SC2SEA.com - Starcraft 2 SEA eSports Community Site

Friendships.
 

This blog is going to be me blabbering about something I've felt for a while, so disregard the poor English/grammar.

You guys probably know me as someone that is competitive and dislike being looked down upon, but that was the only second biggest motivator for me to play SC2. Number one was the close friendships and comradery that I've experienced in my SC2 life. My 1st return to the game was because I wanted to be apart of the xGKing team in SEACL.

Lately I've been feeling very lonely while playing SC2, with no close personal friendships and activity, the only person I talked to about SC2 was Iaguz on KR. The memories of playing with nGen, TA, xGKing, iM and mGG makes it very hard for me to let go of a game that has dominated my social life in the past 3 years. However, things are not like what they are used to, feels like I keep trying to bring back a ship that has already sailed. Teammates and friends I've met through SC2 are people I feel are buddies now, but no longer inspire me towards the game the way they used to. The reason I've been streaming the last few days was because I've gotten to the point where I'm absolutely desperate to feel that I'm not alone while playing the game.

I've told my girlfriend about how I've felt for a while now, I keep telling her I'm going to be quitting, but being competitive and lingering memories just keeps me going. So we've come to a goal that I would probably quit once I win major national LAN - which was definitely something I was very confident about following my peaking practice performance. However, after not being able to go to AVCON, and finding out I can't go to ACL, I wasn't even that disappointed, I guess fate is trying to tell me something I already knew.

I started playing Terran at the beginning of Hots because I wanted to revitalise the joy of having fun at the game, and it worked for a while, until competitiveness drove me back to playing Protoss. I had much more fun when I'm playing Terran, but I play Protoss because winning was the ultimate reward, and hearing people say "lol joke race" still puts a smile on my face. Also having the same guy that motivated me to mass practice say that to me makes me second guess why I bother.

Anyway, long story short, I'm moving aside for the likes of Petraeus and joining my old teammates, friends, and competitors in the next chapter of our lives that would hopefully bring me abouts the same loving feelings that SCII has once made me feel.

Rayray


Basically just following the footsteps of Tim, Brad, Dan, Cam, Alex, Thomas?

Re: Friendships.
 

Old School xG chat was some of the best memories I have of Starcraft II, possibly some of the best ill ever have. Although we were never super close I have a huge amount of respect for you, we are friends of sort and Ive got a huge amount of respect for you.

All the best in your future mate!

Re: Friendships.
 

One of the few scary players that I was never comfortable against.

Re: Friendships.
 

sorry to hear that. hopefully we can still argue in sc2sea chatbox from time to time. RIP iM sc2

Re: Friendships.
 

Maybe you should try out a competitive team game (like a MOBA or FPS), assuming you get into the gameplay you'd probably find the comaraderie more motivating.

Re: Friendships.
 

I only hope I can get good enough to share in holding the protoss torch in your leaving rayray


you served as my biggest influence in sea to get better, I always wanted to one day be as good as you.

don't worry, me and the toss brethren will keep the throne warm as soon as we get the chance

Re: Friendships.
 

Really sad, I remember when I started with this community you were the first protoss I became a huge fan of and I always hoped you'd achieve the goals you set yourself. Thankyou for making an impact on my starcraft journey and for the spirt in which you took part in it.

Re: Friendships.
 

No more SEA protoss gg guys it's over, finally only races that require skill and terran is left.

All jokes aside, sucks to hear that. Hopefully you'll enjoy the game more when you aren't always playing to win, but instead playing to have fun and enjoy yourself with your friends. Best of luck to you, hope it all turns out well for you

Re: Friendships.
 

But it IS a joke race, **** you.

Sad to see another of the Old Guard leave. Good luck in whatever it is you do Ray.

Re: Friendships.
 

Didn't really know you all too well Light but it's very sad seeing the protoss beacon of hope leaving SEA. Gl hf!

Re: Friendships.
 

sad to hear! good luck im light

Re: Friendships.
 

I always regarded you as one of the best people in the scene, not only as a player, but also as a person, which I feel is more important. I know what you mean about the loneliness. I think I stopped playing because of the same thing. I was pretty much incapable of laddering unless I was streaming.

It's a shame that things have to end, but starcraft is still there. Even if we stop playing, we still come back to watch and cheer on our players, who are doing better than ever before internationally. And who knows what legacy of the void will bring.

all the best

Re: Friendships.
 

