DOTA's Great Divide in Singapore.

Today, let's talk about the current great DOTA divide in Singapore.

Generally, there are two camps, no, techincally it should be three camps of DOTA players right now. What??? Yes, correct, three camps. One camp is the DOTA 5.84C camp, the second camp is the 6.XX camp and the final camp is the DOTA whatever version camp.

Characteristics of the three camp are very very different and each camp is clearly seperated, hence today's title with the mention of "Great Divide".

Camp 5.84C - Gamers belonging to this camp are generally long time DOTA gamers and the special thing about them is that they have fiery passion about competitive gaming. Most probably, they started playing competitively from 2004 where all the major DOTA tournaments started by more prominent organisation like Rapture Gaming and Lanlab Online. Due to the fact that the version used commonly is 5.XX version, these player are already very much accustom to the many aspects of the game like heroes, items, maps layout, stats, strategy and also general opponent's strategy. Yes, and many of these gamers have clocked in tonn of hours with version 5.XX and adding that to 2005's WCG Singapore's 5.84C competition you can say that they know 5.84c inside out. It's understandable that they hug so dearly to their beloved 5.84C version.

However, due to their fiery passion for 5.84c and they are longer open to the fact that any newer versions of DOTA are also as good, as fun as 5.84C, and most importantly it can also be used as competitive map version. They strongly believed that 5.84C is the one and only for competitive DOTA game play and if improvement or update is to be made it should be done on 5.84C instead. Reason for such behavior could be many, some could have genuinely tested the new versions intensively and could not get the hang of it, then there are also some who have not tested the new version enough or never approach the new version without any wish to change to new version at all. So what happens is that there is a group currently campaigning 5.84c very strongly and is even trying to get some gosu coder/maper to fix 5.84c map and with very strong hope and confident that it can be pushed out locally first then internationally and be accepted worldwide as the competitive version for DOTA.

Camp 6.XX - Majority of the gamers in this camp are also long time DOTA gamers. They have played so much of 5.84c and have enough of that version, some even are sick of it, most probably because of the many problems that exist in that map. Then there are a minority portion who are new gamers that have started on this version and find it extremely fun and have stuck to it from day one These gamers also are have fiery passion about the new version. Those long time players most have stuck to this version because of their dislike of earlier version which are filled with bugs and exploitation loopholes. They felt that 5.84c is not suitable since the newer 6.XX version are out. With new heroes, fixed, nerfing, balancing, items, map layout and with the ongoing support of the new development team lead by Icefrog, 6.XX or newer maps could never be wrong. The newer version maps are more suitable for both casual and competitive play.

Well, the similar can be said for this group. They could not longer breath the same air in 5.84c because of their resentment of it is still polluted with bugs, unbalance heroes, game loopholes exploitation. The new may version have give new game dimension and new hope. Their burning passion for 6.XX and any later versions are so strong that they have cast out 5.84c from their life, and hope to erase that memory. They support the new versions by playing only the new version and never to touch the old version again. A minority of them in this camp went as far to disrespect anyone who is still playing the old version and calling them names. These minority in the 6.XX camp do not even bother to find out or understand why are those

Camp Whatever Version - In this camp, the gamers here are a mix and match in their support for DOTA, regardless it's the new version or old version. These gamer will play competitively where the money is, trains to be good in both the version. They will play in whatever version that organiser is using as the competition map. When playing for fun they will also be joining either the 5.84c or 6.XX version that they are call to play with by their friend anytime any place. Their passion is not in 5.84c, not in 6.xx and of cause not in any later version. Their passion is dedicated to DOTA, yes, just DOTA. They will support any version be it old or new, as long the map is fun to play, as long there are competition. They will play. The key point is, enjoyment in playing in DOTA anytime, anywhere and anyplace.

Well, these group sometime tends to lend some of their support to the "Camp 6.XX" but end of the day they still will support both old and new DOTA versions. Generally more peaceful and less vocal. Almost no compaigning for any particular version as they are considered the sitting on the fence kind of gamers. Willing to accept any type of game map version, game mode and game play. Almost heavenly.

These are my conclusion of the three current groups in Singapore. Which group you still wants to be in? You decide.

Words of advice from DOTASG PAPA here, it will be the best if all local players can unite together and support DOTA as purely itself and not by different version. Competitive player should move on and lend more support to the new version, of cause not forgetting the old, simply to put it is to go where the pot of gold is. It is always healthy to help to promote the newer map version because there is a dedicated development working to improve DOTA gaming as a whole. They are trying their best with sacrificial of their precious time to fix the wrongs in the older version like balancing out things that are grossly unbalance, bugs that totally kills the fun of the game, coding/map error that throw everyone out when things get exciting. We as DOTA lover should all support. Also not to forget learn to respect all fellow DOTA gamers, love them no matter what DOTA version they are supporting. Give them respect for their decision to support the particular version. Talk to them and make them understand and not forcing it down their throat if you want to make them support a particular version. Always starts with what good will a particular maps brings over the old one, try you best not to approach by saying "oh this map sucks because....., so you should try ....". And meanwhile you are always free to play the older version casually or competitively as and when it needed. Don't have to totally cast the other unpopular version, game mode or game format out of your life completely.

Well these are all I can say for now. And hope that this article can shed more lights to the current situation and what DOTA players should do to unite not for the good of themselves only but to the good of DOTA gaming in Singapore. Although, Singapore is small but I can bet my last dollar that the world are looking at us with respect to DOTA. So if we make a fools of ourselves, the world will know too.

Signing off, DOTASG PAPA