Being a Starcraft fan is incredible. Whether it be watching a screen, in your home, or at an event packed with people. Sitting on the edge of your seat, you stare intently eyes flicking the screen rapidly darting for the action you know is inevitable. You watch as the units seamlessly flow to where they need to go, in awe of the strategic prowess, the mechanical ability, and mental fortitude that you know is being harnessed. You watch skirmish after skirmish, when the time is right you see the march, the final battle… And its over… You cheer, you scream, you whistle, clap, raise your signs, or spam chat whatever you choose to do, in your heart you feel it. That passion, that drive, THAT is being a fan, and that is having a love of the game.
When you are a Starcraft fan, you stay up late to watch pro league. Even though you know you are going to be tired as hell the next day. You research everything you can to help you move up the ladder, and keep up with the newest patch notes. As a fan you save up and get the gear your favorite pros use, hoping to do anything possible to be more like them, in hopes that their skill might rub off on you in some small way. Flying Across the country or getting up early on a Saturday to see a competition is not hard when you are a Starcraft fan. When you get home from that job you may or may not hate, you dash to your computer and quickly hop on twitch, and your face lights up when you see InControl, QxC, or maybe Destiny.
Being a Starcraft fan is amazing; however, next time you are at an event, or at home spamming chat I want you to take a moment to realize something. Take that moment to look around, look through the chat. Watch when they pan to the crowd. Because in it, you will see others like yourself, you will see Starcraft fans. Take a moment to think that without them, and without you. The things you love so much. The edge of your seat moments, the tournaments, the E-Sport you have come to love so much, none of it would exist. The reason why this game is still around is because of people like you who through all the punishment of feeling abandoned by blizzard, or less than other E-Sports, or having people tell you Starcraft is a dead game, you still show up to watch what you love. So please, give yourself a pat on the back, wear a smile even when your favorite player loses, or you get BM’d on ladder, because know that you are helping the game you love, to stick around for others to enjoy.
So thank You, from a Starcraft fan.