League client update Q&A: The Play Loop [Now Complete]

RiotCapnBranFlakes·May 19, 2016·1 votes·121,975 views

And that's a wrap for this Q&A! Thanks to all of you who stopped by to ask your questions -- we'll be back for more live Q&As in the future! Until then, make sure to keep watching the League client update website for more news and announcements.

https://am-a.akamaihd.net/image?f=http://na.leagueoflegends.com/sites/default/files/upload/lcu_webarticle_alpha_r1-loc.jpg

Hey, summoners!

Some members of the League client update alpha team took a brief field trip to the Dev Corner board. Check out the players' questions about our current focus area (the Summoner's Rift + ARAM play loops) that were answered below.

On hand for the Q&A, we had:

Andrew "sparkly unicorns" McVeigh - Tech Dev
Brandon "CapnBranFlakes" Felczer - Community
Dan "Riot Jules Fern" Glegg - Tech Dev
Doruk "cCc Grumbles cCc" Kadioglu - Publishing
Joe "Riot Hark" Korsmo - Publishing
Kevin "Sixblades" Kvalstad - Visual Design
Nikki "Riot Sweet" Galvan - Friend's List Design
Nabil "AccuracyByVolume" Kassem - UX Design
Ryan "Cactopus" Rigney - Publishing

Join the alpha construction crew and learn more about the League client update alpha here:

359 Comments

warpenguin555May 20, 201646 votes

im tired and dont have a question. so can one of you guys answer a question that you really hope somebody asked and pretend i asked it XD

RiotRiot CactopusMay 20, 2016124 votes

{quoted}

who is ur favorite Shining force character and also why are you the greatest writer of all time

Really great couple of questions, Warpenguin555. My favorite character from the 1992 fantasy turn-based tactics role-playing CLASSIC Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention is Gort. Such a badass, and he's always drunk. Really great.

To answer your second question, it is really difficult writing all of these blog posts about the League client update, but I don't consider myself to be the greatest writer of all time. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

AMYS GRAVEMay 20, 201612 votes

Thank you for this.

SilvanorMay 21, 20162 votes

haha, you made my day!

Dat KatMay 21, 20162 votes

I died

VenedictosMay 19, 201622 votes

Can we please have a rough estimate for the end of this nightmare that is the old client?

RiotCapnBranFlakesMay 20, 201611 votes

[{quoted}](name=SE Accelerator,realm=EUNE,application-id=A7LBtoKc,discussion-id=k6KVKAG3,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2016-05-19T21:34:09.305+0000)

Can we please have a rough estimate for the end of this nightmare that is the old client?

Since I wrote this originally, I'm gonna copy and paste it from the FAQ :P "An exact date is hard to pin down. We’ll go to beta when we’ve implemented all its features and can ensure that it’s a totally stable build."

RiotRiot CactopusMay 20, 201611 votes

Just to add onto CapnBranFlakes's comment, we are AIMING to replace the legacy client with the client update this year.

Emphasis on aiming.

AdonnaMay 20, 201621 votes

Any of these features/functions/etc being added or considered for the new client:

~~1. Ability to move/drag rune pages and mastery pages around.~~ -already a yes in a previous post from Riot 2. Setting key binds/options without having to be in an actual game 3. Game pop does not remove you from current screen and send you back to main page of client 4. Player Status/Statement pop up window does not hold settings when changed 5. Problems with client opening/loading on wrong monitor when using dual monitors (I use my second monitor aka tv to play but when the game changes to load screen it will bounce the client to my 'main' monitor) 6. More 'Block List' options such as adding a tag to an account. 7. Ability to alphabetize Friend/Block Lists. 8. Adding a search function for Friend/Block Lists. 9. Ability to purchase skins in game lobby. 10. In-game model viewer. 11. Animated Loading screen or some indication of the client progressing. (Currently unable to tell if client has crashed or not.) 12. Log out option (not completely closing the client down in order to play another account) 13. Pressing "Enter" key allows you to accept game 14. Random issue playing Windowed Mode will sometimes allow your in game cursor to leave the boundaries of your game client meaning that trying to 'push' the screen a direction with cursor movement will do nothing (aka you drag your mouse right to, in theory it should move your player view to the right of your current position. However with this bug, your cursor goes off the game client to your desktop.) It will 'highlight' your client window with a red box. Currently the only way to fix this is restart the entire client. 15. Bugsplat actually does something _ 16. Random audio issue where if you are minimized, when you un-minimize, there is NO sound - nothing. Currently the only way to fix this is restart the entire client. 17. Get rid of Adobe Air (I believe this was confirmed dead but not sure). 18. Ping shown in client. 19. Add 'Invisible' mode so friends cannot see you online at all. 20. 'Reconnect' system does nothing _ (I constantly crash for many reasons, reconnect has NEVER worked) 21. Stop failed que pops from deleting chat messages in progress. 22. SUPER WISHLIST MUST HAVE ITEM: PLEASE fucking show if you are in pre-game lobby with someone currently on your BAN LIST. THIS SHOULD ALREADY BE IMPLEMENTED - NO EXCEPTIONS! One- if I want to burn my dodge on them and Two-if I'm asking questions and the person is 'not responding' BECAUSE they are on my ban list (this one is probably more for the game lobby people? but yea add it)

