Gaming is no loner sport for Columbia StarCraft group

Columbia StarCraft is a team of a different kind—one that plays on a virtual field. For students who prefer Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss to Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox, it could be a team to root for.

Columbia StarCraft is devoted to sharing its love of the real-time strategy video game StarCraft. The group began in 2010, around the same time as the formation of Collegiate StarLeague, an organization designed to bring together colleges and universities to play competitively. The group is part of a tournament circuit that spans many universities, with a competitive scene made up of teams and fans.

StarCraft hosts practice sessions every Saturday at 1 p.m. These are followed by intramural tournament matches between universities every Sunday at 4 p.m. The practice sessions are open to all members, some of whom can join the ranks of tournament players after winning a certain number of victories in these sessions.

The current coordinators of the group are Ben Graif, GS ’14, Alex Dong, CC ’14, and Max Gilmore, a fifth-year master’s student.

With the release of StarCraft II in July 2010, Collegiate StarLeague—including Columbia StarCraft—has grown in popularity. This year in particular, the group has seen a huge increase in participation and in membership.

“It went from being just the team to people watching, getting involved, and watching matches online,” Graif said.

Currently the group has 24 registered members, with 43 online followers, although that number tends to grow during each streamed tournament match. When asked about the type of people who are drawn to the club, the coordinators praise the diversity of its members. The coordinators represent two of Columbia’s undergraduate schools, as well as a graduate school. Followers are made up of mostly casual gamers rather than hardcore ones.

“We have a lot of fans who don’t necessarily play but want to join the team,” Dong said.

Gilmore compares Columbia StarCraft and Collegiate StarLeague to intramural sports. “It’s a way to get together with a big group of people who share an interest in a fun, competitive setting,” he said. Dong calls it “a much faster-paced game” than others.

The greatest challenge currently facing Columbia StarCraft is that of receiving club recognition from the Activities Board at Columbia. The coordinators say that being recognized as a club would solve many of the difficulties of running Columbia StarCraft. The group currently meets and competes online in chat rooms as well as on the StarCraft online server but would like a non-virtual environment for practice sessions and competitions. According to the coordinators, a physical meeting space would greatly boost their sense of community, as well as allow prospective students to become immediately oriented in their circle.

Gilmore acknowledges that the game can make “people feel at first that ... it’s a bit inaccessible, and are oftentimes scared off by how fast the game takes place.” Luckily, according to Graif, there is “an incredible amount of literature” to help newcomers adjust.

Also prohibitive to Columbia StarCraft’s recognition is the potential misconception of gamers as “nerds or loners.” “It’s very much the opposite,” Graif said, insisting that it’s more interesting to follow gamers than “professional athletes who earn six-figure salaries. These are normally college students with similar backgrounds.” Gilmore added that the term “nerd” has lost much of its negative association and become “an endearing word.”

Ultimately, Columbia StarCraft is about meeting people. “I came in during the middle of the semester, and I didn’t know anyone,” Graif said. Tournament matches are streamed at www.twitch.tv/columbia_StarCraft.

“It’s much more fun doing something with people you know and at your school than complete strangers,” Gilmore said. “It takes the enjoyment of the game to another level.”
Columbia StarCraft’s next few matches are against New York University, whom the coordinators call their “archrivals.” Across all teams, groups, and sports, some traditions always seem to be upheld.