Heroes of Newerth
Encyclopedia
Heroes of Newerth is a free-to-play
science fantasy
, action real-time strategy game developed by S2 Games
for Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
and Linux
. The game was heavily inspired by the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
custom map, Defense of the Ancients
and is S2 Games' first game title in the Dota genre. The game was released on May 12, 2010 and re-released as a free-to-play game on July 29, 2011. Heroes of Newerth runs on the Windows
, Linux
and Mac OS X
operating systems.
Players on each team choose one of 94 heroes, featuring a variety of abilities and advantages to compensate for any shortcomings. Players control a single hero from a top-down perspective, while common features of real time strategy games such as base management and resource collection are removed. Every hero has four abilities that may be acquired and upgraded as the hero gains experience and levels up
. Experience is gained for being within the range of enemy units when they are killed. The maximum level a hero may achieve is 25 and the experience required per level gain increases with each new level. The player obtains gold though periodic income and combat experience, which is used for buying various items for his or her hero. All heroes involved in the death of an enemy hero are rewarded experience and gold, while the hero that has dealt the killing blow receives the greatest portion of gold. Players may terminate their allied creeps and structures when they are almost dead to prevent the enemy from placing the killing blow and gaining additional gold and experience. These technique is referred to as "denying". When a hero dies, he loses a part of his gold and after a certain amount of time, based on their level and number of deaths, respawn at the well located in their team's respective base.
Once started, average game length is around 40–50 minutes. Players on the winning team gain ranking points while the other team loses them. Ranking points are used to place players on the ladder system and it has no influence on game play- players are always on equal footing despite their ranking.
New features, balance changes and new heroes are regularly introduced with patches.
Most game mechanics and many heroes in Heroes of Newerth have a direct correlation from Defense of the Ancients
. The additions that differentiate Heroes of Newerth from Defense of the Ancients are features independent from game play; such as tracking of individual statistics, in-game voice communication, GUI-streamlined hero selection, game reconnection, match making, player banlists, penalties for leaving and chat features. Several features added via updates include a Hero Compendium (a list of the heroes in the game with detailed statistics about them), the ability to set a "following" trait on a friend which makes the player join/leave the games that a friend joins (similar to the "party" feature in other games), an in-game ladder system, and a map editor. The game uses S2 Games' proprietary K2 Engine and a client-server model similar to that used in many modern multiplayer games.
Heroes of Newerth was in beta from April 24, 2009 until May 12, 2010. Throughout this time, over 3,000,000 unique accounts were registered. S2 Games
used a Facebook
fan page and word of mouth to attract players to the game. Many people who had bought one of S2 Games
' previous games also received an invitation to the game through their registered email.
On August 22, 2009, the pre-sale of Heroes of Newerth began for members of the closed beta. Players who purchased the game at this time received additional benefits, including name reservation, gold-colored nameplate, gold shield insignia, and an in-game taunt ability. Open beta testing for Heroes of Newerth began on March 31, 2010, and ran until May 12, 2010, when the game was officially released.
S2 Games released Heroes of Newerth 2.0 on December 13, 2010. Features included in the update were casual mode, a new user interface, team matchmaking, an in-game store, and an offline map editor. Microtransactions were also introduced via the in-game store with the use of coins. Coins can be used to purchase cosmetic changes within the game, such as alternative hero skins, avatars, and customized announcer voices. The in-game currency can either be purchased with real life currency or earned via Matchmaking games.
S2 Games
released Heroes of Newerth as a free-to-play
game on July 29, 2011. Accounts that were purchased before this date retain access to all content and updates without additional charges. Accounts made after this have 15 free-rotating heroes to choose from, the 15 heroes rotate every week. These accounts only have access to the game mode All Pick. Through purchasing coins or earning them in play, players can purchase the ability to use additional heroes. Players must pay for tokens to play additional game modes, so that they may temporarily have the hero pool available to provide balance in hero selection.
indicating "Generally favorable reviews". As of February 2011, the game has sold over 400,000 copies, had over 12.3 million downloads, and averages more than 230,000 players per day, with the number of concurrent users online at any given time peaking at 50,000+. Laura Baker, the director of marketing for S2 Games, has also said that both the "Mac and Linux clients have done well for us."
