“League of Legends,” a popular online game, is an example of a MOBA, or a multiplayer online battle arena, in which players engage in team skirmishes. Credit: Riot Games, Inc.
Last week’s release of Blizzard Entertainment’s free-to-play online game “Heroes of the Storm” has got me thinking about MOBAs, a wildly popular genre that has taken off in the last few years. But what is a MOBA?
Multiplayer online battle arenas such as “League of Legends” and “Dota 2” have their roots in real-time strategy games such as “StarCraft.” The games have evolved into what’s typically a battle of two small virtual armies, led by “heroes” that players try to guide to victory. Players build up the skills of their heroes to make them even stronger and more skilled for future fights.
In the case of games such as “League of Legends,” they’ve become big draws in the world of eSports, where audiences worldwide watch the best players engage in MOBA skirmishes.
In this space every week, we’ll define a tech term, offer a timely tip or answer questions about technology from readers. Email ogallaga@statesman.com.
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