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The popularity of Defense of the Ancients has increased over time. The scenario was featured by Computer Gaming World in a review of new maps and mods in Warcraft III, and has been called "the ultimate RTS". Allstars has become an important tournament scenario, starting with its prominence at the debut of Blizzard's BlizzCon convention in 2005. Allstars was also featured in the Malaysia and Singapore World Cyber Games starting in 2005, and the World Cyber Games Asian Championships beginning with the 2006 season. Defense of the Ancients is now included in the game lineup for the internationally recognized Cyberathlete Amateur League and CyberEvolution leagues.[19] Additionally, the scenario appeared in Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) 2008; Oliver Paradis, ESWC's competition manager, noted that the high level of community support behind the scenario, as well as its worldwide appeal, were among the reasons it was chosen. The scenario is popular in many parts of the world; in the Philippines and Thailand, it is played as much as the game Counter-Strike. It is also popular in Sweden and other Northern European countries, where the Defense of the Ancients-inspired song "Vi sitter i Ventrilo och spelar DotA" by Swedish musician Basshunter reached the European 2006 charts at #116 and cracked the top ten Singles Charts in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. LAN tournaments are a major part of worldwide play, including tournaments in Sweden and Russia; however, due to a lack of LAN tournaments and championships in North America, several teams have since disbanded. Blizzard points to DotA as an example of what dedicated mapmakers can create using developer's tools. In June 2008, Michael Walbridge, writing for Gamasutra, stated that DotA "is likely the most popular and most-discussed free, non-supported game mod in the world". In pointing to the strong community built around the game, Walbridge stated that DotA shows it is much easier for a community game to be maintained by the community, and this is one of the maps' greatest strengths. Defense of the Ancients has been credited as one of the influences for the upcoming Gas Powered Games title Demigod, with the video game publication GameSpy noting the game's premise revolved around aspiring gods "[playing] DotA in real life".
The format of the tournament will be as follows:
The server will be hosted by the team designated to host unless other arrangements between the teams are met beforehand. The following is to ensure fair selection of heroes due to the 4 players a side rules: All players are to occupy the top most slots in their team in descending order. This is to prevent exploiting the extra slot for delayed hero choices for strategic gain. In the event of a server crash the following applies and is similar to league rules albeit modified: In the event the server dies for reasons including: server split, map fatal error, unforeseen issues, the time of the crash is used to determine the course of action.
No enemy hero is allowed to attack a structure belonging to the opposing team unless that lane's respective creeps have pushed to within visibility range of that structure. They do not have to be attacking that structure however. This range is defined as the creep being able to see the structure in question.
This rule is open to change with League rules which state: Any form of backdooring is permissible except teleporting into the base.
As with tower denying and creep denying. This is a valid tactic to deny enemy players of experience and gold. It should be noted to the uninitiated that team killing is only possible by force attacking a friendly hero while it is under the effects of a negative effect (eg. Doom)
In the event of a server drop. Since replays won't save, screenshots are the only way to do any sort of analysis in the event of a dispute. These screenshots need the scoreboard open and minimap visible. Both teams should type "-ma" before screenshotting to allow respective levels to be judgeable. As opposed to CS 1 screenshot per able player is preferable. Officials will use these to determine the course of action which may result in awarding a team with a win or restarting. Screenshots are accomplished via the print screen button.
As usual the following are explicitly forbidden and failure to comply can be grounds for disqualification of the team from the tournament. There is to be NO:
