[theList] "What Did Dad Do During Holidays When He Was Young? ... He Played StarCraft"

Generational Shift in Traditional Holiday Folk Games
Digital Natives' Play Styles

Decades ago, people spent time during Seollal (Lunar New Year) enjoying traditional folk games such as kite flying, jegichagi (shuttlecock kicking), and yutnori (a traditional board game).

However, as 'digital natives' have become the main generation in society, the landscape of traditional holiday folk games is changing.

This generation grew up surrounded by digital devices like computers and smartphones from childhood. They experienced both the rise and heyday of PC bangs (internet cafes) and embraced digital games as leisure activities. They are also the key players who gave birth to the 'eSports' industry.

So, what does 'folk games' mean to digital natives?

In celebration of Seollal, we introduce 'folk game-like games' suitable for the holiday that can be played together by the 10s and 20s 'Generation Z' as well as the 30s and 40s 'Millennials.'

StarCraft

StarCraft Remastered / Photo by Blizzard Entertainment

Released in 1998, 'StarCraft' is a popular game that took the world by storm and sparked a revolution in domestic PC bangs, becoming a true national game.

This game is one of the early titles in the 'RTS' (Real-Time Strategy) genre, where users control multiple units simultaneously to destroy the enemy base. It gained popularity through Blizzard's 'Battle.net' system, which actively supported multiplayer gameplay.

Although it has been more than 20 years since its release, StarCraft's popularity continues. In 2017, a 'Remastered' version with updated graphics and convenience features was newly released.

Crazy Arcade

Crazy Arcade / Photo by Nexon

Known as 'Kua' for short, this game was released in 2001. Players burst water balloons to trap opponents inside bubbles, and popping those bubbles leads to victory. At launch, it caused a true 'syndrome' in Korea and remains one of Nexon's long-standing hit games.

KartRider

KartRider / Photo by Nexon

A racing game based on characters from Crazy Arcade. Developed by Korea's leading game company Nexon, it is another hit title that goes beyond simple racing by adding items that introduce various variables to the race, creating a richer gaming experience.

GetAmped

A Korea-Japan joint game co-developed and operated by Japanese game company CyberStep and Korean company Juninter (formerly WindySoft). It features simple rules where multiple players engage in a 'brawl,' and the last surviving individual or team wins. With its casual yet intense combat feel, unique skills, and 'knockout' elements, it gained tremendous popularity among younger players at launch and is still in service as of 2023.

Sudden Attack

Sudden Attack game screen

Released by Nexon in 2005, the first-person shooter (FPS) game Sudden Attack still ranks high in PC bang usage, maintaining strong interest. It was popular among gamers of all ages in the early 2000s and continues to sustain its momentum.

Minecraft

Minecraft / Photo by Yonhap News

Not only violent games like fighting and shooting gain popularity. Minecraft, released in 2011 by Swedish game developer Mojang Studios, is a game where players build their own structures by stacking cubic blocks. Beyond being a simple game, Minecraft is widely used as streaming content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, serving as a true bridge connecting generations.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

Battleground / Photo by Yonhap News

An MMO shooting game developed by 'PUBG Studio,' a subsidiary of Korean game company Krafton. It is a battle royale game where 100 players fight for survival using weapons and vehicles on a massive map. Upon its initial release, it received enthusiastic responses both domestically and internationally and greatly contributed to popularizing the 'battle royale' game genre.

Among Us

Among Us, a social and deduction game, has gained great popularity among the youth generation since its release in 2018. / Photo by Yonhap News

While the previous games belong to the 'classic' category, Among Us is more familiar to the current 10s and 20s generation. Released in 2018 by American company Innersloth, Among Us is a type of mafia game. Four to fifteen players live together in a confined virtual space of a spaceship and must identify and catch the 'impostor' among them.

Fall Guys

Fall Guys / Photo by Epic Games

A survival game released in 2020 by British game company Mediatonic. Sixty players compete in survival by navigating terrain filled with various obstacles until only one remains. This game is much more familiar to the 10s and 20s generation than older generations and attracted attention through streaming services like YouTube.

Modoo Marble

Modoo Marble / Photo by Yonhap News

'Modoo Marble,' which brought the traditional board game 'Blue Marble' to PC, was released by Netmarble in 2012. It later expanded to mobile platforms and has become an ideal 'holiday game' enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.