[Tom]

I have a love affair with Starcraft that goes back 12 years. At 27, with a real job and life, you might say its time to move on, to grow up. But once bitten…

In the 6 months or so following the release of SC2 (or longer if you count the beta), a new generation of talented players has sprung up. But I am amazed at the old faces I'm continually running into – people that I knew back in the beginning in 1998, players who were the "elite" of their day in 2001, players who have been pillars of the Australian Starcraft community for 10 years.

With the modern "chat channels", connecting with the old community has felt a bit like searching blindfolded. For all of you guys out there (and I know there are many), here's who I know are still playing. I've also included those who played SC2 briefly but left, and some MIA AUS-1ers who really should buy the damn game and get cracking!

There are too many Australian players for me to mention, so I've only gone through those I knew best. Anyone from AUS-1 or TeamAus reading below who I haven't mentioned, please sign in!

Filthy – probably the best known "old schooler" in the modern scene. Always a solid 1v1 player and well known personality on the AUS-1 server, member of the (in)famous Australian crap clan (crap999) back in the day. However, never truly "shone" until his later days as a War3 player. Now needs no introduction as the SC2 random/terran powerhouse that he has become!

Legionnaire – cut his teeth on the AUS-1 server before moving to Korean and becoming a progamer/ all-round e-celebrity. Played casually during beta and early release, but stronger than most even when mucking around (very solid in the games we've played together). Appears to have gone inactive in recent months.

JugglerX – broodwar zerg gosu, self-proclaimed protector of gaming etiquette (Ms Manners), and leader of the crap clan (crap007). Represented Australia at WCG2000 in Korea, along with crap711 and the legendary Australian terran iori. At this stage, televised tournaments in Korea were in their infancy, and when Juggs randomed verses X'Ds~Grrrr… (later to become the first foreign "pro gamer" in Korea), he was surprised to hear the English commentators loudly announce his race to the crowd and (presumably) his opponent! Juggs is still playing the odd game and has maintained a respectable Masters rating and top 200 ranking despite is relatively modest level of activity.

iori – my old 2v2 partner and the best terran ever to come out of Australia (according to the legendary US protoss Smuft, not my bias!). Surprisingly, iori rarely played 1v1, but when he did his mass tank drops and 400 APM were lethal. When iori turned up to WCG2001 as a "spectator", we convinced him to sign up and play at the last minute. He went on the win the Australian qualifier versus Legionnaire in front of the crowd at darling harbour! iori played during the first few months after the release of SC2 (sticking to his customary 2v2), but quit suddenly for reasons unknown.

Outcast – the most naturally talented starcraft player I ever met, with the potential to go pro if he ever focused! Appears to have played a few games of SC2 on SEA before going completely inactive. Baz, seriously, get back on for some games.

YouAreLove – aka HaLL/crap711, the only player I know who got better when stoned. Represented Australia at WCG2000 and a consistently top level Australian player. Played SC2 early on and got a pretty good diamond rating before becoming inactive towards the end of last year. Will hopefully get his @#$% together and log back on for some games.

PwnStar – aka KoRn^DAG^. Old school Australian top level protoss and my clan mate. Won some serious SC2 beta tournaments and was very high up in the SEA top200 when SC2 retail was first released. Has become somewhat inactive of late due to dissatisfaction with the skill level / mechanics of SC2 compared to the original.

Martyr – aka Martyr^DAG^ / crap360. Another old time clan mate/friend. At one stage arguably the strongest player in Australia, particularly during his well publicised games against aLt)Nirvana during the Singaporean invasion of the AUS-1 server. Currently not very active until he gets his computer issues sorted, but I understand he will be playing SC2 seriously and if he ever makes good that threat all I can say is watch out…

RazoR - backbone of the ^DAG^ clan. Hailing from Hervey Bay with Legionnaire (very strange that this small Queensland town can produce do much SC talent!). Skilled with all races, but predominately a zerg player, placed highly in WCG Australian qualifiers in the early 2000s. Notorious smurf, including the ]FC[ clan, where he and I fought many games against shor/sectoid and his Singaporean ring ins! I still can't work out the other ]FC[ members but nirvana might know ... !

Sectoid[Y] – powerhouse of the famous Australia "Y Clan" (www.yclan.org). Currently a professor at the Harvard department of mathematics (seriously, not kidding). 1v1 broodwar genius perhaps best known for his top rankings in early starcraft ladders such as PGT and Tao of Gaming and his famous matches versus Legionnaire when Leg was an unknown emerging on the Australian starcraft scene. Should be well known to nirvana and the other old aLt clan members. Other notable achievements include winning a gold medal in the Australian maths championship and being an insane ping pong player. Also a long-time 2v2 partner of mine. Not playing SC2 to my knowledge, but if anyone knows otherwise I'd love to hear.

Shor[Y] - after working in Singapore, Shor returned to Australia and promptly introduced the aLt clan to the AUS-1 server. Should we well-known by old-school Australian and Singaporean players alike as a talented 2v2 player, notorious gossipmonger and @#$%-stirrer (sex team anyone?)

nGenStarhunt – better known as Starhunter / Starhunter[cF]. Always been a strong Australian player in the starcraft scene, previously spending time on the AUS-1 server but also with his American clan mates in old school Bnet channel "Clan X17". Has made the transition to Starcraft 2 as a top level SEA player.

Shout outs to other old schoolers I know who are or were playing include on SEA or NA:

- Hogfather (founder of AUS-1 server and pillar of the community, now running the site www.starcraft.org.au);

- StationaryE (this guy would be awesome if he ever stayed active and away from WoW – barely plays 1v1 these days but I know he beat Filthy on ladder for example);

- moggy (better known as a WC3 player);

- goOn (damn good BW and WC3 player – not very active in SC2, but still able to place in a S-Class diamond division after only 30 1v1s!);

- Gabriel (was the top zerg on Team Australia around 2003 onwards – was active in sc2 early on but appears to have dropped off a bit);

- Kinnear (aka Scorpion in BW, TasteOfMyCheese in WC3 – recruited by IN-clan early in WC3. Has gone inactive in SC2 but I still see him playing the odd game);

- Shogun (aka Paladin on AUS-1 / Team Australia, is quite active and still battling away on SEA ladder);

- Xenq (very strong Australian BW terran – now playing semi-active on SEA);

- Prodge (former crap clan/DAG member - Dave is still around on SEA fighting the good fight!)

- Artanis (very good BW player back in the day, also quite good early on in SC2 but less active 1v1 now. Still playing the odd game);

- ViRuS (moved to NA and semi-inactive due to WoW; top 2v2 SC2 team with Koi);

- Koi (as above);

- Fragma (top level tournament BW zerg player for Team Australia, now playing semi-actively on SEA under the ID fraggles);

- Yulla (crazy team gamer player from AUS-1 and will be well known to anyone who was on the server during its latter days. Now mass random teamer on SEA and twice as crazy as I remember)

- MicromaN (has just started up again on SEA after a period of inactivity - well known 1v1er on AUS-1)

- Simmo (appears to have been active early after the release, but has probably gone back to WoW. Best known as the Diabolo 2 hardcore PvP dueler)