Free-to-play
Free-to-play refers to any video game that has the option of allowing its players to play without paying. The model was first popularly used in early massively multiplayer online games targeted towards casual gamers, before finding wider adoption among games released by major video game...
science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
, action real-time strategy game developed by S2 Games
S2 Games
S2 Games is a video game developer founded by Marc "Maliken" DeForest, based in Rohnert Park, California.They also have a development location in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their first project , Savage: The Battle for Newerth, was released in the Summer of 2003...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. The game was heavily inspired by the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is a real-time strategy computer game developed for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Mac OS X by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the official expansion pack to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, requiring Reign of Chaos to play...
custom map, Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft...
and is S2 Games' first game title in the Dota genre. The game was released on May 12, 2010 and re-released as a free-to-play game on July 29, 2011. Heroes of Newerth runs on the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
operating systems.
Gameplay
Heroes of Newerth puts two teams of players against each other: the Legion and the Hellbourne. Both teams are based at opposite sides of a map. The standard map is split into three continuous 'lanes' (Two in one of the lesser-played maps), running from one base to the other. Defensive towers are positioned evenly through each lane, until the lanes terminate at a team's base. Bases are strongly defended with extra defensive towers, and buildings from which units spawn. These units, termed 'creeps' are spawned every thirty seconds, and run along their lane until they meet opposition - which they then attack. Victory is achieved when one of the teams manages to push into the base of the opposing team, and destroys their primary structure; the Hellbourne's 'Sacrificial Shrine', or the Legion's 'Tree of Life'. At any point after fifteen minutes has expired a team can choose to concede defeat - this loses them the game and requires a unanimous team vote to pass or a 'four of five' vote after the thirty minute mark.Players on each team choose one of 94 heroes, featuring a variety of abilities and advantages to compensate for any shortcomings. Players control a single hero from a top-down perspective, while common features of real time strategy games such as base management and resource collection are removed. Every hero has four abilities that may be acquired and upgraded as the hero gains experience and levels up
Level Up
Level Up was a UK children's TV programme that was broadcast on CBBC. It was launched on the 3rd April 2006, replacing Xchange. The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasting from 7:30am until 8:30am...
. Experience is gained for being within the range of enemy units when they are killed. The maximum level a hero may achieve is 25 and the experience required per level gain increases with each new level. The player obtains gold though periodic income and combat experience, which is used for buying various items for his or her hero. All heroes involved in the death of an enemy hero are rewarded experience and gold, while the hero that has dealt the killing blow receives the greatest portion of gold. Players may terminate their allied creeps and structures when they are almost dead to prevent the enemy from placing the killing blow and gaining additional gold and experience. These technique is referred to as "denying". When a hero dies, he loses a part of his gold and after a certain amount of time, based on their level and number of deaths, respawn at the well located in their team's respective base.
Once started, average game length is around 40–50 minutes. Players on the winning team gain ranking points while the other team loses them. Ranking points are used to place players on the ladder system and it has no influence on game play- players are always on equal footing despite their ranking.
Development
In October 2009, Associate Game Designer Alan "Idejder" Cacciamani claimed that Heroes of Newerth had been in development for "34 months, but the first 13 were spent on engine development. The entirety of assets, including maps, items, heroes, and art were made in 21 months."New features, balance changes and new heroes are regularly introduced with patches.
Most game mechanics and many heroes in Heroes of Newerth have a direct correlation from Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft...
. The additions that differentiate Heroes of Newerth from Defense of the Ancients are features independent from game play; such as tracking of individual statistics, in-game voice communication, GUI-streamlined hero selection, game reconnection, match making, player banlists, penalties for leaving and chat features. Several features added via updates include a Hero Compendium (a list of the heroes in the game with detailed statistics about them), the ability to set a "following" trait on a friend which makes the player join/leave the games that a friend joins (similar to the "party" feature in other games), an in-game ladder system, and a map editor. The game uses S2 Games' proprietary K2 Engine and a client-server model similar to that used in many modern multiplayer games.
