league of legends

4/10/2015 LeagueofLegendsWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Legends 1/15

LeagueofLegends

Developer(s) RiotGames

Publisher(s) WWRiotGamesCNTencentHoldingsLtdASGarena

Director(s) Tom"Zileas"Cadwell

Producer(s) StevenSnowTravisGeorge

Designer(s) ChristinaNormanRobGarrettSteveFeak

Artist(s) EdmundoSanchezTroyAdamPaulKwon

Composer(s) ChristianLinke

Platform(s) MicrosoftWindows,OSX

Releasedate(s) WWOctober27,2009

Genre(s) Multiplayeronlinebattlearena

Mode(s) Multiplayer

Distribution Download

LeagueofLegendsFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

LeagueofLegends(LoL)isamultiplayeronlinebattlearenavideogamedevelopedandpublishedbyRiotGamesforMicrosoftWindows[1]andMacOSX.ItisafreetoplaygamethatissupportedbymicrotransactionsandinspiredbythemodDefenseoftheAncients[2]forthevideogameWarcraftIII:TheFrozenThrone.

InLeagueofLegends,playersassumetheroleofacharacter,calleda"champion",withuniqueabilities,battlingwithateamagainstotherplayerorcomputercontrolledchampions.Inthemostpopulargamemodes,eachteam'sgoalistodestroytheopposingteam'snexus,abuildingwhichliesattheheartofabaseprotectedbydefensivestructures.EachLeagueofLegendsgameisdiscrete,withallchampionsstartingoffeachgamefairlyweakandprogressingbyaccumulatinggoldandexperienceoverthecourseofthegame.[3]

LeagueofLegendswasgenerallywellreceivedatrelease,andithasgrowninpopularityintheyearssince.ByJuly2012,LeagueofLegendswasthemostplayedPCgameinNorthAmericaandEuropeintermsofthenumberofhoursplayed.[4]AsofJanuary2014,over67millionpeopleplayLeagueofLegendspermonth,27millionperday,andover7.5millionconcurrentlyduringpeakhours.[5]

LeagueofLegendshasalarge,activecompetitivescene.InNorthAmericaandEurope,RiotGamesorganizestheLeagueofLegendsChampionshipSeries,whichconsistsof10[6]professionalteamsineachcontinent.SimilarregionalcompetitionsexistinChina,Korea,Taiwan,andSoutheastAsia.TheseregionalcompetitionsculminatewiththeannualLeagueofLegendsWorldChampionship,whichin2013hadagrandprizeof$1millionandattracted32millionviewersonline.[7]The2014tournamenthadthefifthlargestprizepoolinesportshistory,sittingat2.3milliondollars.[8][9]

Contents

1Gameplay



1.1Gamemodesandmatchmaking2Development3Release4Reception

4.1Popularreception4.2Criticalreception4.3Awardsandnominations

5Tournaments5.1LeagueofLegendsWorldChampionship5.2ChampionshipSeries5.3Otherleagues5.4Allstars

6References7Externallinks

Gameplay

LeagueofLegendsisamultiplayeronlinebattlearenawhereplayerscontrola"champion"[10]withinshortPvPorbotbattles.AsofMarch1,2015,thereare123differentchampionsfromwhichtochoose,allofwhichareclassifiedbytype(assassin,tank,support,etc.),whichindicatesthechampion'sgameplaystyle.[11]

Playersgainlevelsfromkillingtheopposingteam'schampions,controlledbyotherplayersorbots,andminionsthatregularlyspawnandattacktheotherteam'sturrets,minions,andchampions.Intheclassicgamemode,themapistypicallydividedintothree"lanes",whicharepathsthatspawnedminionstakethe"jungle",anareabetweenlaneswhereneutralmonstersspawnand"bases",whereplayersspawnandcanpurchaseitems.Thethreelanesarecomposedofthebottom,mid,andtoplanes,whichdifferentchampionstendtobattleonbasedontheirrespectivetypes.Thejungleissometimesconsideredalane,wheresomechampionstendtoroaminordertocollectbuffsandassistintheotherlanesfreely.Theplayerearnsasmallamountofgoldeverysecondpassivelybutcanearnmorebygettingthelasthitonminions,destroyingenemytowers(referredtoasturrets)thatguardthelanes,killingneutralmonsterslocatedinthejungle,andkillingenemychampions.Withthisgold,userscanbuyavarietyofitemstostrengthentheirchampionfortheremainingdurationofthegame.OntheclassicSummonersRift,TwistedTreeline,andHowlingAbyssmaps,thegameisendedbydestroyingtheenemyteam'slaststructureonthemap,calledthe"Nexus",fromwhichminionsspawn.Othermapshavevariationsofrulesandobjectives,suchasDominionontheCrystalScarmap,whereeachteam'sNexusloseshealthiftheopposingteamcontrolsatleastthreeofthefivetowerslocatedaroundthemap.[12]

