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About StarCraft
Star Series and eSports
StarCraft is a game series created by Blizzard Entertainment, a famous American game developer.
Among them, Starcraft, which can be said to be the first work, can be said to be the game that led to the establishment of a huge gaming culture and industry called e-sports in Korea.
The reason why Starcraft was able to create such a huge response is due to the characteristics of the genre.
The RTS (Real-Time Strategy) genre , commonly referred to as strategy simulation, is a game genre that focuses on strategic elements , where players manage resources and command units in real time .
StarCraft perfectly embodies the characteristics of the RTS genre, requiring strategic thinking, psychological warfare, and quick judgment as the game progresses.
The depth of these games, combined with the unique game systems of the three different races (Terran, Protoss, and Zerg), provided continued interest, and the StarCraft Proleague was born to meet the needs of fans who wanted a high level of competition.
Since this was the starting point for the establishment of the profession of ‘professional gamer’ and the concept of ‘e-sports’ in Korea, Starcraft can be seen as a game series that laid the foundation for the spread of e-sports culture .
StarCraft in Sports Betting
AOS genres such as LOL (League of Legends) and Dota 2, which are currently the mainstays of e-sports culture, can also be seen as game genres with enhanced strategy influenced by stars.
This is because the term AOS (Aeon of Strife) itself originated from the use map, one of the game modes in StarCraft.
Before the emergence of StarCraft, before the term eSports was widely used, the strategic elements of these games tended to be dismissed as mere entertainment.
However, as Starcraft became popular, these games also began to be treated as a type of ‘mind sport’ , and so the term ‘e-sports’ began to be actively used.
As a result, in the 2010s, the sports betting market gradually began to allow betting on e-sports .
With League of Legends (Asia/Europe) and the Counter-Strike series (North America) becoming mainstream, it was difficult to view StarCraft as a main betting event anymore.
However, in Korea, it has been loved for a long time to the point that it is still called a folk game, and with the tournament being maintained through SSL (AfreecaTV Starleague) and the remastering after 20 years , it can be said that it has reached a second heyday.
As the esports industry continues to develop, betting options and odds are now more accurate than ever before, making it a worthwhile option.
So today, we’re going to take the time to introduce some safe and profitable betting strategies for successful StarCraft betting .
Learn about StarCraft series and competitions
The StarCraft series is a game series with a history of over 20 years, including the early games.
In the process, various innovations such as expansion packs, sequels, and remasters have occurred, and it has received a lot of attention for a long time, and many tournaments have been created.
So, let’s take a look at how the StarCraft series is divided and what competitions are involved.
StarCraft 1
This is the game that usually comes to mind when you think of Starcraft, and to be precise, it refers to the early work that had the expansion pack called ‘Brood War’ applied.
Even after the release of the sequel, StarCraft 2, which will be described later, this work enjoyed much higher popularity among the general public, and is characterized by near-perfect race balance and various strategies accumulated over a long history.
With a major graphic overhaul (remaster) to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the game continues to be played through influencers and various platforms, with tournaments of all sizes being held thereafter.
Star 1 Betting Features
merit
- Depth of Strategy – StarCraft 1 has a history of over 20 years, including remasters, so there is a considerable amount of accumulated strategy and operations, which makes watching matches very exciting.
- Excellent Balance – One of the factors that has made StarCraft so beloved for so long is the relatively even power balance between the playable races. Many strategies have been developed to leverage each race’s strengths or overcome their weaknesses to overcome their opposing forces, making the game a fun and predictable experience.
- Experienced Players and Betters – With a long history, there are many players who demonstrate a high level of skill. Many professional gamers are still active, ensuring a stable overall operation of games and tournaments. Furthermore, fans are highly discerning, making it easy to obtain high-quality information for pre-betting analysis.
disadvantage
- High barrier to entry – For those who have watched professional leagues in the past or played the games themselves, there will be no problem, but for those who are accustomed to modern graphics and game trends, watching the games may be a barrier to entry.
- Limited data – In the case of StarCraft, there are not enough data centers to check match details or player information compared to newer games, so there is limited specific data that can be used for analysis.
StarCraft 2
StarCraft 2 was released with great expectations due to the unprecedented success of its predecessor, StarCraft 1, and although it is not as popular as its predecessor, it still has a large core fan base.
With its improved graphics, visual enjoyment, and the growing e-sports market, it once represented domestic e-sports betting alongside League of Legends.
Although the current popularity is not as good as before due to a limited talent pool and the weakness of the RTS genre, there is still a steady demand overseas, so tournaments and matches are held regularly.
Star 2 Betting Features
merit
- Tournaments and Leagues – While it’s been over 10 years since its release and has been overshadowed by newer games, overseas competitions and leagues of a certain scale are still held consistently, so there’s a good amount of updates on games worth betting on.
