Riot Games has announced retail
outlets and price for their September release of
League of Legends! There will be a
pre-order available from Gamestop and Best Buy and players who pre-order the
Collectors Pack at www.leagueoflegends.com or at those retail outlets 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. There will also be a free version for players who don't need any extras!
League of Legends will not use a subscription model but will sell Riot Points
which will be obtainable with cash and will be required to buy from the in game
item shop. 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.
Riot Points will also be awarded at the end of matches!
If you haven't had a chance to play or familiarize yourself with the game; League of Legends has put together an excellent
Summoners Guide and
a video walkthrough located here:
Here's a look at the official press release from Riot Games:
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