Thanks!

SolerianMay 20, 201615 votes

Considering the overwhelming masses of people that called for its return post-removal, will the ability to hear others' champion's select quotes return in the final client? If so, will there be a feature for those few who do not wish to hear them to disable them? I feel, if any time, this is the right time to plan this out so everybody is satisfied. Losing this feature was pretty awful since it charged the atmosphere and made champion select more enjoyable.

Fondling GemsMay 19, 201614 votes

Dragable mastery page hype!

Edit: Tfw you see you have 2 comment notifications and they are both rioter comments on the same comment. fangirl faints

RiotCapnBranFlakesMay 20, 20167 votes

{quoted}

Dragable mastery page hype!

Drag and drop friends from your friends list into your lobby FTW, too!

BelligeraMay 20, 20165 votes

oooooooh. shiny

RiotRiot SweetMay 20, 20167 votes

{quoted}

Dragable mastery page hype!

Other places to use drag and drop: to invite people from your friend's list to the lobby and to move people from one folder to another more easily. Try it out and tell us what you think.

Drunk TsundereMay 20, 201614 votes

Are we going to be able to drag around mastery and rune pages to rearrange them, like we do with our friends list?

RiotHarkMay 20, 201623 votes

[{quoted}](name=BILL NYE THO,realm=NA,application-id=A7LBtoKc,discussion-id=k6KVKAG3,comment-id=0035,timestamp=2016-05-20T21:37:32.222+0000)

Are we going to be able to drag around mastery and rune pages to rearrange them, like we do with our friends list?

Yep! We'll introduce those pages in an upcoming client alpha patch.

RiotRiot CactopusMay 20, 201637 votes

DRAG AND DROP RUNE PAGES GET HYPE

ModCaptainMårvelousMay 20, 201613 votes

SO WHERE IS MY ALPHA INVITE!?

With that out of the way, here are my actual questions. Answer any you want to, I'm not picky:

Why the long time for the client? We've heard rumblings since 2012 that Riot was working on a new client, was it just a scope issue?
Is the final client going to be an updated version of the one we have now or will there be new features coming with it entirely?
Is there a reason you chose ARAM and SR for the play loop?
Why the hextech design and not, say, a more runic design ala the older client?

RiotHarkMay 20, 20166 votes

{quoted}

SO WHERE IS MY ALPHA INVITE!?

With that out of the way, here are my actual questions. Answer any you want to, I'm not picky:

Why the long time for the client? We've heard rumblings since 2012 that Riot was working on a new client, was it just a scope issue?

Is the final client going to be an updated version of the one we have now or will there be new features coming with it entirely?

Is there a reason you chose ARAM and SR for the play loop?

Why the hextech design and not, say, a more runic design ala the older client?

Ahoy there, captain!

Improvements to the legacy client have never stopped, but we chose to re-scope this major update a couple times as the needs of League and players have changed over the years.
Our focus is on upgrading the client's underlying tech, improving the visual & audio design, and player quality-of-life improvements across all the existing features. We're not planning any brand new features at launch, but new League features are always in development and will get added to the updated client when they launch.
All queues will get added over the course of the alpha, but we started with ARAM and SR blind pick since these are the "safest" tech-wise to start with as we put the updated client tech through its paces.
We designed the client's visual & audio with 2 key goals in mind: (1) a consistent visual & audio style (hextech UI) to the client that feels true to League as it is today, and (2) a clean, intuitive interface that any Riot dev team can extend and adapt to fit with new League features in the future. If you're interested in learning more, check out the client Visual Style blog from our design team!