TheLeagueofLegendsStoreallowsplayerstopurchaseadditionaloptionsthrough"RiotPoints"(RP)and"InfluencePoints"(IP).RiotPointsmustbeboughtusingrealmoney,whileInfluencePointsareearnedbyplayingthegame.



ChampionsQuinnandJinx(bottom)faceoffagainstTaric(top)inthebottomlaneofSummoner'sRift

Theplayerisidentifiedasa"summoner"andactsasthepersistentelementinthegame.Asummoner'sstatisticsandscoresaretrackedandareaccessibletotheplayer.[13][14]SummonersgainexperiencepointsandInfluencePointsforeachbattletheyparticipatein.Experiencepointsleadtopersistentlevelgainsforthesummoner,uptoamaximumlevelof30.ThebenefitofgaininglevelsisunlockingMasteryPointsandRunePageslots(below)whichimprovetheoverallstrengthofthesummoner'schosenchampionduringbattles.Thesummonercanalsochoosetwo"summonerspells",[13]whichsignificantlyimpactgameplayandhaveahighcooldownratewhilecostingnomana.PreviouslyinSeason3,SummonerSpellscouldbeenhancedwithspecificmasteries,butthosemasterieshavebeenremovedsincethestartofSeason4.Theonlyenhancementsthatremaindealwithlowercooldowns.Allofthemasteriesarepassiveeffects,althoughsomeaugmentitemswhichcanbeactivated.Theyaregroupedintooffensive,defensive,andutilitycategories.Masteriescanberedistributedatwillbetweenbattles.

Similartomasteries,runesaffectgameplayinminorways.RunesarecategorizedintoMarks(offensive),Seals(defensive),Glyphs(magic),andQuintessences(utility).Theymustbeunlockedinthestore.Tobenefitfromrunes,summonerscanarrangethemintheirRunebooks,whichhasalimitednumberofslotsforeachrunetype.However,morerunepagescanbepurchasedfromeitherInfluencePointsorRiotPoints.[15]

ModerationisconductedthroughademocraticsystemknownastheTribunal.Inthissystem,playersubmittedreportsarereviewedbyotherplayersonacasebycasebasis.Thereviewingplayersthensubmittheiropinionsonthelegalityofthebehaviordemonstrated.Aconsensusrendersthedecisionofficial.Itisnotablethatplayersareunabletobepermanentlybannedthroughthissystemsince"allpermanentbansaredistributedmanually."ReviewersreceiveaJusticeRatingbasedontheiraccuracytoencouragethoroughanalysisofcases.[16]AsofMay2014,theTribunalisunavailableinfavorofanautomatedsystemthathandsoutrestrictionsandshorttermbans.RiotGameshasstatedthattheTribunalisbeingupgraded.[17]

Gamemodesandmatchmaking

LeagueofLegendsisasessionbasedgame.MatchmakingcreatesteamswithevenaverageMatchmakingRating(MMR)oftheconstituentplayers.MMRusestheEloformulawithproprietaryadjustments.[18]

Tutorialmodeisasetoftwointroductorysessionsthatteachthebasicsofthegame.Itisintendedtohelpnewplayerslearnconceptssuchasthecontrolsandthegame'sHUD.Custommodeallowsplayerstocreategamesthatplayersmanuallyjoinratherthanrelyingonthegame'smatchmakingsystemtocreatetheteams.Incustommatches,theteamscanbeunevenandmayincludeamixofplayersandbots(computercontrolledchampions).Classicmodeisanormalorrankedmatchinwhichateamwinsbydestroyingtheenemyteam'sNexus,whichcanonlybeattackedifalllaneturretsandtheinhibitorinatleastonelaneandallbaseturretsaredestroyed.Classicmodeisplayedintwodifferentstyles:1.5vs.5onathreelanemap,eachteam'ssidehavingthreelaneturretsandaninhibitorperlane,aswellastwobaseturretsanda



