Dota 2 is all the rage in Singapore now with The International, the world’s most lucrative esports tournament, just days away from making its Southeast Asia debut.
But just who plays Dota 2 in the Lion City? You might be surprised.
For the most part, Dota 2 is perceived as being more popular among millennials and older gamers. A lot of Gen Z gamers remember Dota 2 as something they might have played when they were younger but have since moved on to newer titles. Some have even described it as having died long ago, being replaced by League of Legends. However, the game’s young-player base is still alive and thriving in Singapore.
Do What You Love
Zhi Bing, a 16-year-old student, has been actively playing for the last three years. Dota 2 has allowed him to meet many new friends and playing with them has become more or less a daily routine. He values that the game has trained his strategic thinking and decision-making skills, traits that he hopes he can apply one day in real life.
The self-proclaimed “certified PL main” first took an interest in Dota when he watched the Grand Finals of The International 9 (TI9). Following that, he watched as many matches as he could online in TI10. This year for TI11, he plans to watch the matches on Twitch with his friends over a Discord call, as well as hold a watch party for the Grand Finals. TI11 will be the first event where he plans to watch the majority of the matches, as he is now armed with sufficient knowledge about Dota to fully enjoy the craziness that unfolds.
Zhi Bing views TI as an intricate culmination of a year of Dota. His interest lies in watching the game, seeing the plays and the decisions the players make. He also finds himself drawn to the unpredictability of the whole event.
“TI is very hard to predict,” he said, adding that Tundra, LGD, OG, Entity and Talon are all teams he fancies to do well. “That’s what makes the event fun after all.”
While he acknowledges Dota’s generally older fanbase, joking that older opponents are too slow to block spells (not forgetting to mention that he himself has reflexes similar to a 40-year-old), he does not let it deter him from what he loves.
He said: “It’s true that Dota’s player base typically consists of those who are older than your average gamer, but I don’t think that should stop people from getting into Dota. It’s undoubtedly the most complex MOBA out there, so if you enjoy MOBA games and want to play one with extreme levels of strategy and complexity, then go for it. It doesn’t matter if everyone else is like 40, just play what you enjoy.”
Not Just A Game
For 19-year-old polytechnic student Derrick Lim, Dota 2 represents unflinching perseverance in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Derrick started playing Dota when he was 16 after hearing about it from friends. After initially struggling to win games, he is now a much better player and says, Dota has taught him that it’s possible to overcome all odds.
The game is a personal hobby he uses to unwind with friends at the end of a long day. The comfortable familiarity of the game makes it something he can rely on for relaxation.
He is eagerly awaiting TI11, given that the event is in Singapore. He plans to watch the matches live on Twitch and then meet up with friends to watch the Grand Finals. He will be cheering on the new OG roster as he finds them very promising. While it’s hard to predict what could happen, he hopes to see a faceoff between PSG.LGD and OG, reminiscent of TI8. However, he also hopes Ame from PSG.LGD has a chance to win as he considers him to be one of the most talented Dota players of this generation.
“Of all the esports competitions out there, I think none can come close to the passion of TI,” said Derrick “I do not think I am wrong to say that every Dota player has dreamed of lifting the Aegis and watching teams with the same passion and goal competing for that is truly a grand spectacle.”
Derrick also acknowledges the game’s older players but doesn’t find it particularly relevant.
He said: “While it is true that Dota is played mainly by millennial gamers, I believe that it is a game that can still be enjoyed by those who want a technically robust and challenging experience.”
On The Next Level
Nineteen-year-old polytechnic student Jovin Liew was first a League of Legends (LoL) player but then picked up Dota 2 about four years ago. He learnt about Dota after watching a YouTube video comparing Dota and LoL.
In the last four years, he has improved his skills in both games, thanks to Dota. Dota has allowed him to upgrade his skills and push himself further.
He said: “Dota is more of a macro-game compared to a micro-game like League of Legends. I play Dota to improve my macros. If micro-skills are more about how a player manages multiple units at a time, macro-skills are about how the player utilises resources, in this case, gold, XP minions, skill cooldown and roles. It is basically a skill that requires me to think of the bigger picture, in this case, the game and game state.”
The game has allowed him to meet and meet people from all around the world, forming connections over their shared love for the game.
As for his plans for TI, he plans to watch the Semi-Finals and Finals on Twitch. He is rooting for PSG.LGD, predicting that the final showdown will be between Team Spirit and PSG.LGD with PSG.LGD walking away victorious. He looks forward to seeing how the professionals play and is hoping to learn from them.
Jovin says that Dota 2 is still very much in vogue with the youth.
He said: “There are still young people like me and my friends who play Dota 2 because we find it interesting. And many YouTube channels are still making beginner’s guides to Dota 2, which further reinforces the idea that new and younger people are still discovering Dota.”
