PGR21.com


Date 2007/02/02 02:22:52
Name 퍼플레인
Subject A Shaking Mythology and a Newly Upcoming Legend
이번 글은 김연우님의 '흔들리는 신화, 새롭게 쓰이는 전설'입니다.
초벌번역을 해주신 Means님께 감사드립니다.
명백한 오/탈자가 아닌 이상은 수정을 받지 않겠습니다.

This article was written by Kim YeonWoo.
Special thanks to Means for the roughdraft.
Corrections other than spelling will NOT be appreciated:D



------------------------------------------------------------------------------



   ::  Ball Games and Starcraft ::




- A Ball That Rules the World

People all over the world are being enthusiastic over the sports. And the sports are played with 'round' balls. Soccer, baseball, basketball,
volleyball, table tennis, tennis, golf, you name it. In most of the popular sports, players do with balls.

It is the magical power of the ball that governs the Earth.



- Fight for Balls, Fight for Possessing Balls

It was a cartoon titled 'Dragon Ball' that has ruled my teens along with another cartoon 'Slam Dunk.' Even though its later part of story
becomes like a heroic one, this cartoon basically describes a fight for Dragon Ball, an omnipotent magic ball.


The ball with the power and the fight for it; together they compose the core of ball games.
In soccer, a team with more goals wins. The only way to score a goal is to kick the ball into the goalpost. Only the one with the ball is able
to score, and the best defense is not to give the ball to the opponent. The ball represents the initiative of the game. Therefore the
'ball occupation rate', which means 'how long a team had the ball', becomes a critical data in the evaluation of a game.



< An intense fight for the ball; a beauty of ball games >




- Is Starcraft a ball game?


Someone says 'it is,' since a ball inside a mouse is certainly a ball. Of course, it's a joke.

As a matter of fact, Starcraft is similar to ball games with respect to a fight for the dominance. In a Starcraft game, the dominance means
'who occupies the center.' The occupation of the center allows an attack upon the opponent and the defense of its base.



- Passing the ball around and the 24-Second Shot Clock  

In 2006 WorldCup, Korea focused on the defense rather than the offense by passing the ball around, when leading the game against
Togo 2 to 1. Some were disappointed with this play. Passing the ball around is a fatal defect of ball games.

A leading team wins the game as long as it sustains the score difference for the remaining time. Furthermore, if it has the ball, meaning
the initiative, it is much easier to defend.

Thus exists the 24-Second Shot Clock in a basketball game. A team can have the ball only for 24 seconds, therefore exerts to attack
to its best while having the initiative, the ball.



< Marines vs. Zerglings, Terran wins!  >



< Zerglings and Lurkers vs. Marines, Zerg wins! >



< A combination of units vs. Zerglings and Lurkers, Terran wins! >



< With Defilers, Zerg wins! >



- Tech-Tree and Massing

In the early battle among units, A leads; in the middle stage, B gets the edge; then at last, A dominates the game again. That's a
Starcraft game. That's why 'timing' matters. This timing depends on the tech-tree.

This plays a role of the 24-Second Shot Clock in the basketball game. While taking the advantage, the player should deliver an attack to
a greater extent, but when taking the disadvantage, he should refrain from a reckless attack until he gets back the edge.

Then came the era of massing. It means pupming basic units instead of teching. The power of tech-tree as the 24-Second Shot Clock
was decreased. Therefore, the appearance of turtling as passing the ball around is very much reasonable.




   :: A Lost-Temple Style Large-Scale Battle at the Center::




- A Lost-Temple Style Large-Scale Battle at the Center

The easy-to-get mineral and gas expansions, and the center battlefield which bridges every expansion.

Simply put, a huge amount of resources that guarantee a large number of units, and the vast center which gives leading players the
advantage are at the hearts of a lost-temple style battle.

Even after a player loses one battle and retreats to his base, he can seek a moment to lead the game after replenishing his units
from plenty of resources.
In addition, if a player comes to occupy the center which connects every base, he can overturn the game immediately.

A lost-temple style large-scale battle has become a basis for building official maps for 7 years after Starcraft broadcastings have started.


< A representative large-scale center map, Lost Temple >





- Zerg, As The Last Runner of the Era of Massing

'Massing' is meaningful only because it works. Because of Zerg's basic units are very weak against the unit combination of other races,
'massing' is not in Zerg's dictionary.

Rookie Zerg players, however, are different. sAviOr combines a stable three-Hatchery tactic with a basic strategy against Terran,
consisted of Mutalisk and Lurker and expansions and Hive. Zerglings and Hydralisks accompanied with Dark Swarm and Plague
from Defilers combat evenly with Marines and Medics or Zealots and Dragoons.



