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How SC2 Saved My Life

Blogs > Durp
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Durp
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Canada3117 Posts
October 02 2011 16:32 GMT
#1
No, this is not a blog about Jim Raynor pulling me from a burning building. Rather this is a story about some of my darkest days, and how StarCraft 2- specifically the GSL and Tastosis- saved me from a downward spiral of depression and despair.

In order to truly understand the impact StarCraft 2 has had on me, I have to take you on a trip through my life at the time. I'm a 23 year old Canadian, and I imagine like many people on this site I am struggling to find a path for my life. I have attempted several times to finish my university education, only to have my efforts cut short by Teacher's Union Strikes, job opportunities I had to take, and some pretty crippling drug addictions. At the time this tale begins I had recently ended a four year, grueling relationship with a girl that can best be described as the Succubus to rule all Succubi. I'd describe myself as a pretty stereotypical gamer: I played competitive counter strike, had as many friends on the internet as I did in real life, and generally found myself most comfortable in the world of the online web. As that relationship slowly beat me down, I lost my freedom to do as I wanted; my computer got dusty, and my life as a gamer went on hiatus.

When I regained my freedom, I was thrilled to hear of the StarCraft 2 beta being released. It was as if the cosmic video game Gods were finally throwing me a bone, and gave me the best of the best to take over the void in my life that relationship had left. It had been years since I had time to myself, and what better way to sit back and enjoy some "me time" then by playing the sequel to the game that had kept me enthralled for a decade.

To say that I have an addictive personality would be an understatement, and once I got my hands on the beta I did NOT stop playing. Ever. As I watched the HDH and stayed up to watch the Day9 release party my mind was blown at the level in which StarCraft 2 could be played, and more specifically, by non-Koreans! I was never a big follower of the pro-BW scene, but I certainly knew who SlayerSBoxeR and Nada were, and I had been known to have Flash-esque facial ticks during my competitive CS days. I knew the racial hierarchy of BW went Koreans>Sen>Foreigners, and staying up until the wee hours listening to the marvelous Sean "Day9" Plott casting IdrA winning the King of the Beta tournament over the favoured Korean Tester caught me up in a whirlwind of excitement- I had found my new crux. I finally stopped lurking on TL and registered for my own account, replaced my Logitech G5 with a more suitable RTS mouse, and began my concerted effort to get out of the lower leagues of the NA ladder.

As I immersed myself in all things StarCraft 2, my physical health began to decline. A poor choice of where to eat while on vacation lead to me contracting Hepatitis A, while simultaneously a poor job by a contractor lead to large quantities of poisonous black mold growing underneath my floorboards, right at the head of my bed. The combination of Hep-A and mold poisoning hit me like a ton of bricks. I lost my appetite entirely and went down to at best one meal every two days. I lost 30 lbs in two months, and on good nights was getting no more than two hours of sleep. To say I was miserable would be putting it lightly.

Then, one early morning in September I made the decision that I think saved my life. I snuck my mom's credit card from her wallet and bought myself the first season of GSL. I figured if I was going to be awake at 4am anyways, I might as well get to watch some high level StarCraft.

As the days turned into months, my body began to deteriorate moreso. The advil/gravol diet I had put myself on to get through each day's discomfort had beaten my liver and intestines up pretty badly, and I spent most of January through April in and out of the hospital. Each day was an adventure, as I took it minute to minute on how I felt physically, hoping that I'd develop an appetite before midnight and would get a meal in me for the day. I spent my birthday in the emergency room, and new years bedridden vomiting my guts out. To say the only thing I had was StarCraft would not be much of a stretch.

I became used to no sleep, and eventually developed my 4:30 in the morning routine: Wake up and lay in bed moping about how much I hate my life for 15 minutes. Once I had the energy to move, I'd get up and make some tea. Then go out on my balcony for a cigarette, and come back in and turn on the GSL- waiting through the K-Pop for the games to start.
You should know that from the bottom of my heart I hate K-Pop. In fact, I hate pretty much all popular music in general, and can't be bothered to listen to any of it. I'm a big fan of talented musicians, and I think anyone who actually plays an instrument can attest to the fact that few-to-no popular musical acts these days can actually play an instrument. You'll have to tie me to my chair to get me listening to that overly produced garbage, as I digress for a moment: remember back when full bands of virtuosos like Zeppelin or Floyd ruled the top of the charts with wonderfully composed musical art? Now we have people making music with computers and synthesizing talentless people's voices and this is the new age of music? Wtf happened to the good old days of music?
ANYWAYS back on topic. In this instance, however, I didn't care about the K-Pop at all. I likened the 5am K-Pop of the GSL to an obnoxious alarm clock; it was my unpleasant wake up for the appearance of the two people who got me through my darkest days: Dan 'Artosis' Stemkoski and Nick 'Tasteless' Plott.

