League of Legends (Lol), developed by Riot Games, it is a genre video game MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) that has revolutionized the world of electronic sports. Since its launch in 2009, this game has become one of the most influential titles in the history of video games. In this article, we will explore the history, game mechanics, and its impact on the competitive eSports scene.
History
League of Legends was born from the vision of Mark Merrill and Brandon Beck, founders of Riot Games. The game was launched in October 2009, and has seen steady growth since then. The game's plot takes place in a fantasy world called Runeterra, with a wide variety of champions, each with their own background and unique abilities. The players are grouped into two teams, the Blue Team and the Red Team, and compete in strategy and action games in real time.
Game Mechanics
League of Legends is a highly strategic game that combines elements of action and strategy. Each match is played on a map with three “lanes” and a jungle. Players choose one of over 150 available champions, each with unique abilities and specific roles. The key to success in the game lies in the team coordination, making strategic decisions and executing effective tactics.
The games of Lol They can last anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, with teams racing to destroy the enemy nexus while defending their own. The game mechanics, constantly updated and balanced by Riot Games, ensure that the experience is always fresh and challenging.
Impact on eSports
League of Legends has played a pivotal role in the growth of esports. He League of Legends World Championship (League of Legends World Cup) is one of the most prominent events in the eSports scene, with millions of viewers and constantly increasing prize money. This annual tournament brings together the best teams from around the world, which has contributed to internationalizing the game and increasing its popularity globally.
In addition to the World Cup, Riot Games has also established regional professional leagues, as the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) in North America and League of Legends European Championship (LEC) in Europe. These leagues provide a platform for teams to compete regularly and build a loyal following.
League of Legends has proven to be much more than just a video game. It has established a legacy in esports and changed the way we view and understand online competition. With a community of passionate players, an ever-growing competitive scene, and a loyal fan base around the world, League of Legends will continue to play a prominent role in the gaming and esports industry for years to come.
How to play LoL?
- Select a Champion: Each player chooses a champion (character) to control during the game. There are over 150 different champions, each with unique abilities.
- Map: The game is played on a map called “Howling Abyss” or “Summoner’s Rift” depending on the game mode. Each team has a base in one corner of the map. The main objective is to destroy the enemy Nexus, which is located in the enemy base.
- Roles: Players take on specific roles on the team, such as Marksman (ADC), Support, Tank, Fighter, and Assassin. Each role has a different purpose and responsibilities in the game.
- Gameplay: The game is played from an isometric perspective, and players control their champions using the keyboard and mouse. They must defeat neutral monsters, eliminate enemy minions, and fight enemy champions to earn gold and experience.
- Skills: Each champion has four unique abilities. Players must use these abilities strategically to damage enemies, heal themselves or their allies, and control the battlefield.
- Objects: Players can purchase items with gold earned during the game to strengthen their champions. Items can increase attack speed, stamina, damage, and provide unique effects.
- Communication: Team communication is essential. Players must coordinate to make tactical decisions, such as when to attack, defend, ambush the enemy, or take objectives such as towers, dragons, and barons.
- Towers and Inhibitors: On the way to the enemy base, there are towers and an inhibitor. The towers protect the path and must be knocked down to reach the enemy base. Inhibitors control the production of super-powered minions and must be destroyed to weaken the enemy base.
- Dragons and Barons: These are neutral monsters on the map that grant buffs to teams that defeat them. Dragons provide elemental bonuses, while Baron Nashor strengthens your team and can help take the enemy base.
- Victory: The team that destroys the enemy Nexus first wins the game. It is also possible to win by surrender of the enemy team or when a team surrenders.
League of Legends is a highly strategic and competitive game that requires skill, teamwork and adaptability. Each match is unique due to champion selection and tactical decisions, making it exciting and challenging.
What are the qualifiers?
The goal of this game mode is to evaluate and rank players based on their skill and performance in competitive matches. Below I will provide you with information on how ranked ranks work in League of Legends:
- Initial Placement: Before playing ranked matches, players must play a set of placement matches (usually 10) to determine their starting rank. Performance in these early games influences the rank you'll start at.
- Divisions and Leagues: The ranking system is divided into divisions and leagues. Each league has a name (such as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster or Challenger) and within each league, there are divisions (for example, Gold IV, Gold III, Gold II, Gold I).
- League Points: Within each division, players earn and lose League Points (LP) with each victory or loss. Earning enough LP allows you to advance to the next division or league. When you reach 100 LP in your current division, you play a promotional series to advance to the next division or league.
- Promotions: Promotions are series of games that players must win to advance to a new division or league. In most cases, you must win 2 out of 3 games in a promotion series to advance. In higher leagues, such as Diamond and beyond, promotion series may require winning 3 out of 5 games.
- LP Loss: If you lose games, you will lose LP, and if you reach 0 LP in your division, you may drop to a lower division. However, you cannot drop from an entire league unless you are inactive for an extended period.
- MMR (Matchmaking Rating): Your MMR is an important factor in the ranking system. If you win more games than you lose, your MMR will increase, which will speed up your progress in the rankings. Likewise, losing more games than you win will lower your MMR and make it harder to advance.
