StarCraft (Brood War)
There are very few expansions that did more for a game, and even for an entire industry, than StarCraft Brood War. How many expansions can say they are permanently embedded in the cultural identity of an entire country? Even before Brood War was released way back in 1998, StarCraft was an excellent RTS game. However, this expansion took things to another level.
The stability Brood War brought with its new units and balance changes created fertile ground for an esports explosion in Korea. Its popularity in the country was so strong, that it is considered by many to be the beginning of modern esports. The game drew fans to internet cafes that are still regularly used in the today. Brood War competitions were broadcast on television in South Korea, which is impressive even by today’s standards; and if you think describing to a non-gamer the appeal of watching Twitch is hard in 2016, imagine explaining early 2000-era Brood War tournaments that drew in tens of thousands of people.
Brood War was so solid that Blizzard didn’t feel compelled to release a successor until all the way in 2010. And although the sequel has been controversial and polarizing for Brood War purists, StarCraft II in a lot of ways continued Brood War’s legacy in popularizing Twitch, the now standard app for watching video game competitions. Even still to this day though, Brood War competitions exist in Korea and you regularly find ex-pros and fans online playing and streaming.
