Defense of the Ancients (DotA) is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy video game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft. The objective of the scenario is for each team to destroy the opponents' Ancients, heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map. Players use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled fighters called "creeps". As in role-playing games, players level up their hero and use gold to buy equipment during the mission.[1]
The scenario was developed with the "World Editor" of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and was updated upon the release of the expansion, The Frozen Throne. There have been many variations of the original concept; the most popular is DotA Allstars, which has been maintained by several authors during development. The current developer is known by his pseudonym as "IceFrog".
Since its release, Allstars has become a feature at several worldwide tournaments, including Blizzard Entertainment's BlizzCon and the Asian World Cyber Games, as well as the Cyberathlete Amateur and CyberEvolution leagues; Gamasutra declared that DotA was perhaps the most popular "free, non-supported game mod in the world
The scenario was developed with the "World Editor" of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and was updated upon the release of the expansion, The Frozen Throne. There have been many variations of the original concept; the most popular is DotA Allstars, which has been maintained by several authors during development. The current developer is known by his pseudonym as "IceFrog".
Since its release, Allstars has become a feature at several worldwide tournaments, including Blizzard Entertainment's BlizzCon and the Asian World Cyber Games, as well as the Cyberathlete Amateur and CyberEvolution leagues; Gamasutra declared that DotA was perhaps the most popular "free, non-supported game mod in the world
Defense of the Ancients (sering ditujukan sebagai DotA) merupakan suatu peta yang boleh diubah dalam permainan video Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, berdasarkan peta "Aeon of Strife" dalam permainan Starcraft Blizzard.[1] Ia merupakan suatu permainan strategi tertumpu kepada pertumpuran pahlawan. Tujuannya adalah untuk memusnahkan pangkalan lawannya dengan menggunakan Pahlawan sendiri bersama pahlawan-pahlawan bersekutu dan pejuang-pejuang bersekutu AI lain bersama "creeps". Turut sama konsep permainan bermain peranan, pemain akan meninggikan tingkatan pahlawannya serta menggunakan emas untuk membeli kelengkapan dalam usaha untuk mengalahkan pasukan berlawanan
The popularity of Defense of the Ancients has increased over time. The scenario was featured by Computer Gaming World in a review of new maps and mods in Warcraft III,[20] and has been called "the ultimate RTS" by game journalist and developer Luke Smith.[21] Allstars has become an important tournament scenario, starting with its prominence at the debut of Blizzard's BlizzCon convention in 2005.[22] Allstars was also featured in the Malaysia and Singapore World Cyber Games starting in 2005, and the World Cyber Games Asian Championships beginning with the 2006 season.[23] Defense of the Ancients is now included in the game lineup for the internationally recognized Cyberathlete Amateur League and CyberEvolution leagues.[24] Additionally, the scenario appeared in Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) 2008;[25][26] Oliver Paradis, ESWC's competition manager, noted that the high level of community support behind the scenario, as well as its worldwide appeal, were among the reasons it was chosen.[27]
The scenario is popular in many parts of the world; in the Philippines and Thailand, it is played as much as the game Counter-Strike.[28] It is also popular in Sweden and other Northern European countries, where the Defense of the Ancients-inspired song "Vi sitter i Ventrilo och spelar DotA" by Swedish musician Basshunter reached the European 2006 charts at #116 and cracked the top ten Singles Charts in Sweden, Norway,[29] and Finland.[30] LAN tournaments are a major part of worldwide play,[27] including tournaments in Sweden and Russia; however, due to a lack of LAN tournaments and championships in North America, several teams have since disbanded.[28] Blizzard points to DotA as an example of what dedicated mapmakers can create using developer's tools.[31]
In June 2008, Michael Walbridge, writing for Gamasutra, stated that DotA "is likely the most popular and most-discussed free, non-supported game mod in the world".[2] In pointing to the strong community built around the game, Walbridge stated that DotA shows it is much easier for a community game to be maintained by the community, and this is one of the maps' greatest strengths. Defense of the Ancients has been credited as one of the influences for the 2009 Gas Powered Games title Demigod,[32][33] with the video game publication GameSpy noting the game's premise revolved around aspiring gods "[playing] DotA in real life".[34] Guinsoo went on to apply many of the mechanics and lessons he learned from Defense of the Ancients to the upcoming Riot Games title League of Legends: Clash of Fates.[14] Other "DotA clones" include S2 Games' Heroes of Newerth.
