Free To Play Created 10 years ago2014-03-19 15:39:09 UTC by Archie

I cannot stress enough how much I think you guys should watch this - Valve's first feature film.
It's free to download on Steam and comes with a whole bunch of bonus content as well.

I watched the International live in 2011, following Na'vi from the start and I can tell you that watching them lose that first game of the final created just as big a lump in my throat now as it did then, live.

The humanity and passion behind the faces who are focused on in this is communicated with extreme dignity and style and I guarantee that you will all be Dendi fans by the end.

Watch what started Pro Gaming as a recognised sport in the Western world and discuss it here.

Download 'Free to Play' from Steam

Had it preloaded for a few days now, will watch it tmrw or when im less drunk

Watched it on YouTube last night on my Tablet. Bloody good watch. Would recommend.

It felt to me like a bragging video. Valve just wanted to raise Dota 2's popularity by throwing 1.7 mil at the problem.

So they gave $1.7m to players to promote their game and literally changed peoples' lives.
As opposed to every other games publisher giving many times that amount to advertisers to promote their game.

I know which method I prefer.

The movie is promoting Dota 2, obviously. It was about TI1, so how could it not? But it's more about showing to a wide audience (the movie is deliberately very accessible and rarely focuses on gameplay itself) that esports as a concept can work in the Western world. In that sense it's more of an advert for TI than Dota itself.

Really enjoyed it, was awesome to actually see about their family lives and lifestyles. Pro gaming will no doubt go through some big changes and no doubt become big business in no time.

As someone who has never followed the Dota pro-scene, I enjoyed every minute of it. I never got in to Dota back when I was in secondary school and even when I jumped on to Dota 2 in 2012, I was somehow oblivious to the competitive scene that had been going.

Watching Free to Play has made me realise just how far we've come in regards to gaming as a profession; to think that over a span of a decade we've shaped nobodies in to recognised, relateable people with a passion for games.

I wonder how pro gaming will change the gaming industry. Just like when game development was becoming more accessible, everyone wanted to do it. Now that pro gaming is becoming popular, will it begin to saturate? Younger generations are incredibly impressionable and all that. I do hope it takes off, but I'm going to snicker every time I hear some kid talk about how he wants to be a big shot gamer like its some prestigious goal.

I just watched this yesterday, I have to say I enjoyed every single minute of it. They did a really good job with this.

I've played different kinds of games all my life but never even considered going "competitive" on any of them since I've just always played for fun. Also the film really shows the attitude from parents towards that kind of gaming, my family is no different from that.

It will take 5-10 years or more before it will be acceptable for kids to actually pursue some kind of a gaming career. I guess it's just as risky as trying to be a professional athlete, not many will make it but those who do will be really successful.

I played Dota 1 long long time ago and I did try Dota 2 for about a hundred games, it is a great game especially when played with a team. Only thing that scares me is how mad I get after losing on some matches, that's why I prefer playing it drunk so I don't really care what happens.

TL;DR Really loved the film and can't wait to see how gaming industry will explode over the next 5-10 years.

Only thing that scares me is how mad I get after losing on some matches

My monitor would have been smashed a hundred times by now if i had the money to buy a new one, the rage i get when i lose is horrible.

Nobody I know likes video games, so I kinda don't have a good impression of this. I also dont know much about dota 2, even though I have played alot of warcraft 3. I just find it funny how blizzard was the original venue for this dota franchise and now they got nothing lol

Drunken dota2, i thought i was the only one...

The options are either drunken dota or RAGE dota...

I like to drink and play world of tanks. It makes the game a hell of a lot more fun if you lose because i stop caring when i know i'm going to die.
Although i have to forcibly disable the in-game chat because i tend to throw insults to people too frequently.

Drunk gaming is only ok if you don't rage.
Sober gamins is only ok if you don't rage.

Raging is why I generally prefer Single-player. A lot harder for those games to piss you off.

I do hope it takes off, but I'm going to snicker every time I hear some kid talk about how he wants to be a big shot gamer like its some prestigious goal.

Even once it does take off (I'm working under the assumption it will happen sooner or later) the odds of that actually happening for any particular person is about the same as becoming a player in a national sports league.
It's actually sad the amount of people I've run into who think they'll be the one to get in, though, and stop playing the games for fun in order to become more "Pro".

The film itself was quite good though - I might have to show it to my parents as an example of how games are more important than they think.

It's a very well-made documentary. Not just a good gaming film, but an overall gripping story.

It's less about gaming than about personal struggle and the human condition. It's got universal appeal.

I looked into Dota 2. It looks exceedingly complex and forbidding. I would not touch it with a long pole.

I would usually recommend Dota 2 to everyone, despite its complex and steep learning curve. However, it's maybe not the best choice for someone on a doctor's schedule who also happens to be an awesome dad. It's not really something you can just pick up and drop again. A lot like patients or children in that regard.

Its better to leave it alone, because once you start its hard to give up on it. Dota has finally become boring to me, finally.

I haver never received so many death threats as I did back when I played DotA. It really is the most aggressive community.