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jamal0000
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:46 am Post subject: Starcraft as the national past time of Korea |
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| According to wikipedia that is. I'm really interested in this and writing an article on it. In my time here I haven't really seen much talk about it, with students or coworkers so I'd be interested in hearing any stories you might have. I found this interesting meetup group that goes to attend the live tournaments so I'm thinking about joining it: www.meetup.com/sc2fans |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| In your time here? Didn't you get here on Friday? |
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jamal0000
Joined: 11 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| In your time here? Didn't you get here on Friday? |
Haha, a little over a week (it was my first Friday). However, if you spend a few days in America and don't get bombarded by sports talk, advertisement, shows, people wearing jerseys in the streets etc... then you are living in a hole. I thought it might be similar here but with people dressed up like starcraft characters, or at least a lot of students in starcraft t-shirts  |
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hakwonner
Joined: 09 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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Strange as I'd say it's mentioned in at least 33% of my lessons at some point.
'Sudarculaptuh' |
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nzbradly78
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Location: Czech Republic
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| Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| There are just as many TV channels devoted to professional Starcraft tournaments as there are for general sports. So, yeah, I'd say Koreans dig Starcraft in a big way. I wonder if anyone knows what their obsessions were pre-Starcraft days? |
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BaldTeacher
Joined: 02 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Ugh just thinking about that game is making my brain hurt. There's something about it that strongly appeals to the Korean mindset.
I don't know what they played immediately before Starcraft, but the older generation is obsessed with that game with the white and black marbles. There's even a channel about it on Korean TV. |
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JSC
Joined: 07 Dec 2010
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Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:29 am Post subject: |
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You could delve into the negatives effects of how the game has impacted SK.
In particular, the rate of lung cancer from inhaling second hand smoke in PC Bangs. |
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cragesmure
Joined: 23 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| jamal0000 wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| In your time here? Didn't you get here on Friday? |
Haha, a little over a week (it was my first Friday). However, if you spend a few days in America and don't get bombarded by sports talk, advertisement, shows, people wearing jerseys in the streets etc... then you are living in a hole. I thought it might be similar here but with people dressed up like starcraft characters, or at least a lot of students in starcraft t-shirts |
I think there are a lot of people obsessed with it, but I've never seen T-shirts or the like. One of my students (he's 29, by the way) recently travelled across the country to go to one of those live tournaments, or whatever it is they have. Also, the fact that there are 2 TV channels that broadcast people playing computer games 24/7 is testament to the obsession. It's all pretty pathetic, really.
If there has been less said about it recently, it may be because of a few damning media reports about the Korean obsession with such pursuits of late. A dead baby in an apartment in Suwon and the parents raising a virtual child in an internet cafe seems to ring some bells. Also some guy that dropped dead from dehydration after a 4 or 5 day bender playing some game. Koreans have a habit of falling silent about an issue once it becomes shameful. It's easier than fixing the actual problem. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I think there are a lot of people obsessed with it, but I've never seen T-shirts or the like. One of my students (he's 29, by the way) recently travelled across the country to go to one of those live tournaments, or whatever it is they have. Also, the fact that there are 2 TV channels that broadcast people playing computer games 24/7 is testament to the obsession. It's all pretty pathetic, really.
If there has been less said about it recently, it may be because of a few damning media reports about the Korean obsession with such pursuits of late. A dead baby in an apartment in Suwon and the parents raising a virtual child in an internet cafe seems to ring some bells. Also some guy that dropped dead from dehydration after a 4 or 5 day bender playing some game. Koreans have a habit of falling silent about an issue once it becomes shameful. It's easier than fixing the actual problem. |
Oh please. Two people die and its a national dilemma? Why can't those Koreans go to good ol pastimes like Footie and American Football that feature things like fan riots, burning cars, and a heavy police presence.
So someone like computer games more than football. How does that make them pathetic?
| Quote: |
| I don't know what they played immediately before Starcraft, but the older generation is obsessed with that game with the white and black marbles. |
....I really don't know what to say. Uhm, that is the game Baduk, or Go! or whatever in Chinese. It's one of two chess like games (emphasis on strategic decision making). It's an incredibly complicated and difficult game, where unlike Chess, computers can't play at a high level.
Unlike America or Canada or England, which has no dedicated Chess channel or anything dedicated to mind games (except perhaps for poker, which is certainly a sophisticated game) Korea has a channel dedicated to baduk.
Not to say all Korean games are sophisticated...Go Stop has the intellectual sophistication of Hungry Hungry Hippos and is as popular as anything.
To the OP- How's this: First do your research and talk to some Starcraft players about it. Maybe play a game or three yourself. Then formulate your judgments.
Also you don't have to go negative. For many its a great social event, and like all games though, it can have negative side effects. It has negative impacts and positive ones.
I mean we may see it as silly- but which is more relevant to the 21st century- being able to process and organize information and produce things that have specific roles towards the accomplishment of a goal OR chasing a ball and kicking it through a net?