I have never met Tastless or Artosis, but being up every morning listening to their voices made me feel like I'd known them for years. The way they interacted with each other was exactly how I get along with my closest friends, and their witty banter and hilarious one liners provided the only silver lining to my otherwise miserable existence. When I got to sit back and listen to them cast the game I loved, for those first few hours of my day my misery ceased to exist. I didn't dwell on how shitty my day was going to be, I was at ease. For a span of six months I would routinely watch the sun rise as I watched the GSL. Some days I would crawl back in to bed, turn my monitor to face my mattress, and sometimes be lucky enough to fall asleep listening to the angelic voices of "Tastosis."

Slowly as I began to get over my various illnesses, my appetite returned and I was able to sleep through the night again. My 4:30am routine was retired, and breakfast was no longer a foreign concept. However as I finally get my handle back on my life, I feel like I have lived through something that has shaped me forever. These days when something comes up that puts my mood into a funk, I'll spend hours watching endless TvTs just to listen to the Tastosis banter I came to love; the one thing that put a smile on my face and my body at ease.

I am finally healthy again, and StarCraft 2 has become a staple in my life. When I'm not working I am gaming trying to grind into Masters League, or watching any high level vod I can get my hands on. I have met tons of people through gaming that I now consider friends, and I talk/game with them daily. In the upcoming months I am hoping to head to South Korea for a position teaching English. When there I will find the GOM Studio, and go meet Artosis and Tasteless. I'll take them out for a drink or two or ten, shoot the shit with them, and then be on my way.To them this will appear as nothing more than the usual fan boy interaction, and it shouldn't. To them I am the stereotypical fan boy. But to me this will be much more than meeting an idol- it's not often you get to get hammered with your guardian angels.

To Nick and Dan from the bottom of my heart I thank you both. Without the work you have put into this game there may never have been an english casted GSL, and I hate to even consider what my life would have become had I not had the GSL as an escape from my misery and get me through those rough times. Your casting has gotten me through my darkest days.

Some people consider video games to be a waste of time. They supposedly occupy you from doing the things you could (and some may argue should) be doing. For me it couldn't be the opposite. As I look back on the miserable year I have had, I can't think of any way I'd have gotten through it without having StarCraft in my life.
Very rarely can you point to a single thing or event that shaped you and molded you into who you are, but I'll always look back on that first night I took my mom's credit card and bought Open Season 1 of the GSL as the night I "met" Tastosis- the night that saved my life.

****
SOOOOOooooOOOOooooOOOOoo Many BANELINGS!!
syst
Profile Blog Joined March 2003
United States247 Posts
October 02 2011 16:44 GMT
#2
Holy shit. Interesting story. I hope you stay clean and healthy, man! Good luck with continuing your success.
Tortious_Tortoise
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States944 Posts
October 02 2011 16:49 GMT
#3
This should be spotlighted. So good.
Treating eSports as a social science since 2011; Credo: "The system is never wrong"-- Day9 Daily #400 Part 3
Harrad
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
1003 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-02 16:54:30
October 02 2011 16:49 GMT
#4
Great read, I wish you all the best in the future. I wish I'll be able to find something that does the same for me one day.

But do remember that it wasn't Tastosis who saved your life, it was you.
Guilty
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
Canada812 Posts
October 02 2011 16:52 GMT
#5
Wow, kinda scary how bad it got, glad its okay now though.
Thanks for sharing and I hope the best for you in the future.
"How hard could it be?" -J. Clarkson
chesshaha
Profile Joined March 2010
United States1117 Posts
October 02 2011 16:53 GMT
#6
Very nice read, I'm glad everything is going to the right direction for you now.

Yea I agree, lots of things in life are "waste of time", but that's what most hobbies are. The entertainment will keep you sane and be a better person.
"Hopefully you're not the real TLO so it's not casted" - SpecialK
wwJd)El_Mojjo
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Sweden173 Posts
October 02 2011 16:54 GMT
#7
I am glad you shared. =)

Heart-warming story for any true gamer. I hope you'll find peace and stability for your life through the StarCraft community. I find the StarCraft community to be a wonderful place to establish good friendships in. Don't let it stop there though, going to korea and meeting up with Tasteless and Artosis sounds like a great idea in your case. ^^

Life is more than just games, but a lot of things in life can be found through the gaming experience. The actual games in itself is not what is most important imo.
Gc.El_Mojjo
Temporarykid
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Canada362 Posts
October 02 2011 16:59 GMT
#8
Hey man, Starcraft has saved my life too; it's one of the reasons I'm so passionate about the game~

