EPTBut yesterday was the first time I ever got to see a Starcraft match live, my first ever gaming event! My gf and I went 5 hours early, since everyone was saying how packed it would be. It was true. As soon as the elevator doors opened, there were people sitting on the floor and you had to be careful not to step on them. It didn't smell, people say that it smells when you go to a gaming event, but not here.
https://imgur.com/a/mnpmO
The person with the sign up sheet said that we might have to stand, since we were so "late". Over 200 people had already arrived and so I was a bit crestfallen since I didn't want my girl to stand. This was her first gaming event as well, actually, she has no fucking idea what Starcraft is and has never watched it. She only knows that it's a game Korean boys like. She even bought me the SC:R boxed set without bothering to find out what kind of game it is.
https://imgur.com/a/9r1QW
Anyways, we left the studio after saving our spot in line and headed to Lotte World in nearby Jamsil Station. It's really close to Samseong Station and it was a great way to kill time and relax. There's an aquarium, skating rink, amusement park, fine dining, and lots to see.
https://imgur.com/a/I5JK2
I also used this time to explain to my girl what Starcraft is and why today was so important. She was very worried that she would have no fun since she was completely new. But I told her that the beauty of Starcraft is that it's generally easy for viewers to follow and understand because the game has a clear army vs army emphasis. The battles are distinct and defined, so even a newcomer can tell who won or lost a battle (not always of course).
I basically said, "Starcraft is a war game where two players use armies to destroy their opponent. It is a game that tests a person's physical and mental endurance, the most difficult game there is." I embellished this fact by telling her how some players are basically playing with broken hands (Jaedong) and she gasped. I also told her that out of the three most popular and famous players in the world, two of them would be playing today. I went into the history behind Flash and Bisu, telling her that they have been competing since we were teenagers and that they were hands down the #1 and #2 in the world.
Of course, I did not lie and I admitted that Flash was a literal G.O.D. Flash was the favorite, and I warned her that Bisu might die horribly. At this point, she was rooting for no one since she had never seen them before. Well, that was about to change...
We went back to the studio and arrived 20 minutes before 7 PM KST. The hallway was packed and you had to get a ticket before you could go in. Translating equipment was provided and they had pieces of paper for you to decorate and write on. By some miracle, they shoved 350 seats into that tiny studio. That meant my girl and I had great seats! We were so happy and my girl kept commenting that I was acting like a kid all day. I think I was excited and now it really showed.
https://imgur.com/a/fTEJK
And then, I saw them. Sitting at their keyboards and warming up their little hands. I've seen these two so many times on screen. But seeing them in real life is fucking weird, not sure how to explain it. I guess a part of me thought they couldn't be real. But goddamnit, there they were!
https://imgur.com/a/UnmZS
Just then, Bisu got up from his seat and walked to our side of the studio. Every fucking head turned and people started fangirling so hard. Catcalling and cheering him on. It was hilarious. I now understand just how loved these guys are. Bisu smiled back of course.
My girlfriend was so surprised, "He isn't even an actor but they act like how I would if I saw [insert Korean idol here]. Cute." Yeah, I bet it looked funny to her since it was a bunch of guys adoring another male. Then I heard the comment I was afraid of, "He looks cute! I want him to win." Oh god.
Before I continue, a bit about the studio. The casters are on the balcony behind the audience. Rapid (what a great dude) was there with his grey suit and funny tribal design pants? How professional =)
The Korean casters are on the opposite side of Rapid. Lights are everywhere and they turn off the lights when the game starts. There are two cameras in front, and they light up when their view is on screen. There is a third camera on a huge robotic boom that constantly moves until the game is well underway.
https://imgur.com/a/vd1jB
The sound is fantastic. The screen is phenomenal (behind the players there is a huge widescreen that the audience watches). SC:R is a godsend folks (fuck the haters), the graphics alone are killer. The game looked superb on the huge screen, the details were all there to see. The colors were vibrant and everything was so clean. Again, the sound. When tanks go boom boom, it feels like they are in the same room and the entire studio is a warzone.
Back to the games and my thoughts. People quietly talk throughout the game and so you have this wonderful commentary with Rapid in one ear, Korean casters in the other, and these smart ass Korean kids who provide delightful insight to the game. The people around me were mostly Bisu fans (Bisu fans were 100% louder and more numerous) and I loved how they desperately wanted him to win. Like Bisudagger and BigFan desperate. Every little thing Bisu did, resulted in an avalanche of cheers.
Do you remember in Game 3 when Bisu's reaver started popping the marines? Holy shit it was like a World Cup Soccer match and Korea just scored a goal against Spain. Louder than when Flash conceded gg. We went ballistic:
+ Show Spoiler +
Pew.
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Pew.
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Pew.
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Korean audience has emotion, I am not sure what people are talking about.
My girlfriend was hella into it. She would cover her mouth and gasp if Bisu was getting rocked (which was a lot) and she cheered with the rest of us whenever Bisu did something good. Do you remember the time when Bisu landed that huge stasis that actually fucked him? Most of us were high as hell and so we thought that Bisu just won the game right there. It killed us that it worked in Flash's favor.
And do you know what my girl said? "Why doesn't Bisu play Terran and make tanks? Tanks are so strong. How does Flash always have so many units?" I could have kissed her right then and there. She already knows how OP Terran is (it's a joke people, relax).
In the end, sexy Bisu lost. Other than Jaedong, there is no other player I respect more than Flash. He works so hard and he truly deserved the win. Not sure if they showed it on screen, but Flash was crying with joy and Bisu was rubbing his eyes. It was so sad to see. Bisu got up and shouldered his backpack and just walked out. The fans took care of him though, our side started clapping as he walked out (it wasn't a clap for Flash though Flash was speaking during this time). Bisu waved and left the building. Do they just go home alone? He was literally by himself. I would have imagined his friends would have taken him home or something. Hopefully.
I had a great time, I am definitely going again if there is another supermatch like this. I want to also go just to thank Artosis and Tasteless for staying with the scene. My girl said that I can't go alone. She had a great time and her new crush is Bisu. I am glad she got to see just how much this game means to the players and how hard they play. They really give it their all. Usually when a match is over, you only see the winner or the stream ends. But today I got to see a small glimpse of what happens. The game isn't over for them like it is for us when the match is over. This is their life and they give their all to it. Whenever you get a chance to watch people at the pinnacle of their trade, it is truly special. Long Live Brood War.
Obligatory: Fuck the Korean conscription system and thank you to those who I always see helping people in the BW strategy section (I practically live in that thread). Especially Jealous, Highgamer, evilfatsh1t, ProMeTheus, Sero, Cryoc, Dead9, and Liquid`Drone.