Nexusand2.3vs.3onatwolanemap,eachteam'ssidehavingtwolaneturretsandaninhibitorperlane,aswellasonebaseturretandaNexus.Themapalsohasthreealtars,twoofwhichaddbonusestotheplayers,whilethelastonehealstheplayers.Thesealtarsaresurroundedbyajungle.TherearethreetypesofmatchesinClassicmode:

Normalmatchesareplayerversusplayer.Beforethebeginningofthematch,thereareseveralwaysforteamplayerstoselecttheirchampions.Blindpickmatchesallowbothteamstopickchampionsatthesametime,buteachteamdoesnotlearnwhattheopposingteamhaspickeduntilallpickshavebeenfinalizedplayersmaythereforeincidentallychoosethesamechampionasaplayerontheopposingteam,butplayersmaynotchoosethesamechampionasanotherplayerontheirownteam.Draftpickrandomlyassignsateamcaptainforeachteam,whothentaketurnsbanningthreechampionseach,disallowingbothteamsfromplayingthosesixchampions.Draftplayersthenchoosetheirchampionsinanorderedbackandforthformat.Becausebothteamscanseewhichchampioneachplayerispicking,noplayercanpickachampionthathasalreadybeenpickedbyanotherplayer.Rankedmatchesareavailabletoplayersthatarelevel30.Rankedusesadraftpicksystemexclusively,andplayersareseededintoaLeaguesystembasedontheoutcomeoftheirmatches.Winningandlosinggamesinfluencesaplayer'sMMR,whichisintendedtokeepallplayers'skilllevelsinanygivengameascloseaspossible.Coopvs.AImodematchesplayersagainstateamofbots.SimilartotheTutorialmode,itisalsointendedmainlyasawayforinexperiencedplayerstolearn.TeamBuilder,releasedonMarch27,2014,isanormalclassicmodequeuethatallowsplayerstoqueueupasaspecificchampionandroleoftheirchoice.Aftersubmittingyourselectionstotheteambuildersystem,youcanbuildyourownbalancedteamorjoinanexistingone.Teambuilderisintendedtobringplayerstogetherthatcomplementeachother'sexpectationsandintentionsthemomenttheyenterthelobby.Thisallowsformorecooperativeplayandcommunicationbetweenplayerswhoareplayingaroleandchampiontheywantratherthansomethingtheyareforcedtodo.

Dominionmodeisanormalmatchplayed5v5onCrystalScar,amapwithasinglecircularlanethathasfiveneutralturretsarrangedinastarpattern.Ateamwinsbyreducingthelifetotaloftheenemyteam'sNexus,whichonlyoccursiftheopposingteamcontrolsatleastthreeofthefiveneutralturrets,untilitiszero.ARAM(AllRandomAllMid)moderandomlypickschampionsthattheplayersareabletoplay,allowingupto2rerollsiftheplayerisunsatisfiedwiththeirpick.Playersmayalsotradewithteammatesifbothpartiesownthechampionstobetraded.Themodeisplayed5vs.5onHowlingAbyss,aonelanemapwitheachteam'ssidehavingtwolaneturrets,aninhibitor,twobaseturrets,andaNexus.Ateamwinsbydestroyingtheenemyteam'sNexus,whichcanonlybeattackedifboth



laneturrets,theinhibitor,andbothbaseturretsaredestroyed.OneforAllmodewasthefirstlimitedtimegamemodethatwasavailableduringthe2013Harrowing,anditisnolongeravailable.Inthisgamemode,eachteamwasrandomlyassignedacaptain,whothentookturnsbanningthreechampionseach,disallowingbothteamsfromplayingthosesixchampions.Playersoneachteamwouldthenselectchampionsatthesametime.Eachplayerwasonlyawareoftheirownteam'schoicesuntilallpicksarefinalized,aswithblindpick.However,therewasnorestrictiononchoosingachampionthathadalreadybeenpicked.Onceallplayershadbeenchosen,eachteamwasassignedthechampionthatwaspickedbythemostplayersonthatteam,andallplayershadtoplayasthatchampion.Intheeventofatie,thegamerandomlyselectedthechampion.OneforAllcouldbeplayed5vs.5oneithertheSummoner'sRiftorHowlingAbyssmaps.ThisgamemodelaterreturnedattheendofMay2014,withanewtwistbothteamswereassignedthesamechampion.Thisversion,calledOneForAll:MirrorModetookplaceonlyontheHowlingAbyss(ARAM)map.Showdownwasthesecondlimitedtimegamemode,availableduringthe2013SnowdownShowdown.Showdownwasplayedeither1vs.1or2vs.2ontheHowlingAbyssmap.Eachteamplayeduntiloneteamachievedoneofthreegoals:takingdownanenemyturret,reaching100teamminionkills,orkillingtheenemyplayer(ortwoin2vs.2matches).Hexakillmodewasthethirdlimitedtimegamemode.TakingplaceonSummonersRift,eachteamhadsixplayersinsteadofthetypicalfive.HexakillreturnedontotheTwistedTreelineMap,inOctober24,2014,astheseventhlimitedtimegamemode.UltraRapidFiremodewasintroducedonApril1,2014asthefourthlimitedtimegamemode.ItwasaClassicDraftgame,exceptthatallchampionshadtheirmovementspeedincreased,gainedgoldquicker,usedabilitieswithoutusingmanaorenergy,andhadmorepowerfulrangedattacks,among