- Division and League Caps: In some divisions and leagues (for example, Diamond IV and above), there are cap restrictions, which means that players cannot drop to a lower league, even if they lose a lot of games. This is designed to make the higher leagues more competitive.
- Seasons and Rewards: Ranked runs in seasons, generally lasting one year. At the end of each season, players receive rewards based on their rank. These rewards can include skins, icons, and more.
What is Riot Games?
Riot Games is a video game company based in The Angels, California. It was founded in 2006 by Mark Merrill and Brandon BeckThe company is widely known for developing and publishing one of the most popular and successful online games in the world, «League of Legends" (Lol). Riot Games has mainly focused on the development and expansion of this game since its creation, but has also ventured into other projects and areas related to electronic sports (eSports).
Some highlights of Riot Games and its impact on the video game industry are:
- League of Legends: It is the best-known game from Riot Games and one of the most popular titles in the world in the genre of real-time strategy (RTS) and MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games. The game has attracted a large base of players, eSports organizations and viewers globally.
- EsportsRiot Games has played a pivotal role in the growth and professionalization of esports. The company organizes and sponsors the “League of Legends Professional League” (LCS in North America, LEC in Europe, etc.), and has contributed to the development of high-level competitions around the world. It is also known for its focus on fairness and well-being for professional players.
- Franchise expansion: Instead of using a promotion and relegation system, Riot Games has implemented a franchise system in many of its professional LoL leagues, providing stability for the teams and organizations involved.
- Expansion to other games and media:Over the years, Riot Games has worked on expanding its gaming universe, including titles such as "Teamfight Tactics" and "Valorant«. He has also ventured into other media, such as comics, animation and music, with the aim of enriching the story and experience surrounding his games.
- Commitment to the community: Riot Games has established a close relationship with its player community, listening to their feedback and making updates and changes based on their feedback.
League of Legends World Cup
The League of Legends World Championship, commonly known as the “LoL Worlds” or “Worlds,” is one of the largest events in esports and focuses on the popular online game “League of Legends.” Here is some general information about the League of Legends World Championship:
- Global Ranking Tournament: The World Cup is an annual tournament that brings together the best teams from all regions of the world, including North America, Europe, Korea, China, Taiwan, Brazil, Türkiye, among others. Each region has its own qualifying tournaments to determine which teams will represent that region at the World Cup.
- Tournament Format: The World Cup begins with a Play-In phase, in which teams from smaller regions compete for a place in the group stage. The teams then advance to the group stage, where they face off in a series of round-robin matches. The best teams advance to the knockout phase, which includes the quarterfinals, semifinals and the grand final.
- Stage and Production: The League of Legends World Cup is known for its high-quality production and impressive scenery. Opening ceremonies often feature live performances, music and spectacular special effects.
- Crowd of Spectators: The World Cup attracts a massive global audience both online and at match venues. Finals are typically stadium events that can seat tens of thousands of spectators in person.
- Awards and Prestige: The League of Legends World Cup offers one of the largest prize pools in electronic sports. The winning team receives the title of World Champion, a significant cash prize, and worldwide recognition. Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and other recognitions are also awarded.
- Impact on Esports: The World Cup has been fundamental in the growth and professionalization of electronic sports, demonstrating that online games can be a legitimate and successful sport at an international level. It has helped elevate League of Legends players to celebrity status and generated widespread interest in esports in general.
- Innovation in the Game: Worlds often introduces new strategies, champions, and tactics that influence the global meta of the game. It is a showcase of the skills and creativity of the best players in the world.
- Change of Headquarters: The location of the World Cup changes each year, and Riot Games selects different countries and cities to host the tournament. This helps expand the fan base and gives fans around the world the opportunity to experience the event in person.
Historical winners
| Year | Place | Dates | Winner | Host country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sweden | June 18-21 | Fnatic | Sweden |
| 2011 | Sweden | June 18-21 | Fnatic | Sweden |
| 2012 | The Angels | October 13-13 | Taipei Assassins | USA |
| 2013 | The Angels | October 15-13 | SK Telecom T1 | USA |
| 2014 | Seoul | September 25 - October 19 | Samsung White | South Korea |
| 2015 | Berlin | October 1-31 | SK Telecom T1 | Europe |
| 2016 | The Angels | September 29 – October 29 | SK Telecom T1 | USA |
| 2017 | Beijing | September 23 – November 4 | Samsung galaxy | China |
| 2018 | Incheon | November 1 – 3 | Invictus Gaming | South Korea |
| 2019 | Paris | October 2 -November 10 | FunPlus Phoenix | France |
| 2020 | Shanghai | September 25 - October 31 | DAMWON Gaming | China (Shanghai) |
| 2021 | Reykjavik | October 5 – November 6 | Edward Gaming | Iceland |
| 2022 | San Francisco | September 29 – November 5 | XRD | USA |
| 2023 | Seoul | October 10 – November 19 | In dispute.. | South Korea |
The League of Legends World Cup is an epic and exciting event that brings together players and fans from around the world to celebrate the passion for esports and League of Legends. Each year, the tournament continues to grow in size and scope, establishing itself as one of the most important events in the esports industry.