Starcraft 2: Legacy of the Void (LotV) had just been recently released,
and as a gamer, I cannot wait to get my hands on it (though that would only be
in late December earliest T_T). So in conjunction to this (and also since I had
just finished my conference presentation), I felt inclined to relate the game in
this write-up. For anyone reading this who are unfamiliar, Starcraft is a sci-fi
real time strategy (RTS) game franchise by Blizzard Entertainment, first
released back in the mid 90s.
My start-off point will be recent LotV trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_XwzBMTJaM). The Protoss, who had
lost their homeworld Aiur to the Zerg have returned to reclaim their homeworld.
Three Zealots, two High Templars and
one floating robotic Probe were pitted against numerous Zerg as the Protoss
attempted to hold their perimeter.
The 5 Protoss warriors took the spotlight as they fought to hold off the
Zerg, long enough for the Probe to warp in a Pylon that would bring in
reinforcements. Here is something worth noting. The Probe, weakest among the six was the core of the Protoss’ plan. With almost zero battle potential, it could
do little to contribute directly on the frontlines. In the game, the Probe is
at the foot of the Protoss hierarchy, the first unit a player can build, the
cheapest and perhaps the fastest to bring into play.
Yet even as it is the first unit to be acquired, it is generally the
last to be disposed. The Probe is an indispensable worker for its ability to
gather resources and warp in structures. Destroying the opponent’s workers
while safeguarding their own, rather than engaging head on in a large scale
battle is a common strategy especially among professional players.
The
Probe warping in a Pylon.
The above description is a gamer’s equivalent to Matthew 23:11 as well
as Luke 9:48, “He who is greatest among you shall be
your servant,”; “He who is least among you is
the one who is great.” Going back to the trailer, the Probe can be
easily wiped out by any one from the Zerg forces; yet it also has the potential
to bring forth an army a hundred times larger than the initial small Protoss
force, as seen near the end of the trailer.
Another interesting observation from the trailer is that, excluding the
Probe, the screen time for the Protoss units decreases the stronger they are:
from the Zealot, High Templar and finally the Archon. Heck, the Probe was in
the trailer slightly longer than the Archon.
“Power overwhelming.” Protoss Archon
It seems that the parable seeds in Luke 14:7-14
and Matthew 20:1-16 somehow found its roots
here. “So the last shall be first, and the first
last.”
The seeds can be traced further in Starcraft lore. In the past, the
Judicator caste used to stand at the top of the Protoss hierarchy, yet their
actions led to civil war and the fall of Aiur to the Zerg. The Judicator caste was subsequently abolished, and the Protoss is now (at least up to the
Starcraft 2’s 2nd expansion Heart of the Swarm) led by the young (by
Protoss standards) Hierarch Artanis. Here one can make a comparison to this
developments with Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an
example in speech and conduct…”
In the first installment of the Starcraft 2 trilogy, Wings of Liberty,
the main character is decked as the first basic battle unit a player can build,
albeit buffed up and with a few perks (for those who played the game, I am
referring of course to Jim Raynor). Again, Luke 9:48
shines forth. Although the commander of his founding army, he himself does not
run around using the most advanced weaponry nor does he (directly) wield the
heaviest firepower. His most powerful siege unit was handed to his old partner,
and even his flagship was mainly left to his lieutenant as he led his forces in
the frontlines.
“Now that’s the commander I’ve been waiting
on.” Kachinsky on Jim Raynor
I find it inspiring that a world famous game could be seen in so
much light of the Word of God. Sometimes I think that the little bits we notice
in our circle such as these allow us to connect with the people with the same
interest, and at the same time present an opportunity for sharing our faith in
ways conventional preaching will not be able to do. If we have a sincere heart
for God and His Kingdom, our faith will permeate into every aspect of our
lives: be it work or play. After all, God is the author of all creation, and
all our works are but images of His masterpiece.
RFG always.
