RIOT GAMES TO BRING HIGHLY ANTICIPATED LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FREE
Riot Introduces Summoner System
and Virtual Currency for Play Diversity, Customization and Novelty
LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2009 — Riot Games, an independent developer and
publisher of premium online video games, has unveiled the Summoner and
currency systems for its highly anticipated online multiplayer
session-based game League of Legends. In a quest to make the title
available to all gamers, and to support and reward a passionate
community of competitive players, Riot has confirmed that League of
Legends will be free. Optional payment will enable additional virtual
currency to be used within the Summoner system meta game for play
diversity, customization and novelty. League of Legends, which was
nominated for the Game Critics Awards Best Strategy Game of E3, will
be available for Windows PC in September 2009.
“One of our goals at Riot has been to set a high quality bar for core
games that are available for free online as we believe that a
relentless focus on delivering tremendous value to online communities
will earn player loyalty,” Brandon Beck, co-founder and CEO, Riot
Games, said. “League of Legends is being built as a highly
competitive core game that we believe will change many people’s minds
about the type and caliber of games that can be offered for free.”
A player in League of Legends takes on the role of a Summoner – a
gifted spell caster who has the power to bring forth a champion to
fight as his or her avatar in Valoran’s Fields of Justice. As the
Summoner controls the champion in combat, it also influences the
outcome of the match through the use of spells, masteries and runes.
Once a match is over, the Summoner gains Influence Points and Riot
Points.
Influence Points will be earned by simply playing the game, while Riot
Points will be available for purchase with real money. Both
currencies will be used to unlock additional content customization
options, whereas only Influence Points will be used to unlock content
such as Runes, which enhance the power of playable characters. Gamers
who spend money in the game will not have a power advantage over other
players; they will have access to rare visual customization options.
The system is designed to empower the player with a huge number of
mechanical choices that deepen the level of the strategic thinking in
the game.
Riot Games will also offer a League of Legends Collector’s Pack that
contains exclusive items, such as two unique Champion skins, as well
as a number of Champions, Runes and Riot Points. Players who
pre-order the Collectors Pack at
www.leagueoflegends.com
or at retail
outlets GameStop and Best Buy will also receive an exclusive Champion
skin that will only be available with the pre-order. The Collector’s
Pack will retail for $29.99.
League of Legends combines elements of role-playing and strategy
genres with addictive battle action that brings accessible, replayable
and competitive gameplay into a whimsical universe that deepens with
the player’s commitment. Built by a veteran development team and the
original creators of DotA Allstars, one of the world’s most popular
player-made mods, League of Legends is a unique and genre bending
experience. The game will be operated as a live service that will be
frequently updated with new features, Champions, maps and additional
content as suggested by the community.
During each online multiplayer game session, players will choose from
one of dozens unique Champions wielding diverse skills and abilities,
and engage in fast-paced team-oriented combat to bring their foes to
ruin. Champions will gain levels, items and abilities that enable
them to slay their opponents and augment the strength of their allies
by battling with enemy minions, foul beasts, deadly turrets and enemy
Champions. Players will also advance their Summoner’s rank and power
after each session to gain new abilities and items that assist their
Champions in future battles. At the maximum Summoner level, players
will be on an even playing field from a power perspective. League of
Legends will offer endless permutations of builds, strategies and
combinations that will make the game extremely competitive and
interesting for those focused on competitive play.
More information on League of Legends’ Summoner system, including an
FAQ, can be found at
www.leagueoflegends.com/summoners
. Riot Games
will also host a live chat to answer the community’s questions about
the Summoner system on Friday, July 17th from 2 – 4 pm PDT at
www.leagueoflegends.com/summonerchat
About Riot Games, Inc.
Riot Games, Inc. (
www.riotgames.com
) is an independent Los
Angeles-based video game development company, funded privately and
through leading venture capital firms Benchmark and Firstmark. The
studio was established in 2006 to develop innovative online
next-generation titles for consoles and the PC. Comprised of industry
veterans with a shared passion for creating fun, innovative gameplay,
the company is currently developing League of Legends, which combines
the best elements of the action role-playing and real-time strategy
genres into a uniquely replayable and competitive multiplayer
