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Sometimes it's hard to express just what Brood War means to me; I think it's the same for a lot of people. There are so many things that are amazing about this game that go unsaid by fans because we feel that it should be obvious just by looking at it. Today I invite you to challenge yourself to put what Brood War means to you into words: tell us an anecdote that is close to your heart, tell us about how this game is played, tell us what makes it more than a game. I've asked a few veterans to get the ball rolling with their own thoughts, but I hope you'll participate too. If your story is really interesting I may add it to the OP (or not, don't be offended o.o;; ).
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I love Brood War because I love seeing Koreans cry. I love Brood War because that’s the intensity of this game at the professional level. Hours and hours of practice and dedication and striving to be the best you can be all leads to a single moment on the stage. A moment so intense that no matter how reserved you are you cannot hold back your emotions, your happiness, your disappointment. To watch people who have worked so hard for something inspires me, it makes me want to work hard too. To become a fan of a particular player, to go through with him on his ups and downs and feel genuinely affected by his wins and losses is what makes this game so beautiful to me.
This game has so much energy in it; the emotions of the players, not just anger, but sadness, happiness, supreme confidence and agitation, all affect how the player performs. A misclick is devastating in agitation. A poor decision ruins players who are distracted. Everything every player does is so directly linked to him, that the game is an extension of his being. This is where personality in Brood War comes from. You can play this game a million different ways, you can focus on macro, micro, tactics or strategy, and it will always show through to your fans. They will know you and your play style. As fans, you will know your players.
I remember the intensity of my own games, I remember the sweat from playing a hard, drawn out game, and I remember the feeling of pure satisfaction from winning. I remember defeats where I realised only after the game what had happened. I know what goes through a player's head, and how it feels to be on either side of the fence. I love to live that again and again through all the storylines and the prophecies and the superstitions that make this game so exciting. It’s this game that is so intense and has so much personality that makes that possible. I love Brood War because I love seeing Koreans cry.
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I have played and loved Starcraft ever since the moment my small 8 year old hands had touched the game. It was exciting, new, adventurous, and of course fun. The competitive scene, which I had found only a few years later was even more thrilling. The anticipation and training for a single day, the sweat and the frustration of a difficult game. I have played the game for 13 years now, and it is more than a game. It's the community, the friends I have made, the rivalry that makes you train even harder, its all of these and so much more.
The feeling of walking into a tournament or starting a new game has always been exhilarating. Kali, Gamei, PGTour, Neo-Gamei, WGTour, ICCUP, Brain, Fish, all these servers always have hundreds if not thousands of people who train just as hard, if not more so perfecting every tiny detail in their game play.
The thoughts of your last game of the day running through your mind, replaying every moment, every click over and over. Sometimes it's pride in your micro or macro mechanics. Sometimes it's in the confusion in what you did wrong. How did he have such a bigger army? How was he so much better? What did I do wrong? The game grows itself onto you like a blanky or a stuffed teddy bear since you were young. It means more than words, and you never want to see it go.
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because it's fun 
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I love BW because it's limitless (I don't even know if that's the word I'm searching for, but I can't think of a better one). I'm no longtime veteran fan; I've been following since no earlier than 2009. I'm not a skilled player; I'm hardly better than a computer on a good day. I have barely any true grasp of strategy. But still, games of Brood War are simply thrilling to watch.
You don't have to be a micro genius who practices hours daily to enjoy watching Brood War. If anything, simply knowing the units and spells is enough. There is a certain innate magic in CC infestation, DTs, reaver drops, devastating vulture harass, tank standoffs, and yes, even muta dances.
All it really takes is enough of a brain to wonder what might happen next. And that's not much of a limit.
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Brood War is like wine.
It's great to play with wine too.
I love the whine/cheese.
It's great to play with wine too.
I love the whine/cheese.
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Brood War is the only game I will stay up until 3 AM to watch. I watch it more than I watch regular sports, and that's a difficult thing to beat. I can't play the game to save my life, but something about watching it makes those lonely nights so much better and exciting. I squeal every time Jaedong wins a game or every time Bisu loses.
go BW
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I love Broodwar because it is just an awesome game you can never get enough from. If you're not motivated to play, hell yea you still want to watch it. It's one part of my identity. My hobby.
When I first started playing it was only casual until me and my best friend discovered the korean pro scene. Man had we fun. Imagine your time as a kid when you dressed like a person you ever wanted to be? Well, my best friend and I photoshopped our heads on Grrr...'s and and I think it was Yellow's spacesuits and made progamer ID's. Fuck astronauts or something, we were fucking progamers. I love Broodwar because it's an awesome childhood memory.
I love that I can get as excited about "my" Broodwar team as "regular" sports fans can get about their team. I almost cried sometimes. Both of pure joy and sadness.
You cannot not love SC:BW.
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Because of BoxeR's empire
NaDa's Brilliance
Reach's Manliness
XellOs's Sexiness
Nal_rA's Dreams
YellOw's Silver Crown
July's sponsor picture of a steak.
iloveoov's Hidden Banana Stash
Kwanro's Flowchart to success
Firebathero's Dance Moves
EffOrt's Invasion
Bisu's
Stork's Golden Carrier Badge
Jaedong's Death Stare
FlaSh's Robotic Eye
Each of these players (and many more) shared an interesting story to tell that's well worth a listen to which they told over the years with their careers. Beyond what you see in the game of Brood War, you could see who they were as people. All of them are inspirational, but it was BoxeR's autobiography that really puts it more than anyone ever could. It's one thing I could suggest not just to his fans or fans of BW, but to anyone wanting motivation because 'they wanted to take the easier path in life.'
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Brood War is everything. It's the coolest form of meditation on earth. You can play it without knowing the vastness that it offers and still love it. It's a never-ending story. Every match is a story. And every match is a different story.
I love Brood War because it's an incredible form of expression. And it's an incredibly fun form of expression.
I love that every time I watch a Brood War match, I can see exactly what each player is doing and what they are thinking. When I see Jaedong controls his mutalisks, I feel as if we are one. When Kal loses his shuttle but just makes another one, I know exactly how he is feeling. When I see fantasy pull off an amazing build, I envy his genius and feel just as smart for realizing it.
There's just this magic to Brood War that makes it so much more compelling than any other game I've ever played. Perhaps it's just the amazing complexity/simplicity of all the units that allows countless forms of creativity. Perhaps it's the interface that allows eternal room to improve that binds us all together.
Or maybe it's just the angelic voices of korean commentators that keep us all here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpuv7VPb2rA
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Who can explain it? Love for Broodwar is best when you have love for the players. There's nothing quite like supporting your favourite Broodwar team or player. For sports' leagues, you have a hometown with a team and you root for it out of locational convenience. I honestly believe the attachment you get to a team or player that you create only from watching them play is far greater than rooting for the home team. You're invested in your favourite player because he entertains you and you have no choice but to root for his success. When JangBi defeated Flash I got on my knees, put my hands on my head, and literally chanted "oh my god" several times. It's not a hometown thing - it's a love for someone you picked and you chose to support. And JangBi isn't even my favourtie Protoss. You should see me when Stork wins.
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