- Arcardia II and Where is 24-Second Shot Clock?

The aspects of TvsZ in Arcardia II are so unique. Its imbalance, 0:10, is strange, but the more peculiar fact is that 'Terran lost the game
after having done everything he wanted to do.'
In existing imbalanced maps, the problem was disadvantages of certain races that could not have the wanted unit combinations due
to the difficulty of powering the economy. The resource-concentrated maps which allows the players to do whatever they want,
so called the 'Lost Temple Style Nature and Mineral expansions,' guaranteed the minimum balance among races.

But in Arcardia II, Terran players have a hard time. Terran fails to reclaim the center dominated by Zerg; stuck at its base and losing
the game after all.

When Zerg entered the era of massing, a variable called tech-tree has disappered, and so has the 24-Second Shot Clock. As a fast and
stable Hive strategy prevails, the TvsZ games are Marines, Medics, Tanks and Vessels against Zerglings, Lurkers and Defilers. With
the disappearance of tech-tree, the unit combination variable, losing one large-scale battle means a final defeat; not a way to recover
the unit differences.


< The balance in Arcardia looks relieved, but 0:10 was of course shocking. >





- A Shaking Lost Temple Myth

So far, Lost Temple has been prevalent. It is still the most popular map, and its biggest competitor is Luna, a similar style map.
There's a long way to go to escape from the concepts of stable nature and the center favoring large-scale fights.

However, it is obvious that Lost Temple is losing its position.
At the this time, when 24-Second Shot Clock which represents tech-tree in Starcraft vanishes, a leading player does not show an aggressive
action and just passes the ball around, after he occupies the center. The opponent can neither bring the ball back again nor overturn
the aspect of the game.




   :: Changes in Team Plays ::



- Why Don't Fans Like Team Plays?

Some fans don't like team plays and matches between the same race. They prefer games between different races. I really do, too.
Why not? For me, that is because of a simple unit combination. Anyway, we have to see just units from one race. Because the
same units fight against each other, the game lacks its dynamic aspects, originated from the differences in units.



- Not so much distinguishment in games between two diffrent races

Nowadays, a lot of people say games between the same race (TvT, PvP, and ZvZ) are also interesting. I totally agree that the difference
in interests between same-race games and difference-races games (TvZ, PvT, and ZvP) has decreased. However, I believe that this
is not because the former became more interesting, but because the latter got boring. Tech-tree and unit combination no longer matter
in difference-races games, which made them not so much distinguishable from the same-race games. The outcome only relies on
massing and control.



- Changes in Team Plays Modeling on Individual Plays

Some people like Hunter-style basic team plays; a spectacle battle between a huge number of Zealots and Zerglings, but a lot of
others don't.

To overcome this weakness of team plays, map designers attempted some special changes. Exemplary cases are Iron Curtain,
Full Moon (a.k.a. Mang-wol), and Vampire.

Iron Curtain, the most successful team-play map, became a success due to its one on one aspect just like in individual games and
an island structure favorable to teching. The concept of Full Moon and Vampire wasn't very much different. That was why 2 gases were
at the main base; it takes more gas than mineral for teching.


- A Change to a New Direction, Would It Be Possible?

A typical measure to deal with the loss of tech-tree and the uniformity of units is 'a return to tech-tree,' which led to a conception of two
gases at the main bases. It was intended to put more power upon gas-originated units than mineral-originated ones.

That is the most basic answer. But it might not be the best way to solve the problem. What is a new way? Where is the alternative?






   :: From Janggi to Baduk ::




- Starcraft and Janggi

Janggi (Korean chess: click here for more information) is a board game,
with two players competing with each other with 16 different units; 'Cha,' a chariot with a strong power and mobility; 'Ma,' a horse with
the similar power like 'Cha'; 'Jol,' a soldier with the lowest rank.
Janggi is very similar to Starcraft, in that units with different characteristics show a variety of fights against each other; A High Templer with
the strong magical power, a Siege Tank with a very long range, and the twinborn Zerglings.



- Starcraft and Baduk

However, things have changed.
Ironically, the sum of unique units are rather uniformed.

A marine who used to be a dominating hero in the game with amazing control became 'one of them' in the corps of Marines,
Medics, Tanks, and Vessels.

The only way for Terran to beat the troop of Zealots, Dragoons, Templers, and Observers is the comparable 'Macro.'