Heroes of Newerth was in beta from April 24, 2009 until May 12, 2010. Throughout this time, over 3,000,000 unique accounts were registered. S2 Games
S2 Games
S2 Games is a video game developer founded by Marc "Maliken" DeForest, based in Rohnert Park, California.They also have a development location in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their first project , Savage: The Battle for Newerth, was released in the Summer of 2003...
used a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
fan page and word of mouth to attract players to the game. Many people who had bought one of S2 Games
S2 Games
S2 Games is a video game developer founded by Marc "Maliken" DeForest, based in Rohnert Park, California.They also have a development location in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their first project , Savage: The Battle for Newerth, was released in the Summer of 2003...
' previous games also received an invitation to the game through their registered email.
On August 22, 2009, the pre-sale of Heroes of Newerth began for members of the closed beta. Players who purchased the game at this time received additional benefits, including name reservation, gold-colored nameplate, gold shield insignia, and an in-game taunt ability. Open beta testing for Heroes of Newerth began on March 31, 2010, and ran until May 12, 2010, when the game was officially released.
S2 Games released Heroes of Newerth 2.0 on December 13, 2010. Features included in the update were casual mode, a new user interface, team matchmaking, an in-game store, and an offline map editor. Microtransactions were also introduced via the in-game store with the use of coins. Coins can be used to purchase cosmetic changes within the game, such as alternative hero skins, avatars, and customized announcer voices. The in-game currency can either be purchased with real life currency or earned via Matchmaking games.
S2 Games
S2 Games
S2 Games is a video game developer founded by Marc "Maliken" DeForest, based in Rohnert Park, California.They also have a development location in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their first project , Savage: The Battle for Newerth, was released in the Summer of 2003...
released Heroes of Newerth as a free-to-play
Free-to-play
Free-to-play refers to any video game that has the option of allowing its players to play without paying. The model was first popularly used in early massively multiplayer online games targeted towards casual gamers, before finding wider adoption among games released by major video game...
game on July 29, 2011. Accounts that were purchased before this date retain access to all content and updates without additional charges. Accounts made after this have 15 free-rotating heroes to choose from, the 15 heroes rotate every week. These accounts only have access to the game mode All Pick. Through purchasing coins or earning them in play, players can purchase the ability to use additional heroes. Players must pay for tokens to play additional game modes, so that they may temporarily have the hero pool available to provide balance in hero selection.
Reception
Heroes of Newerth currently holds a metascore of 76 out of 100 from MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
indicating "Generally favorable reviews". As of February 2011, the game has sold over 400,000 copies, had over 12.3 million downloads, and averages more than 230,000 players per day, with the number of concurrent users online at any given time peaking at 50,000+. Laura Baker, the director of marketing for S2 Games, has also said that both the "Mac and Linux clients have done well for us."
Awards and Nominations
| Date | Awards | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2010 | 12th Annual Independent Games Festival Awards Independent Games Festival The Independent Games Festival is an annual festival at the Game Developers Conference, the largest annual gathering of the indie video game industry. It was founded in 1998 to assist and inspire innovation in video game development and to recognize the best independent video game developers... |
Audience Award | Winner |
| October 25, 2010 | MTV Game Awards 2010 | Let's Play Together | Nominee |
| December 1, 2010 | 4th Annual Mashable Awards Mashable Mashable is an American news website and Internet news blog founded by Pete Cashmore. The website's primary focus is social media news, but also covers news and developments in mobile, entertainment, online video, business, web development, technology, memes and gadgets... |
Best Online Game | Finalist |
See also
- Defense of the AncientsDefense of the AncientsDefense of the Ancients is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft...
- Savage: The Battle for NewerthSavage: The Battle for NewerthSavage: The Battle for Newerth is a science fantasy computer game that combines aspects of the real-time strategy and first-person shooter genres. It takes place in the distant future when humankind has rebuilt society following an apocalypse, but is threatened by intelligent beasts...
- Savage 2: A Tortured SoulSavage 2: A Tortured SoulSavage 2: A Tortured Soul is a fantasy and science-fiction themed video game that combines elements of the first-person shooter, real-time strategy, and action role-playing game genres. It is developed and published by S2 Games. It is the sequel to Savage: The Battle for Newerth and was officially...