Dota 2’s History
Developed by Valve Corporation, Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game. It is a sequel to DotA (Defense of the Ancients) and a product of the same team that created Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Half-Life.
In fact, Valve Corporation is among the biggest and most consistent game developers and publishers. Other than the titles mentioned above, it has also enjoyed international success with games such as Team Fortress and Portal.
What is Dota?
Dota is a top-down game with a seeming semblance to titles from the Real-Time Strategy genre. Its major distinguishing feature is that it streamlines gaming. Rather than controlling a whole army, the player only needs to control one Hero. Though it was not the first game to offer this kind of play, it popularized this concept.
In addition to getting millions of fans worldwide, it led to the emergence of similar games like League and Heroes of Newerth.
Its inspiration dates back to the days of Starcraft and the Aeon of Strife, a custom map. But it was with the release of Warcraft III from Blizzard that the game was really conceived. At the time, a modder going by the name Eul used a map editor to create the initial incarnations of the game.
Over time, multiple developers added a touch to it. Among the most noteworthy developers were IceFrog and Guinsoo. The latter has been the only map developer since 2005. He is the same developer who went on to create League of Legends.
The Birth of Dota 2
Valve Corporation approached developer IceFrog while he was still an amateur, offering him a lead designer position at the company. The objective at this point was to use the Dota custom map to create a standalone that would have more widespread use.
After IceFrog accepted the deal, Valve made a public announcement in October 2010. The development of Dota 2 kicked off around this time. A closed beta-phase on the game started off in 2011 and was limited to Windows devices. After two years in beta phase, in July 2013, the team officially released the game on Windows, Linux and OS X.
IceFrog still maintains Dota 2, ensuring that it stays true to the original and still manages to overcome the limitations of the Warcraft III engine. Since the release of the game, it has received various upgrades. For instance, it now supports virtual reality and has a port connecting to the Source 2 engine.
Game Highlights
Unlike popular titles like League and Heroes of Newerth, Dota 2 is completely free to play. You do not need to buy any heroes or any other gameplay element, or even unlock the levels. Instead, Valve maintains it by offering support for the game as a service.
Among its offers is Dota Plus, a subscription system in the form of a battle pass and a variety of loot boxes. These have a variety of virtual goods such as audio replacement packs and cosmetics for heroes. You can also buy tournament tickets to be a spectator in in-game tournament matches.
If you are into the eSports scene, you might be familiar with the Dota Pro Circuit, an event managed by the game’s creator. These are a series of tournaments for which participants get award points. In turn, the award points get them direct invites to the video game’s premier tournament, The International.
The International uses a crowdfunded prize money model, which sometimes sees upwards of $30 million. This makes it one of the most lucrative games in the esports industry.
Closing Thoughts
Dota 2 is one of the most action-packed esports titles in gaming. The game features hundreds of different heroes and the complexity of strategies and Dota’s “meta game” can see betting odds flip without warning. Combine this excitement with the unparalleled prize pools and you have quite possibly one of the most successful esports betting titles in the industry. The esport also draws its quality from one of the world’s best game developers and publishers, Valve, meaning that the mechanics and gameplay of Dota always remain fresh and balanced. If you’re looking for an esports title to bet on, Dota 2 may well be one of the best places to start.
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