Watson Lum is a senior finance and information systems double major currently studying in Korea
I spent a sunny Saturday afternoon spectating one of Korea’s most popular activities: StarCraft.
To many, it’s just a computer game, but I’ve come to realize that here in South Korea, it’s so much more. This game is a way of life for many of the top players who make the equivalent of six-figure salaries by playing the game they love.
But the excitement isn’t limited to the players; StarCraft has grown to be a humongous spectator sport. In 2005, more than 120,000 fans attended an outdoor tournament in Busan, Korea. To put that in perspective, 70,000 were in attendance at the most recent Super Bowl. The top players literally live and breathe the game (and probably dream of it, too).
I was extremely fortunate when a fellow exchange student at the university I’m staying at managed to reserve floor seats for the finals of GOMTV’s HOT 6SIX GSL Season One. That’s quite a handful for those foreign to StarCraft, but from what I pieced together, GOMTV is a media player/streaming service, Hot 6Six is a Red Bull equivalent and GSL stands for Global StarCraft League, a tournament hosted by GOMTV. It featured two Korean players: Symbol from team Azubu, and RorO from team Samsung.
Upon reaching the venue, the first thing I noticed was the size of the banner rolled over the side of the building. Standing four or five stories tall, the banner displayed the portraits of the two competing players. Outside, an enormous line of fans had formed.
Surprisingly, there was a large number of foreigners in attendance. From talking with a few of them, I learned many of them traveled to Korea for the sole purpose of attending the StarCraft finals. After queuing for what seemed like hours, we were finally admitted into the arena.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I got was a small stage situated in front of the largest high-definition screen I have ever seen in my life. And if that wasn’t enough, the indoor venue was also decorated with numerous fly- by camera fixations, pyrotechnic placements and enough stage lighting to put me at risk to photosensitive seizures. At the arrival of the competing parties,
the entire arena imploded. Lights were flashing, fireworks were being set off and people were going hysterical. To add to the whole atmosphere, the sound system blasted some of the most dramatic music I have ever heard. The strips of loudspeakers that hung from the ceiling blasted so loudly I could feel the cement floor shake. Combined with the deafening fan screams, it felt like I was watching the arrival of rock stars.
As someone who has very little knowledge of the game, I still found the whole experience very entertaining. Despite not being able to follow all of what was going on, the amount of energy and excitement in the crowd, along with the voices of the announcers was enough to fixate my eyes on the screen.
The finals itself featured two players in a best of seven competitions. At stake was 50 million won ($50,000 USD) for first place and 20 million won ($20,000 USD) for the runner-up.
The sixth and final match gave the fourth win and the championship title to Samsung’s RorO. Accompanying the standing ovation from the crowd was a massive display of fireworks and fanfare.
The emotion in the players and the crowd was absurd. When the runner-up, Azubu’s Symbol, was thanking his fans for supporting him despite his loss, people were exploding in tears left and right. When RorO was presented with his winnings and his trophy, the whole venue exploded in confetti and music so dramatic that it felt like he was getting a hero’s welcome for saving the world from destruction.
The whole experience was absolutely surreal. It combines the competitiveness and emotions of the Super Bowl with the energy and volume of an electronic dance music concert. Even if you have no idea what StarCraft is, the sheer excitement from the environment around you will put you on your feet.
Looking from the outside, it’s hard to imagine how people can get so crazy from just a video game. But after attending it’s like what I mentioned earlier: StarCraft isn’t just a game here; it’s a way of life.