AjidoMay 20, 201613 votes

I'm not really a Dota player but I did very much enjoy watching The International rendered within the client itself, allowing me to move around and see whatever I want while hearing the cast for the game. This is something I'd absolutely love to see in League's eSports, is it a goal in the future for this new client to be able to do that or anything along those lines?

tooomineJun 1, 20162 votes

I wish you had gotten a response, man. This would be so COMPLETELY awesome. You just gave me a new dream for watching League of legends.

HovahMay 20, 201610 votes

Love the look of the new client, but will the background champion image on the profile change based on which skin the user was using? I think it would be more unique then just using the normal champion splash.

Here is a mockup of some I did during my spare time: http://i.imgur.com/N5Z6B6O.png http://i.imgur.com/xxNVIkjg.png http://i.imgur.com/ySJ4IHx.png

KITTYgoROAR77May 20, 20166 votes

im bored Velkoz

RiotRiot SweetMay 20, 201626 votes

{quoted}

im bored

Rammus

AMYS GRAVEMay 20, 201614 votes

eye'm bored Velkoz

ICANTFEELMYLEGSMay 20, 20166 votes

Have you ever considered implementing different themes when the new client is released? Themes based on factions or specific champions?

richilimónMay 20, 20164 votes

-Its dificult to program features like new champ select for both alpha and legacy clients while the legacy still exists? I guess the new ARAM champion select won't hit the Legacy client because is too much effort to maintain 2 versions of the same feature. Plus, I got two question about the new client but they aren't for Summoner's Rift and ARAM changes. -Why choice most played champ for profile image instead of best mastery points or user choice? -Its possible on future to make a web page for runes/masteries or a save/load to archive?

RiotAccuracyByVolumeMay 20, 20167 votes

For the profile image we chose your recently played champion, which also shows up when you hover over yourself in the friends list. The intention was to have the profile feel a bit more alive and be representative of what you're currently playing. When you visit your friend's profile you'll see what they're recently playing so that you and your friend's profiles feel more unique.

-EDIT

Also if you own an ultimate skin, such as DJ Sona, Spirit Guard Udyr or Pulsefire Ezreal, selecting one of the corresponding summoner icons will get you an animated version of the image on the profile page.

Check out this awesome preview that one of your fellow players tweeted. https://twitter.com/moobeat/status/733027739305971713

Jules FernMay 20, 20164 votes

{quoted}

-Its dificult to program features like new champ select for both alpha and legacy clients while the legacy still exists? I guess the new ARAM champion select won't hit the Legacy client because is too much effort to maintain 2 versions of the same feature.

Hey! Let me pick up the tech portion of your question. It's a really good callout, because while we're eager to get the updated client out to folks we definitely don't want to disrupt anyone who is playing on the legacy client.

To achieve this, we put a lot of care into making sure that the updated client and the legacy client can speak the same language - so chat messages, statuses, invites and all that other good stuff can move between both clients freely without either one getting confused.

Riotsparkly unicornsMay 20, 20163 votes

To achieve this, we put a lot of care into making sure that the updated client and the legacy client can speak the same language

Ah, thanks for mentioning that. Yes - both clients are completely interoperable as we haven't changed the platform protocols that they use to talk to our servers.

JSG Next OrtexMay 20, 20164 votes

I have trouble reading small fonts and the new client doesnt seem to have a resize option right now.....is there any chance for the resize capabilities to make a return in later versions?

TomathinMay 20, 20164 votes

With the new client will there be new features in it(replay system? :D) or just aesthetic changes and a better working client?

RiotRiot CactopusMay 20, 201610 votes

Our goal right now is to just get it up to par with the legacy client while

Making it look hawt
Using a different, better, newer platform (which will ULTIMATELY be less buggy, thanks largely to our testers)
Adopting some internal tool changes that allow us to make new features more quickly/efficiently.

So while the alpha client probably won't have any significant new features when we go to beta, its design will allow us to prioritize new stuff later on.

Pool SeaMay 20, 20164 votes

Hey guys.

I'm wondering if chat will be a part of this update. It hurts when in blind pick, you call out a lane but you don't get it because you were the last to "join the room". Will this be changed at all?

Y0ungSavageMay 21, 20164 votes

Can you guys show our mmr again on our profile?

Velzard of KozMay 20, 20163 votes

What are plans for Runepage's look? The page itself seems bounded to old visual. Will positioning of slots change? Visuals of the runes. I believe runes need complete update, but for now, how will it be? New Masteries, for example, will visually fit, just sidebar needs to be updated. Runes are not the case.

Also might you change menu text ("Profile", "Collection") into icons? Now it reminds too much of Heroes of the Storm and I think icons are bette translation-wisely.

