• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Why BarCraft Austin Is Becoming a Local Phenomenon

May 24, 2012 by Eric Highland 20 Comments

Imagine 120,000 people live in a stadium shouting at the top of their lungs. They aren’t watching soccer, football or a concert. They are watching world championship eSports, specifically StarCraft II.

Competitive live video game tournaments are taking the world by storm, and Austin has been impacted as well. As a matter of fact, Austin City Limits’ Moody Theatre is hosting a StarCraft II event May 26th-27th. Fans from all over the world are coming to watch a live match right here in Austin. In addition, there are multiple events that take place monthly in Austin where you can check this phenomenon out.

More on that in a moment. First, some background.

All gamers have heard the phrase, “You are wasting your life with that stuff.” But that attitude is rapidly changing. Did you know that there are gamers out there making over six figures a year competing? It’s true.

Stephano, a well-known and highly respected 19 year old French gamer, earned over $111,000 in 2011 playing StarCraft II, not including his team salary. But Stephano is just one guy. Korean players make even more money and dominate the sport, the way Team USA Basketball dominates the Olympics.

Starcraft LogoTake that, mom!

Before you quit your day job, know that the skill of these pro gamers is measured by Actions Per Minute (APM), or how many clicks and keystrokes they average each minute. While the casual gamer is said to average around 60 APMs, the pro at this level averages 300. So before you go using this article to defend your gaming obsession, make sure you can hang with the big boys.

So you might be thinking that this is cool and all, but what does it have to do with Austin?

Recently, I was invited by friend and local filmmaker Andrew Lee to an event here in Austin called BarCraft. BarCraft Austin was held at Plucker’s on Rio Grande, and the house was packed.

Nearly 100 people filled the place eating wings, drinking Red Bull and vodka (Red Bull sponsored this event) and cheering on their favorite gamers who were competing head to head in a live stream tournament of StarCraft II. The live event was put on by Major League Gaming and was taking place live in New York City, but being broadcast to BarCrafts all around the globe, including BarCraft Austin.

I sat with Andrew Lee and his friends Andrew O., Josh and Jason as they schooled me in what BarCraft is all about, and helped me understand the Austin connection.

Recent BarCraft Austin Event at Plucker’s

BarCraft Austin monthly events draw anywhere from 100-300 gaming fanatics. But this isn’t your stereotypical gamer crowd. The group was a mix of about 50% professional adults and 50% UT students. As I looked around the room of gamers and fans, I commented on how packed the place was. Andrew Lee mentioned that this was actually a small crowd because Diablo III had just been released. He also told me that BarCraft events are now in over 271 cities in the world. Though they are mainly focused on StarCraft II at the moment, some locations also stream other games.

I sat back at the BarCraft Austin event and soaked it all in. Trying to capture the moment, I listened carefully and overheard things like Andrew O. asking Josh, “Is your Protoss style worthy of my Zerg style yet? It’s all Z vs. Z now and if you aren’t Zerg, well then it’s not important for you anymore.” And something about gaming mouses that will “change your life.”

What the heck they were talking about was far beyond me. My knowledge of video games ended when Wrath of the Lich King came out for World of Warcraft. Needless to say, I’m a little behind the times. Though I still don’t fully understand what they were talking about, I can tell you that everyone at BarCraft Austin was having a blast.

I asked Andrew Lee how he got involved, and he laughed and said that when StarCraft came out – the original – his then girlfriend wasn’t thrilled with him playing all the time. So he made it into his job.

Local Austin filmmaker and BarCraft organizer Andrew Lee

Andrew Lee is producing a documentary called Star Nation, scheduled for release sometime in 2013. Smiling broadly, Andrew chimed, “So now when I play or watch, it is all work related.”

Andrew mentioned that with Austin being such a huge technology hub, where game development is a massive industry, it’s only natural that BarCraft Austin would generate a significant level of interest.

He also suggested that anyone interested should check out the StarCraft II event on May 26th-27th called “Red Bull Battlegrounds” that is taking place at the Moody Theatre.

Whether you can make that event or not, you are into gaming at all or whether you are a professional or a student, get to know these guys at BarCraft Austin. They are really having a good time and they give away stuff at their events like mouses that will change your life.

@EricHighland asks:

Are you a gamer? What is your game of choice and what is your gamertag? (Mine is Sorcegon on Xbox 360. Feel free to add me up; just know that I probably average around 20 APM and I pretty much suck.)

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Comments

  1. Troy Herman says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:32 am

    Thanks for the information, too bad I am not in town to attend… but the info is great. I usually watch these “after the fact” on the internet after the tournaments have ended. As a gamer (more during the winter months when I am not outside as often), these are always exciting to watch and understand the skill and mental dexterity needed to compete.

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      May 24, 2012 at 10:55 am

      Haha Troy… the wings at Plucker’s looked pretty good too. Oh and on another note, I’m starting to hold some of my meetings on the Disc Golf course at Zilker. Thought you might find that humorous. By the way you should definitely come down to a BarCraft event sometime. I think you’d enjoy it.

      Reply
  2. newbtoss says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:58 am

    eSports is exploding! Don’t get left behind! 🙂

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      May 24, 2012 at 10:54 am

      It really is. Thanks for turning me onto it.

      Reply
  3. Josh Marshall says

    May 24, 2012 at 10:42 am

    Awesome write up — thanks for coming out! Hopefully lots of “closet Starcrafters” (and maybe even fans of other games) will see the article and join us at our next event.

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      May 24, 2012 at 10:56 am

      Thanks Josh.. what I really liked was that everyone was having a really great time and there were no “jerks” around.. just a bunch of pretty laid back people who were enjoying the atmosphere and talking in weird Z tongues that I couldn’t really understand. 

