What was the impact of HNG on your interest in Go?

yoyoma · Post by **yoyoma** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:05 pm

It's been a long time since HNG hit the scene. What do you think the overall impact has been? For me I was already been hooked on the game, so it didn't change much (although I did really enjoy the anime).

At our local club, you can still count on a large number of the new players who show up mentioning HNG as a reason they got interested in the game. What is your own experience?

LocoRon · Post by **LocoRon** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:47 pm

I voted that it had little or no impact on me. Although, indirectly, I probably wouldn't have heard about Go if not for HnG.

At the time, I spent a lot of time on message boards and IRC. One day, a fellow IRCer started asking people to play Go with him. I was the only one who took him up on it, even though I had no idea what it was. He had never played either, so we both learned by reading the rules on Yahoo games. I ended up winning that first game, and the next one or two, and I was hooked. It was only later that I learned he only wanted to play because of HnG; and by following the after-episode lessons, he finally beat me. Which prompted me to start studying as well.

As far as I know, he stopped playing completely a few months later, while I've more or less stuck around (I don't play much anymore, but I still visit these forums, idle on KGS and watch some dan games from time to time, as well as play the occasional game).

Kirby · Post by **Kirby** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:16 pm

I think that the choices appear related to the reason you started go, whereas the subject, to me, sounded like the topic of interest in the game after starting.

But for me, the answer is the same either way: it had a major impact. If I had black hair, I might have dyed it golden yellow.

xed_over · Post by **xed_over** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:22 pm

I became interested in HnG because of Go (not the other way around -- not sure how to answer that poll)

Polama · Post by **Polama** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:44 pm

I was already intrigued by Go, but HnG got my wife interested which helped immensely as I could now play Go and spend time with my wife simultaneously.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:30 pm

Holy crap did HnG hook me in. Even though I felt I was a bit old to be reading manga.

I didn't realize it was a real game until a few volumes in. Then I went full-tilt, learning the rules, showing my friends how to play on a chessboard with coins, memorizing pro games (already), etc. I was crazy about Shusaku, of course. I just wouldn't let up.

I actually drove a few of my friends away from the game with my intensity and by beating them so hard repeatedly. :oops:

I'm definitely going to make up for it though. I've learned a lot, and I'm still dedicated to showing others what a fantastic game Go is.

illluck · Post by **illluck** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:48 pm

Being Chinese, I've been exposed to Go pretty much since I can remember, but I never learned how to play until I watched Hikaru no Go.

Fedya · Post by **Fedya** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:00 pm

I don't read manga.

I'd heard about go back in college, but I only took up the game when I heard a report on Radio Japan back in 1999 or 2000 about Michael Redmond becoming a 9p.

Needless to say, I haven't been quite as successful as Redmond.

EdLee · Post by **EdLee** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:37 am

xed_over wrote:I became interested in HnG because of Go (not the other way around -- not sure how to answer that poll)

Same here.

Faro · Post by **Faro** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:48 am

Kirby wrote:But for me, the answer is the same either way: it had a major impact. If I had black hair, I might have dyed it golden yellow.

I actually did have Hikaru's hair in about...8th? grade. My hair was a very dark brown and I dyed the front blonde like his. I did not actually watch the show until years later.

So, Like stated above, I knew of HNG long before I ever paid attention to it. But I didn't watch it until After I started playing. I got into Go and then said "Oh, Hey isn't there an Anime about this game?" then watched it.

So to answer the pool above, I started after HNG and it had no impact on why I started.

But for a few months in 8th grade my hair was Super-Fly. Then it grew out and looked dumb.

p2501 · Post by **p2501** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:22 am

HNG introduced Go to me, sooo...

SoDesuNe · Post by **SoDesuNe** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:49 am

Yes, without HnG I wouldn't be here :o It is all the reason why I play Go and strive to become a better player =D

NoSkill · Post by **NoSkill** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 4:29 am

I got interested in go because of HnG, just like 50% of the community on kgs a few years ago. Many of them quit I think by now when I came back... but there are still a lot of people I know who started because of it like me.

Toonami Jetstream

HermanHiddema · Post by **HermanHiddema** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:33 am

When HnG came out, I was already a dan level player, but I had mostly lost interest and taken up other hobbies. HnG inspired me to pick up go again. No regrets :tmbup:

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:08 am

I was into Go before finding HNG. My option would be: I was into Go and that made me interested in HNG.

Life In 19x19