otherchanges.Severalchampionswereunavailableinthismode.[19][20]

DoomBotsofDoomwasthefifthlimitedtimegamemode,releasedonJuly17,2014.IttookplaceonSummoner'sRift,wherefiveactualplayerswouldplayagainstfiveAIenemieswithextremelymodifiedabilities,makingthemextremelydangerous.Playerswonbydestroyingtheenemynexus,pernormalgamerules,andtheylostiftheirownnexuswasdestroyed.Therewerethreedifficultymodesavailable,"1Bomb",theeasiest,"2Bombs",amediumdifficultymode,and"5Bombs",anextremelydifficultandhardcoreversionofthemode.AscensionwasthesixthlimitedtimegamemodeandwasreleasedaspartoftheShurimaeventonSeptember10,2014.ItwasavailableonlyontheCrystalScarandwasheldasa5v.s.5draftpickmode.SimilartotheDominionmode,eachteam'sNexuscouldonlybedestroyedbyaccruingpoints,whichtakesdowntheHPfromtheenemyNexus.Pointscouldbeaccruedinnumerousways,bykillingenemychampions,bycapturingRelicsofShurima,orbykillingtheAscended.TheCrystalScarmapwasalsomodifiedsothattheoutermostareaofthemapwasengulfedinasandstorm,



blockingplayersfromenteringorexitingthespawningplatforms.Playerscouldonlyexitthosespawningplatformsviaateleportationitemavailabletoeveryone,butplayerscouldnotreenterthemunlesstheydieandrespawn.Thegoldandexperiencegainwasmodifiedsothateveryplayergainedthesameamountofgoldandexperience,regardlessofkillsorassistsaccrued(unlessplayershadgoldgenerationitemsorperksequipped).Inthemiddleofthemap,aneutralmonstercalledanAscendedwillspawn,andwhomeverlandsthefinalhitonthemonsterwillgranttheirteampointswhilegrantingthekilleraselfbuff,whichmakesthemstronger.Iftheplayerwiththisbuffiskilled,thenextrapointswillbegranted,however,whilethebuffisactive,killsaccruedbytheplayerwiththebuffwillgrantmorepoints.LegendofthePoroKingwastheeighthlimitedtimegamemode.ItwasreleasedalongsidetheWinterSeasonforLeagueofLegends.ThemaincharacteristicsforthisgamemodeisforbothteamstothrowPorosandsuccessfullyhittheenemychampions.Eachhitequals1point.Onceeithersidehasreached10points,thePoroKingisspawnedtopushlanes,whilethescoreboardisdisabled,thePoroKingstaysalivetilldispelledandthenthescoreboardwillreturn.ThemodeendedonJanuary6,2015.

Development

Thegame'sdeveloperRiotGameswascofoundedbyBrandon"Ryze"BeckandMarc"Tryndamere"Merrill.TheypartneredwithSteve"Guinsoo"Feak,thepreviousdesignerofthepopularWarcraftIII:TheFrozenThronecustommapDefenseoftheAncients,andSteve"Pendragon"Mescon,theadministratoroftheformerofficialsupportbaseforthemaptodevelopLeagueofLegends.[21]UsingtheoriginalDotAcreatedbyEul(theoriginalDefenceofTheAncientsmapforWarcraftIII:ReignofChaos)asabase,GuinsoomadeDotAAllstarsbyinsertinghisownmixofcontent,greatlyexpandingthenumberofheroes,addedrecipesanditems,andintroducedvariousgameplaychanges.Guinsoothenpassedversion6ofthemapontoanewdeveloper,IceFrog.

