It’s ironic that distinct styles of any game (ala baseball and cricket) can emerge in the age of globalization, but the blood feud between Blizzard and the Korean E-Sport Association is primed for such an event.  It would be an understatement to say the next twenty-four months are critical in shaping professional gaming’s history.

Recap: At South Korea’s eStars 2009 gaming event, the top Warcraft III player (Jang Jae Ho, a.k.a. Spirit_Moon) and the most accomplished Starcraft player (Lee Yun-Yeol, a.k.a. NaDa) battled in Starcraft II; “The Fifth Race” versus a three-time Starleague champion, competing disciplines colliding in the game of the future.  Initially, KESPA merely prohibited under-contract talent (sans NaDa) from competing in the night’s exhibition matches.  Now, it turns out KESPA used their clout to keep the games off television.

Will the future of professional Starcraft include the founding father?

The prevailing sentiment is that KESPA needs to go fuck themselves, and that they need to keep their grubby hands out of the game.  It’s not that simple.

I originally believed Blizzard’s omission of LAN functionality was a shot at Garena and others, the heavy players in the piracy of Blizzard games.  After discussing the matter with e-friends, I’ve concluded Blizzard is thinking ahead: The removal of LAN is also designed to consolidate control of the professional Starcraft II scene.  We’re potentially looking at an era in competitive gaming where the inventor of the sport becomes the marketing machine for its own product.

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