Stay strong and enjoy this game that is so much more than just a game.
ㅈㅈ
Grettin
Profile Joined April 2010
42381 Posts
October 02 2011 17:01 GMT
#9
Great read my friend. Glad everything is going to the right direction! :-)
"If I had force-fields in Brood War, I'd never lose." -Bisu
Amestir
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Netherlands2126 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-10-02 17:03:27
October 02 2011 17:03 GMT
#10
Tyvm for sharing. Hope everything will only get better from now on
We know nothing.
Demonhunter04
Profile Joined July 2011
1530 Posts
October 02 2011 17:05 GMT
#11
Great read. Glad you found Tastosis.
"If you don't drop sweat today, you will drop tears tomorrow" - SlayerSMMA
GigaFlop
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States1146 Posts
October 02 2011 17:13 GMT
#12
A very nice story, except for one part. I don't see why in the world you would replace a G5 unless it's feet are worn almost completely down D:
Mine is now in my desk drawer, and whenever I hold it in my hand, it brings back pleasant memories.

But still, a very nice story. I'm glad you're not in a downward spiral anymore.
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ "Shift-Q oftentimes makes a capital Q" - Day[9] || iNcontrol - Alligator from heaven = ^
ETisME
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
12351 Posts
October 02 2011 17:32 GMT
#13
Everyone needs a passion in their life and I think SC2 is it for you.
I only have one sentence to say:
Let your passion enrich you but don't let it be the only thing that matters.

But I am sure you are already on your way, since you are meeting tastosis (hope things work out fine for you), go get more real life sc2 fds and your life would be really great
其疾如风,其徐如林,侵掠如火,不动如山,难知如阴,动如雷震。
BabyToss!
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Czech Republic588 Posts
October 02 2011 17:32 GMT
#14
This is so awesome. I can totally relate to you!
Might share my story one of these days as well; I am glad StarCratf 2 is helping other people out as well
Nowadays a Filthy Casual | Follow your dreams |
johnnywup
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States3858 Posts
October 02 2011 18:12 GMT
#15
i love how finding tastosis is the equivilent of "finding jesus"...hehe. not that i believe in that.
PassiveAce
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States18076 Posts
October 02 2011 18:24 GMT
#16
Stay healthy and keep on playin
Call me Marge Simpson cuz I love you homie
fuzzayy
Profile Joined February 2011
United States99 Posts
October 02 2011 20:28 GMT
#17
Wow that was great, glad your better and stay better :D
boon2537
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States905 Posts
October 02 2011 20:30 GMT
#18
Damn, that's an awesome story. Good health is the best blessing. I'm glad you got better.
I can't see myself waking up at 4 am to watch SCII, though >.<
Steveplayshorn
Profile Joined June 2011
United States36 Posts
October 02 2011 22:38 GMT
#19
Really nice story! Glad things are on the right track for you, bro. What a great game/community we have!
Horn, Redline Brass Quintet
Cycle
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States300 Posts
October 02 2011 22:59 GMT
#20
I cried. ;-;

All the best with the rest of your life! :D
| chKCycle.551 | NA | Master League Random | Checkmate Gaming |
pathy
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Taiwan619 Posts
October 02 2011 23:46 GMT
#21
I hate K-Pop.


Here lies your first mistake.

Graphicscolosi suck
whatthefat
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States918 Posts
October 03 2011 02:43 GMT
#22
Wonderful story! And I completely sympathize regarding the K-pop; God that shit is awful.
SlayerS_BoxeR: "I always feel sorry towards Greg (Grack?) T_T"
Theleech
Profile Joined February 2011
United States31 Posts
October 03 2011 03:01 GMT
#23
I'm sure Tasteless and Artosis will see this and be excited that their hard work is helping someone in one way or another. Glad to hear you are doing well!
aaronlolol
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
134 Posts
October 03 2011 04:26 GMT
#24
YO BROJU I LOVE YOU MAN REAL TALK SON
Durp
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Canada3117 Posts
October 03 2011 04:38 GMT
#25
On October 03 2011 13:26 aaronlolol wrote:
YO BROJU I LOVE YOU MAN REAL TALK SON

<3
SOOOOOooooOOOOooooOOOOoo Many BANELINGS!!
Dalguno
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States2446 Posts
October 03 2011 04:49 GMT
#26
Great read. I hope things continue to go well for you. Your story is one of the coolest things about StarCraft.
"I'm gonna keep making drones cause I'm a baller, and ballers make drones." -Snute
Slowhand
Profile Joined January 2011
United States47 Posts
October 03 2011 16:46 GMT
#27
hihi Hoju. Love you. Glad everything is well with you now. :3
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