This Seems To Be...

The End.

Here's the deal. I'm trying to determine if starcraft is really worth learning and if the game mechanics are really all that good to begin with. Reading through a few starcraft forums, I see how it took some people years to finally be considered 'good'. They say they spent 10 hours a day learning the motions and memorizing the keyboard movements. I'm thinking to myself, I can't do that, at least not when I barely win anything, the small things I want to remember are forgotten in the intensity; and I'm not going to play against a computer 10 hours a day for two weeks. That's pure boredom we're talking about.

Then other thoughts come to mind. Why am I not enjoying the game much? The stress most likely arises because of how hard it is to use your units wisely and to actually THINK as you play. This is a real time STRATEGY game right? Am I getting the most I can out of this game (strategy wise). I think not.

It has come to my attention quite a few times that absolutely nobody is willing to play on a slower speed type. Now, a slower speed is unlikely to be played because it appears as if the game lags a lot, nobody seems to be able to handle the slower beginning of the game, and people want players with no life to have it easy. Yes, it may be a little boring the first few minutes but when things start being built, it gets interesting. There is something that happens EVERYONE can agree on, when a game suddenly lags, you control everything better. You will be very efficient with your moves and strategy. It's a sure thing. The best thing about slowing the speed down is that people are on a more even playing field. There's not much of a hotkey advantage. The speed hotkeying skill is perhaps the only thing that causes people to be good, it's not always the strategy. It shouldn't be such a problem because they can still keep the hotkey advantage at slower speeds.

Yes, I am a noob, I'll admit that to anyone. But this is a GAME and I want to enjoy the gameplay to the fullest without having to hotkey as if it's second nature. It ruins the game a bit. I wouldn't ask the high apm people and gosu players to play on a slower speed but want the noob players to slow it down. It doesn't have to be on normal speed. Fast and faster will do fine. Hell, the game is practically made for normal speed! People want to speed it up only because it becomes more difficult the faster you go, then they claim it makes the game more exciting. I disagree. It is only exciting if you spend 10 hours a day playing this crap.

The main point I want to get across is that the people of lesser skill should be playing on slower speed, but I know this will be impossible for noobs to get. I may try to explain 4v4 maps are more fun to play if the speed is slowed down and people can see what the hell is going on while playing. I almost wish to go back in time to when this game was first released to play the slower speeds and all the players were more open to different game types. But then again, all my partners are either too noob or too good. Lots of noobs wouldn't be able to handle a mass carrier.

I know that starcraft two is supposed to have all the things that made this game a hit in Korea. It just begs the question why a game like this took off in the first place. Turning back 10 years ago, this game had the smell of freshness and had THREE races to choose from unlike warcraft. The single player was very amusing as it included many short movies as you progressed. The storyline was indeed interesting. The game has been patched time and time again for a more balanced game. So I have to assume that it wasn't the best of games back then. But this game isn't fun for noobs unless all the noobs are together. And playing on a slower speed. That's the only way a newcomer can see the fun in this game.

I hate Korea for making starcraft seem like it's such a fun game. I see it is only fun when you play as if your addicted. I've read about how starcraft was released in Korea at just the right time computer technology became more advanced and open to everyone. Then the computer game revolution took place. Fuck you Korea. And fuck you starcraft. I am not having this any longer! At least not until starcraft 2... but even then I won't keep my hopes up that the multiplayer will be fun instead of made to be such a hotkey 'spend all the time you have to get better' sport. Seriously, it's not the need to speed up your movement that makes the game fun. I can't even explore the complexity of the game because the speed is so damn fast. I don't want to have to click with all my might every game, I just want to think about my moves and do it with at least some ease.

I made a game on bnet named '4v4 slower speed' and '3v3 slower speed'. One or two joined. No deal. I find the inability to play 4v4 on starcraft to be a big minus. I'm a casual gamer, I want a casual game. I don't want a game where it's necessary to play 8 hours a day or barely having time to think when your trying to learn. And I just have to accept that most 3v3 or 4v4 types of games are pretty unbalanced. I'm sick of 1:1.

