Professional Documents
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Designer(s) Eul
SteveFeak
IceFrog
Platform(s) MacOS,MacOSX,Microsoft
Windows
Genre(s)
Multiplayeronlinebattlearena
Mode(s)
Multiplayer
Defense of the Ancients (DotA) is a multiplayer online battle arena mod for the video
game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based
on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft. The scenario objective is for each team to destroy
the opponents' Ancient, heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map. Players
use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled
fighters. As in role-playing games, players level up their heroes and use gold to buy
equipment during the mission.[1]
The scenario was developed with the "World Editor" of Reign of Chaos, and was updated
upon the release of its expansion, The Frozen Throne. There have been many variations of
the original concept; the most popular being DotA Allstars, which eventually was simplified
to DotA with the release of version 6.68.[2] This specific scenario has been maintained by
several authors during development, the latest of whom is the anonymous developer known
as "IceFrog" who has developed the game since 2005.
Since its original release, DotA has become a feature at several worldwide tournaments,
including Blizzard Entertainment's BlizzConand the Asian World Cyber Games, as well as
the Cyberathlete Amateur and CyberEvolution leagues; in a 2008 article of video game
industry website Gamasutra, the article's author claimed that DotA was probably "the most
popular and most-discussed free, non-supported game mod in the world". [3] DotA is largely
attributed to being the most significant inspiration for the multiplayer online battle arena
genre.[4] Valve Corporation acquired the intellectual property rights to DotA to develop a
stand-alone sequel, Dota 2, which was released in 2013.[5]
Contents
[hide]
1 Gameplay
2 Development
3.1 Sequel
4 References
5 External links
Gameplay
DotA pits two teams of players against each other: the Sentinel and the Scourge. Players on
the Sentinel team are based at the southwest corner of the map, and those on the Scourge
team are based at the northeast corner. Each base is defended by towers and waves of units
which guard the main paths leading to their base. In the center of each base is the "Ancient",
a building that must be destroyed to win the game.[6][7]
Each human player controls one hero, a powerful unit with unique abilities. In DotA, players
on each side choose one of 112 heroes,[8]each with different abilities and tactical advantages
over other heroes. The scenario is highly team-oriented; it is difficult for one player to carry
the team to victory alone. Defense of the Ancients allows up to ten players in a five-versusfive format.[9]
The differences between The Sentinel base (top) and the Scourge base (bottom)
Because the gameplay revolves around strengthening individual heroes, it does not require
focus on resource management and base-building, unlike most traditional real-time
strategy games. Killing computer-controlled or neutral units earns the player experience
points; the player gains a level when enough experience is accumulated. Leveling
up improves the hero's toughness and the damage they inflict, and allows players to upgrade
spells or skills. In addition to accumulating experience, players also manage a single
resource of gold. The typical resource-gathering of Warcraft III is replaced by a combatoriented money system; in addition to a small periodic income, heroes earn gold by killing
hostile units, base structures, and enemy heroes.[10] This has caused emphasis on a
technique called "last-hitting," which is when the player attacks a hostile unit when "its hit
points are low enough to kill it with one blow".[11] Using gold, players buy items to strengthen
their hero and gain abilities; certain items can be combined with recipes to create more
powerful items. Buying items that suit one's hero is an important tactical element of the mod.
[12]
DotA offers a variety of game modes, selected by the game host at the beginning of the
match. The game modes dictate the difficulty of the scenario, as well as whether people can
choose their hero or are assigned one randomly. Many game modes can be combined,
allowing more flexible options.[13]
Development
Warcraft III is the third title in the Warcraft series of real-time strategy games developed
by Blizzard Entertainment. As with Warcraft II, Blizzard included a free "world editor" in the
game that allows players to create custom scenarios or "maps" for the game, which can be
played online with other players through Battle.net.[14] These custom scenarios can be simple
terrain changes, which play like normal Warcraft games, or they can be entirely new game
scenarios with custom objectives, units, items, and events, like Defense of the Ancients.[14]
The first version of Defense of the Ancients was released in 2003 by a mapmaker under the
alias of Eul who based the map on a previous StarCraft scenario known as "Aeon of Strife".
