4 ms·

My point was that it's entertainment. I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. I mean we don't have World Cup o

by _pi 16y ago

My point was that it's entertainment. I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. I mean we don't have World Cup or Superbowl Stories on HN, why have the release of Starcraft? I'm sure there are people here who keep up with sports.

jasonlotito 16y ago
> My point was that it's entertainment. So? Why is the topic of entertainment a bad thing for HN? > I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. The only thing I can see that it shares with other forms of entertainment is that it entertains. And if we are wondering why we post things that entertain us on HN, HN itself would probably not exist. > I mean we don't have World Cup or Superbowl Stories on HN, why have the release of Starcraft? If you honestly can't see a difference between the release of SC2 and the Superbowl, you're purposefully being obtuse, and if you are, your comments are hurting HN much more than a post about SC2. However, I'll assume your just ignorant, and I'll explain the difference. First, SC2 is a game that the users of HN have a higher chance of playing than they would have of playing in the Superbowl. Indeed, I'll go so far as to suggest that no registered user, yet, has ever played in any Superbowl. Secondly, rather than simply be passive entertainment like the Superbowl, SC2 is a game we can actually play. Next, their is a large following, and that following essentially evolved e-sports. People can laugh at e-sports all they want, but it's no different then watching real sports. Continuing on, the launch of SC2 today means the e-sports arena is essentially being revitalized. A sizable number of individuals are looking at how to capitalize on e-sports. Indeed, their are individuals actually making money casting esport games, or startups using esports to easily market via sponsorships of tournaments. You see, the launch of SC2 isn't just a game. Why? Mostly because of the success of SC:BW in e-sports. So, unlike just another game being release, SC2 is different. It will present more opportunities for people to explore, and see how they can capitalize on the SC2. In short, no. SC2 isn't just like every other game, and it is different from other entertainment. Indeed, it has more relevance on HN then your comments complaining about it's inclusion.
- crystalis 16y ago
  > Indeed, I'll go so far as to suggest that no registered user, yet, has ever played in any Superbowl. What about Peter Norvig? http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=pnorvig http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=pnorvig
krig 16y ago
Well, personally I think Starcraft is quite an interesting topic (game aside). The whole esports scene in Korea that it's given rise to, the fact that several top ranking starcraft players have gone on to become top ranking poker players. Besides, it's interesting if only as a success story - what is it about it that sets it apart from any other computer strategy game? I also think Blizzard is interesting from that perspective. It's quite fascinating that they have managed to, on multiple occasions, create franchises so successful that people actually can earn a living playing them, gold farming/selling characters in the case of WoW and esports in the case of starcraft and warcraft. In that sense I think they have something in common with Apple, in that there is something intangible about what they do (quality?) that makes them extremely successful.
sgoraya 16y ago
> My point was that it's entertainment. I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. I mean we don't have World Cup or Superbowl Stories on HN, why have the release of Starcraft? I'm sure there are people here who keep up with sports. Sure its entertainment - entertainment created by an large group of developers/hackers/programmers; for me, thats a major delineation from other sports and entertainment. The discussion can turn towards the high technical aptitude needed to create games (which, IMHO, is one of the areas of development pushing the bounds of computing...AI, physics, the shit-ton of math involved, balancing...etc etc.), but thats a different topic.

by _pi 16y ago

jasonlotito 16y ago

> My point was that it's entertainment. So? Why is the topic of entertainment a bad thing for HN? > I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. The only thing I can see that it shares with other forms of entertainment is that it entertains. And if we are wondering why we post things that entertain us on HN, HN itself would probably not exist. > I mean we don't have World Cup or Superbowl Stories on HN, why have the release of Starcraft? If you honestly can't see a difference between the release of SC2 and the Superbowl, you're purposefully being obtuse, and if you are, your comments are hurting HN much more than a post about SC2. However, I'll assume your just ignorant, and I'll explain the difference. First, SC2 is a game that the users of HN have a higher chance of playing than they would have of playing in the Superbowl. Indeed, I'll go so far as to suggest that no registered user, yet, has ever played in any Superbowl. Secondly, rather than simply be passive entertainment like the Superbowl, SC2 is a game we can actually play. Next, their is a large following, and that following essentially evolved e-sports. People can laugh at e-sports all they want, but it's no different then watching real sports. Continuing on, the launch of SC2 today means the e-sports arena is essentially being revitalized. A sizable number of individuals are looking at how to capitalize on e-sports. Indeed, their are individuals actually making money casting esport games, or startups using esports to easily market via sponsorships of tournaments. You see, the launch of SC2 isn't just a game. Why? Mostly because of the success of SC:BW in e-sports. So, unlike just another game being release, SC2 is different. It will present more opportunities for people to explore, and see how they can capitalize on the SC2. In short, no. SC2 isn't just like every other game, and it is different from other entertainment. Indeed, it has more relevance on HN then your comments complaining about it's inclusion.

crystalis 16y ago
> Indeed, I'll go so far as to suggest that no registered user, yet, has ever played in any Superbowl. What about Peter Norvig? http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=pnorvig http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=pnorvig

krig 16y ago

Well, personally I think Starcraft is quite an interesting topic (game aside). The whole esports scene in Korea that it's given rise to, the fact that several top ranking starcraft players have gone on to become top ranking poker players. Besides, it's interesting if only as a success story - what is it about it that sets it apart from any other computer strategy game? I also think Blizzard is interesting from that perspective. It's quite fascinating that they have managed to, on multiple occasions, create franchises so successful that people actually can earn a living playing them, gold farming/selling characters in the case of WoW and esports in the case of starcraft and warcraft. In that sense I think they have something in common with Apple, in that there is something intangible about what they do (quality?) that makes them extremely successful.

sgoraya 16y ago

> My point was that it's entertainment. I know it's a video game, but essentially it's no different from any other entertainment. I mean we don't have World Cup or Superbowl Stories on HN, why have the release of Starcraft? I'm sure there are people here who keep up with sports. Sure its entertainment - entertainment created by an large group of developers/hackers/programmers; for me, thats a major delineation from other sports and entertainment. The discussion can turn towards the high technical aptitude needed to create games (which, IMHO, is one of the areas of development pushing the bounds of computing...AI, physics, the shit-ton of math involved, balancing...etc etc.), but thats a different topic.