Games Thrist News Gamers Thirst For

Yesterday a new game from Valve was teased, today, in collaboration with IceFrog, the new game has been announced.

It’s Defence of The Ancients 2, and it’s “a massive sequel for one of the most played games in the world,” according to the press release.

Just like the first game, DotA2 has a blend of RTS and RPG elements, and will come available for PC and MAC in 2011, no specific date has been given.

The game runs on Valve’s Source engine, will support three lane maps, has a strong multiplayer component with AI filling in when gamers leave a game, and it keeps the cartoon-like look of the first. Steamworks and achievements will be implemented.

In “Dota 2″ the gameplay is “almost entirely untouched.” All the heroes from “DoTA Allstars” will be appearing in “Dota 2″ and most of the items, skills and upgrades work as fans will remember them. The new game’s visuals will boast a huge upgrade from the first, with new visual effects like cloth effects and improved lightning being added.

Here’s how the game’s coaching system will work:

By logging in as a coach, veteran players can do their part to help out newer folks. Valve hasn’t entirely decided on the specifics of how newbies and coaches will be matched up, but once they’re together a few things happen. The coach sees the pupil’s screen, and gets private voice and chat channels to communicate with them. The coach probably won’t be able to take control of anything directly (once again, the details are currently under discussion), but information is power in Dota 2 and having a mentor whispering in your ear can make all the difference in the world.

Here’s a quick lesson for those who don’t know about the game, per GameInformer:

Dota 2 takes its name from the Warcraft III mod Defense of the Ancients, a drastic change to that stock real-time strategy title, which pits two teams of five players against each other in highly competitive, 40-minute or longer matches. Unlike most RTSes, DotA has each player controlling a single hero who levels up and stockpiles gold to purchase powerful equipment and consumables. As computer-controlled armies continually spawn and rush the enemy’s base, players are responsible for using their powerful heroes to turn the tide of the battle in their favor.

DotA quickly gained massive popularity on Blizzard’s Battle.net service, with the growing community utilizing user-created channels and the rudimentary custom game browser to connect players. As mods tend to do, it branched into several variations as time passed. Eventually, one rose to the top: DotA-Allstars, originally created by Steve “Guinsoo” Feak (now employed with Riot Games designing League of Legends). Allstars is currently maintained and updated by IceFrog (who declined to give his real name), who was hired by Valve in 2009 and is now working on Dota 2.

Yesterday, IceFrog predicted the game’s announcement on his blog:

“Hey guys, Game Informer dropped by the office last week to take a look at what I’ve been working on with the rest of the team over the last year.

They are going to post an article about it tomorrow on their website. I’ll give you guys a link to it as soon as it is published.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys think!”

We think it’s good, sir. Good luck.