How about Zerg, which used to be characterized with mobility? Zerglings and Lurkers became complemented by Defilers and
finally achieved a strong power comparable to that of Terran, but they lost mobility, an advantage that Terran has never had.

After a main force became a large scale of troops, characteristics of different units have disappeared, and thereby those of different
races have, too.
Now, Starcraft is like Baduk, rather than Janggi or chess.





   :: The Opposite of Lost Temple - A Bifrost-Style Dogfight ::



- What If There Are More Than One Ball?

As mentioned above, passing the ball around is one of the fatal defects of the ball games.

Then, what will happen if there is not one ball, but two or three? Even better, what if each player has its own ball?
A player passing around his ball and wasting his time loses points to other balls. Securing one ball no longer sustains the advantage.

Instead the center battlefield in Lost Temple-Style maps, there exist many routes to secure for benefits in Bifrost; the forked road.



- The Beginning of Forked Roads, Bifrost

In the 2nd match of the 2003 Olympus Starleague(OSL) Finals,  XellOs vs. YellOw, at Neo Bifrost.

XellOs was being pushed by YellOw's astonishing Defiler play. From the center to the bridge, from the bridge to the entrance, from the
entrance to the nature, and from the nature to the main base.
What saved XellOs from the hell was just a dozen of Marines and Medics. Defilers and Lurkers, invincible unit combinations to Terran,
lose their power all of a sudden, when no Zerglings for Definers' energy is provided. After a dozen of Marines and Medics suspended
the Zergling supply, Zerg lost the game in vain.

In Lost Temple style maps, losing the power leads to losing the center, and losing the center deprives of chances to attack. However,
in Bifrost, detour ways make it much easier for a player to regain the initiative, even after he loses the leadership, has fewer units,
or has a weaker power.




< A surprising reversal made by a dozen of Marines and Medics >





- Dispersed Battlefields, Where Dogfights Happen

Only one center battlefield seems not so suitable for the current trend. In today's world, control and massing are maximized. Everyone
deserves a title of a 'brave general' in the fight. If there exists only one center battlefield in a map, their games will be so simple.

Detour ways have to be created. Maps should be vaster. A map has to be transformed into a strategic battlefield, unable to rely
on only tactics. In dogfight stlye battlefields, the mere micro and macro do not guarantee a victory; the concentration, dispersion and
mobility of the force becomes more important.

We need a map that requires players with insights who can observe every fight and situation all over the map.



-Can The Era of Napoleon Reappear?

At the first scene of The Legend of the Galactic Heroes, a Japanese SF Novel, The Free Planet Alliance Army encircled the Empire Army
from three sides with a twice number of solders. But, Grand Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm defeated the enemy forces one by one
by the mobile warfare. This battle at the first scene of this novel models upon that of Napoleon, during the operation in Italy.

In my opinion, what Starcraft leagues mostly need at this time is a spectacle mobile warfare as in the era of Napoleon. Certainly,
the characteristics of units have disappeared, tech-tree has vanished, but troops remain. Still, Zerg is mobile, Terran is solemn,
and Protoss is strong.

If Starcraft games so far have been contests of strength between brave generals such as Lu Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, or Huh Zuh
in Romance of Three Kingdoms, I believe that games in the new age will be fights with intelligence between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi;
not in a single battlefield, but in multiple battlegrounds. Intense mobile warfares for catching the opponent's back will create a new world
of Starcraft.

I also believe the new start should be the team plays. Team play maps are more generous than other maps, and they require a better
understanding for power and management of forces, and are more suitable for dogfights. New attempts such as putting many
deterrence lines for Terran and Protoss team against the two-color opponent rush or creating 256x256 maps for team plays will be
necessary to write a new history and a new legend.



*Original article by Kim YeonWoo
Translated by Means @ PgR21.com (noticeme@umich.edu)
Final edition and translation by PurpleRain



