Hobbies And Interests
Release
At the time of publication, Blizzard promises ̶0;Blizzard DOTA̶1; will be released ̶0;soonish.̶1; According to the game's official website, the developers intend to offer ̶0;DOTA̶1; for free, possibly as part of ̶0;StarCraft II: Starter Edition.̶1; Players who previously purchased ̶0;StarCraft II̶1; and its expansions may be privy to special content, such as exclusive hero characters. Before release, Blizzard plans to offer select players time with the game as beta testers, to evaluate the software for usability at no charge.
Story
̶0;Blizzard DOTA̶1; offers a humorous take on the Blizzard-brand mythos, incorporating elements from the ̶0;StarCraft̶1; and ̶0;WarCraft̶1; worlds. As the story goes, two evil gods -- one red and one blue ̵1; in a pocket universe kidnap legendary heroes from across the cosmos, forcing them into battle as a form of amusement. Players take on the role of one of these gods, leading star or "hero" characters from the Blizzard world into battle against each other.
Gameplay
As a map mod with a focus on fast-paced, team-based multiplayer battle, ̶0;Blizzard DOTA̶1; puts players in control of hero characters accompanied by computer-controlled creatures. Gamers must capture and destroy the opposing player's base. Automated towers protect each base, adding further need for strategy. Victories result in the acquisition of experience points and gold, used to upgrade the skills of hero characters and purchase items, respectively.
Features
Powered by Blizzard's Battle.net service, ̶0;Blizzard DOTA̶1; features include matchmaking services and statistic tracking to ensure balanced battles. Blizzard's own take on ̶0;Defense of the Ancients̶1; incorporates 12 playable characters from the Blizzard universe, such as Nova from ̶0;StarCraft,̶1; as well as Thrall and Arthas from the ̶0;WarCraft̶1; series.