TheideaofaspiritualsuccessortoDefenseoftheAncientswasthatitwouldbeitsownstandalonegamewithitsownengine,ratherthananothermodofWarcraftIII,begantomaterializeattheendof2005.LeagueofLegendswasborn"whenacoupleofveryactiveDotAcommunitymembersbelievedthatthegameplaywassomuchfunandsoinnovativethatitrepresentedthespawningofanewgenreanddeservedtobeitsownprofessionalgamewithsignificantlyenhancedfeaturesandaroundgameservices."[22]

RiotGamesofficiallyopeneditsofficeinSeptember2006,andcurrentlyhasover1,000peopleworkingonLeagueofLegends.AccordingtoMarcMerrill,whencreatingthevariouschampionsinthegame,insteadofleavingthechampioncreationtojustafewpeople,theydecidedtoopenupthechampioncreationprocesstoeveryoneinthecompanybaseduponatemplatewheretheycouldvoteonwhichchampionsmadeitintothegame.

LeagueofLegendswasfirstannouncedonOctober7,2008.ItwasinaclosedbetafromApril10,2009,toOctober22,2009.Itthentransitionedtoopenbetauntilrelease.[23][24]



Release

LeagueofLegendswasreleasedonOctober27,2009.[25]

RiotGamesselfpublishesandoperatesthegameandallofitscustomerserviceaspectsinNorthAmerica.RiotGameshassigneddealsregardingthedistributionofLeagueofLegendsinAsia,Europe,andNorthAmerica.ByJuly2013,thegamehasbeenreleasedandwasdistributedinAustralia,theUnitedStates,Canada,Europe,Philippines,[26]andSouthKorea.Nopublicannouncementsregardingotherregionshavebeenmade.

InAsia,TencentInc.,China'slargestInternetvalueaddedservicescompanybestknownforitsQQInstantMessagingclient,hasbeeninchargeofthedistributiontoTencent'sgrowing300millionInternetuserbasethroughitsleadingQQGameportal.ThedealwasoneofonlyahandfulofpartnershipstobringaU.S.developedonlinegamedirectlytoChina.

InEurope,RiotGameshassignedaninternationallicensingpartnershipwithGOA,thevideogamesdepartmentofOrange'sContentDivisionandEurope'slargestgamingportal.OnOctober13,2009,GOAandRiotannouncedthattheywouldstartchannelingserveraccessforplayerslocatedinEuropetoGOA'sdedicatedservers.[27]ThisrestrictionmeantthatplayerslocatedinEuropewouldnotbeabletoplayonRiot'sserversintheUnitedStates.Duetonegativecommunityfeedback,thechannelingdecisionwasrescindedOctober16,2009.[28]

OnMarch23,2013,thecinematographicstudiosinRomehostedtheItalianlaunchofLeagueofLegends.Morethan1,500peoplewerepresent,alongwithRiotGamesdevelopers,journalists,andvariousguests.TheshowscheduleincludedacosplaycontestandachallengematchbetweentwoItalianclans.[29]

OnMay10,2010,RiotGamesannouncedthattheywouldtakeoverdistributionandoperationofthegameinEurope.[30]Todoso,RiotGamesestablishedaEuropeanHQinDublin.[31]

OnJuly14,2009,RiotGamesannouncedthatLeagueofLegendswillbefreewith"nocatch".[13][32]Therewillbeadigitalcopyfordownload,butthereisalsoaDigitalCollector'sCopythatwillbeavailabletopurchasethatcontainsexclusiveskins,$10creditforRiotPoints,and20championstoaccesswithoutunlockingthemnormallyviagameplayaswellas4"special"runes.ThisCollector'sPackiscurrentlyavailableforUS$29.99.[33][34]Eventhoughthegameisfree,RiotGames"plan[s]tocontinuetoaddcontent(charactersetc...)withafullproductionteamatveryfrequentintervals."[35]Usingbothfreetoplayandfreemiummodels,thegameissupportedbymicrotransactions(seestore)ratherthanadsorboxedcopysales.[36]

OnFebruary25,2010,RiotGamesannouncedthatLeagueofLegendswouldbedistributedinSoutheastAsiancountriesbyanunspecifiedpublisherandblockedSEAIPaddressespursuanttoitsdistributionagreement.[37]ThecommunityhasraisedanumberofconcernsaboutthedealandtheimmediateIPblock.OnJuly16,2010,RiotGamesannouncedthatGarenawouldpublishthegameinSoutheastAsia.[38]Additionally,SoutheastAsianplayershadtheability"transferaccounts"toimporttheirprogressstoredinNorthAmericanorEuropeanserversintotheSoutheastAsianserver.