[13]
After the release of Warcraft's expansion The Frozen Throne, which added new features
to the World Editor, Eul did not update the scenario. [15] Other mapmakers produced spinoffs
that added new heroes, items, and features. Among the DotA variants created in the wake of
Eul's map, there was DotA Allstars, originally created and developed by custom map makers
Meian and Ragn0r, who took the most popular heroes and compiled them into one map. [16] In
March 2004, map maker Guinsoo took control of development and began the 3.xx to 5.xx
series of DotA Allstars.[17] On 28 February 2005, soon after the release of 6.x, Guinsoo
announced he would be leaving WC3 custom map making, and left the development in the
hands of Neichus and IceFrog. Soon after, Neichus left the team and left it in the hand of
IceFrog. This started the legendary 6.xx series of DotA Allstars which is currently developed
by Icefrog and Valve.[17]
Defense of the Ancients is maintained via official forums. Users can post ideas for new
heroes or items, some of which are added to the map. Players have contributed icons and
hero descriptions and created the artwork displayed while the map loads, and suggestions
for changes to existing heroes or items are taken seriously; IceFrog once changed a new
hero less than two weeks after the new version of the map was released. [3] Versions of the
scenario where enemy heroes are controlled by artificial intelligences have also been
released. Mescon continued to maintain dota-allstars.com, which by the end of IceFrog's
affiliation in May 2009 had over 1,500,000 registered users and had received over one
million unique visitors every month.[18] Due to their separation, IceFrog announced that he
would be further developing a new official site, playdota.com, while continuing game
development;[19] Mescon closed dota-allstars on July 22, 2010, citing dropping statistics and
his new passion for League of Legends as the reason for its end.
Because Warcraft III custom games have none of the features designed to improve game
quality (matchmaking players based on connection speed, etc.), various programs are used
to maintain Defense of the Ancients. External tools ping player's locations, and games can
be named to exclude geographic regions.[3] Clans and committees such as TDA maintain
their own official list of rules and regulations, and players can be kicked from matches by
being placed on "banlists".[3]
The top three finalists from the firstWorld Cyber Games Defense of the Ancients championship
The popularity of Defense of the Ancients has increased over time. The scenario was
featured by Computer Gaming World in a review of new maps and mods in Warcraft III.
[20]
DotA Allstars became an important tournament scenario, starting with its prominence at
the debut of Blizzard's BlizzCon convention in 2005.[21] DotA Allstars was also featured in
the Malaysia and Singapore World Cyber Games starting in 2005, and the World Cyber
Games Asian Championships beginning with the 2006 season. [22] Defense of the
Ancients was included in the game lineup for the internationally recognized Cyberathlete
Amateur League and CyberEvolution leagues.[23] Additionally, the scenario appeared
in Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) 2008;[24][25] Oliver Paradis, ESWC's competition
manager, noted that the high level of community support behind the scenario, as well as its
worldwide appeal, were among the reasons it was chosen. [26]
The scenario is popular in many parts of the world; in the Philippines and Thailand, it is
played as much as the game Counter-Strike.[27][28]It is also popular in Sweden and other
Northern European countries, where the Defense of the Ancients-inspired song "Vi sitter i
Ventrilo och spelar DotA" by Swedish musician Basshunter reached the European 2006
charts at #116 and cracked the top ten Singles Charts in Sweden, Norway,[29] and Finland.
