Over the last couple of days I was often considering to watch some SC:BW again. Although I like to watch SC2 pro-gaming and would play SC2 rather than SC:BW, the Korean pro-games got something to it.
The only SC:BW pro-games I watched in the past were the ESL Pro League around 2007 and 2008, TSL Season 1, TSL Season 2 and Intel Extreme Classics Season 1. I never watch any Korean Star- or Teamleagues. I only read some of the in-depth articles here on TL, which were about the Korean pro-scene (Final Edits I think).
That's why I make this blog entry. To get some suggestions of where to start. I mean the ammount of material is overwhelming.
I would suggest picking a starleague (preferably one you dont know the result of) and watching it from start to end. This way its not just a collection of random games.
Teamleague is very good too, but from vods doesnt give the same kind of narrative as a starleague.
Watch Sayle's english commentary proleague. http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=286288 Proleague only started a week ago you can watch the 4 recorded matches and then try to watch them live whether it is the korean ones at odd times or Sayle's cast. If you can't make it for live games you should still follow the proleague right now, I think it is more fun since you can talk to people about the games.
My biggest problem right now with watchin the Korean VODs is the language barrier and my lack of knowledge in SC:BW. To be honest I get bored pretty quick when I watch the screen for 5 minutes and don't get an idea what's going on. :-(
On December 03 2011 20:07 ionize wrote: My biggest problem right now with watchin the Korean VODs is the language barrier and my lack of knowledge in SC:BW. To be honest I get bored pretty quick when I watch the screen for 5 minutes and don't get an idea what's going on. :-(
thats why we have Sayle for you.all of this weeks proleague games are uploaded on his channel.
Watch an old tourney, like GOM Classic which was casted by Tasteless and he usually catered his commentary towards people new to the game. Same when he casted WCG.
Once you get the basics down, you can follow PL for example, get a good team to follow (CJ) and enjoy!
You can also watch TSL 1 to learn, though strategies have changed.
On December 03 2011 20:12 IntoTheWow wrote: Watch an old tourney, like GOM Classic which was casted by Tasteless and he usually catered his commentary towards people new to the game. Same when he casted WCG.
Once you get the basics down, you can follow PL for example, get a good team to follow (CJ) and enjoy!
You can also watch TSL 1 to learn, though strategies have changed.
On December 03 2011 20:07 ionize wrote: My biggest problem right now with watchin the Korean VODs is the language barrier and my lack of knowledge in SC:BW. To be honest I get bored pretty quick when I watch the screen for 5 minutes and don't get an idea what's going on. :-(
It's funny you say that - this is how most people watched the games years ago before there were any streamed English commentary.
I don't need to watch Live because I value the game in and of itself For me it's not good just because there is a community around it (although that is nice), I would watch it even if there wasn't a TL and it was just VODs being put on YouTube (and often when I take a break from TL that's exactly what I do).
I never really understood what people got out of live reporting or IRC...
In any case, a good way into Korean Progaming is to follow Proleague and look at the interviews of teams in BW General after the games have been played. You will get a better feel for what's going on then and you will learn about the players. Remember, however, that many of us watched before we had anything, including translations. We were just so happy we even were starting to get access to VODs (when before there was an occasional battle report and maybe a super low res VOD of a few games). The way in for us back then was just playing the game ourselves and being deeply interested in what someone who'd dedicated their life to the game could do with it.
I'll give you another example that isn't about veterans. I got my friend into StarCraft this year. Why? The Korean commentators. No, she doesn't speak Korean. So stop complaining it's not in English (you xenophobe) and just enjoy their hilarious yelling and excitement. That will be how you know something important is going on. Plus you can see it on the screen... Sure, there's subtle stuff, but the battles and pretty easy to see since it is not all blobs, but easy to decipher battles. Goon turns into a blue good, goons run away from tanks. Don't tell me that is hard to understand. Why they can't just go in and shoot them sometimes and other times they can... Well maybe you need a BW 'big brother' to explain those things the way I explained them to my friend. Or maybe you just need to find Bisu really attractive.
In my rambling I feel like there was a good idea in there: Brood War players acting as big brothers to new people who want to get into BW. Not to coach them or teach them how to play, but just to watch games with on MSN and discuss the game together. Probably more effective than seeing people spam dumb shit in IRC.
So many people want to get into BW these days, shesh.
Yes, there is plenty of material out there.
My recommendation would be to tune into live matches and join the discussion in the Live Report threads. You can ask whatever questions you want during the match and people like myself will respond right away to help you out!
If some of the games were really good. I would ask you to tune into Sayle's English cast of those games as well. He usually does them the very next day. That way you get more in depth analysis.
In summary:
1) Check out live PL/OSL games. 2) Participate in the LR discussion and ask questions! 3) Re-watch recommended games with Sayle's English cast