| Mike "Husky" Lamond | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mike Lamond 1987 (age 24–25) |
| Nationality | USA |
| Other names | "H to the Usky Husky" |
| Occupation | StarCraft II Caster |
| Known for | Electronic sports commentator, Nerd Alert |
Mike Lamond,[1] better known by his online alias Husky or HuskyStarcraft, is an electronic sports shoutcaster currently specializing in providing commentary for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, a video game published by Blizzard Entertainment and played on the online gaming service Battle.net. Most of his casts are done through his YouTube channel, which as of July 2011, has over 600,000 subscribers and more than 200,000,000 video views.
[A good shoutcast] is really up to personal preference. Some people prefer a highly analytical and educational form of casting to improve their game, while others prefer a more casual or energetic feel. I think it really shows in the quality of the cast if the person doing it loves what they are doing and really wants to help spread the popularity of StarCraft.
An avid fan of real-time strategy video games, Husky first learned of StarCraft when he was 10 or 11 years old. He stated that he played for 12 years, and spent most of his time on Blizzard's online server Battle.net, accumulating several thousand played matches. Husky began following the electronic sports community when he discovered GOM TV, a streaming service in South Korea that broadcast StarCraft gameplay from professional gamers. This prompted him to begin a YouTube channel where he provided his own commentary on StarCraft: Brood War professional competition. The channel started expanding beyond Husky's own expectations, and at one point Husky was uploading around 100 videos per month.[2] While his channel became popular among other StarCraft: Brood War commentators, he gained a meteoric rise when he decided to exclusively commentate on StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty matches with the game's beta release in February 2010.[3]
During the beta, Husky collaborated with fellow commentator and friend HD to host the HDH Invitational, a StarCraft II tournament consisting of 16 of the top professional StarCraft II gamers. The tournament was played in an entirely virtual environment over the Battle.net server, and the games were later broadcast on YouTube. The tournament was sponsored and cash prizes were awarded.[3]
In July 2010 Husky and HD along with several other game casters, participated in the launch of a new YouTube channel titled The Game Station which seeks to emulate an ESPN-esque presentation of gaming videos of all genres.[3] The channel quickly grew in size, and its success has been attributed partly to Husky's own success on YouTube. Later that year, Husky moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time job working at The Game Station.[1]
To explain his view of why StarCraft is an exemplary video game for both casting and spectating, Husky stated, "Nearly every single person I have introduced competitive StarCraft to has completely fallen in love with it[...] The level of skill and mental precision required to play StarCraft 2 at the highest levels is completely mind blowing. This is why it is an extremely fun sport to watch."[4] Husky's commentary style has been described as matching the fast-paced progression of the game, with him often losing his breath at eventful moments. This is contrasted with HD's more composed and analytical approach to casting.[3] In describing his passion for video games and the electronic sports scene, Husky stated, "Gaming has always been more than just a hobby for me. I wouldn't say it's a lifestyle, but I just get so much joy out of it that I will forever try and be involved with it as much as possible[...] No outside job will ever limit me when it comes to gaming. Since then he has added many other games to his often viewed channel."[4]