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Well, it is coming to that time. Perhaps I'm jumping on the "SC2 is mediocre" bandwagon, but that isn't my intent. I have no major problems with the game. However, I just find myself not caring much about SC2 anymore.
A bit about myself (as it relates to SC). I've played Starcraft (the first one) literally since the day it was released in retail. It was one of those games that I'll always remember from my childhood. It was the first game I logged over 100 hours on (I'm guessing here, but I definitely played it more than any other game up to that time). The story-line was amazing to me. I was enamored by the Protoss. Siege tanks were the coolest unit I could imagine. Most of this was single player or team comp-stomps. I rarely played "competitive" Starcraft on the initial release.
After Brood War, I started to get a little bit more into the competitive scene, but not by much. I laddered fairly regularly, but never got on ICCUP. I hated all the "big game" modes, and didn't play that many UMS games. Comp-stomps with one of my best friends was still my favorite way to play. I was vaguely aware of a "pro scene" in Korea, but did not follow it at all. I remember in like 2002 or 2003 I decided to play through the entire story again (SC and BW) over a summer break, and got so pumped about SC2, particularly what I was hoping would be an amazing continuation of the story.
I should probably mention that I'm basically a Blizzard fanboy, and have played all their releases (literally) since Warcraft 1. However, it was WC3 that really got me into "competitive" RTS. Again, this was mainly at still a casual level, but after I got into the TFT beta, I laddered a lot. I played in the online tournaments. I even wrecked some local lans (most of the players were awful). I was proud of my ladder ranking, for a time at least.
Jump to SC2. This was, for me, the most anticipated game of my life. Literally. I watched all the battle reports, followed all the unit changes, hyped the shit out of the game to try to get my friends to play (they never really did) and ate-up basically any information I could about the game. When the beta hit, I was crushed when I didn't get it initially. Then in March (st. patty's day to be exact) my brother got an invite-a-friend key. I was ecstatic. I murdered the beta. I played it everyday, posted on the stupid B.Net forums, thought deeply about balance and strategy, and in general had a real "passion" for the game.
I've been into SC2 since release. I've been in the "top league" on NA (with the exception of GM) since release, in large part to being in the beta I imagine. I watch streams regularly. I catch most of the important tournaments (with the notable exception of GSL, which is on too late and I'll probably never pay to watch SC2).
However, I find myself caring less and less about the game. I started playing less. I would still watch a fair amount, but mainly because it was free (I don't have TV), and I would have it in the background. A big part of it is I stopped caring about ladder. As I mentioned, I've been in the "top" league since release (diamond, then master, I know I'll never grind enough to be GM). I learned long ago you don't "get anything" for being in a high league. In fact, you probably have less fun. Not only did I stop caring about my ladder rank, I stopped caring about getting better.
So that basically brings me to now. I find myself not caring about the game much anymore. The only really exciting part of IPL 4 to me were the finals (which were still great). I lose games on ladder and don't care at all. Worse, I win games on ladder and don't care. I find myself basically treading water, just waiting for the D3 release.
I should mention that I'm also busy with RL stuff (about to graduate from grad school), so that has put a strain on devoting any time to the game. I'm not trying to bash SC2 because, while I do think it has some issues (that is an entirely differnet blog post), it has provided an immense amount of entertainment for me. This isn't a "SC2 is worse than BW" blog, because I don't feel that black-and-white about it.
So games get old, people move on, I understand that. I've been a "gamer" since I was like 4 years old. This is the nature of the beast. The problem for me is that this isn't just another game. This is Starcraft. Literally my most anticipated game of all time. Maybe HotS will renew my interest, but where I'm at right now, I don't feel like I'll care about to the game by LotV.
 
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Maybe you'd still enjoy the game if you find a good teammate and play 2v2. The strategy and tactics are different from 1v1 and there are a lot more possibilities due to race combinations.
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A lot of SC2 fans are feeling the same thing, the amount of people playing ladder certainly is decreasing. You're certainly not alone in your feelings. :p
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SC2 is a year round sport. There is no break. Even people who are obsessed with football have half the year to recharge their batteries.
But yes, as you get older, you will lose interest in more and more things. You will cease to look for new music, new games, new books, etc. This will probably coincide with marriage and child birth.
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Like most games it gets boring after time, take a break
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On April 12 2012 01:33 jdsowa wrote:
SC2 is a year round sport. There is no break. Even people who are obsessed with football have half the year to recharge their batteries.
But yes, as you get older, you will lose interest in more and more things. You will cease to look for new music, new games, new books, etc. This will probably coincide with marriage and child birth.
Um is this coming from experience or are you just spouting things?
I'm curious because both my Wife and I have had expandings interests as we have gotten older and the birth of our daughter merely delayed the freedom we had to pursue it. Now that she isn't an infant anymore it's not as big of a deal to do things because you have free time now.
Now that I have the capital and knowledge I find myself wanting to do more and more so I can experience everything life has to offer. I didn't want this as a kid because...I mean things were simple back then.
So I'm going to disagree with you because your statement makes no sense to me.
I think a lot of the issues that have happened with SC2 are pretty obvious to most people that knew what kept BW around for so long. Battle.Net is a major issue and I think people are starting to realize that most of the audience needs something other than LADDER LADDER LADDER to keep a game alive for years.
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Im in the same boat, exact same boat.
I was thinking about it yesterday and I realized how fucking incredible WC3 was.
WC3 was the ultimate casual gamer game.
Perfect AMM(at release not the new one they made)/Great B.net/B.net Tournaments/Clan support/Amazing Custom games.
The whole level system compared to this Matchmaking system was way better for a casual gamer. I would always log an extra 1-2 hours of game time because I would be 3/4 of the way to the next level so I would get super motivated and wouldnt stop til I hit that level. Thats motivation...
Once you hit the high league on sc2 which both you and I have been in since release..... its stagnant. And the whole GM thing is good for the pros but there is nothing for us except, Im high masters! not rewarding at all.
So I think the problem is that we were hoping for a mixed experience of the casual amazingness of wc3 combined with the complexity of BW. But that mix did not go so well.
And im not in gradschool, just graduated university and working full time so I do feel you on the busy with life side. Which no matter what does contribute at least a bit to our problem.
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The single and only reason I force myself to play this pitiful sequel of SC:BW is because I want to get myself to Grandmaster(LOL... yeah right) and hope to play some pros. Other than that unreachable dream and reason for playing this fucking game where I get raped every TvP I play, I have no other goal or desire. This game is just disgusting to play. I think that is the biggest reason why so many people began streaming SCII. The possibility of someone watching you play and interacting with you in the stream is at least an incentive worth something. There is no ingame community support, there is no custom game making lobby ffs, and there is nothing Blizzard is trying to do except control everything to monetize all gains. And frankly, everyone is rightfully becoming apathetic, because we just don't give two shits anymore after Blizzard ignores most of our pleas.
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Im at the same position at you bro, the 2nd part. As i slowly got better from bronze till top Masters, i gradually lose the "drive" to care about winning or losing/get better. Havent played 1v1 for a month. Watching has gotten less as well
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Don't worry bout it man just wait still HotS, its been happening to everyone and their mothers lol. Just gotta play something else ; )
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Maybe HotS will renew my interest, but where I'm at right now, I don't feel like I'll care about to the game by LotV.
wow after i read that, i suddenly got the vision from the future that Blizzard scrappes LotV because of low interest in the game...
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EPT