      Reply
      • Josh Marshall says

        May 24, 2012 at 11:22 am

        Yeah, we have a strict no-jerk policy. 🙂 While there is a “Z tongue” (or “P tongue” or “T tongue”), most avid fans of the game are happy to educate new members if they show any interest. (Or even if they don’t!)

        Reply
  4. Angie Lee says

    May 24, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    great article!! I had so much fun at my first BarCraft that now I drag as many of my friends out there as possible 😀

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      May 24, 2012 at 1:28 pm

      I think I met you there Angie! I think if all gamer guys knew you they might just pack the place out everytime.. haha Great meeting you and congrats on winning one of the door prizes!

      Reply
  5. Austin TX Followers says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Am I the only one that has never heard of StarCraft?

    Reply
    • do it! says

      May 24, 2012 at 1:16 pm

      no, you’re not the only one, but you should check it out! 🙂

      What is StarCraft II – http://youtu.be/yu1Ze3ucsfo

      Reply
  6. newbtoss says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    C-net.uk also did a great video about barcrafts you can check out here: http://youtu.be/Z3aDGqgEOb4

    Here’s a glimpse of the US StarCraft community: http://youtu.be/VchuKnJONSk

    Reply
  7. David says

    May 24, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    I’d love to learn more about it, but apparently I need a FB account to get more information.  Ohh well, -1 fan.

    Reply
    • newbtoss says

      May 24, 2012 at 2:03 pm

      We’re working on a website soon!! Because we’re all volunteer driven, it takes a little while to get stuff done. Until then, you can check us out on http://www.reddit.com/r/barcraftaustin or the more general subreddit http://www.reddit.com/r/barcraft

      Reply
  8. Eden Simone Snowden says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    Great write up! I always wondered what non-starcrafters thought when caught in the middle of a barcraft!

    On a slightly off topic note, when I met Andrew Lee he thought I was going to steal his phone!

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      May 24, 2012 at 11:20 pm

      Thanks for the compliment @facebook-100002077884811:disqus appreciate it. Yeah, it was quite an experience. I really enjoyed it. The real question is were you going to nab Andrew’s phone? hehe

      Reply
  9. Raleighite says

    May 25, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    I’m kicking myself for leaving early as I heard my name was the first called for those tickets…sigh. Either way I had a blast at the event. I’m new to the town (just moved to Austin from Raleigh,NC in Feb) so getting a chance to meet other Blizzard game lovers was a huge help. Had a great time, and will be returning again. Just a word of warning, if you order a mug instead of the pint bring a DD 🙂

    Reply
  10. Khoa Le says

    June 7, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    I love Austin, and I love Starcraft.  This is absolutely incredible.

    Reply
    • EricHighland says

      June 7, 2012 at 9:14 pm

      Glad you found the article @924ed78c4fd60054b0b45b50311d3a48:disqus how did you find out about the article? Are you planning on hitting up one of the BarCraft Events? If so get to know @4dc8b6b5af487e816603427be7a5f201:disqus and @joshmarshall:disqus they are regulars at the event. 

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 8, 2023 include Illumaverse, Austin Trail of Lights, and More!

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 8, 2023 include Illumaverse, Austin Trail of Lights, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of December 8 which include the Illumaverse, Austin Trail of Lights, Peppermint Parkway, Broadway in Austin: My Fair Lady, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for […]

Ice Skating Austin

Ice Skating Austin Guide – Explore the City’s Best and Coolest Rinks!

Looking for ways to create more winter memories? Then ice skating in Austin might be just what you need to feel like you’re experiencing a winter in the city! The city offers a variety of venues for those looking to enjoy ice skating Austin TX style. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced skater, there’s […]

Austin Christmas Lights 2023

Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – A Guide to the City’s Brightest Displays

As we tick closer to Christmas, amidst the rush of holiday markets, the hunt for the perfect presents, and squeezing in those festive parties into our busy schedules, it’s crucial to find time to unwind and enjoy the season. If you’re looking to step back and indulge in a delightful activity with your loved ones, […]

Austin Christmas Lights 2023

Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!

Hear, hear, the sparkly season is near! From now through the end of the season, festive holiday light trails adorn the Texas Hill Country, and we’ve discovered the best and brightest dazzlers around. Everyone loves the Zilker Park lights, yet if you want to set forth on an illuminated adventure beyond these famous Austin holiday lights, read […]

Thanksgiving 2023 Austin Events

Thanksgiving 2023 Austin Events – Enjoy These 10 Things to Do, Activities, & More!

Thanksgiving 2023 is just around the corner, and Austin, Texas, is gearing up for a season brimming with festivities, warmth, and community spirit. As we anticipate the joyous celebrations, let’s embrace the essence of Thanksgiving in Austin – a blend of traditional feasts, holiday cheer, and memorable moments with loved ones. Whether you’re a local […]

Recent Posts

  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of December 8, 2023 include Illumaverse, Austin Trail of Lights, and More!
  • Ice Skating Austin Guide – Explore the City’s Best and Coolest Rinks!
  • Santa Pictures Austin – Your 2023 Holiday Guide to the Best Santa Photo Opportunities in the City!
  • Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – A Guide to the City’s Brightest Displays
  • Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • Austin Christmas Lights 2023 – Your Guide to Dazzling Holiday Displays in the City and Beyond!
  • Winter Camp Austin 2023 – Find the Perfect Camps for Your Child This Holiday Season!
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • Shop Local at 10 Trend-setting Menswear Clothing Stores in Austin
  • Birthday Freebies Austin 2023 – List of Over 45 Best Restaurants, Food Places, & Stores with Birthday Month Deals Near You

Copyright © 2023 · Log in