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Valve's "Free To Play" Dota 2 Documentary [Out Now]
- Thread starter SteveWinwood
- Start date
firehawk12
Subete no aware
It's an Idle Thumbs meme that they keep trotting out every once in a while. I don't think it makes sense either. lol
Some goofy in-joke from the Idle Thumbs podcast.
SteveWinwood
Member
Thanks. Hoping to fit it in tomorrow.
It's a silly term from the idle thumbs podcast.
I like it.
bassman2112
Member
Just came back from the premier but didn't get any of those items they were handing out! Sad face.
Enjoyed the movie a lot, I'd clock it around 90 - 100 minutes; but it never overstayed its welcome =) A good experience overall.
Enjoyed the movie a lot, I'd clock it around 90 - 100 minutes; but it never overstayed its welcome =) A good experience overall.
Cool. The trailer almost starts with a guy talking out his ass, but otherwise it was nice.
"Ten years ago, competitive gaming wasn't even a thing"... lol. Sure it wasn't perhaps as big as it's now, but it definitely was a thing, and already fairly big.
Edit: It seems I wasn't the first to notice, lol.
"Ten years ago, competitive gaming wasn't even a thing"... lol. Sure it wasn't perhaps as big as it's now, but it definitely was a thing, and already fairly big.
Edit: It seems I wasn't the first to notice, lol.
Out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZYMI1zB9s
Gully State
Member
Linsanity
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
SteveWinwood
Member
In the Q&A they held after the premiere, the Valve folks talked about how this started as them sending a camera crew to Cologne to film The International back in 2011, but grew into a larger project after they found so much to like in the stories of these three guys. hyhy in particular came off as really charismatic, and appeared to be sacrificing a hell of a lot in order to be there.
SteveWinwood
Member
It was super well made and I think it was really great with the human details. As someone who really enjoys dota it was pretty light on actual that, but understand why they did that.
My favorite was just the ambient differences between Germany, America, Ukraine, and Malaysia. Also seeing all the players with familiar faces. Most of them are still around but man so many of those teams don't exist at all anymore.
Smash Brothers was better, but this was pretty alright.
There are a lot of similarities between the two after viewing both, but this had better production (of course it would, it's valve vs a kickstarter project released for free).
Beyond the production though, the pacing was pretty flat. It was also too short and felt like it could have been more explanatory.
But yeah, Smash Brothers, great competitive gaming docu.
There are a lot of similarities between the two after viewing both, but this had better production (of course it would, it's valve vs a kickstarter project released for free).
Beyond the production though, the pacing was pretty flat. It was also too short and felt like it could have been more explanatory.
But yeah, Smash Brothers, great competitive gaming docu.
Sorta related question but aside from putting my laptop beside my TV and plugging it in via HDMI is there anyway to watch this on a chromecast? Like does the video play in a browser and renders full-screen without any issues from there? I'm spoiled by Hulu/HBOGO/Netflix working with chromecast 
I already have it downloaded on Steam but I was just thinking of watching it on my larger TV instead.
I already have it downloaded on Steam but I was just thinking of watching it on my larger TV instead.
SteveWinwood
Member
It's on YouTube so that should throw to chrome cast that way.Sorta related question but aside from putting my laptop beside my TV and plugging it in via HDMI is there anyway to watch this on a chromecast? Like does the video play in a browser and renders full-screen without any issues from there? I'm spoiled by Hulu/HBOGO/Netflix working with chromecast
I already have it downloaded on Steam but I was just thinking of watching it on my larger TV instead.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UjZYMI1zB9s
you won't get the hot steam achievements tho
Whew much thanks! You are a scholar and a gentleman.
LiquidNarwhal
Banned
amazing documentary, I cried. I hope Dendi has lots of time to fish now
bodyboarder
Member
Well that was a waste of me preloading it on steam.
Dreams-Visions
Member
You probably didn't watch the extras or listen to the other audio tracks (player commentary).
It's not about the game much, so you should be okay watching.
