Marketing:
Each game is marketed in a unique fashion that plays to the strengths of its solid foundations. In DOTA 2's case, this is highlighting the vibrant professional scene which has made it an e-sports powerhouse. In League of Legend's case, it is an interesting marketing method of bringing to light the meta elements of its champions.
(Watch 01:06:30 to 01:08:50 of embedded video)
“DOTA 2 is a competitive game of action and strategy, played both professionally and casually by millions of passionate fans worldwide. Players pick from a pool of over a hundred heroes, forming two teams of five players. Irresistibly colorful on the surface, DOTA 2 is a game of infinite depth and complexity. Every hero has an array of skills and abilities that combine with the skills of their allies in unexpected ways, to ensure that no game is ever remotely alike. This is one of the reasons that the DOTA 2 phenomenon has continued to grow. Originating as a fan-made Warcraft 3 modification, DOTA 2 was an instant underground hit. After coming to Valve, the original community developers have bridged the gap to a more inclusive audience, so that the rest of the world can experience the same core gameplay, but with the level of polish that only Valve can provide. Get a taste of the game that has enthralled millions.” -From DOTA 2 on Steam Store
As the documentary Free to Play and the DOTA 2 Steam statement point out, the game is very much an entity that is tied to its community. Highliting the international appeal of DOTA 2 as an all encompassing global sport, Valve capitalizes on the professional scene it has created. For so many around the world, DOTA 2 is very much an activity that blurs the lines between personally experienced play and hardcore fandom in the realm of the professional scene. Free to Play is an excellent example of just how much Defense of the Ancients is tied to its richly complex strategic roots, which present both a barrier of entry to new players and a deep level of immersion for all fans who put the time in to learn the game.
Relation to Study:
This helped me to better understand DOTA 2 for my study as a hardcore enthusiasts game. I have to admit this documentary biased me a bit, as it gave me some preconceptions as to the nature of the game, reinforcing the highly competitive professional scene as the focal point of both developer Valve and the player bases rabid enthusiasm for the title. The fact that Valve released this free as it's driving promotional material for the game is quite telling indeed, as it only further proves that the developer knows where the heart and soul of the game truly lies. The description of the game on Steam further reinforces this identity, using words like complexity to highlight the difficulty aspect of the game while at the same time appealing to the everyday gamer as a game that has a more "inclusive audience" than before.
“DOTA 2 is a competitive game of action and strategy, played both professionally and casually by millions of passionate fans worldwide. Players pick from a pool of over a hundred heroes, forming two teams of five players. Irresistibly colorful on the surface, DOTA 2 is a game of infinite depth and complexity. Every hero has an array of skills and abilities that combine with the skills of their allies in unexpected ways, to ensure that no game is ever remotely alike. This is one of the reasons that the DOTA 2 phenomenon has continued to grow. Originating as a fan-made Warcraft 3 modification, DOTA 2 was an instant underground hit. After coming to Valve, the original community developers have bridged the gap to a more inclusive audience, so that the rest of the world can experience the same core gameplay, but with the level of polish that only Valve can provide. Get a taste of the game that has enthralled millions.” -From DOTA 2 on Steam Store
As the documentary Free to Play and the DOTA 2 Steam statement point out, the game is very much an entity that is tied to its community. Highliting the international appeal of DOTA 2 as an all encompassing global sport, Valve capitalizes on the professional scene it has created. For so many around the world, DOTA 2 is very much an activity that blurs the lines between personally experienced play and hardcore fandom in the realm of the professional scene. Free to Play is an excellent example of just how much Defense of the Ancients is tied to its richly complex strategic roots, which present both a barrier of entry to new players and a deep level of immersion for all fans who put the time in to learn the game.
Relation to Study:
This helped me to better understand DOTA 2 for my study as a hardcore enthusiasts game. I have to admit this documentary biased me a bit, as it gave me some preconceptions as to the nature of the game, reinforcing the highly competitive professional scene as the focal point of both developer Valve and the player bases rabid enthusiasm for the title. The fact that Valve released this free as it's driving promotional material for the game is quite telling indeed, as it only further proves that the developer knows where the heart and soul of the game truly lies. The description of the game on Steam further reinforces this identity, using words like complexity to highlight the difficulty aspect of the game while at the same time appealing to the everyday gamer as a game that has a more "inclusive audience" than before.
(Watch 18:34 to 21:50 of embedded video)
“ League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.” -From LOL Website
While League of Legends also highlights its professional scene, which is just as prevalent as that of it's counterpart in DOTA 2, it also takes time to try to connect players to its world in new ways. This multi-media approach takes the form of creating unique stories for its champions which offers lore for players looking for meta-narrative elements. While this wasn't something that I ran into much in my personal experiences, it was highlighted in quite a few interviews that it helped to bond players to their champions. Frequencies looks at an even more specific element of that meta-narrative approach, that of the heroes musical themes. It also serves to highlight the companies free spirited acceptance of fans as being a part of the creative process of making the title a more vibrant property.
Relation to Study:
This promotional video only helped me to better understand the importance of the meta narrative of League of Legends to it's fan base. By highlighting the thematic elements that are brought to the table by fleshing out each characters musical accompaniment, Riot Games also understands that the heart of its game to some players lies in the admittedly shallow narrative elements of the game. By using other media, in this case music, to enhance the player's connection to their avatar, Riot has endeavored to build on what little narrative elements the games character and lore descriptions provide. Tied together with my interviews, in which many LOL players expressed their interest in the narrative elements associated with many of the heroes, it makes a lot of sense. As a matter of fact, it opens up accessibility to new audiences that would otherwise have no investment in a game with no core narrative to speak of, increasing it's moniker as a more casual experience for all players to enjoy, regardless of their competitive spirit.
“ League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.” -From LOL Website
While League of Legends also highlights its professional scene, which is just as prevalent as that of it's counterpart in DOTA 2, it also takes time to try to connect players to its world in new ways. This multi-media approach takes the form of creating unique stories for its champions which offers lore for players looking for meta-narrative elements. While this wasn't something that I ran into much in my personal experiences, it was highlighted in quite a few interviews that it helped to bond players to their champions. Frequencies looks at an even more specific element of that meta-narrative approach, that of the heroes musical themes. It also serves to highlight the companies free spirited acceptance of fans as being a part of the creative process of making the title a more vibrant property.
Relation to Study:
This promotional video only helped me to better understand the importance of the meta narrative of League of Legends to it's fan base. By highlighting the thematic elements that are brought to the table by fleshing out each characters musical accompaniment, Riot Games also understands that the heart of its game to some players lies in the admittedly shallow narrative elements of the game. By using other media, in this case music, to enhance the player's connection to their avatar, Riot has endeavored to build on what little narrative elements the games character and lore descriptions provide. Tied together with my interviews, in which many LOL players expressed their interest in the narrative elements associated with many of the heroes, it makes a lot of sense. As a matter of fact, it opens up accessibility to new audiences that would otherwise have no investment in a game with no core narrative to speak of, increasing it's moniker as a more casual experience for all players to enjoy, regardless of their competitive spirit.