EPTYou know I love probes—some of my best friends are probes. One of them was named Proberto. I feel sad when my favourite probe dies. I get attached to it and think that it will just live forever. I follow it on its adventures and I root for it as it jumps over minerals, dances with death, and terrorises SCVs. But damn it, sometimes that probe dies anyway and it's just unavoidable. The Terran completes his wall in, or makes a vulture, or you simply lose track of your probe. It's not the end of the game, no matter how much it hurts to see that probe go. Your intel is weakened, but soon you'll have other units on scouting duty. You'll move on.
When someone is on my team, or even when they aren't, I hate to see them lose hope and stop trying. The game isn't fun anymore. They've already given up hope. Only sheer fucking luck can help them bounce back, and they'll be miserable even when that miracle happens. But to those who stay alert, those who stay positive and look for opportunities and don't let losses destroy their will to win, windows appear and opportunities seem brighter.
Look at that base there. The opponent hasn't scouted it in 5 minutes. Just one little probe could sneak in and start everything up again. So many minerals. So much opportunity. What's the noob thinking about? He's still thinking about the damn probe he lost in the beginning. Damn it, I loved that probe too, but it wouldn't have wanted it this way! It would have wanted you to avenge it! To honour its memory! Even if its death wasn't particularly noble or romantic, it would have wanted you to keep trying. Probes are very complicated creatures and also very loyal to their causes.
The ghost of Proberto compels you, Brood War fans. Don't give up hope.
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Part 2: Sinners will be Remembered
The news about our teams disbanding depresses me, don't mistake that. I really liked OZ, and WeMade (formerly Pantech) will always remind me of Nada. MBC is where Bisu grew up. It's a horrible time for fans of these teams. What distracts me from that, and what makes me write so optimistically in a time that should be spent being sad for these teams is that their disbandment is being used as proof that the BW is dying. Five years ago a player would retire and you'd be sad for his fans and sad as a fan. You could do that and not be bothered by suggestions that he is moving to SC2 or that BW is dying. You could grieve (if I may use so intense a word) properly. It feels like these teams are our wounded, but we're in the middle of a damn war so we can't give them the burial they deserve (if they don't find sponsors). It's a disgrace, but I feel it's important.
For me, the very darkest time of BW was when Blizzard was suing and Brood War as a whole, everything we watched, was frozen until the case would be decided. I really thought 'this could be the last time' when I watched Jaedong and Flash duke it out at the finals. I thought there was a good chance Brood War would survive, and it did, but I can't deny I was scared for BW at that point. It felt like real danger, and this does not. I didn't say BW was dying then. I will never say that. For what it was worth I wrote about how I thought Brood War deserved to live and that Blizzard should not have the power to destroy it. I wouldn't have admitted it until the gavel had come down and Brood War had been crippled.
Before that, year after year, everyone said that BW is dying and every year it never did. This is the first time that I want to prove it. I want to be able to point to a post and show you people say this every year. This is not BW darkest hour in my opinion. In one year I'm going to look at this thread, and I'm going to look at these posts, and damn it, it's gonna feel good. Maybe I'll do it every year.
Sinners will be Remembered:
On August 24 2011 13:44 therockmanxx wrote:
Everything I believe is dying...
Everything I believe is dying...
On August 24 2011 18:01 Mikilatov wrote:
So fucking sad. =X
I honestly watch mostly SC2 nowadays, but I still catch lots of BW, and totally reminisce about pre-sc2 times constantly... Sad to see it dying like this.
So fucking sad. =X
I honestly watch mostly SC2 nowadays, but I still catch lots of BW, and totally reminisce about pre-sc2 times constantly... Sad to see it dying like this.
On August 24 2011 18:35 mansa wrote:
This is just sad. But meh... I got over it... Time to move on guys...
This is just sad. But meh... I got over it... Time to move on guys...On August 24 2011 18:55 Navane wrote:
It won't be long before bw becomes just another subsection in the 'sports and games' forum.
It won't be long before bw becomes just another subsection in the 'sports and games' forum.
On August 24 2011 20:00 thopol wrote:
This is horrible. ESPORTS is dying....
This is horrible. ESPORTS is dying....
On August 25 2011 02:34 TyranoS_NiveK wrote:
The good die young... Hopefully the scene can die with the dignity it deserves...
The good die young... Hopefully the scene can die with the dignity it deserves...
On August 25 2011 04:02 SarR wrote:
No one wants to hear this I know but BW has to die some time. It was never going to last forever. Only mainstream success can maintain an art form indefinitely. BW for all its fans world wide was always a niche thing relative to other forms of art, sport and entertainment. It was destined to end some day from the beginning.
No one wants to hear this I know but BW has to die some time. It was never going to last forever. Only mainstream success can maintain an art form indefinitely. BW for all its fans world wide was always a niche thing relative to other forms of art, sport and entertainment. It was destined to end some day from the beginning.
On August 25 2011 05:57 ~ava wrote:
Just getting worse; will a BW pro scene exist in a year or two?
Just getting worse; will a BW pro scene exist in a year or two?
