[Article] An Ahjuma @ Esports.

An Ahjuma at Esports; (Part One.)

When one thinks of the typical Korean Esports scene fan a couple of familiar images spring to mind. That of a young woman from her mid-teens all the way up to late twenties who follows the career of a particular player or team with vigorous determination. She is the kind of motivated fan who steps out at Proleague with a group of like-minded women and organizes all the little facets of progaming which enhance the idea that the famous names of Korean Star Craft are so much more accessible and present than their foreign counterparts in other sports fields.

Her male equivalent is probably a PC bang devotee of around the same age. His aspirations may lie in a more practical approach to playing Star Craft or a more technical interest (although considering the vast pool of knowledge seen demonstrated by the female fans at Proleague there is a significant range of reasons why young people favour the Esporting world.) but he will also probably hold certain names in high regard such as those of Lim Yohwan, Ma Jaeyoon and Kangmin.

Everything in between is there - to a certain degree at the live events held in Yongsan's OGN studios and Muraedong's LOOX MBC Hero Centre - little children and their parents, foreign fans from Europe, America and further afield and even the odd elderly person dragged in by an enthusiastic grandchild.

However, what you don't see in any major capacity is the combination of maturity (age, not behaviour) and foreign nature. Having been to several Esports events in her time - both last year and over the past three weeks, my Mum (aka. Stork's biggest ajjuma fan.)
has amassed a wealth of different and largely unheard perspectives about Korean Esports.

She was interviewed after her visit to Proleague in 2008, along with two trips to see the Saturday evening recordings of Kart Rider league. However, during her stay she did not get to experience certain genres of Korean gaming (namely FPS or MMO fighting games.) and she also had limited exposure to the Star Craft events that centred around Samsung Khan.

1. NICCCCCCCE! : An Ahjuma at Sudden Attack's Super League finals.

~ NeverGG's Mum perfects the Jetlagged FPS fan expression. ~

(Skip to 12:46 for the Ahjuma silliness.)

After touching down at Incheon Airport NeverGG's Mum - Mrs. C (or Sue to give her a real name.) was dragging a heavy case filled with emergency rations of English chocolate, mashed potato and brown bread. However, her ill-fated trip from the airport to the lodgings of her Esports obsessed offspring was interrupted by said offspring's decision to just 'go and check if anything's on...' when they passed through Yongsan Station.

After a short period of bribery and cajoling she was convinced to drag the aforementioned luggage upstairs and entered the OGN studios for the fourth time since last year.

The seats were set up with metallic colored 'banging sticks.' which caused rapid amusement and confusion until a seasoned pro (NeverGG) inflated the noisy things. Boys and the odd girl began filing in with hand crafted signs and the atmosphere was more lively than that of a regular FPS live event.

Esports United was chosen as the team for supporting despite numerous complaints from NeverGG that Lets'Be had been robbed and where on Earth was Perfect Ranto when you needed them?

For the following two hours Mrs. C attempted not to expire from jetlag amidst choruses of 'Niceeeee!' and 'Good Shot~!' until Esports United emerged victorious to claim their hideous looking trophy.

When questioned in a post match interview Mrs.C related;

~ What did you think of the atmosphere at the finals tonight?

+ I was really surprised after visiting the Star Craft events. Everyone was shouting and banging those balloons together. It was pretty exciting even if I was trying to stay awake for most of it.

~ How do you think Star Craft players differ from those of FPS games?

+ They're quieter? Actually, I've heard some stories from you about the [Star Craft] players and they sound just as crazy at times. I liked the way they communicated with each other and you really got a sense of the team dynamic. Without the booth it was more of a strong connection to the audience.

~ What about the trophy?

+ It looks like an ice cream cone (hahahaha.)

~ Could you follow the games without English commentary? How accessible do you think this event was to casual fans with no prior knowledge of FPS?

+ Since you wouldn't shut up for most of it I followed it pretty well. The changing of the teams and the lack of English casting was a bit daunting at first, but the game itself is easy to understand with a little bit of extra information. I enjoyed the fact that this event was free and anyone could just walk in. It might be a bit hard for people to really stumble over this venue ; maybe if they sign posted it a bit more blatantly it would attract more foreign fans too. The raffle at the end was a nice touch too - they seem to have some really good prizes and you don't even have to pay to enter.

2. GG Yo : An Ahjuma at Proleague.

~ The Wannabe Bug Killer and Ma Jaeyoon strike a pose. ~

It was approximately six months since NeverGG had been to a Samsung Khan Proleague match. Their last encounter was the Club Day MSL finals where Jangbi fell to a rejuvenated Bisu. Through a combination of personal circumstance (laziness) and a post-Proleague finals slump they only met again at Proleague versus SKT1 earlier this month.

After the usual early morning scramble of charging camera batteries, editing last week's left over photos and invariably forgetting to bring enough money for lunch OGN studios was once more the destination for Mrs. C and NeverGG.

Last year Mrs. C happily traumatised the players of Samsung Khan (in particular an amused and baffled Lee Sungeun and Song Byungoo.) This time she was content to mock NeverGG's lack of ability to do decent booth shots or analyse TvP micro without screeching about 'The storms! THE STORMS!' for more than five minutes.

Mrs. C gleefully watched as Samsung Khan stormed their way to success and then was politely greeted by both Lee Sungeun (who received a box of doughnuts to celebrate their win.) and a rather stunned-looking Song Byungoo. She then spent the rest of the fan meeting wearing sunglasses and showing off her tattoos to the gathered fangirls who were surprisingly friendly despite her jokes about kidnapping Stork.

