League of Legends

[Nako Mistako]

Demigod completely and utterly failed to realize that the backbone behind a game like this is the matchup system. You cannot make a game like this and not spend half your time developing a versatile and rock-solid matchmaking system. Same goes for all the little things that go into said awesome system: stats, history tracking, tournament support, rankings, extensive clan support, channels, and replays (and above-barebones replay viewing system).

Dota (and other popular wc3 games) survives to the extent it has because people have been able to "hack the system" provided by wc3 to facilitate the things they need: clan structure and channel control through bots (wc3's system is nonexistent otherwise), matchmaking (also through bots), automated game creation/independent hosting (surprise, bots again!), access control/bans for both channels and games, and more fully custom solutions like alternate matchmaking clients (garena et al). All things not supported by the basic interface, and not even supported by a moddable interface or API; all based on reverse engineering and cheating the system.

A successful "successor" to Dota must provide all of these things in such quality that not only overcomes the resistance to changing the status quo (moving to a new game, becoming a noob again, shifting to a brand new and possibly non-existent version of all the things listed above), but also the pricing issue.

That, and the stupid acronym.


So, how's the matchmaking system?

[possible]

Originally Posted by Nako Mistako

Demigod completely and utterly failed to realize that the backbone behind a game like this is the matchup system. You cannot make a game like this and not spend half your time developing a versatile and rock-solid matchmaking system. Same goes for all the little things that go into said awesome system: stats, history tracking, tournament support, rankings, extensive clan support, channels, and replays (and above-barebones replay viewing system).

Dota (and other popular wc3 games) survives to the extent it has because people have been able to "hack the system" provided by wc3 to facilitate the things they need: clan structure and channel control through bots (wc3's system is nonexistent otherwise), matchmaking (also through bots), automated game creation/independent hosting (surprise, bots again!), access control/bans for both channels and games, and more fully custom solutions like alternate matchmaking clients (garena et al). All things not supported by the basic interface, and not even supported by a moddable interface or API; all based on reverse engineering and cheating the system.

A successful "successor" to Dota must provide all of these things in such quality that not only overcomes the resistance to changing the status quo (moving to a new game, becoming a noob again, shifting to a brand new and possibly non-existent version of all the things listed above), but also the pricing issue.

That, and the stupid acronym.


So, how's the matchmaking system?

Totally disagree with you. It's the gameplay that makes DotA fun and it's what made Demigod fail. They had the idea of DotA, but they missed what made the gameplay fun.

[darksensei]

Originally Posted by Nako Mistako

So, how's the matchmaking system?

Just from what I've read, the matchmaking system is a very important aspect of the game. I don't know details atm, but I do know the developers have talked about it significantly.

[wild_whiskey]

I'm no NDA breaker and the NDA is pretty tight. I'll just say that the foundations for success are there and if they continue to test it as tightly as hey are doing, it will have a strong userbase.

It does seem to have a point/exp-based ranking system. I'm not sure how matchmaking will be in the end. Right now you set the teams manually like in current Dota.

It is really, really fun though.

[The Dauntless One]

I am really looking forward to a "dota" without the WC3 limitations. Btw WW my friends decided to stop playing dota in favor of other games (tf2 and l4d) =/

[Hathe]

Originally Posted by The Dauntless One

I am really looking forward to a "dota" without the WC3 limitations. Btw WW my friends decided to stop playing dota in favor of other games (tf2 and l4d) =/

You're welcome to play with me whenever, I play a few games a day.

[Psyqo]

Originally Posted by Nako Mistako

Demigod completely and utterly failed to realize that the backbone behind a game like this is the matchup system. You cannot make a game like this and not spend half your time developing a versatile and rock-solid matchmaking system. Same goes for all the little things that go into said awesome system: stats, history tracking, tournament support, rankings, extensive clan support, channels, and replays (and above-barebones replay viewing system).

Dota (and other popular wc3 games) survives to the extent it has because people have been able to "hack the system" provided by wc3 to facilitate the things they need: clan structure and channel control through bots (wc3's system is nonexistent otherwise), matchmaking (also through bots), automated game creation/independent hosting (surprise, bots again!), access control/bans for both channels and games, and more fully custom solutions like alternate matchmaking clients (garena et al). All things not supported by the basic interface, and not even supported by a moddable interface or API; all based on reverse engineering and cheating the system.

A successful "successor" to Dota must provide all of these things in such quality that not only overcomes the resistance to changing the status quo (moving to a new game, becoming a noob again, shifting to a brand new and possibly non-existent version of all the things listed above), but also the pricing issue.

I agree with this completely. There's so much infrastructure around DotA currently that any competitor needs to match at worst and improve at best upon the logistics already in play.

[earthfell]

I am so excited about this game. I haven't been this excited about a game since... WoW, I would say.

No game has come close to the amount of time/fun I got out of DoTA, and still do. Having looked at the screenshots and videos, I can tell the stars will align with this game. I knew Demigod would be shit once I saw a screenshot. I have amazing powers of perception, and I have gleaned great things from LoL. Doubt me if you are foolish.

I signed up for beta months ago, hope I get in. Thanks for your commentary WW, and for confirming what I knew to be true. Oh... I can just imagine all of the fun I will be having with this game... yes.

edit: omfg they added a tiny dart blowing Moogle hero. How long can their pure genius last?

[Blank]

Just got in the beta, will play this weekend. If you're around whiskey, look me up. Blank is my account name.

[CyrusReij]

I can't play ugly games :\

[Madruk]

I too can't break NDA, but I will say as a hardcore dota player for years, this game is awesome and I prefer it to Dota. Screenshots do not do it any justice either. I'll see what I can do to get some FoH beta passes.

[wild_whiskey]

Let's get some games in this weekend then. I'm a bit of a newb in LoL I admit. My dota skills aren't transferring as well as I had hoped.

[Hathe]

Originally Posted by Madruk

I too can't break NDA, but I will say as a hardcore dota player for years, this game is awesome and I prefer it to Dota. Screenshots do not do it any justice either. I'll see what I can do to get some FoH beta passes.

Please see if you can get some in game screenshots posted for us. There are a lot of DotA players on this forum that would love to read/see more information on this game. Beta passes would be great too, but I don't have the time to be a useful beta tester.

[Cyni]

Yah, beta passes would be great if you can! Would love to see screen caps as well, but I assume that'd be a direct violation of the NDA...

[wild_whiskey]

Blank what's your login name for LOL? I'll add you.