- Rich Data – As mentioned above, since the game was released when the esports market was just beginning to grow, it has the advantage of being easier to collect data that can be used for betting than its predecessors.
disadvantage
- Decline in Korea – League of Legends has an overwhelming market share in Korea, and with updates and patches not receiving much response from users, it can be said that the game has already passed its prime in Korea.
- Less strategic than its predecessor – While the previous game was a masterpiece, aside from the graphics, it’s also considered to be significantly inferior to StarCraft 1 in terms of strategy and balance. Therefore, it may be less interesting.
Major competitions
StarCraft 1 Tournament
Forest Star League (SSL)
This is a StarCraft 1 Remastered competition hosted by SUP Co., Ltd. (formerly Afreeca TV), and is based on the former VANT 36.5 National Starleague.
It can be considered the most actively run StarCraft tournament since Pro Starleague, and the level of competition is so high that former star pro gamers participate.
After the group stage, the tournament will proceed to the round of 24 to determine the final winner.
StarCraft 2 tournament
ESL Masters
It is a representative global StarCraft 2 tournament hosted by ESL (Electronic Sports League), a global e-sports company.
A total of 48 participants, including those selected by regional seed, will compete in several stages to determine the winner.
The top four teams will qualify for the Esports World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia and will have a total prize pool of $1 million (approximately 1.4 billion won).
GSL
This is a StarCraft 2 competition hosted by Afreeca TV. It is a league that was established in 2010 and has been in operation for 14 years.
After the online preliminaries, a total of 16 participants will compete in the final tournament.
Up to the quarterfinals, the winner will be decided by best of three sets, and in the semifinals, the winner will be decided by best of five sets. The winner will be decided by best of four out of seven sets in the final.
However, due to the poor performance of StarCraft 2 in Korea, the prize money is decreasing, and its global status is declining.
IEM Masters
A sub-tournament hosted by ESL, held in Katowice, Poland.
The total prize pool is $500,000, and 24 participants will advance through group stages and playoffs to determine the winner.
What are the key StarCraft betting strategies?
StarCraft 1
I will watch as many games as possible
As mentioned above, in the case of StarCraft 1, it is still difficult to obtain specific, up-to-date match data because betting on online platforms like SOOP or tournaments held as events is the main method of betting globally, rather than official leagues.
The silver lining is that with the game having been around for over 20 years, many former Starleague pro gamers are still active, so when they participate in tournaments, they can refer to their past game records.
Especially if you broadcast online or run a YouTube channel , it’s helpful to watch as many games as possible, whether live or replayed, to check out the latest plays and understand players’ form and game management style .
StarCraft 2
Player Data Analysis
StarCraft 2 has a more robust database than its predecessor, Brood War, allowing you to check a player’s record and recent form before placing a bet.
The representative StarCraft 2 database [CWAL.GG] provides user profiles, records, and other data.
Another way is to use the leather record site [NEPHEST] .
However, these records and data sites are usually run through sponsorship, and StarCraft 2 is gradually losing its share of the esports market, so we recommend securing multiple data sites .
Common know-how
Match meta-analysis
The most successful betting strategy for both StarCraft 1 and 2 is to quickly identify the changing game meta .
In the past, StarCraft 1 had such good balance that the established match management method was utilized, but after the remaster , many minor details were added, and the match meta also changed a lot.
Since StarCraft 2 is still undergoing patches and updates, the meta, which is the balance and trends between races, changes frequently, and this can be confirmed through patch notes or mentions in the game community .
It is important to understand these trends, as they can provide a significant advantage to individual players, such as in terms of match compatibility, depending on which game management style becomes the trend.
For StarCraft 2, you can check the game balance changes and bug fixes through the patch notes on the official Blizzard website .
Utilizing Betting Options
While some players have a physical advantage, others are more adept at understanding their opponents’ strategies, so utilizing a variety of betting options rather than simply predicting the winner or loser can be a successful star betting strategy.
In StarCraft tournaments, the first player to win 3 to 5 sets, regardless of the match time, usually wins the match, so using the set betting method can also be a good option.
For example, if Player A has the advantage of quick build-up ability and surprise attacks, and Player B has the advantage of seasoned game management and utilizing various metas, then it can be predicted that Player A will have the advantage in the early set, which is an exploration game, and Player B will have the advantage in the later set, when both sides have figured out each other.
In other words, if you can utilize these betting options, you can bet on StarCraft in a way that is advantageous to you, such as profitability through real-time betting and stability through handicap betting.
- Betting Options Available When Betting on StarCraft
- Win/Loss (betting possible per set)
- Set over
- Set Handicap
- Exact set score
Recommended betting sites?
When it comes to betting on esports, including StarCraft, it’s beneficial to use a platform that offers live streaming capabilities while offering as many matches and betting options as possible .
It’s always a good idea to check in advance whether a company supports StarCraft betting, as many companies don’t support betting at all unless it’s a popular eSport like League of Legends.
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