This encounter with the Korean SC scene was closely followed by a new team's fan meeting. KT MagicNs (then KTF MagicNs.) demonstrated their typical sit down in a line on plastic garden chairs fan meeting style. After being told whilst recieving a present (from NeverGG) that her mother was present (lurking around the giant cooler box Flash had been given with the intent of discerning its contents.) Woo Jungho (Violet.) stood up as he passed by with the other players and bowed to a woman who then promptly expressed that if she were as fickle as her daughter she would immediately change team affiliations.

~ What's in the box FlaSh?? ~

Mrs. C crashed a photo shoot on a dreary Monday night proleague between NeverGG and SKT1's Do Jaewook (BeSt) The shy player was very ruffled, yet good-natured when she pointed out his temporary tattoo and compared it to her own (which are on her hands.) When asked, 'Is it real?' Jaewook responded with a loud and almost giggling exclamation of, 'No! No, it's...for T1!'

~ BeSt's ink gets the seal of approval. ~

The most enthralling and somewhat bizarre element of this ajjuma's visit to Proleague was her last event. CJ Entus had just taken down their Sunday afternoon opponents and a third photo shoot with the Zerg Maestro, Ma Jaeyoon had been secured. Mrs. C was given the duty of 'holding the chair.' whilst NeverGG directed the polite and professional veteran for a photo shoot inspired by CJ Entus' red uniform logo and the glorious weather and tried not to fall off of it.

SaviOr was informed that she was a fan (despite knowing only vague details about him.) and seemed both pleased and shocked. Mrs. C admitted to not knowing the extent of his famous status during their brief meeting and was pleasantly amused to note that she'd had her photo taken with someone who'd won the MSL and is beloved of thousands of gamers all over the world. Especially once a Teamliquid.net member informed her of the fitting caption adorning her t-shirt.

Mrs. C was once again grilled about her experiences on one of the rare nights she did not spend hanging around Yongsan:

~ This is your second visit to Proleague at OGN studios; has anything changed?

+ The place itself looks the same, except for the new banners and that huge soda can thing hanging in the corner. It looks really weird, but I'm sure it's there for a good reason. The crowd also seems pretty much the same as well - mostly young people, but a few more foreign fans which is nice. The players all look younger to me, especially (STX Soul.) those ones in the trendy uniforms. It's nice to see FBH is still crotch-thrusting as usual. His ceremonies are the funniest thing. (At this point Mrs. C demanded a youtube link to the latest one for the people at work.)

~ You've seen two games now where massive amounts of the same unit were produced and used to great effect. What type of game do you prefer to watch in terms of SC?

+ The cornish pasties (Mutalisks) were interesting to watch. I like games involving Zerg because the units and buildings seem more alienesque and unpredictable than the other two races. (After being informed that Zergs are aliens.) Oh well that makes sense then. The other game (epic use of Battle Cruisers.) was exciting more because of how the crowd was reacting than anything else. I think being here live adds to the experience in so many ways and seeing other people hyped up over a match increases my enjoyment even if I'm not sure who is winning. I don't like short games because the cheap plays (cheesing) don't seem very noble.

~ Has your definition of a favourite player changed or do you still support Samsung Khan?

+ Unlike *some* people I stick to one team with loyalty (laughs) I still really love seeing FBH let loose on stage and really entertain people. Watching the T1 team dancing and being so involved with their fans definitely turned out preferable to the teams who just sit there and do nothing. (Plus we won Kraze Burger vouchers and a t-shirt from T1.)

The only player I can really recognize outside of Khan right this minute is Kal - he's really huge compared to the young boys on his team and he seems to be so polite.

~ Were you surprised when you found out how well-known Ma Jaeyoon is?

+ In a way yes, I think the casual manner in which the photo shoot went for me was less stressful for the poor guy. (Mrs. C then goes on to accuse NeverGG of being a bossy cow.) He seems very approachable and kind to his fans during the meeting after the games. (Mrs. C then expresses the desire to have a son who is as nice as Stork for the millionth time.)

~ What do you think could be improved about Proleague as an event?

+ The teams need to remember their fans are an important part of the SC life. T1 seems to do so much for everyone and Bunkie is a fun, lively character who I saw making even the grumpiest of fans cheer up. The venue itself is excellent and it's clear from the way you (NeverGG) and others talk that it's the one most people like the most. The crew were very welcoming and even came over to introduce themselves before the games began. More freebies wouldn't go amiss either! (NeverGG promptly stole the 'Fantasy Day' t-shirt.)

Lastly a little Q&A style round: (Tell me what comes to mind when you think of the following.)

~ FBH.
+ Dancing and falling over.

~ Stork.
+ I want to bake him a pie.

~ SaviOr:
+ Laughing over my Zerg related t-shirt.

~ BeSt:
+ That tattoo of his was actually quite nice....

~ Sudden Attack:
+ NICCCCCCCCCE! (and feeling sleepy.)

~ Mutalisks.
+ Which ones are those again?

~ Zerglings?
+ I hate cheese.

~ FlaSh:
+ That's the one you said *CENSORED*

~ Bunkie:
+ Future husband.

++++++

Part Two: The concluding part of this article will include Mrs. C's perspective upon LOOX, the MSL selection evening ceremonies, Dungeon and Fighter League and the future of Esports. (Plus her opinion of IRC's Scaramanga and his KT fanboying.)

[Article] An Ahjuma @ Esports.

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