adrenaline rush (maybe a little one though)
But if, for example, my Protoss opponent builds six cannons at my ramp (yes, that has happened), or I scout the Zerg's roach warren off one base, the adrenaline starts pumping because I KNOW I should have the game in the bag, and I get really, really pissed if I fuck up and lose.
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Sometimes I get a huge adrenaline rush and get really shaky because I am so excited. Especially when I pull off a timing flawlessly and crush my opponent.
I have to stop playing at this point because my hands are legit to shaky to deal with ahah.
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Well, few weeks ago I was always getting that crazy adrenaline rush once the 3 second countdown began. But not anymore, well not as much for sure. I was getting that rush where it's like I had just drank 10 cups of coffee and i'm all jacked up. Now I am more calm and collected and it's sooooo much easier to think on the go and macro/micro better.
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On May 12 2011 09:59 apm66 wrote:
Well, few weeks ago I was always getting that crazy adrenaline rush once the 3 second countdown began. But not anymore, well not as much for sure. I was getting that rush where it's like I had just drank 10 cups of coffee and i'm all jacked up. Now I am more calm and collected and it's sooooo much easier to think on the go and macro/micro better.
Yeah, I definitely find it easier to play when I'm not hyped up. The "tunnel vision" sort of applies to thought also. You just kind of rush whatever you're doing, and neglect everything else.
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Nukes... they're like adrenaline injections in digital form.
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On May 12 2011 12:28 Hidden_MotiveS wrote:
Nukes... they're like adrenaline injections in digital form.
Ha, especially when they don't belong to you.
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EPT
