How The Most Iconic Esport In Korea Was Almost Banned

In the early days of esports, Starcraft was THE esport in South Korea, but Starcraft 2 failed to get the same initial traction and could've failed to get off the ground altogether.
This is the story of one organization tried to stop Starcraft 2's rise in Korea
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[@Akshonesports]

Do you guys think Kespa was fully at fault in how everything played out? Or do you put some of the blame on Blizzard as well?

[@anidiotv6.996]

Yes

[@archithrough]

Yes

[@user-rx6ny5im1m]

Most of the blame is on blizzard

[@saito853]

I wouldnt call the 2016 matchfixing scandal that nearly killed the scene "drama-free" lmao

[@Akshonesports]

We said *relatively* drama free for a reason! Gotta keep the spicy drama a secret for the future 👀

[@archithrough]

​@@Akshonesportsso this video is already outdated or misleading

[@georgd2763]

@archithrough

[@Glass_Ninja]

​@@Akshonesports​ Honestly, it would make a better and more honest video to cover everything together. And as much as I love SC, it is in no way what people think of when they think Korean esports broadly. Faker is sadly way more in the zeitgeist both globally and in Korea than any bonjwa. League itself has far outstripped StarCraft in both viewers, sponsorships, live events, etc. While SC will always have a very special place as one of the biggest contributors to modern esports, only older people will tell you that it is the Korean esport. Some people might say Overwatch (1, preOWL especially) was the Korean esport than SC (though I'd say that's more recency bias personally).

[@EsportsStoryteller]

Great job capturing the conflict between orgs, but I think there's some stuff to be added/clarified: -StarCraft 2 would have probably had a larger success in 2010-2012 if Kespa transitioned earlier, but there was a lot of competition in Brood War and a big chunk of players enjoyed the old game more. Even later on, many legendary players didn't really like SC2 as much and many of them, including bonjwas as Flash & Jaedong returned back to SC:BW the moment SC2 saw a decline - simply because they played BW better and could earn more there. Brood War and StarCraft 2 are quite different games -Blizzard abandoned support quite some time ago, and yet GSL lived on for many years. They claim this year is the last one, but they also said that before. Hopefully they'll manage to carry on - StarCraft 2 in Korea hasn't been drama free since 2012, in terms of orgs yes, but it suffered immensely because of a match-fixing scandal that ruined the reputation forever. in late 2015 - early 2016. Many accomplished players were involved, including Life, the 2014 World Champion, which in turn led to teams & sponsors pulling out and kespa closing in SC2. This was the biggest hit it suffered, and if it had not happened, it's safe to say things would've looked much better, and maybe we could've still had both GSL and Kespa. It's not that GSL outperformed Kespa events like proleague and some others, it's just that matchfixing stuff that ruined everything

[@jinjinBW]

Swapping earlier wouldn't have done much imo. General attitude among Koreans weren't overwhelmingly positive when it launched towards swapping over. Think it's what it is Sc1 was just a cultural phenomenon and it's lot to ask for sc2

[@Lanzetsu]

Man I read your post with your voice in your videos! Crazy how you good your content has been.

[@ArcadeStriker]

This has to be the first non-Nintendo case where I see companies shoot the foot of a game's competitive scene...and even weirder enough, that it was from a country-specific organizaton [KeSPA] fighting against THE DEVELOPERS wanting to get the game rolling [Blizzard- putting aside that they haven't been...well, that pure as of recent years]. Still cool to hear how there was support from those english casters to help push that Korean league into international waters in particular, as someone completely unfamiliar to Starcraft.

[@fhjunior6183]

Thanks for the vid

[@Lozzu]

the double CHECK OUT THIS ONE WE MADE at the end lol

[@Lanzetsu]

Thanks! To me E-Sports is Starcraft, everything else came after, and I spent the last decade watchind and playing StarCraft 2, watching Akshin Esports and not getting videos on it feels always weird to me as an old boomer.

[@TheDecentt]

Epic vids

[@jeluenhayo2410]

The video itself is cool and all but the epilepsy-inducing scene on 7:40 hurt real bad :)

[@zzala9449]

Wow very good video

[@Akshonesports]

Thanks 🤗

[@neonoir__]

old thumbnail was literally perfect

[@SuAmazing]

oh, which was the old thumb?

[@MyShadyx]

Even though KeSPA is an organization of many teams, I think their support and their mindset is only subject to a certain broadcast like OGN. I think that's suck because it makes the Korea E-sport looks really bad internationally LMFAOOOOOOOOO. Great videosss I didnt know this happened

[@hachijospaniard5643]

No wonder that the RTS e-sport field didn´t expand outside of South Korea...

[@MyShadyx]

@@hachijospaniard5643 very much so, I think there more underline reason such as nepotism or favoritsm that why i think Esport popularity in east asia and southeast asia will need extra attention

[@mcthepro123]

Sc2 died from life and hots

[@EsportsStoryteller]

Life was the chosen one who betrayed us all

[@zinfuldreams1709]

after 3 thumbnail swaps are you ready to give up on this video being a success?

[@alexandergustafson599]

who cares about first

[@SpruceLog]

7:34 - 7:51 can we get an epilepsy warning

[@chinesesparrows]

Starcraft first

[@Eurynomos326]

I kinda like your vids but I hate your titles so much that I won't watch.