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I've always admired the grassroots FGC scene from afar, and it seems like we have much to learn from them. I will say that many community figures were around when StarCraft was just as grassroots, and I hope they can guide us to the future.
In all seriousness, this is my favorite take on the current SC2 scene that combines realism with optimism. Lets count our chips and be pragmatic with our next actions.
I'm part of a small amateurish SC2 spanish speaking community. We have a streamer that does daily showmatches, community matches, weekly tournaments, you name it, and we have a hella fun doing it. We're all between D2 and M1 players that don't strive for proffesionalism but want to show our skills. No one is making real money out of this, everyone's doing it for the love of the game and the fun of being part of a community. And we'll probably keep going for many years to come.
I don't have a good handle on viewership stats, active players, etc. but my sense is that since SC2 went free-to-play, there's been an overall boom in community activity. Looking at Lowko, Winter, Harstem, uThermal, PiG, eSports Storyteller, it actually feels like we're in a golden age of Starcraft content even if we've reached the end of developer support for the pro scene. My sense is that there is a sizeable, loyal fanbase where Starcraft is the epitome of eSport - we're not going anywhere. Hopefully it's enough to carry a pro scene through pure eSports ventures and sponsorships.
Fighting Game tournaments have been around for a long time, most players aren't full time, and most games have zero prize pool. Doesn't stop them from being great events to go to, participate in, and watch online.
I haven't been paying attention to the SC2 scene for quite a few years, but i've been playing niche FG games and MAN SC2 is spoiled lmao. Shopify alone is a god send. But the community needs to step up if you wanna keep the game alive, players needs to join tournaments and new people needs to have space (and encouragment) to just suck and to get better while also participating in the scene. SC2 is gonna be fine, there's still a lot of players and content creators. Know that as long as there is interest, there is going to be a competitive scene, there are plenty of tools to make events and get money to the best players (Challonge, Matcherino are my favorite) so i feel like people needs to stop dooming and start participating. Also, it might be for the best that Blizzard has nothing to do with it anymore. Take this not as the end, but as a new beginning.
I've always been a big fan of unsubsidized esports scene (like SC1, Quake 3, etc.) However I am not sure SC2 could do this. Basically if Stormgate is half-decent SC2 is dead.
I've heard something about how Blizzard can't sign a contract with GSL/ESL right now because of the pending Microsoft acquisition. Do you know if this is true and does that mean that Blizzard might sign a contract with them after the acquisition is approved/denied?
I am not really privy to that and if I was I probably wouldn't be able to say. It's possible but I will say my understanding is usually these things are planned with annual budgets that likely were settled within the past few months. The acquisition also could take a while to happen if it ever does and even then next year would be the earliest I would expect anything. Acquisitions involving large companies often take years to show any real substantial changes or effects because there's a lot of logistics in merging companies of their sizes so I think it's possible but I'm not pinning hopes on that changing a ton in the immediate future.
@@feardragon64 That makes sense and is good context. Thanks! I will definitely keep showing up virtually for sc2 and supporting tournament organizers, content creators, etc. that I like, but I was hoping that maybe Blizzard would do something, too 🙃
