Familiar with Defense of the Ancients, the popular multiplayer mod for Warcraft III? It’s a unique take on an RTS (real-time strategy) where two teams of five players fight for a minimum of 40 minutes, trying to destroy the enemy’s base. Leveling up lets you stockpile equipment and money. It’s crazy popular on Battle.net, Blizzard’s online gaming service, where a variation called DOTA-Allstars has become top dog. DOTA-Allstars is maintained and updated by a man who goes by the handle “IceFrog,” and we’re now learning that Valve hired IceFrog back in 2009 to work on DOTA 2.

Valve might seem like an odd fit to legitimize DOTA with a fully-funded, professionally-made sequel, since it’s primarily known for first-person shooters like Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Left 4 Dead. But don’t forget that Valve also gave us Steam, the game-downloading/updating service for PC users that rivals Xbox Live in quality and quantity of content. And it’s made a habit out of finding great modders in the fan community and hiring them to create professional content.

Valve’s DOTA 2, which was just announced today by Game Informer, is described as “basically DOTA-Allstars with new technology.” Namely, a newly enhanced version of Valve’s “Source” game engine, which is significantly more advanced than Blizzard’s old Warcraft III engine. Integrated voice chat, professional voice actors for the NPCs, and graphics that retain the feel of the original while upgrading them with new ideas are just some of the innovations to be found in DOTA 2.

The biggest change is that active participation in the DOTA 2 community will somehow be rewarded in-game, though Valve has yet to explain how this will work. Valve is also adding a robust coaching system and interactive guides to the game, which are expected to add a lot to the experience.

There are no screenshots yet available, only the character artwork seen below. Game Informer has lots more details about the game in their exclusive feature.

Seriously, Blizzard has been asking people to convert their accounts for a while now. Probably a good 2-3 months. And I’m guessing a good majority of players still hasn’t converted their accounts. It’s either the players are really lazy, OR they’re too engrossed in the game that they don’t see the announcements all together.

So what do you get if you convert your WoW account to a Battle.net account?

You can:

• have a centralized account system for all Blizzard games. Single username and password for all-games! No need to remember multiple usernames!
• manage purchases at the online Blizzard store
• keep track of CD keys for your Blizzard games
• access Blizzard websites
• participate in upcoming beta tests for their new games
• chat cross-real in World of Warcraft
• chat cross-game (WoW player chats with Starcraft player!)
• have a real-life friends list (whatever that means, I’m guessing like a IM messenger list or something)

You NEED to convert your WoW accounts by November 11, 2009 or else you won’t be able to log-in the game unless your merge or convert your account. I say NEED since some people might nerd rage if they experience disruption with their game/play time, haha.

I’ll be expecting an attack of the killer penguins in Dalaran by October 15. That’s they day people will be receiving the pets in-game via mail. No announcement on when Blizzard will stop giving the free in-game penguin pets, but I say stop procrastinating and convert your WoW accounts to Battle.net accounts NOW! (Yes, I’m talking to YOU!)

Convert your account: US accounts / EU accounts
Read: Battle.net Account FAQ

One of the reasons for the fans’ continued support for Starcraft, aside from the deep, strategic gameplay is the fact that you can play it with your friends and mount frenetic multiplayer battles during LAN parties. Nothing beats having a heated game in a room with all the trash talking going on between two competitors.

But if Blizzard’s plan for Starcraft II does push through we won’t see those cool Starcraft LAN parties anymore. Blizzard confirmed what many are speculating about Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty. The game will be launched for the PC at about the same time the newly revamped Battle.net online network service, which is at the last part of 2009. Unfortunately, the game will be releaed without any LAN multiplayer option.

Blizzard said that the decision to remove this popular option is a type piracy prevention mechanism and also a way to maintain quality assurance. Blizzard wants to direct players to Battle.net as the best, and now the only, option for multiplayer gaming for Starcraft II.

I’m not too sold on the whole anti-piracy thing idea. Why would long-time fans of the game suffer for what pirates are doing? By removing the LAN multiplayer option, Blizzard is effectively alienating a large majority of Starcraft fans who plan on playing the game through their local networks. LAN multiplayer will obviously not need an internet connection — why would Blizzard expect players to connect to the internet to play with people who are all in the same room? And what about the lag, which is obviously not going to be a problem with LAN multiplayer? I think Blizzard is making a big mistake with this move.