Day[9] is PCGamer's Gamer of the Year - Page 19

On December 25 2010 23:09 Loophole wrote:

A valid question Glasse. But rather than say that you don't think he deserves it, you might want to ask why he deserves it. I see you joined TL in July. Day[9] has been a pillar of the Starcraft community for a decade. You may want to hang out for a while and learn some stuff before you go calling out the majority of TLs favorite gamer.

Now, no offense to the other guys you listed there, they are all quality guys and have made some great contributions, but Day is on another level in many ways. Here, let me list some of them for you:

1. Experience as a top level player.
2. Strategical depth and insight.
3. Infectious goofy personality
4. Humor
5. Prolific output
6. Respect.

1. Experience as a top level player.

Day[9] has been playing Starcraft for a long time. I believe since it came out. He's been at the top of the american scene since 2003 or so, and own WCG USA in 2005. He took second place in 2004 and 2005. He won the WCG Pan American games in 2007. He reached A level in the toughest ladders like PGTour, ICCup, and I believe WGTour as well. His 300 APM Zerg was a site to behold. This experience at being the best of the best this side of the Atlantic means that when he tells you something is important to being a better gamer, you know it's true. Trust and believe! None of those gamers you listed, even Tasteless, was ever anywhere near his skill level.

2. Strategical depth and insight.

Just being good at a game does not necessarily mean that you are going to be good at conveying ideas about the game to other people. This may be Day's greatest strength. He has a way of conveying deep strategic meaning in ways that are easy for almost anyone to understand. He has a way of taking abstract ideas that are important to gaming and putting them to words that convey those ideas clearly. He understands the game more deeply than any of the other casters you mentioned, even Artosis, and can lace his casts with never ending insight about everything that happens in the game, no matter how small.

3. Infectious goofy personality

This is the most subjective of my points, but many of Day's fans would agree that it's hard not to smile and feel good while watching him orate about SC or while listening to him cast. His goofy personality can cheer you up when you're in the worst of moods. Many of the other casters you mentioned have lots of awkward moments in their casts where they aren't quite sure what to say or how to fill time. Day's personality simply doesn't allow for that. He can fill any space with that personality, and keep you entertained and hanging on his every word.

4. Humor

Chill Vs. Combat-EX grudge match.
Transitioning into losing your whole fucking base.
Bear Semen
Trumpets, midgets
Funday Mondays
Pieces

Just watch anything hes ever done for endless examples.

5. Prolific output.

I don't think anyone spends as much time as Day[9] giving the Starcraft community gifts of goodness. His show is the Day[9] daily. Daily! His shows can be up to a couple of hours! His viewership numbers for the daily are out of hand. He participates in State of the Game podcasts. He's hired to Cast every single high level tournament outside of Korea. Blizzcon, MLG, ESL, Dreamhack, etc. Day is in demand, casting for tournaments held by Root, EG, TL, the list goes on and on. He casts random events. He compiles mass volumes of high level commentary for times he is away on vacation and can't do his daily. Before the dailys he compiled a large set of long podcasts on Starcraft ideas no one had ever really touched on. He's interviewed by every gaming site on the planet. He's mentioned, quoted and interviewed in multiple widely published gaming magazines. The forums and blogs are filled with posts about people's lives being touched and changed by Day.

6. Respect

Day is respected by his peers universally. But more than that, Day has unlimited respect for his peers, his audience, the community, and every individual he comes into contact with. I'm not saying this isn't true about the other guys. Tasteless and Artosis are well known to be good guys. Days videos make it so obvious how much he cares about all of us, and how much respect he has for every gamer in this fold. I've had the pleasure of meeting Day and Tasteless at WCG Chicago '04, and they are both 2 of the most friendly, down to earth people you could meet. Day goes out of his way to include people and to get everyone having a good time. His work is an extension of that.

I hope this clears things up for you Glasse. Welcome to TL, and I hope you take the time to search for and experience for yourself some of the myriad ways to enjoy Day[9] here on TL.net.