Of course following 22 people chasing a ball and trying to kick it through a net 24/7 would never be called 'pathetic'.
I would also point out that there are several American equivalencies- Madden is an obsession in America, as is GTA. I mean GTA gets mentioned in rap lyrics and the like. South Park did a WoW episode. ESPN2 will broadcast Madden tournaments.
Fantasy Baseball could be another example. There are magazines, websites, broadcasts, etc. dedicated to fantasy baseball and football. And America does have a game network on cable, so its not that much different.
It's just that America has this peculiar insecurity that if you are good at math, science, or computers, that is threatening and often grounds for physical intimidation. I mean, at least schools in Korea aren't sacrificing money for the math and art programs because the football team needs a luxury bus.
Caveat- I kinda agree that Starcraft can be an obsession and I love fantasy baseball and check up on the Detroit Tigers everyday. I just think that before we go around ridiculing the people here for their pastimes, it would be wise to remember our own failings when it comes to our pasttimes. No one's pasttime is perfect, but most people know how to enjyo things without it getting out of hand. |
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PastorYoon
Joined: 25 Jun 2010
Location: Sea of Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: Starcraft as the national past time of Korea |
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| jamal0000 wrote: |
| Starcraft as the national past time of Korea - According to wikipedia that is. |
Sad!  |
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machoman
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
I think there are a lot of people obsessed with it, but I've never seen T-shirts or the like. One of my students (he's 29, by the way) recently travelled across the country to go to one of those live tournaments, or whatever it is they have. Also, the fact that there are 2 TV channels that broadcast people playing computer games 24/7 is testament to the obsession. It's all pretty pathetic, really.
If there has been less said about it recently, it may be because of a few damning media reports about the Korean obsession with such pursuits of late. A dead baby in an apartment in Suwon and the parents raising a virtual child in an internet cafe seems to ring some bells. Also some guy that dropped dead from dehydration after a 4 or 5 day bender playing some game. Koreans have a habit of falling silent about an issue once it becomes shameful. It's easier than fixing the actual problem. |
Oh please. Two people die and its a national dilemma? Why can't those Koreans go to good ol pastimes like Footie and American Football that feature things like fan riots, burning cars, and a heavy police presence.
So someone like computer games more than football. How does that make them pathetic?
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it's more than two deaths. there was even a boy who killed his mother then himself because he was scolded too much about playing games.
i think it's a big problem. if you ask my male students what their hobbies are or what they'll be doing after school, 95% will say "computer game." the other 5% will say "play soccer/basketball/baseball."
i'm not gonna go into which is better, sports or computer games (although sports does promote physical health which is always a good thing) but the nature of these computer games is highly addictive. i wouldn't say playing basketball is addictive. and even if it is, it's not an addiction that will make you play basketball for hours on end. these guys who play pc games stay there for hours/days.
and you also mentioned to the OP to try playing a game or three.... well, i have. i know the addicting nature of these games and sure, it can be fun. but i do think it's a problem because it takes away more than it gives.
and yeah, of course there are the balanced people who are able to play it and have normal functioning lives, but there seems to be too much people (at least in the media) who are ruining their lives and other people's lives because of this addiction.
just my 2 cents. |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Hmm yes, but I don't think it will make an interesting article. I remember an article about the same thing in The Economist about 10 years ago. It wasn't that interesting then, and probably won't be now. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| cragesmure wrote: |
| jamal0000 wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| In your time here? Didn't you get here on Friday? |
Haha, a little over a week (it was my first Friday). However, if you spend a few days in America and don't get bombarded by sports talk, advertisement, shows, people wearing jerseys in the streets etc... then you are living in a hole. I thought it might be similar here but with people dressed up like starcraft characters, or at least a lot of students in starcraft t-shirts |
I think there are a lot of people obsessed with it, but I've never seen T-shirts or the like. One of my students (he's 29, by the way) recently travelled across the country to go to one of those live tournaments, or whatever it is they have. Also, the fact that there are 2 TV channels that broadcast people playing computer games 24/7 is testament to the obsession. It's all pretty pathetic, really.
If there has been less said about it recently, it may be because of a few damning media reports about the Korean obsession with such pursuits of late. A dead baby in an apartment in Suwon and the parents raising a virtual child in an internet cafe seems to ring some bells. Also some guy that dropped dead from dehydration after a 4 or 5 day bender playing some game. Koreans have a habit of falling silent about an issue once it becomes shameful. It's easier than fixing the actual problem. |
Do you have any links to those articles in the news? I'd love to use them in a discussion class.
The only extreme case that I remember was years ago when a woman left her baby unattended at home to use a PC room but it wasn't for gaming. If I recall, it was for chatting or something else. I don't think that the baby died though. If I recall, the police just intervened (not even sure if the child was taken by child care or such). |
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drinkyogurtsoju
Joined: 09 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| no. A guy said Koreans would be lining up to buy Starcraft 2. I laughed at him and told him it's not that big in korea. Starcraft 1 was big, 10 years ago. |
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