'LOL' Isn't Something to Laugh About Anymore

The League of Legends World Championship is the annual professional League of Legends world championship tournament hosted by Riot Games and is the culmination of each season.

2017 League of Legends World Championship
Tournament

Here’s why everyone should pick up league once in one word, Worlds. Who doesn’t want to have pride for their country?

After the 2017 League of Legends World Championship in Beijing, contestants/fans filled China's own "Bird's-nest," famously known as China's Olympic stadium, where Usain Bolt set records. League of Legends is as well trying to set its own records, as the finals were jam-packed with fans who wanted to display their pride, to live performances and dragons (yes, dragons).

But what is it? It's not the "laugh out loud" internet slang term from your y2k/AIM/MSN days. It's what you’d call a world phenomenon. League of Legends is considered to be a “MOBA” (multiplayer online battle arena) developed by RIOT GAMES for PC/Mac. Created in 2009, it’s been growing in hype every single year by popularity and has become a culture icon in some countries across the world like Korea.

The game consists of ten players, a five-on-five session starting on opposite sides of the map, near the “Nexus.” To win, players have to destroy the other team's Nexus. Players have to combine their efforts to gain control of each path to the Nexus, commonly known as “Lanes” guarded by “Towers.” The game is then completed by players out-playing one another and gaining experience/gold to buy more items, giving an advantage over their opposition, and giving you the right to “laugh out loud, gg.” The world of E-Sports has taken the game seriously and it will be making an appearance at the 2022 Chinese Olympic Games, but don’t let that deter you from picking the game up and playing. The game has different game modes, including “ARAM” (all random, all mid) — a fan-based gametype implemented into the platform by Riot Games, recognizing the popularity of its users playing the gametype, displaying that Riot Games is active with their community.

Again, Riot Games impresses without disappointment. They left the world dumbfounded by the amount hard work to put this together. Plus, the amount of Regions worldwide and the support to play this game has become an icon. From summoners respective Regions and languages, (on live stream television) millions cheered to watch the event unfold. Many teams hoped to become a legend, while others fell into the frozen Abyss. Whether you fall into the Abyss, or destroy the enemies' base, "LOL" often reminds us that no matter if you win or lose, you do it as a team, which can bring out some emotion/tilt.

The feeling that everyone goes through, the relatable stuff — the same feelings you experience when you win vs. when you don’t — it’s all a rush and you can build friendships through all the micro-wars, together. Wins and losses.

“I changed my mindset to rather have fun and enjoy the stage, I think that’s when myself and my team was performing even better.” - Crown, SSG. Worlds 2017.

The focus of the game is to always improve. Even though you do lose those games, you know you have to win and you should never start another game after a hard tilt.

Because, you know, you can’t end on a loss.

One more game? One more game?

“So in order to become a legend, you have to take down someone like me, many times.” - Faker, SKT. Worlds, 2017.

Players across the world speak different languages, but what they all have in common is that they all come together to play together, which is why it’s something the everyday person should try at least once.

Whether they cheer for their favourite team (insert TSM chant here) or chase their own legend by playing with friends around the globe, it’s a bridge to connect people. It’s become a different language, so that vast amounts of people can come together, and history has proven to be great when people come together.

What’s your legend?

https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/