Philadelphia is a sports oriented city. We’ve got hockey, baseball, basketball, and football (both kinds). We even have a freaking lacrosse team and an arena football team! It would seem that the City of Brotherly Love has the sports scene covered. Sports fanatics can drop by pretty much any bar and watch the local team on the big screen while knocking back a few lagers.

But if you ask any geeky gamer, Philadelphia is devoid of one of a particular spectator sport, Starcraft II. Dennis Scoleri hopes to change that by bringing the broadcasts of Starcraft II tournaments to some Philadelphia sports bars. Hold onto your butts. Philly Barcraft is here.

Starcraft II is a sequel to a popular real time strategy game. Three races offer different playing styles and tactics. The Protoss are technically advanced humanoids, the Zerg are insect-like swarmers, and the Terran are human descendants with great defenses. Players race to establish their bases, build units, and manage resources to overpower their opponents. This isn’t a button masher. It’s the thinking man’s video game.

In Korea, the game’s popularity parallels the United States’ fervor for pro sports. Professional gamers compete for prize money and endorsements. Successful players rise to celebrity status, all from a video game. Dennis Scoleri and Philly Barcraft aim to bring out that type of fanaticism to a sports bar near you.

Dennis and the consortium of Starcraft groups that make up Philly Barcraft are working to make Philadelphia one of the few cities in the US with recurring weekly events. Imagine your typical Philly sports fan and then add dash of geek. Fill a bar with these people and stream a Starcraft II tournament. Liberally add some beers and bar food. It’s your typical weekly spectator sport gathering. There are even commentators explaining strategies and plays.

No longer do Philadelphia Starcraft II fans have to be banished to watching these events in front of their computer screens alone. There’s a place to congregate with others who share their passion for the game, giving a social aspect to something construed as anti-social.

Stranger things have been televised. Golf is probably not as exciting as watching a unit of Banelings storm a Terran base. Even the World Series of Poker was on ESPN. It’s a card game!

See what all the fuss is about and go to Philly Barcraft’s first event of 2012 on February 26 at Oh! Shea’s Pub, 1907 Sansom Street. They’ll be watching the Major League Gaming Winter Arena. Watch as 32 of the worlds best players battle it out for a significant wad of cash and the chance to go straight into Pool Play at the Winter Championships, avoiding its Open Bracket entirely. Sign up for the mailing list at their website and never miss an event.