| Competitors
from more than 60 countries around the world convened to
compete for both money and computer game prestige. For geeks?
Definitely. The way of the future? Possibly. Don't believe
me? In some places, gaming is more serious than you think.
The
first time I visited my best friend's apartment in Seoul,
it was to find him ensconced on the sofa transfixed by two
guys playing a computer game against each other on television.
Okay. I'm a pretty open'minded guy, but I admit this had
me looking for the nearest exit. As I became more familiar
with Korea, I was to realize that not only was this not
unusual, but the audience was bigger and more diverse than
I expected.
Parents
that rail against their children playing too many computer
games may possibly be discouraging them from a lucrative
career. In Korea, playing games can be serious business.
Professional Starcraft players are celebrities, with the
top few being household names. Although no longer the top
player, Im Yo Hwan is still probably the best known. He
has yearly earnings that exceed US$100000, endorses products,
makes public appearances and, naturally, appears on television.
He is one of the few who achieve stardom through playing
computer games for a living.
Since
the arrival of internet cafes (PC bang) in Korea, their
numbers have become nigh uncountable. Within a radius of
200 metres around my apartment in Seoul, there were perhaps
ten. Most are open 24 hours, although school kids may have
to go home by ten or eleven pm. Not only are the cafes cheap,
but the convenience of Korea means that I can call from
my computer to the local Korean Chinese restaurant, and
for around five or six dollars I can have noodles in black
bean sauce (jjajangmyeon) delivered at no extra cost right
to my lap. After I have finished, I can leave the plate
by the door, the scooter'riding delivery boy will come and
pick it up later.
Computer
games are not just for geeks in Korea. Playing games has
been
accepted into mainstream culture and adopted by the young
and the not'so'young alike. In a country that still has
a lot to do to address the status of its women, there are
female players that also make it to the top leagues.
There
are two main full'time cable television channels devoted
to gaming. Programs vary from the curious to the bizarre.
Aside from the different professional leagues (more on them
anon), there are chat shows with pro'gamers, shows to help
you improve your own game, and even occasionally dramas
with voices dubbed onto computer game characters.
Starcraft
is still the King of Games in Korea. It is a game that
is over five years old, but owes its longevity to the
depth of the game and the skill it allows the players
to exhibit. The two different channels, MBC Game (http://www.mbcgame.com)
and Ongamenet (http://www.ongamenet.com) run individual
and team leagues constantly. These are played in places
where the public can watch. Audiences are typically made
up of young men and women in their teens or twenties,
perhaps shyly holding signs for their favourite gamers.
Pro'gamer groupies? In Korea, they exist. Finals are held
at stadiums, with large numbers of fans turning out, in
wet'weather gear if required. The colour of one's balloon
shows the player you support. Moments of drama in the
game will be punctuated by intermittent cheers or gasps
from the crowd. Or sometimes even tears. I am not exaggerating.
Sure,
I knew all of it was crazy when I arrived in Korea. But,
after a bit of prodding from my Korean friends, and some
careful tutoring, I started playing myself. Two and a
half years have passed. Now you might find me in one of
Sydney's fast internet cafes honing the skills or learning
from the masters. Yeah, I have missed the WCG this year.
But there is always next year...
Joystick image courtesy of Free
Images
Laptop image © Rene Mansi, Freestock.co.uk
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