SteveWinwood
Member
It's more about the people. They barely go into the game at all, mostly just the events surrounding it.
They even talk about Starcraft some.
I liked it and clearly shows for a non dota player what the game is about. One of the reasons Kaci who co-hosted last year TI3 seen this documentary before she said yes and also returning this year for TI4. A lot of sacrifices have to be made if you want to win and keep pushing your self. They did a great use of showing the matches in source filmmaker with close ups.
MadScientist
Banned
I have watched this documentary and I feel slightly uneasy because of its glorification of pursuing a carrer in competitive gaming.
I do not think esports has grown big enough to justify betting your life on a career as a pro gamer. It appeals to a tiny fracture of the population and is financed out of the marketing budget of a couple of hardware manufacturers. Compare that to other marketable sports which are watched by people who do not regularly play that sport and are financed to a big degree by their spectators.
Esports also regularly seem to require a quite unhealthy lifestyle consisting of sitting in front of the pc and sleeping.
I like watching starcraft matches fom time to time. But when I see the pro gamers looking pale and frail and without showing any emotions to their games, they do not seem like ideal idols to me.
I do not think esports has grown big enough to justify betting your life on a career as a pro gamer. It appeals to a tiny fracture of the population and is financed out of the marketing budget of a couple of hardware manufacturers. Compare that to other marketable sports which are watched by people who do not regularly play that sport and are financed to a big degree by their spectators.
Esports also regularly seem to require a quite unhealthy lifestyle consisting of sitting in front of the pc and sleeping.
I like watching starcraft matches fom time to time. But when I see the pro gamers looking pale and frail and without showing any emotions to their games, they do not seem like ideal idols to me.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
I agree except for the financed by the spectators line. A good % of dota 2 prize pools are funded by the fans now.
I think the documentary was pretty even-handed on this point. Obviously, they wouldn't intentionally tarnish the "legitimacy" of e-sports, but they also didn't shy away from the risks and sacrifices players have made in their lives in pursuit of pro-gaming. Out of the three main characters in Free to Play, only Dendi really lived the dream. Both Fear and hyhy gave up a lot for what they accomplished during the first International and the ensuing disappointment at missing the top, both explicit (and implicit), shouldn't be overlooked. They also touched on the magic "24-25" wall for pro-gamers, the issue of winnings and salaries, and the kind of lifestyle pro-gamers lead in China.
shira
Member
Ask them if they want your autograph. Tell them you are GAFamous.
krameriffic
Member
While I thought it would be a different angle, I felt it was a good look at the issue of that plagues a lot of gamers' minds: how do we get people to take this hobby seriously? While I never took gaming as far as someone like Fear, I can totally understand the family stresses and strain in his personal life resulting from investing SO much time in gaming. It's interesting to see how it affected them during the buildup to the tournament that really legitimized gaming as a career for a lot of these guys.
I was hoping it would have more of a focus on the development of Dota 2 as a game and the organization of The International as a tournament. I find that to be a fascinating subject, but the more emotional angle worked as well.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Loved the documentary, especially the in-game shots where it was converted to cinematic style.
Even though I play more LoL than Dota 2 (due to RL friends) I do believe Dota 2 to be the game of at the forefront of the ARTS/MOBA genre to propel E-Sports forward.
Even though I play more LoL than Dota 2 (due to RL friends) I do believe Dota 2 to be the game of at the forefront of the ARTS/MOBA genre to propel E-Sports forward.
Plus the International is just so better than any LCS or World Finals LoL has produced.
how is there a glorification of pro gaming? One player got kicked out of his house and had to game on a makeshift desk using books to prop up his CRT monitor from the 1800s. Another player lost his girlfriend who he loved and is constantly pestered by his parents to focus on school so he can work a 9-5 that he hates like 90% of the world instead of doing something he enjoys.
Yes they said that Chinese Dota players and Korean Starcraft are treated like rockstars but they also say that in China, Dota is recognized as a sport and how they have huge viewership over there.