Finally, might we have hint what this "Collection" choice is? The feature of skin browsing proposed long ago or common browsing for champions and stuff (basically new "champions" tab)?

RiotHarkMay 20, 201610 votes

{quoted}

What are plans for Runepage's look? The page itself seems bounded to old visual. Will positioning of slots change? Visuals of the runes. I believe runes need complete update, but for now, how will it be? New Masteries, for example, will visually fit, just sidebar needs to be updated. Runes are not the case.

Also might you change menu text ("Profile", "Collection") into icons? Now it reminds too much of Heroes of the Storm and I think icons are bette translation-wisely.

Finally, might we have hint what this "Collection" choice is? The feature of skin browsing proposed long ago or common browsing for champions and stuff (basically new "champions" tab)?

We're revamping the Runes and Masteries pages to fit the look of the updated client, which includes rearranging the positioning of the rune slots in particular to be more intuitive.

We'll have more detailed info about the Profile & Collection sections in a later alpha release, but the basic idea is that the Profile section is all about your identity as a player, including your match history and stats, and the Collection section contains all the champs, skins, runes, masteries, and other stuff you've unlocked.

Witch of BabylonMay 19, 20162 votes

Why remake the client when it already looks fucking great and you already updated it a year ago?

Nun Ya Business May 19, 201623 votes

[{quoted}](name=Witch Of Babylon,realm=NA,application-id=A7LBtoKc,discussion-id=k6KVKAG3,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2016-05-19T21:36:14.431+0000)

Why remake the client when it already looks fucking great and you already updated it a year ago?

the reason why they are doing the new client is because the existing one is full to the brim with code that if there is a bug it will take them a real while to fix, if they change one code another bug may appear in its place and it can become a cycle of coding. with the new client it will be easier to fix one code and not have another bug appear as frequent as the Legacy Client. [slayer-jinx-unamused]

JujomaMay 20, 201613 votes

Furthermore. After many years, every game want to renew itself and create something new, something interesting. We had Summers Rift visual updated + new things like Herald or now 4 drakes. From time to time every game steps one step further because technology goes very fast and if you wait, one day your game could be called ''old fashioned''. Game design is like our clothes, you don't go to school or work with same outfit all your life.

BelligeraMay 20, 20162 votes

I got my invite I've been doing my best to watch out for bugs and look for constructive commentary to make but so far I can't seem to see past how pretty it is give me time :D

RiotCapnBranFlakesMay 20, 20168 votes

{quoted}

I got my invite I've been doing my best to watch out for bugs and look for constructive commentary to make but so far I can't seem to see past how pretty it is give me time :D

BioxioMay 20, 20162 votes

The transition from the "Match found" to the Champ Select is in that version a bit flat. In the video previews you showed us some nice zooming in and effects. Will it be in the final client too or is it just little bit tricking? :^)

Edit: Oh and I would lovely see myself in some alpha testing! ;)

RiotRiot CactopusMay 20, 20166 votes

There were just some optimization issues with that effect. We're bringing it back once we work out the kinks.

MDFangMay 20, 20162 votes

What technologies will be powering the new client? Language, framework? If you rolled your own, care to tell something about its technical side?

Riotsparkly unicornsMay 20, 20167 votes

{quoted}

What technologies will be powering the new client? Language, framework? If you rolled your own, care to tell something about its technical side?

TL;DR screens are built in HTML5/Javascript. Communications code is in C++

Slightly more tech focused answer: We’ve built a system around Chromium Embedded Framework, in part because of the rich media possibilities. We’ve also taken great care to make it extensible, so that features can be added by teams without impacting others. So, client screens are built in HTML5/JS and communications-level features are built in C++. We’ll be publishing an in depth blog on the architecture in the near future here: https://engineering.riotgames.com/

AMYS GRAVEMay 20, 20163 votes

mmmm C++... my favorite....

Not joking.

The Potato ManMay 20, 20161 votes

Q: When exactly will we be able to test features like store, collection etc. on the new client?

RiotRiot GrumblesMay 20, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Janna The Hutt,realm=EUNE,application-id=A7LBtoKc,discussion-id=k6KVKAG3,comment-id=0032,timestamp=2016-05-20T21:24:24.556+0000)

Q: When exactly will we be able to test features like store, collection etc. on the new client?

A: SOON! But seriously, we'll be adding these features one by one to the alpha to get focused feedback on them. We'll be updating the alpha site with future testing areas so stay tuned.

The Potato ManMay 20, 20162 votes

Thank you! [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]