[30]
LAN tournaments are a major part of worldwide play,[26] including tournaments in Sweden
and Russia; however, due to a lack of LAN tournaments and championships in North
America, several teams disbanded.[27] Blizzard points to DotA as an example of what
dedicated mapmakers can create using developer's tools.[31]
In June 2008, captainSMRT, writing for Gamasutra, stated that DotA "is likely the most
popular and most-discussed free, non-supported game mod in the world". [3] In pointing to the
strong community built around the game, Walbridge stated that DotA shows it is much easier
for a community game to be maintained by the community, and this is one of the maps'
greatest strengths. Former game journalist Luke Smith called DotA "the ultimate RTS".[32]
Defense of the Ancients has been credited as one of the influences for the 2009 Gas
Powered Games title Demigod,[33][34] with the video game publication GameSpy noting the
game's premise revolved around aspiring gods "[playing] DotA in real life".[35] Guinsoo went
on to apply many of the mechanics and lessons he learned from Defense of the Ancients to
the Riot Games title League of Legends.[36] Other "DotA clones" include S2 Games' Heroes
of Newerth.[37][38] Blizzard Entertainment is also developing a new game inspired
by DotA titled Heroes of the Storm, which features an array of heroes from Blizzard's
franchises.[39]
Sequel
Main article: Dota 2
In October 2009, IceFrog was hired by Valve Corporation, leading a team in a project that he
described as "great news for DotA fans".[40] Valve officially announced the stand-alone sequel
to the original mod, Dota 2, in October 2010.[41] Dota 2 follows heavily in the gameplay style
of DotA, with aesthetics and heroes working as direct ports to the original mod. In addition to
the pre-conceived gameplay constants, Dota 2 also features Steam support and profile
tracking, intended to emphasize and support the game's matchmaking." [42]
The marketing and trademark of Dota as a franchise by Valve gained concern and opposition
from the DotA Allstars contributors working at Riot Games, as well as Blizzard Entertainment,
both of which legally opposed the franchising of Dota by Valve.[43] The legal dispute was
conceded on May 11, 2012, with Valve gaining undisputed franchising rights for commercial
use to the trademark, while non-commercial use remains open to the public. [44] Dota 2 was
released on July 9, 2013.[45]
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
31. Jump up^ Mielke, James (July 2007). "Will Work for Vespene
Gas; Ten minutes with StarCraft II lead producer Chris
Sigaty". Games for Windows (8).
32. Jump up^ O'Connor, Frank; Smith, Luke (February 19,
2008). "The Official Bungie Podcast".Bungie.
Retrieved February 27, 2008.
33. Jump up^ Purchese, Rob (March 4, 2008). "GPG "fairly
certain" Demigod will make 08".Eurogamer. Retrieved March
5, 2008.
34. Jump up^ Paul, Ure (March 4, 2008). "Demigod First Look".
ActionTrip. Retrieved March 12,2008.
35. Jump up^ Lopez, Miguel (February 21, 2008). "Demigod
(PC) Preview". GameSpy. RetrievedOctober 16, 2008.
36. Jump up^ Perez, Daniel (January 16, 2009). "Previews; We
talk with new developer Riot Games about its strategy/RPG
hybrid and the lead designer's Warcraft roots.". 1UP.com.
Retrieved February 7, 2009.
37. Jump up^ Ng, Keane (July 14, 2009). "League of Legends
Will Be Free to Play". The Escapist. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
38. Jump up^ Nguyen, Thierry (September 1, 2009). "Clash of
The DOTAs". 1UP.com. RetrievedOctober 21, 2009.
39. Jump up^ Narcisse, Evan (October 17, 2013). "Blizzards
Diablo/Starcraft/WoW Crossover Has a New Name". Kotaku.
Retrieved October 21, 2013.
40. Jump up^ O'Conner, Alice (October 5, 2009). "DotA Dev
Joins Valve, Hints at Future Game".Shacknews.
Retrieved October 5, 2009.
41. Jump up^ Biessener, Adam (October 23, 2010). "Valve's New
Game Announced, Detailed: Dota 2". Game Informer.
Retrieved December 16, 2010.
42. Jump up^ Onyett, Charles (January 8, 2011). "Valve's Next
Game". IGN. Retrieved January 7,2011.
43. Jump up^ Plunkett, Luke (February 10, 2012). "Blizzard and
Valve go to War Over DOTA Name".Kotaku.
44. Jump up^ Reilly, Jim (May 11, 2012). "Valve, Blizzard Reach
DOTA Trademark Agreement".Game Informer. Retrieved May
12, 2012.
45. Jump up^ Hernandez, Patricia (July 9, 2013). "Valve Finally
"Releases" DOTA 2". Kotaku. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
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