The Extremes of Internet Gaming In South Korea

Rick Zeman writes "CNN has an expose showing that in South Korea, the world's most wired country, Internet gaming breeds two extremes: elite 'athletes' who earn fame and six figures, and addicts who literally play until they die and tells the stories of players on both sides of that real-life divide. From the article: 'The first thing you notice about the professional video game players are their fingers — spindly creatures that seem to flail about at their own will, banging at the computer keyboard with such frequency and ferocity that to visit their live-in training centers in South Korea is to be treated to a maddening drum roll of clicks and clacks.'"

Comments

They are true zealots

[Iniamyen]

These gamers want to be immortal. They would rather die gaming than get stuck being a drone with some queen and 2 screaming zerglings to take care of. Their ghosts will live on as overseers of the gaming world. /hydralisk

Re:The truth is plain to see, folks

[Moheeheeko]

First, you must construct additional pylons.

Re:The truth is plain to see, folks

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/north_south_korea

Re:$10,000 CHALLENGE to Alexander Peter Kowalski

[dyingtolive]

Timecube guy, is that you???

Re:Typical of their culture

[Nadaka]

We don't really know that for certain yet. The original starcraft doesn't have the same DRM restrictions infecting modern games. It is entirely possible the original starcraft will be around in 50 more years even if the drm laden later blizzard titles crumble to dust.

Re:Typical of their culture

[GodfatherofSoul]

Sounds like you're getting tired of me pwning your noob ass in Battlefield 3. Don't worry, I'll start using lube next round.

Re:Typical of their culture

[CFTM]

This is a blizzard game. They have ridiculously long (for computer games) playable lifespans

You obviously have not played Diablo 3...