통합규정 1.3 이용안내 인용

"Pgr은 '명문화된 삭제규정'이 반드시 필요하지 않은 분을 환영합니다.
법 없이도 사는 사람, 남에게 상처를 주지 않으면서 같이 이야기 나눌 수 있는 분이면 좋겠습니다."
morncafe
07/02/02 02:52
수정 아이콘
이 글이 올라 오길 기다리고 있었는데, 드디어 올라 왔군요. 수고 많으셨구요, 오히려 영작보다 편집이 더 힘들었을 것 같습니다. 이번에도 많이 배웠습니다. 근데, shaking 인가요 아님 shaken 인가요.., 헷갈립니다. ^^;
퍼플레인
07/02/02 03:04
수정 아이콘
shaking으로 쓰는게 맞을 것 같습니다:D 다른건 모르겠고, 김연우님의 방대하신 지식 덕분에 저도 공부를 많이 했네요 이번엔;;
이건 뭐 정말 논문이래도 할 말이 없지 말입니다.
07/02/02 10:22
수정 아이콘
드디어 올려주셨네요. 감사합니다. 명확하지 못한 부분을 많이 고쳐주신점 또한 감사드립니다.
임요환의 DVD
07/02/02 10:43
수정 아이콘
잘 읽었습니다^^
김연우
07/02/02 12:12
수정 아이콘
번역글 퍼가도 되나요?
항즐이
07/02/02 13:41
수정 아이콘
출처를 밝히시면 펌 가능합니다.
연우님 글인데요 하하.
07/02/02 15:02
수정 아이콘
진짜 깔끔하게 잘 하셨네요 ;;
존경 존경.
sway with me
07/02/02 17:39
수정 아이콘
햐아~
이런 글을 쓰신 연우님이나
멋지게 번역해주신 분들이나
존경 존경 (2)
Timeless
07/02/02 22:45
수정 아이콘
번역 두번째 줄에 Speial thanks -> Special thanks

퍼플레인님 항상 수고하십니다_(_ _)_
퍼플레인
07/02/03 01:09
수정 아이콘
수정했습니다. 역시 새벽에 정신없이 올리다보니 저런 실수를 하는군요ㅠㅠ
Qck mini
07/02/03 09:52
수정 아이콘
역시 전문가는 다르군요.... 대단하세요
07/02/03 13:11
수정 아이콘
아 근데 http://senseofstar.blogspot.com/
여기가보니깐 여기서도 예전에 번역을 했었나보네요.
퍼플레인
07/02/03 17:59
수정 아이콘
말씀해주신 사이트는 개인 블로그인거 같군요. 알려주셔서 감사합니다.
김찬민
07/02/03 20:47
수정 아이콘
Passing the ball arond
-> around
비오는날이조
07/02/14 17:52
수정 아이콘
멋진번역이네요 ^^;
(운영진 수정. 비회원의 경우에는 영어 코멘트만 가능합니다)
KenMarshall
I think, that is interesting for all.
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41 [RE]The Captain Drake_The POS_MBC game Hero.. 퍼플레인34106 07/05/16 34106
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38 [re] The Irony Man, NaDa 퍼플레인31323 07/05/07 31323
36 The Irony Man, NaDa The xian31658 07/05/02 31658
35 [re] Team Evaluation by FP 퍼플레인24689 07/05/03 24689
34 FP를 이용한 게임단 평가입니다. ClassicMild29414 07/04/14 29414
33 [re] [Grade-B column by sylent] Damnit, Nal_rA. [1] 퍼플레인27203 07/05/02 27203
32 [sylent의 B급칼럼] 강민, 빌어먹을. [1] sylent33894 07/01/13 33894
31 [re] Progamer Rank based on the rank point in Ongamenet and MBCGame leagues [2] 퍼플레인27124 07/04/26 27124
30 양방송사 개인대회 순위포인트를 통한 '랭킹' [3] 信主NISSI31006 07/04/01 31006
29 9레벨부터 댓글 가능합니다.(Only those who are Level 9 or above can comment.) [1] 퍼플레인26353 07/04/25 26353
28 [re] Not Useless 퍼플레인27020 07/04/22 27020
27 [단편] 쓸모없지 않아 볼텍스33612 06/11/23 33612
26 [re] FP(Force Point) - Measuring the players' Force! [5] 퍼플레인32378 07/04/12 32378
25 FP(Force Point) - 선수들의 포스를 측정해 보자! [1] ClassicMild32413 07/04/01 32413
24 김택용 빌드의 비밀 [6] 체념토스49290 07/03/31 49290
22 [re] [Grade-B column by sylent] BonJoa vs others [5] 퍼플레인24709 07/04/04 24709
21 [sylent의 B급칼럼] 본좌 vs others sylent30104 07/01/25 30104
20 [re] Maestro, SaviOr Walks On Water [2] 퍼플레인18156 07/03/01 18156
18 Maestro, SaviOr Walks On Water 항즐이30361 07/02/21 30361
17 A Shaking Mythology and a Newly Upcoming Legend [17] 퍼플레인16618 07/02/02 16618
16 흔들리는 신화, 새롭게 쓰이는 전설 김연우28381 06/09/25 28381
15 [re] Balance Arguments; Looking in the Mirror [1] 퍼플레인15001 07/01/29 15001
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