Starcraft multiplayer requires some very specific set of skills in order to be successful. I don't have them. Here are my thoughts on it anyway.
A collection of critical thinkers and analysts.
From the above, I think my original statement is clear. I suck. I am used to sucking in games, at first. Heck, my first few times through Call of Duty multiplayer resulted in maybe 6 kills total. But at least with that, I saw small signs of progress. Each match I was getting a little bit better and a little bit smarter with my decisions. That never seemed to happen with Starcraft. No matter how good I felt about my setup during the initial stages of a game, the crushing defeat I experienced at the end would always get rid of any optimism. I just don’t have it.
This is actually a really good example for the contingent of people that still feel video games are brainless fun for children. I dare you to try your hand at SC multiplayer. The skill set required is immense. In my limited time with it I noticed a need for:
- Ability to learn quickly.
- Ability to quickly react to a dynamic environment.
- Ability to strategize and think critically.
- Ability to analyze results (metrics) and produce changes to approach.
- Ability to control emotions in times of high stress.
The funny thing is countless employers are looking for those very traits in their job posting. In many ways, the soft skills we learn to use in video games can be used to drive careers. This is, however, specifically from multiplayer games. While computer controlled opponents can be challenging, they usually tend to fall into a pattern that is easy to predict with time. The unique human versus human interactions are the ones that give us a much more intriguing experience.
