DOTA 2

DOTA 2

Dota 2 is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in July 2013,^[1][2] following a Windows-only public beta testing phase that began in 2011, and is the stand-alone sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), a mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion pack, The Frozen Throne. Dota 2 is one of the most actively played games on Steam, with maximum peaks of over a million concurrent players.^[3][4][5]
Dota 2 is played in matches between two five-player teams, each of which occupies a stronghold in a corner of the playing field. A team wins by destroying the other side's "Ancient" building, located within the opposing stronghold. Each player controls one of 111 playable "Hero" characters that feature unique powers and styles of play. During a match, the player collects gold, items, and experience points for their Hero, while combating Heroes of the opposite team.
Development of Dota 2 began in 2009 when IceFrog, lead designer of the original DotA mod, was hired by Valve. Dota 2 was praised by critics for its gameplay, production quality, and faithfulness to its predecessor, despite being criticized for its steep learning curve. Dota 2 utilized the original Source engine until it was ported to Source 2 in September 2015, making it the first game to utilize the new engine.^[6]
Dota 2 has a widespread professional scene, with teams from across the world playing in various competitive leagues and tournaments. The largest of the professional tournaments is known as The International, which is hosted by Valve and takes place annually at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. The 2015 edition of The International set a record for having the largest prize pool in eSports history, totaling over $18 million.^[7] Starting in 2015, Valve also began sponsoring smaller, but seasonally held tournaments known as the Majors, the first of which was held in Frankfurt, Germany.

Gameplay

 

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game set in a three-dimensional (3D) graphical environment, presented from an oblique high-angle perspective. Two five-player teams, referred to as the Radiant and Dire, compete in matches on an asymmetrical playing field. Each player commands one of 111 "Hero" characters, which feature unique abilities and styles of play.^[9] At the start of a match, all Heroes have an experience level of one: they level up, and become more powerful, by accumulating experience points through combat. Whenever a Hero gains a level, the player may unlock a new ability for them, or enhance their statistics. Each Hero's method of combat is influenced by its primary "attribute": Strength, Agility or Intelligence.^[10]
The Radiant and Dire occupy strongholds in opposite corners of the playing field, divided by a river. Within each base is a critical structure called the "Ancient", along with a fountain that regenerates Heroes' health and magic points. A match ends when one side breaches the other's stronghold and destroys the Ancient therein. The two strongholds are connected by three paths, referred to as "lanes", which are guarded by defensive towers and computer-controlled creatures called "creeps". These creatures periodically spawn in groups and travel along the lanes to attack enemy Heroes, creeps and buildings.^[11] Also present are "neutral creeps" hostile to both Radiant and Dire, the most powerful of which is "Roshan", a boss that may be killed by either side to obtain a powerful reward.^[12]
During a match, the player receives a small, continuous stream of gold, which are spent on items that provide powers and stat enhancements to their Hero. Gold is obtained by destroying enemy structures, creeps, and Heroes as well. Only the Hero that lands the killing blow on a creep obtains gold from it, an act called "last hitting", but all nearby allies receive gold when an enemy Hero dies. Players may "deny" their opponents gold and experience by destroying allied units and structures.^[13]
Dota 2 often features seasonal events that present players with themed game modes, which do not follow the game's standard rules,^[14] including the Halloween-themed Diretide event,^[15] the Christmas-themed Frostivus event,^[16] and the New Bloom Festival, which celebrated the coming of spring.^[17] For Halloween 2015, a Team Fortress 2-esque "capture point" game mode was released, titled "Colosseum".^[18] The move to Source 2 also saw the addition of community-created custom game modes, with the more popular ones having dedicated server hosting by Valve.^[19] In March 2016, Valve introduced the "Custom Game Pass" option to custom game modes, which allows content creators to add exclusive features, content, and other changes.