Why visiting Homestory Cup was like having sex for the first time
Dear Reader, bear with me for a second – yes, I used the word sex in the title to get you to read my text. I also have to tell you that I will not write steamy fan fic about shirtless casters or wild player orgies in the VIP-Area. Sorry to disappoint you!
So where does this come from? Well, dear reader, just remember together, lets go down the memory lane for a bit – your first time having sex.
Do you remember how it was? To find out that there is this possibility of sleeping with another human being, to connect on this level?
Exciting prospect it was! At a certain age you begin to pick up on the topic through reading about it, maybe seeing it in movies, and hearing about it from others. Then you meet a person that is willing to try it out, to commit to really do it. At this point in time expectations have built up how this whole thing will go down – pictures formed in your head and heart, how it will feel, how it should be.
Finally the big day arrives, where you and your partner do it – you sleep together! And afterwards? Oftentimes weirdness, maybe some emptiness. Disappointment even!
“This is it? That’s how it is supposed to go down?”
A lot of insecurities arise, and just like that, you question what happened, maybe even question if you should have done it at all. Wouldn’t it have been nicer to just stay in the area of imagination and expectation?
Dear Reader, going to Homestory Cup was like that for me – I think that, watching the streams over the years, reading about the experiences of the visitors, players and casters, all of it created an unrealistic expectation about how it would be to visit this special Live Event.
After arriving on Friday, my first impressions of Takes Gaming Bar (the location of the Homestory Cup) were very good. When I first saw the famous guys like Incontrol, Rotti and the Koreans just strolling around and waiting for the cast to start, I thought:
“This is it! Now the fun times will start!”
But it was weird for me, because this is what also happened – the illusion created online fell apart. What do I mean by that? I had access to the VIP Area, where the players and casters and some “Ultra Ticket”-Holders like me could hang out. I realized very quickly that all of these people are just that: human beings.
After casting for 12 hours or playing important games all day and always being the center of attention, not everybody is up for a chat and friendly picture with some (for them) random fan dude. Also some technical issues arose that delayed everything.
The crowd in the bar was a wild mix of people from different backgrounds, some as insecure as me, some already totally used to that tournament and moving like fish in the water. And yes, players and casters and some fans form their own little circles they like to hang out with. This is just like human beings work.
I was sad, because I realized that I fell into the old trap of the same sort, just like the imagining of the "first time".
Dear Reader, this was Day One for me – like having sex for the first time, there was a lot of very healthy dis-illusion happening.
I had way too high expectations. I had built up my own hype around this event, the people and how they should have interacted with me. How it all should have gone down.
BUT – this is what happened, after I had sex for t he first time – I realized that a lot of it still felt very very good. that is was fun and exciting nonetheless. It was something that obviously needed practice! And I was willing and eager to try it again, learn, adapt and try a more realistic approach.
This is why I cherish all the positive aspects and moments of Homestory Cup Day One and Two - and they were there!
When I finally had the courage to talk to Incontrol and ask for an autograph (Geoff is super friendly, guys, but for me he also seemed big and intimidating! Oh and yes, the physical appearance of some players and casters was also cool to realize. Harstem and Mana are big guys!), that was exciting for me and already made my trip worth it.
When I could watch Innovation practice for his matches, I got the famous chills we all hear about online so often.
When Dennis and his crew always answered my shy greetings and questions nicely.
When the whole crowd in the Bar on Day Two really got excited about Stephano vs Parting.
When I connected with other fans like me.
My absolute highlight was one moment though:
I watched Zest play some matches against Clem – and they had fun!
Nobody was streaming it, nobody was commentating it. Those two just duked it out for the sake of it, while PtitDrogo and Hajin and some fans where enjoying their joy.
So I would like to encourage you, Dear Reader – before going to an event like Homestory Cup or any other event, check your expectations – look at it critically and try to be as realistic as you can about what you want there and what you will probably get. It will maybe help you to avoid a certain disappointment or sadness like I experienced (that was created not through others but only through myself).
Maybe it will help you appreciate the little and big moments that are happening all the time, like the entertaining casts of Geoff and Rotti and the others. Like the players having fun and playing awesome Starcraft. You don’t need perfect people or perfect locations, but just passionate human beings that come together to pursue that what drives them. You need a community of human beings with all their flaws and weak points that still put themselves out there to create something wonderful – that is Homestory Cup.
Dear Reader, this is why I compared it to having sex for the first time – and because it was like that for me I am certain, that the next time will be different and yes, better.
See you in Krefeld!