Hey Ray. I really hope you don't leave us entirely. Seeing you pop up in to skype or on streams to have chat from time to time is always fantastic. I know everyone in mGG misses the micro trainer and team games from the end of wol. Unfortunetely I think sc2 is at a point atm where it does drive people in to questioning why they are still here and what exactly it is that they get out of it. I don't really see a lot of incentive for the people who aren't making a living from it to stick around. Undoubtedly you are a person who can make a living from it in the right team environment, but if you don't have the drive to do so anymore, then there might not be any point in kicking a dead horse (if the horse is truly dead that is).

If you were interested in sticking around for a little something. I know there are TONS of protosses screaming for a coach (both in SEA and NA). Maybe you could team up with fenner to do some protoss versions of the zerg tutorials?

Hopefully we still see you around the place, popping in to skype and watching tournaments, barcrafts and clan wars. If not, then go make new friends and fill the SC2 hole with something more fulfilling.

Re: Friendships.
 

Everyone is leaving us T_T

Such an amazing player, you will be missed.

Re: Friendships.
 

Took me a while to think of what to say...

I remember when you first joined the mGG channel and the buzz that caused... how some members such as Stealth and Chase's disappointment turned to excitement when you joined us on skype and mGG as an honorary member. It has always been about the friendship and interaction with you that was #1. It is kinda sad to think you wont be around much though with the other mGG members who have gone inactive but are still alive on skype, we hope that you will still be around on skype at least. While we value your sc2 inputs (you are an amazing player), we too value you as a friend.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavours. Not being in the competitive scene doesnt mean you cant play the game at a more casual level.

Re: Friendships.
 

great blog, brought back so many memories.

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Can't believe i'll never get into that secret Light chat that Xzam told me about

Sad day for SEA Protoss.

Re: Friendships.
 

Hey Ray,

Hope everything will be good for you in the future! Hope the future turns out what you wanted. If not, you have SC2 Friends and of course your Girlfriend and most importantly YOURSELF to support you and to get back on your feet!

You are a amazing gosu player! I like to watch you play when you are streaming and hoping i can be as good as you, probable won't happen to me anytime soon...haha :P

Hopefully you won't leave us totally and see you now and then in SC2 and in Skype!

Good Luck and All the best for the now and in the future!

Re: Friendships.
 

I didn't know you at all Light, but for many I knew you were the big hope for protoss in the SEA scene and all protoss players I knew looked up to you, I hope that one day maybe your passion will be re-ignited and you become that scary threat to any LAN you attended once again.

Re: Friendships.
 

It's a real pity to see you go Ray, we were never exactly friends friends, we kept it more on a "professional" level basis (for lack of a better term) and from the few practice sessions that I did manage to have with you I always enjoyed them thoroughly and learnt a lot. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours, whatever they may be! I'm going to miss having such a high level Protoss practice partner, I doubt I will get the opportunity to practice with someone of your level and stature for a long time.

Re: Friendships.
 

Sad to know I will no longer have someone to try and keep up with for amount of games played at awkward wee hours of the morning

Best of luck with your future Ray

Re: Friendships.
 

Well with all the good players SEA had to offer moving to NA and KR and even EU servers somewhat fulltime now its hard to catch up with the "SEA gang". It saddens me how empty SEA server is now, its like a ghost town. Most pro's are also losing interest in sc2 and moving to other games like LoL and dota 2 and what not. I too wish for the old days back. Back when i was a wee bronze scrub that would chill in the wT chat when wT was at its peak and talk about all random stuff with the awesome players. But i could tell the moment wT eventually died as a team, i felt the whole community of SEA was going to suffer as well. Hence why the moment i heard HOTS was going to be released i had high expectations for not just SEA but for StarCraft 2 in general to maybe revive and be the thrilling game it once was. It did work for like a fortnight then it just died again, and to this day, SEA has gone more dead then ever. It does feel like you are alone these days and it is scary. It makes me wanna change games with my current friends or make more new friends just so i can enjoy the social side of gaming whilst i kick ass! RIP SC2 and RIP SEA. As for you Light, hope whatever you intend to do after sc2 you have all the luck and success you need.

signing off, QEDStodd ~
__________________________________________

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

Re: Friendships.
 

i hate the 10char rule during times like this (takes away the mood)

Re: Friendships.
 

Sad to see you go, Ray. Glad I met you before you quit lol. You're a really cool guy, and I hope I still see you around playing casually for fun just like a lot of us do.

Also, you took a game off one of the best players, Polt. You certainly are leaving the scene on a good note!

Re: Friendships.
 

no you dont!! wait till IEM Singapore!!!!!!!!

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Sucks you couldn't get your final send off. You've always been an inspirational leader of the Protoss Brethren.
You will certainly be missed and your achievements should not be over-looked. One of the top tier players since the entirety of SEA SC2.

Best of luck in the future Ray, hope to see you around some of the events (come say hi at the Sydney ones, at least )