Any opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of compLexity Gaming or its parent company.
We need to talk.
I would be unfairly stereotyping if I said that this article needs to be read by every SC2 or eSports fan, but what I’m about to write needs to be read by some members of the community.
Despite how SC:BW players have been treated as rockstars in Korea for years, it wasn’t expected that professional players in North America would reach the same rockstar status so quick. People involved in the American scene were wishfully thinking that SC2 would reach the same level, but when the game first came out, it was more hopeful speculation than expectation. It feels like yesterday that Greg “EGIdrA” Fields was that white guy in Korea who was returning home because the Western scene was starting to grow. Thanks to the passionate and diverse community members, from Sean “Day9” Plott to Geoff “EGiNcontroL” Robinson, SC2 has exploded as an eSport in North American. As much as the community is thrilled about the growth of SC2 as an eSport in the Western scene, I don’t think the industry was quite prepared for what happened.
The community grew big and fast. It seems like overnight Greg “IdrA” Fields went from the American competing in the GSL to one of the most hated men in SC2, known by all, idolized and loved. Instead of a handful of dedicated fans, at live events there are hundreds of fans anxious to get autographs and meet their favorite players. As IdrA walks away from the main stage booths after winning an MLG game, he is swarmed by fans hoping to get a photo or an autograph from this infamous player. At MLG Anaheim, Day9 had a four hundred plus line up during his autograph session filled of hopeful fans wanting to meet the legend himself. When casting was done for the day at NASL, Nick “Tasteless” Plott and Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski had to sneak out the back door in order to avoid hordes of fans. SC2 players and personalities in North America have become rockstars and fast.
Professional players need to be treated with the utmost respect.
Professional players need to be treated with the utmost respect. I know that players love and appreciate their fans, but there is a time and a place for everything. It’s exciting to be at a live events among the heroic players. At both BlizzCon 2010 and MLG Anaheim, I was over the top excited about meeting players even though I was doing my very best not to show it. If you’re attending a live event, please be respectful of the players. If someone loses, it is not the time to ask for a photograph or an autograph. It is especially not the time for you to make remarks about where the player made mistakes in his last match. Players know where their mistakes were made and what went wrong. Although you can write whatever you’d like about a game on Reddit or TL, it is rude to approach a player to tell him what he did wrong after a loss.
Day9 signing autographs at MLG Anaheim.
Meeting professional players at live events is a major part of the live event experience. Because no one expected the eSport to explode so fast, live events are taking time to adjust to popularity of players and provide player-only lounges or places where players can relax without the horde of fan. Until players have a place to decompress, give them their space. Be respectful of them and their emotions, and they’ll be happy to take photos or sign autographs. Some players, like Tyler “LiquidTyler” Wasieleski, who has been open about his dislike of overzealous fans, are having an autograph signing. If a player you like is having an autograph signing, approach him then. He will be more than happy to sit and sign autographs for hours for fans during his signing session in exchange for the respect that you will let him be while he’s not at the signing booth.
At live events, please be respectful to our players and community members. The great men and women in the community deserve our respect. After MLG Raleigh, I would be thrilled to hear how polite, respectful and courteous the fans were there despite their obvious excitement and passion. Make it happen.
GL HF,
Jacq
After years of playing World of Warcraft, a friend introduced Jacqueline to Starcraft early last year. Jacqueline’s relationship with Starcraft started out slowly: a handful of casual dates, a little bit of flirting but nothing serious. She took her relationship with the game to the next level after BlizzCon 2010 where she experienced eSports magic first-hand and realized that Starcraft was the one. Despite being a mediocre player, she has been clambering the ladder at a glacial pace and has spent more time watching Starcraft online than she’d like to admit. In March, Jacqueline made the leap from eSports fan to eSports professional when she was hired by the Handsome Nerd as their Art Director, combining her design skills with her love of Starcraft. Since its start in April, Jacqueline has been a contributing writer for the North American Star League, writing coverage for Division 1. Offline, Jacqueline is a bookworm, a runner, a freeride snowboarder and has a Human Ecology degree with a Clothing and Textiles major.
View Jacqueline’s profile here.
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