In South Korea the launch of “Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty” was more than just some game, it was the rise of the new national sport that would sweep the nation. South Korea has not only the highest broadband penetration rates in the world (so high that us poor Australians can not even imagine the speed of) but also a dedicated fan base and devotion towards Starcraft that rivals that of professional sports teams around the world.
The professional video game circuit can be highly lucrative for players, with contracts from professional teams and corporate sponsorships. These e-sport teams can earn small fortunes in broadcast tournaments, with the top 2 ranked Starcraft 2 players earning US$300,000 from matches and sponsorship deals. Over US$4,000,000 in prize money has been awarded in total.
Games are broadcast live on television in South Korea, something that is only just beginning to become established in…
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Digital Asia 