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Ssamjang's life after StarCraft (via JoongangIlbo) - Page 2

Forum Index > BW General
33 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 2 All
ruypture
Profile Joined May 2014
United States367 Posts
February 16 2017 04:40 GMT
#21
On February 16 2017 13:23 Devolved wrote:
Wow, who would of thought? Playing video games for a living as a young adult does not set you up for a high paying career later on in life. Never would have guessed.


A bland basic education into college into a drone like entry into the workforce isnt for everyone.

The fact that he even had a year to live modestly off of progaming is amazing. One year being able to do whatever you love and be paid modest means is accomplishing a dream really
어윤수|이신형|이재동|이승형
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17726 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-16 05:04:03
February 16 2017 05:00 GMT
#22
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
BigFan
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
TLADT24920 Posts
February 16 2017 05:10 GMT
#23
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.
Former BW EiC"Watch Bakemonogatari or I will kill you." -Toad, April 18th, 2017
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17726 Posts
February 16 2017 05:37 GMT
#24
On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.

From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
outscar
Profile Joined September 2014
2832 Posts
February 16 2017 06:14 GMT
#25
Oo wasn't Ssamjang one of the first successful progamers before BoxeR/Garimto era? I even remember that BoxeR used him as very first role model's for himself. I like this kind of articles, taking me so much back (even if I didn't know pro scene exist that time).
sunbeams are never made like me...
MrMischelito
Profile Joined February 2014
347 Posts
February 16 2017 07:00 GMT
#26
very interesting. thank you for posting this. I believe some of this is true for almost all kinds of professional sports/athletics. a good program would (and does) feature sort of education parallel to the time as an active player. it exists in Germany for example for Olympic disciplines. however I can see, that a (classic) physical sport leaves generally more room for intelectual studies than an intellectual demanding but less physical profession like gaming. is there a way to find better balance? (Think of Polt...)
GTR
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
51439 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-16 07:10:17
February 16 2017 07:10 GMT
#27
On February 16 2017 14:37 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 16 2017 14:10 BigFan wrote:
Thanks for sharing. Glad to see things worked out in the end. Sounds like he had quite the rough ride.

On February 16 2017 14:00 Ilikestarcraft wrote:
On February 16 2017 13:28 Devolved wrote:
On February 16 2017 04:52 Lucumo wrote:
On February 15 2017 15:11 Waxangel wrote:
According to the Joongang Ilbo, Ssamjang was teary eyed as he reminisced on those times, saying “the reality that I couldn’t make a living playing the game I was good at and liked was beating me up me inside.”

He made 44k when he was good, so it did work.

What worked? Making 44k a year (lower-middle class) at your peak and dropping to 2.6k a year (street bum) soon after is not exactly "working" in my book.

44k a year in Korea is definitely not lower-middle class even more so if you don't have a family to support.

what would be considered middle class? Also, 44k a year back in 03 is pretty good imo.

From people I know and from statistics I think most people in Korea make about 20-30k so I would consider that middle class.


yeah especially since he didn't have a family to support or anything, that's really good for a korean person at that time
Commentator
MrMischelito
Profile Joined February 2014
347 Posts
February 16 2017 08:33 GMT
#28
On February 16 2017 10:21 HaFnium wrote:
this is way before my time....

but this is a good read...

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/brood-war/19226-gundam-and-ssamjang-leave-hexatron

Also am watching some of his VODs.....
BW looks so young and innocent at that time...


It feels like time travel :D
darthfoley
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States8003 Posts
February 16 2017 19:19 GMT
#29
This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement
watch the wall collide with my fist, mostly over problems that i know i should fix
sabas123
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands3122 Posts
February 16 2017 20:03 GMT
#30
On February 17 2017 04:19 darthfoley wrote:
This really sucks, but it also pretty understandable. Hope the new age "progamers" have a bit more stability after retirement

I don't know if I remember this correctly or not, but didn't kespa made some statements on wanting to help with this?
The harder it becomes, the more you should focus on the basics.
WhosQuany
Profile Joined June 2013
Germany257 Posts
February 16 2017 21:11 GMT
#31
Good read ty.
Goin back to Cali
fishjie
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States1519 Posts
February 16 2017 23:43 GMT
#32
that was an incredibly sad story, and 44k is not a lot of money, at least not in the US during 2003-4. especially if your career advancement options afterward are zilch.
PVJ
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
Hungary5214 Posts
February 18 2017 12:11 GMT
#33
Good post, thank you.
The heart's eternal vow
Lockdown-
Profile Joined May 2003
United States297 Posts
Last Edited: 2017-02-18 17:44:14
February 18 2017 17:43 GMT
#34
Thanks for posting this. I remember watching his play fondly as a high schooler. Would peruse the VODS. This was a trip down memory lane.
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