I’ve had enough of this 10 year old game. I don’t want to make my control movements second nature, I want to casually learn the game on maybe 6-10 hours a week. And to play the game on a level playing field. Something isn’t fun only because there is always room for improvement, that is not what makes starcraft as great a game everyone is making it to be. I think I just about juiced all the fun there is in starcraft even after becoming aware of how deep and demanding it is, but now I see it’s not worth learning. All the practice and clicking isn’t necessary to enjoy the game. So I figure I’ll play the least annoying type of game starcraft has to offer (duh).

C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER

I put a halt on my iCCup playing and in turn I have picked up bgh and playing the computer on iccup maps. I believe what's been giving me the most problems is the difficulty of trying to constantly use hotkeys throughout the game, in getting as much macro as you can and still do good micro. Macro motions still don't feel natural too me yet. Build order isn't really much of a concern at the moment, because I could have all the right buildings and still not have good macro. The good news is that I can work on macro by both playing the computer and bgh. I'm not going to say this is going to prepare me for iCCup but it's a necessity to grind the motions into my brain.

I've been trying to avoid taking it too seriously, but since I won't be playing iccup, the pressure has lessened a lot. Also, when I play 3v3 bgh, most of the time whatever happens it beyond my control anyway. I either have one or two bad allies or someone on the opposing team does, but I shouldn't make excuses, someone much better than me would have found a way to win. It's not like I'm such a great ally anyway. It might just be me but a map like bgh can leave you responding to unexpected things. There's no telling what your own allies and enemies will do or if they will work together with you very well. Or even when you rely on them to do something, if they actually DO IT RIGHT. And whatever build order you do is a risk in itself, especially against 3 different races. They could rush, or go mutas, or tank drop, or ugh, it seems the best thing you can do is block yourself in first thing.

Oh well, its all for the macro motion anyway. I'll try to get 4 against computer and 1 in bgh every day for at least a week.

Losing Streak

Right now, I'm pumping myself up for 6 more losses. I beat one guy and I see his record was 2-11, and has 771 points this very moment.

There are actually guys are on there with 3-28 records. These guys have egos of steel!

Do I?

hehe

This game is destroying my soul

2 Games In

I have decided to play at least 10 games before I post a detailed report on my progress. So far... two losses.

Starcraft is Boring

This morning I decided to use an unpatch program I saw on iCCup to resume playing this epic game - no longer could I wait for the new launcher. So I get on iCCup and decide I want to work on my build/strat a little bit before I own someone. I played two games against the computer. When you play starcraft you have to be smart about what you do, it's not just your apm that matters. You could have a really high apm and know squat, you must first learn how to PLAY. I was thinking the hotkey/scout trainer I used helped me a lot but it really wasn't that much of help. Best thing I can do is to simply play, and I feel that's probably the only way I can enjoy this game at all. I just need to play it, and learn as I play. I don't think I've ever played ANYTHING that I didn't get better at. You see, I initially thought I would have to study this game, I thought I would need to know the builds very well, and I do actually, but I believe that kind of thing will come to me in time. Lord knows that reading that kind of thing on a forum won't help much. And lord also knows that studying the game in such a way squeezing the enjoyment factor out is not the way to go. I've already said I was going to get better as I play but now I'm not going to worry so much and let my mind wonder and explore the complexity of the game.

It will be a while before starcraft two comes out, it will be only then that I can enjoy gaming on bnet because my friends will have it. As good as I'll be, my skill would encourage my friends a little bit to learn to play, at least I hope so. Starcraft just might end up as a hobby. I feel that I'm only repeating what I have said in previous posts but I still feel the loneliness of playing this game, it's like playing basketball or shooting pool by yourself. oh well

So, I'm pretty damn certain this game will cause plenty upsetting feeling in me, but I know I will slowly get better, one day I'll be at the top of my game, it's important to take it in a little bit at a time. I haven't been using the hotkeys for upgrading and think I should try applying pressure with about 5 or 6 vultures using the mines (against toss). I've seen great things being done with early vultures.

Sorry about the title of this post, starcraft will never be boring, but is definitely a little bothersome to play -_-

Peace out homie

Iccup Problems

Seems Iccup is coming out with a new launcher soon. When they get it out I'll continue my posting.