League of Legends Debate: Bottom Line

I would like to thank everyone involved in the comment chat we had about League of Legends. It seems I have displaced my energy when addressing my true concerns about the game, so let me verify my thoughts.

DOTA evolved as a custom game within the Warcraft III environment. It was a great idea, followed by a huge fan base, that grew with every version update. It is a worldwide E-sport, without a doubt, and is extremely impressive given the limitations provided it being a custom game. Without question it was due for a bigger and better stage, hence the movement to bring DOTA to stand alone status by creating its own game. Either way these game releases effect the massive audience the game demands, DOTA has created a new genre that will be sure to entertain millions and millions of gamers without a foreseeable end.

Although DOTA was created without Blizzard hands, it was raised within the Warcraft environment, and can be easily related to dominant Warcraft heroes, items, and playing style. DOTA was destined to end its Battle.net adventure some day, given the limitations I have noted, by HOW it ends has been put in the hands of the two teams developing League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth.

Reading about League of Legends, and finally playing the beta, my biggest concerns have proven themselves true, which leads me to my present issue with the game. League of Legends has chosen to create its own existence, using the DOTA gameplay foundation, but NONE of the original Warcraft cosmetics. Basically creating all new heroes (with some connection with DOTA heroes), all new items (with the recipe concept used in DOTA), and buffing the avatar (which DOTA never had a chance to do given its limitations as a custom game). I could probably find several more examples, but I think you get the point by now.

I don't think DOTA deserves that kind of end. I would like to see the game brought into a stand alone status while holding true to the original. I would like to see DOTA, with a few needed upgrades, given a chance to continue its success while keeping the Warcraft III theme. Taking the original DOTA game into stand alone status, with advanced avatar features, gameplay and graphic enhancements, and superior matchmaking and ranking systems, would give it the chance I feel it deserves. From what I can gather, Heroes of Newerth is attempting to do just that.

I have no problem with League of Legends, I am just disappointed with the way they have evolved from DOTA without giving it a chance to succeed as a stand alone game. As you can tell, I am a die hard, old school Warcraft fan, and playing DOTA without the original heroes, or items, just wouldn't be the same. That being said, I do wish both games the best of luck in creating successful online competition with the worlds newest E-sport.

-GAME HARD-