I signed on, as I try to do once a year or so. Scrolled through politics, then blogs. Saw a post about Jaedong not trying and someone wondering why he keeps playing with wrist pain. Apparently now he sucks but he has to keep grinding. This is all so bittersweet. I didn't watch any games in a long time, why make myself reminisce of the days long gone? I saw some update from Artosis on Facebook, I think his wife posted a picture of him studying the maps after not sleeping. It feels like for someone whose life was largely defined by the game it is incredibly hard to give up. What else is out there for them? Then on the other hand, how much longer can you go on?

When you live in the moment it sure feels like it's worth it. Now, 15 years later, it's some distant memory. I remember everything, I remember everybody, but I will never cross paths with any of these people. Back then it felt like I was living a life that nobody else around me had access to, a very exclusive world packed with its own emotions and drama. Back then it felt like it was worth it. I'm not so sure anymore. It's all gone.

iPlaY.NettleS

Australia4463 Posts

October 23 2023 03:09 GMT

Artosis earns a lot of money through patreon so i can see why he still does it.Still, 25 years of focusing on one game mode, 1v1 and playing the same race.Surely he is bored by now, thats normal.

food

United States1951 Posts

October 23 2023 13:09 GMT

On October 23 2023 12:09 iPlaY.NettleS wrote:
Artosis earns a lot of money through patreon so i can see why he still does it.Still, 25 years of focusing on one game mode, 1v1 and playing the same race.Surely he is bored by now, thats normal.

I'm not sure he earns a lot of money, at least by US standards. I hope it's enough for his family. I'd love a series about him giving up and trying to adapt to realities of life outside of gaming. I'd watch the shit out of that.

Nirli

Bulgaria387 Posts

October 23 2023 14:49 GMT

His cavemanesque persona aside, he has a big family and probably other ventures as well, don't peg him as some basement dwelling teen like we were back then.
I'd say he looks pretty content with his life.

food

United States1951 Posts

October 23 2023 15:18 GMT

On October 23 2023 23:49 Nirli wrote:
His cavemanesque persona aside, he has a big family and probably other ventures as well, don't peg him as some basement dwelling teen like we were back then.
I'd say he looks pretty content with his life.

I love the guy. I know he's a great human. I just wonder when he has to switch to something else and how that plays out. I wonder how some of these old Korean pros are still playing, what their life is like. I feel that as "weird" as starcraft was with space costumes in the late '90s, it doesn't come close to the weird of today with 40-year-olds playing to sustain themselves. No one writes about this. It's as postapocalyptic as it gets.

Gescom

Canada3525 Posts

October 23 2023 20:01 GMT

You're projecting your own insecurities and anxieties onto other people here, m8.

But, "Life after esports" IS a hugely interesting topic, I agree...

Perhaps you are unaware of https://www.patreon.com/ASLenglish? Artie probably making six figures CAD$ from a basement in PEI on his own schedule sounds pretty dope to me.

food

United States1951 Posts

October 23 2023 21:06 GMT

On October 24 2023 05:01 Gescom wrote:
You're projecting your own insecurities and anxieties onto other people here, m8.

I have no anxieties, I am long done with the grind. If you felt attacked - do not be ashamed to say so. It's your life after all. Maybe some of your concerns are real, give it a thought.

iPlaY.NettleS

Australia4463 Posts

October 24 2023 12:27 GMT

On October 23 2023 22:09 food wrote:

Show nested quote +

The ASL tastosis patreon is pulling in 10k US a month, obviously he isn't getting all of that but it's sizeable.Add on whatever donations he gets from his streams and for the amount of time he is putting in it's still a very good return for him.

JimmyJRaynor

Canada18063 Posts

October 25 2023 16:55 GMT

On October 23 2023 09:15 food wrote:
When you live in the moment it sure feels like it's worth it. Now, 15 years later, it's some distant memory. I remember everything, I remember everybody, but I will never cross paths with any of these people. Back then it felt like I was living a life that nobody else around me had access to, a very exclusive world packed with its own emotions and drama. Back then it felt like it was worth it. I'm not so sure anymore. It's all gone.

where have all the good times gone?

i still hang out with the gang that watched SC2 games with me. We were friends before SC2 though. In the future i suggest watching esports events with locals who you can meet in person. You can do other stuff too. Elsewise its damn lonely.

Zealgoon

China188 Posts

October 26 2023 15:00 GMT

#10

That's IMO a very cynical take on what is basically a bunch of middle-aged guys doing their daily job. Plenty of people have had their lives ruined by esports but Jaedong and Artosis are not what I'd bring up as examples.

Quon1

3 Posts

October 26 2023 18:00 GMT

#11

--- Nuked ---

JimmyJRaynor

Canada18063 Posts

October 28 2023 04:27 GMT

#12

On October 24 2023 00:18 food wrote:

Show nested quote +

you want post apocalyptic? i'll give you post apocalyptic! ! !
the Tecmo Bowl World Championships! The game came out in 1987.

When I was a kid my parents refused to spend any money on video games. So I was forced to play NES Games. Stuff like "Super Tecmo Bowl" which came out around 1991. It is a great game. It still has tournaments as well.

Super Tecmo Bowl was a great game to play when you're a kid with no money.

In my view Super Tecmo Bowl was an RTS game.

This is where SC2 is going man! And, I can't wait!

If you want to go even further back.. to the early 80s... IntellivisionDude Versus IntellivisionGamer on youtube. They have some epic wars man! EPIC!

Check out the Irresistable Force coming up against The Immovable Object! ! !