Reception

InMarch2013,RiotGamesreleasedabetaversionofanOSXclientinadditiontotheirWindowsclient.[39]

InApril2014,RiotGamesannounceditsToykoofficeasapartoftheireffortstopushthegameintotheJapaneseeSportsindustry.[40]InconjunctionwiththeirannouncementofalocalizedclientintheworksattheTokyoGameShow2014,itwasrevealedthatJapanwouldfeatureitsownLeagueofLegendsJapanLeaguewhereteamswouldcompeteontheprofessionallevel.[41][42]

Reception

Popularreception

InareleasepublishedinNovember2011,RiotGamesclaimedthatLeagueofLegendshadaccumulated32.5millionplayers,11.5millionofwhomplaymonthly,ofwhich4.2millionplaydaily.[43]AccordingtoRiotinOctober2013,thegamehad12millionactivedailyplayersand32millionactivemonthlyplayers.InJanuary2014,thegamehad27millionactivedailyplayers,7.5millionconcurrentplayersatpeaktimes,and67millionactivemonthlyplayers.[44]Globalconcurrentusersonlinepeakedatover5millionplayersasofMarch2013.[45][46]

InMarch2012,LeagueofLegendsbecamethe#1titleinKoreanPCcafs.[47]InJuly2012,XfirereleasedareportstatingthatLeagueofLegendswasthemostplayedPCgameinNorthAmericaandEurope,with1.3billionhoursloggedbyplayersinthoseregionsbetweenJuly2011andJune2012.[4]LeagueofLegendsisalsoverypopularinthePhilippines,and,asofJuly2013,itisthesecondmostplayedgameininternetcafsinthecountry(justbehindDefenseoftheAncients).[48]InTaiwan,itisestimatedthatalmost5percentoftheirentirepopulationplayedthegame,withalmost1millionplayerssubscribedontheserver.[49]

Criticalreception

LeagueofLegendshasreceivedgenerallyfavorablereviews,andcurrentlyholdsaMetacriticscoreof78outof100.[51]

IGNinitiallyawardedLeagueofLegends8.0outof10in2009,highlightinganenjoyablegamedesign,inventivechampiondesignwithgoodcustomizationoptions,andlivelyvisuals.However,thegame'sconfusinglaunchwascriticized:itwasfeltthatthetitlewasreleasedtooearly,withsomefeaturesmissingandotherstoberemoved.Finally,thereviewernotedthathighlevelplayersinthegamehave"littlepatiencefornewcomers",thoughthereviewerbelievedthatmatchmaking(notimplementedatthetimeofreview)wouldsolvetheproblembymatchingplayersofsimilarleveltogether.[59]



AggregatescoresAggregator Score

GameRankings 78.72%[50]

Metacritic 78%[51]

ReviewscoresPublication Score

1UP.com A[52]

AllGame [53]

Eurogamer [54]

GameRevolution B+[55]

GameSpy [56]

GameZone [57]

IGN 9.2/10[58]

Awards

Publication Award

Gamespy Gamer'sChoiceAwardforPCGameoftheYear(2009)

IGN Reader'sChoiceAwardforPCBestStrategyGameandPCBestMultiplayerGame(2009)

Gamasutra 2010BestOnlineTechnology

2010BestOnlineVisualArts2010BestOnlineGameDesign2010BestNewOnlineGame

2010AudienceAward

LeahB.JacksonofIGNrereviewedthegamein2014,changingIGN'sscorefrom8.0to9.2.Jacksonhailedthegameasa"firmasanexampleofexcellence",praisingthevarietyofchampions,rewardingprogressionsystems,andfastbutintenselystrategicteamplay.[58]

AscomparedtofellowMOBAgamesHeroesofNewerthandDota2,MikeMinottiofVentureBeatconsideredthegametheeasiesttolearnandtohavefastestgameplaypaceofthethree.[60]

