It is without a doubt that the fever of Dota or Dota 2 started in internet cafes, from printing to PC rental for playing games and more, these internet cafes are largely responsible for the game’s big hit. It is said that the average age of Filipino gamers that are playing the game is around 13-25 years old. From being played through Lan to online multiplayer, let us break into bits the chronicle of Dota or Dota 2 in the minds of these gamers. 

History

The game arrived in the world of esports as a WarCraft III map mod called Defense of the Ancients, which is played through LAN. Then it transformed into a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) which we now know as Dota.

Dota, same as its predecessors Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends, has the same gameplay; it offers a wide variety of heroes that can be equipped with item combinations, also has skins, rewards, and an intense and fast-paced game mode.

Its developer is the Valve Corporation, a modder of IceFrog for the game Warcraft III, of which the former reportedly hired the latter for the innovation of the game. With these, the game transformed into Dota 2, which was to be run in its company’s proprietary Source engine. Then, later on, distributed in its digital distribution platform, called Steam, in 2013. 

The Gameplay

Dota 2 or Dota starts with two teams competing at the edge of a map, of which whoever destroys the enemy teams’ main tower, which is called the Ancient, wins. 

The game lets the player choose a pool of 100 interesting heroes, each with its own unique skills, abilities, and gameplay. These heroes are divided into 3 primary attributes namely, Strength, Agility, and Intelligence, which are practically the same as tanks, gankers, support, and others.

Heroes that have agility as their primary attribute are swift. They are equipped to amass their attack speed and heavy damage. Usually, heroes of this area are either gankers and carriers. They are responsible for killing the enemy with physical attacks.

Strength attribute heroes are characterized as tanks and initiators. They have huge health pools and strong defensive skills for physical damage and magic resistance. Their job is to protect carriers and are responsible for crowd control skills for engaging in successful team clashes.

Heroes aligned with the intelligence attribute rely mainly on their mana and spells. In most cases, these heroes are either ganker or support. They basically deal heavy spell-based damage or aid carriers with their healing abilities. 

The game is easy to understand, you firstly start in AI-controlled creeps, by denying or killing enemy creeps. Then eventually, tearing down opponents’ towers and calling successful team fights.

Making Headlines

According to Steam Charts, the game is amassing a whopping 400,000 to 500,000 logins each month. The Valve Company continues its hard work in promoting the game to the public to attract professional players and casual players alike. 

Its developer continues to draw mainstream attention to the public by conducting its annual Dota 2 tournament, The International, of which the prize is 25% crowdfunded. 

In 2013 alone, Valve put over a huge prize pool of $2.8 million which was considered the largest prize pool in esports history. Eventually, in 2019 it stockpiled a prize pool of $32 million.

While the Philippines have successfully hosted 3 international Dota 2 events in two consecutive years—2016, ESL One Manila, the Manila Major and the Manila Mastersboth in 2017.

Say whatever you want, our childhood was about this game—cutting classes, after school, betting with other players, all-night gaming, and more. Pinoy Dota has inculcated in the minds of many people, including millennials today!