New RTS Based on DotA Offers Native Linux Client 173
S2 Games, longtime fans of the "Defense of the Ancients" (DotA) mod for Warcraft 3, have decided to create an entire game based around it (which IceFrog had no objection to). Without offending their still-active NDA, I can say that Heroes of Newerth is shaping up to be a very polished RTS, with the ability to play both via S2's own online service and local games, something that even Blizzard seems to be missing these days. Unlike most publishers, S2 has also decided to simultaneously release Windows, Mac, and Linux clients, making this one of the best looking games that I have ever seen on my Linux box. Additionally, S2 would like to invite another 400 players to the HoN beta, so if you are an RTS fan (and especially if you are a DotA fan) just send an email to scuttlemonkey at slashdot dot org with the subject line of "HoN Beta Key Request" and I'll reply to the first 400 requests as best I can. Update 20:37 GMT by SM: In case you don't notice in your haste to create a beta account, let me remind you that this game is still under strict NDA, so please no specifics in the discussion below. Update 00:01 GMT by SM: Well, given the 800+ emails that flooded my inbox in the first half hour or so we're all out of beta keys, but keep an eye out for a release date. Update 01:00 GMT by SM: Apparently your friends over at S2 games were quite impressed with the level of interest and are furnishing another 2,000 beta keys for me to continue working through the requests in my inbox (I'm at around 1,500 requests total as of this update, and only about 350 keys sent out). Please be patient as I slowly try to catch up. Also a point of clarification, while IceFrog doesn't mind S2 diving in to this space with a game based on DotA (competition is good in the long run after all), he wanted to make sure loyal fans of DotA knew that he plans to continue developing and improving DotA for WC3. Update 7/10/2009 13:06 GMT by SM: to all those still waiting on a beta invite, please be patient. I use gmail as the central repository for my email for ease-of-use, and while I was only expecting to have to hand out 400 keys, apparently gmail has an email cap of 500 per day. Last night my account got locked for excessive use, so I am waiting on the wrist-slap to expire so I can continue my key-spam. It looks like all who have requested a key so far will get one.
Re:Let it die (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Woo Hoo!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
It's multi-platform? Great!
It supports LAN? Awesome.
Will it be a fun, enjoyable gaming experience (possibly more fun then DoTA, a game I already have access too)? You seemed to leave out that minor detail.
Let's not start comparing a game to Blizzard's games until we actually see the game, shall we?
Re:Woo Hoo!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:DotA - fun game, horrible community (Score:3, Insightful)
I have certainly experienced this. The problem is, in general, that just one missing link on the team becomes a major handicap for the 4 other players. All it takes is for one player to give opponents a few easy kills for the opponents to gain enough experience and equipment to become more or less unstoppable. This, combined with the fact that DotA is played on chiefly on Battle.net where the average age is seemingly mid-teens and you've got a recipe for problems.
My advice, if you want to get in to it, is to first play with AI players (you can download a map with AI players at getdota.com [getdota.com]). This will get you acquainted with how to control your hero, what items there are, figure out how to stay alive in your lane, and some other fundamentals. Then, when joining a game, participate in the team chat. DotA is very much a team game. Ask for help, and in my experience, you'll get it. Pick a hero that sounds fun (maybe one you practiced with using the AI), and ask for advice on item builds and for a player to team up with in a lane. If people know you're new, and that you're trying to learn, they'll cut you some slack.
Re:Woo Hoo!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
No. That's not the real question. I don't mean to sound apathetic about the poor availability of games to Linux, but if the game sucks, it doesn't matter what platform it runs on.
Re:Woo Hoo!!! (Score:4, Insightful)
True that. However, the submitter still made a comparison to SC2, almost implying that the game will be better because it supports one feature that SC2 won't. That's like me saying "I can shoot medium to long range shots better than Shaq." Like it really means anything about my Basketball ability.
Re:Here's an idea Blizz should have released (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Woo Hoo!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Can you rephrase that as a car analogy? I'm not sure what this "basketball" thing is.
Car A isn't necessarily better than car B simply because car A's stereo has bluetooth support and car B's does not.
Of course, the original submission contains no such assertion. Cornflake invents an invalid argument, then points out it's invalid. Apparently slaying strawmen is his idea of a fun game... :p