League of Legends (2009)

Oct 27

Date: October 27, 2009
Platform: Mac / PC
Developer: Riot Games
Publisher: Riot Games / Tencent Games
Genre: MOBA
Theme: Fantasy
Franchises: League of Legends
Also known as: LoL
Adaptation: Cameo

Summary:

League of Legends is a free-to-play high-fantasy action real-time strategy game developed and released digitally by Riot Games for the PC on October 27, 2009. It was later released for the Mac on March 2013.

Inspired by Defense of the Ancients (a mod for the 2002 game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos that popularized the “Multiplayer Online Battle Arena” sub-genre) and was developed with involvement from two of the mod’s developers (Guinsoo and Pendragon).

Similar to the mod its based on, the main gameplay pits two teams of five players against each-other as they work to escort their three endless waves of AI-controlled monsters (“Minions”) towards the fortified enemy base in order to destroy the enemy base (“Nexus”). Each player controls an individual character (“Champion”) and, throughout the match, earn experience (to level up their stats and abilities) and gold (for purchasing items and equipment) by eliminating enemies.

As a free-to-play game, League of Legends restricts the amount of Champions available from the start (focusing on a weekly “free rotation”) and features microtransactions (using the “Riot Points” premium currency) for unlocking new Champions, alternate Champion appearances, Summoner XP boosts, and other cosmetics and services. Some of these could also be unlocked using “Influence Points” (later “Blue Essence”) earned by playing the game. The game also received a retail boxed edition (the “Collector’s Edition”), adding $10 worth of RP while unlocking 20 Champions from the start and adding two exclusive Champion Skins.

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/league-of-legends/3030-24024/