16-Year Loyal Fan Gabe Newell Talks About Playing at Least One Game of "Dota 2" Every Day
Despite his age and gradual withdrawal from the active development of games, Valve's leader, Gabe Newell (GabeN), remains a loyal fan of "Dota 2." He says he doesn't miss a single day without playing at least one game of the popular MOBA.
GabeN's interest in the game has lasted for over a decade, and he admitted to being fascinated by it in the early 2010s. Moreover, even after playing for hundreds of hours, he openly calls himself a novice, pointing out the game's high barrier to entry and complex mechanics. His attitude towards the game has remained unchanged over the years, with GabeN regularly attending major tournaments and still struggling in the game, often being attacked by other players due to his low skill level. However, he sees these criticisms as highlighting the passion of the player community, making the game full of life.
He also pointed out that one of the main features of "Dota 2" is the ever-changing nature of battles. Players need to constantly adapt, re-examine strategies, and make decisions almost every few seconds. Newell believes this is precisely why the MOBA genre is so captivating. In addition, he compares a single game to a complete "narrative cycle," where players can experience the journey from a weak character to a key figure on the battlefield in a short amount of time. He believes that this dynamic change creates the desire to start another match, regardless of whether the previous one was won or lost.