On August 25 2011 06:04 dgwow wrote:
Sucks to see BW dying. Never really got into it as a viewer (played wc3) but I hope SC2 can become as fun of a game!
Sucks to see BW dying. Never really got into it as a viewer (played wc3) but I hope SC2 can become as fun of a game!
On August 25 2011 10:31 epikAnglory wrote:
Implication of Title: BW To Fall Dead Within the Next Year
Implication of Title: BW To Fall Dead Within the Next Year
On August 25 2011 12:00 JiPrime wrote:
Wow. The BW scene is crumbling down...
It was good(?) while it lasted folks.
Wow. The BW scene is crumbling down...
It was good(?) while it lasted folks.
On August 29 2011 22:16 iNfeRnaL wrote:
Well... Rest in Piece BroodWar...
Loved this game more than I will ever love SC2 so it kinda hurts to see...
Well... Rest in Piece BroodWar...
Loved this game more than I will ever love SC2 so it kinda hurts to see...
On August 29 2011 23:43 smileyyy wrote:
woooooooooooot no OZ fuuuuu
BW is dying ....... poor JD
woooooooooooot no OZ fuuuuu
BW is dying ....... poor JD
On August 30 2011 02:21 RaQIl wrote:
I feel this is the official slow death of Brood War. Its a shame really because SC1 is and will always be the better and more skillful game.
I just hope that the demise of BW at least pushes SC2 more in Korea and more sponsors, players and organizations come supporting it.
I feel this is the official slow death of Brood War. Its a shame really because SC1 is and will always be the better and more skillful game.
I just hope that the demise of BW at least pushes SC2 more in Korea and more sponsors, players and organizations come supporting it.
On August 30 2011 10:59 jabK wrote:
its had its run, time to let it die
User was temp banned for this post.
its had its run, time to let it die
User was temp banned for this post.
On August 30 2011 11:10 epikAnglory wrote:
Insinuated Title: Brood War to Die
Insinuated Title: Brood War to Die
On August 30 2011 11:21 lizzard_warish wrote:
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news [though im sure others have said this] but brood war is dead. It wont be around in a year. They've had difficulty finding sponsors for OSL/MSL for almost two years- if not two years.. Costs for maintaining a team are high, and even though sc2 isnt very popular in korea, it has major effects on the BW scene:
1) BW was already declining in popularity and it did drag away SOME viewers
2) Little to no future players are coming in, so an investment in bw is no longer long term
3) starcraft 2 is, uh, starcraft two. It's new, and with all those connotations: Passing of the old, inevitability, better prospects, etc.
Every time BW has had a hiccup, what has happened? sc2 players jump at it, yay, this will help our scene! I mean however deplorable that may be, its the mentality of the world looking in on brood war. When it has a slight issue, its not just a slight issue like back in the day, or even a catastrophe, its a nail in the coffin. The more people view BW as having an expiration date, the more people will move to sc2, which just exponentially ensures the death of the scene. More people leave, less viewers, less sponsors, less sponsors make people think bw is dieing and they leave. Repeat cycle.
There wont be new sponsors coming in, certainly nothing that can maintain the same level of salaries. Players will be cut, training houses will be curtailed massively, and players will give up. I said this in Flash' contract thread. And I'm really not here to say sc2 is better or whatever, so please dont warn me, I love both games. This is just the way it is IMO.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news [though im sure others have said this] but brood war is dead. It wont be around in a year. They've had difficulty finding sponsors for OSL/MSL for almost two years- if not two years.. Costs for maintaining a team are high, and even though sc2 isnt very popular in korea, it has major effects on the BW scene:
1) BW was already declining in popularity and it did drag away SOME viewers
2) Little to no future players are coming in, so an investment in bw is no longer long term
3) starcraft 2 is, uh, starcraft two. It's new, and with all those connotations: Passing of the old, inevitability, better prospects, etc.
Every time BW has had a hiccup, what has happened? sc2 players jump at it, yay, this will help our scene! I mean however deplorable that may be, its the mentality of the world looking in on brood war. When it has a slight issue, its not just a slight issue like back in the day, or even a catastrophe, its a nail in the coffin. The more people view BW as having an expiration date, the more people will move to sc2, which just exponentially ensures the death of the scene. More people leave, less viewers, less sponsors, less sponsors make people think bw is dieing and they leave. Repeat cycle.
There wont be new sponsors coming in, certainly nothing that can maintain the same level of salaries. Players will be cut, training houses will be curtailed massively, and players will give up. I said this in Flash' contract thread. And I'm really not here to say sc2 is better or whatever, so please dont warn me, I love both games. This is just the way it is IMO.
On August 30 2011 12:11 kiy0 wrote:
BW is (rightfully) dying, and SC2 shall see an exponential growth during the next few months.
User was warned for this post
BW is (rightfully) dying, and SC2 shall see an exponential growth during the next few months.
User was warned for this post
7 probes can still build and harvest (and singlehandedly win games by messing with terran expansions). And anyways on the bright side, its more minerals for those 7 probes to bring home. 
