Life is like a game of Starcraft

*laughs*

Many of you have possibly if not probably heard me use that phrase before, often in a half joking yet half serious manner I don't doubt. Well it's one of my many theories which I am constantly testing out, along with my Alpha Beta idea of group dynamics and various others.

Basically, I believe that almost all events that happen in real life can be linked in some ways to Starcraft, and the solutions are indeed the same.

Take building a youth ministry for example. You begin with a vision and strategy, a goal. "Beat the other team," usually is the goal in most SC games. Once you see the teams, (get to know the people) and your geographical position (what your current ministry's situation is like) you can begin to plan a more specific strategy.

However the first thing is obviously to gather resources (Prayer, money and people for a youth ministry) and then you need to start developing your base structure, based on your strategy. As your base grows (ministry increases) and you production increases (you have more people), you begin to defend against attacks from various enemies (challenges) and you need to strengthen any weaknesses you find in dealing with those attacks... ie building more defense around your resource sector (getting people to pray for more leaders). In short you begin to adapt.

Of course other real life events can be linked to SC as well. A tragic accident could be a nuclear strike on your main resource cluster (you accept the loss and slowly rebuild you command center, remembering that your base and your goal haven't changed), unproductive SCVs can be like a team member who isn't really committed to the cause (you need to find them and give them a project to do). Indeed almost any action in life can be linked to a game of Starcraft.

Which includes the forming of alliances. You see, when you start a new game, often your alliances are already pre-set... top vs bottom normally, 3v3. However in a melee game, you start with no allies, and the aim is to source out who you most get along with, both in terms of strategy (having 2 rushers can be strong... but has its weaknesses), trust (you gotta trust your allies you know) and also in personality (play style... cause a risk taker doesn't go well with a conservative player... unless you really make it work). I've found, in my time in HK, that when you enter into a new group... there comes a point at which you have to choose your allies. Not to say that the various groups will be in opposition to one another... yet ultimately they follow different paths... one leading to victory... and perhaps the other not.

I suppose that's part of my experience at this moment, sorting out who I SHOULD hang out with, and who I will hang out with. Not to say that one group is better or what... but who do I get along the most with... and who has a similar play style and strategy to myself.

Remember, life is like a game of Starcraft... don't forget the ultimate goal... you don't need to win all your battles, learn from your mistakes and become a better player!