Awardsandnominations

Date Awards Category Result

December14,2009

IGNPCBestStrategyGame2009

Readers'Choice Winner[61]

December21,2009

GamespyGamers'ChoiceAwards2009

PCGamers'Choice Winner

[62]

October8,2010

1stGameDevelopersOnlineChoiceAwards

BestOnlineTechnology,VisualArts,GameDesign,NewOnlineGame,AudienceAward

Winner[63]

October29,2010

GoldenJoystickAward

OnlineGameOfTheYear Winner

[64]

October21,2011

GoldenJoystickAward

BestFreeToPlayGame Winner

[65]

Tournaments

The2010WorldCyberGamesGrandFinalsinLosAngeleshostedaLeagueofLegendstournament,atwhichteamsfromChina,Europe,andtheAmericascompeted.TheCounterLogicGamingteamfromNorthAmericawonthetournament,earninga$7,000prize.[66]



LeagueofLegendsWorldChampionship

Season1ChampionshipinJune2011,heldatDreamhackinSweden,featuredUS$100,000inprizes.TheEuropeanteamFnaticdefeatedteamsfromEurope,theUSA,andSoutheastAsiatowinthetournamentandreceivedUS$50,000inprizemoney.[67]Over1.6millionviewerswatchedthestreamedbroadcastoftheevent,withapeakofover210,000simultaneousviewersinonesemifinalmatch.[68]AfterSeason1,RiotannouncedthatUS$5,000,000wouldbepaidoutoverSeason2.Ofthisamount,$2millionwastogotoRiot'spartners,includingtheIPLandothermajoreSportsassociations.Another$2millionwastogotoRiot'sSeason2qualifiersandchampionship.Thefinal$1millionwastogotosmallorganizerswhoapplytoRiottohostLeagueofLegendstournaments.[69]

AfteraseriesofnetworkissuesduringtheSeason2WorldPlayoffsthatledtoseveralmatchesbeingdelayed,RiotrevealedonOctober13,2012,thataspecialLANbasedclienthadbeenquicklydeveloped,designedforuseintournamentenvironmentswheretheeffectsoflagandothernetworkissuescanbedetrimentaltotheproperorganizationofanevent.TheLANclientwasdeployedforthefirsttimeduringthefirstquarterfinalandsemifinalmatchesplayedfollowingtherescheduledmatches,andwasinuseduringthefinals.[70]OnOctober13,2012,Taiwan'sprofessionalteamTaipeiAssassins(TPA)triumphedoverSouthKorea'sAzubuFrostintheFinalsofSeason2WorldChampionshipwithascoreof3to1,andclaimedthe$1millioninprizemoney.[71]

InOctober2013,KoreanteamSKTelecomT1andChineseteamRoyalClub"competedattheStaplesCenterinLosAngeles.SKTelecomT1wonthegrandprizeof$1million,andRoyalClubreceived$250,000.[72]

Asof2013,LeagueofLegendsisthemostpopularesportsgameinSouthKorea.[73]

OnJuly11,2013,RiotmanagerNickAllenannouncedthattheUnitedStatesCitizenshipandImmigrationServicesnowrecognizesLeagueofLegendsproplayersasprofessionalathletesandthevisaapplicationprocessisnowsimplifiedforthem.[74][74]ThesechangesallowprofessionalplayerstostayintheUnitedStatesforuptofiveyears.[75]

ChampionshipSeries

OnFebruary7,2013,RiotGamesmadetheLeagueofLegendsChampionshipSeries(LCS)inEuropeandNorthAmerica.Thisisaleaguesystemwheretenteamscompetetostayintheleague.Aseasonconsistsoftwosplits,eachsplitseparatedintoaregularseasonandaplayoff.Thetopthreeteamsfromeachcontinentadvancetotheworldchampionships.

Otherleagues

Allstars

Aftertheendingofthespringsplit,afewplayerschosenbyfansaswellasthenumberoneteamintheplayoffsparticipateinanentertainmenteventwhereallregionsarerepresented.ThiseventwaspreviouslyheldinShanghai,Chinain2013andParis,Francein2014.TheWorldChampionshipoccursafterthesummersplit.Startingwith2015,theAllstarswillmovetoNovemberDecember,aftertheWorld



Championship.BetweenspringandsummertherewouldbeanewcompetitiveeventcalledMidseasonInvitational,featuringeachregion'sbestteam(unliketheWorldChampionshipwithsomeregionscansendupto3teams).

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