Boards›Gameplay

Where are Replays?

Tribbles Foxfolk··11 votes·1,290 views

I've only been playing since around Season 4, but ever since I started watching League content on YouTube, a vast majority of the critiques point out patch notes and announcements that "Replays are headed to the PBE for testing and bug-squashing!" These announcements were roughly 2 or 3 YEARS ago.

Dota 2 has had Replays since practically forever. Starcraft 2 does too. Hell, even indie games like Turbo Dismount and Happy Wheels have fleshed-out Replay features.

So why can't you, Riot? Is it "toxic" like Sandbox Mode supposedly was? This is a BASIC feature your biggest competitor, Dota 2, has supported since I can even remember. So why is it impossible to implement? And I can answer that for you: It's not. If Replays were "finished" YEARS ago, what happened?

I'll be up front in admitting that any less response than "We will begin work on Replays next patch" or along the same lines will not appease me. None of this "Soon(TM)" bullshit you've hand-fed us every time when questioned about Replays or the Tribunal. I. WANT. ANSWERS.

(Mod note: This DOES qualify for gameplay since it affects how we play. Hindsight allows us to be much better players just through analysis.)

26 Comments

Múser5 votes

Replays does absolutely seem like a feature that League should have had already.

But you know what would also be amazing? Live spectating of professional games, with also commentary audio feed, perfectly synchronized in real-time. THAT WOULD BE THE DREAM!

Tribbles Foxfolk5 votes

[{quoted}](name=Mr Wolfgang,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-11-26T12:56:56.533+0000)

Replays does absolutely seem like a feature that League should have had already.

But you know what would also be amazing? Live spectating of professional games, with also commentary audio feed, perfectly synchronized in real-time. THAT WOULD BE THE DREAM!

Again, more basic features Dota 2 and CS:GO have had for years.

Old Man Teeto2 votes

Riot stopped adding features that requires touching their ancient code once they got spectator mode working.

Fun fact, the old Spectator mode was just a 6'th person who had an ability to reveal the entire map and despawn their champion.

They had one in development and more than likely at some board meeting for the feature and how difficult it was to develop for them someone brought up the thought "Third parties have already made an okay version, do we really need this?" and thus they abandoned the project forever in favor of another Annie/Teemo skin.

Tribbles Foxfolk2 votes

{quoted}

Riot stopped adding features that requires touching their ancient code once they got spectator mode working.

Fun fact, the old Spectator mode was just a 6'th person who had an ability to reveal the entire map and despawn their champion.

They had one in development and more than likely at some board meeting for the feature and how difficult it was to develop for them someone brought up the thought "Third parties have already made an okay version, do we really need this?" and thus they abandoned the project forever in favor of another Annie/Teemo skin.

The awful code is probably the source of all these problems. To bring Dota 2 back into this, Source Engine can do SOOOOOOOO much and it isn't even much worse than League in terms of system requirements. Dota 2 Reborn released a while ago (Months at this point) and gave it a major facelift. Spaghetti code got un-noodled, graphics are no longer muddy and washed-out, the UI has been made better, and tons of other crap I can't even recall.

What League really needs is the Reborn treatment: Throw the old engine out the window, mainly cause it's bad (Source 1 was not brilliant, but it got the job done for YEARS until Source 2 was ready), and redesign it. Fix the spaghetti, make the UI better (It's only functional in its current state, too much hidden info), and pretty much FIX THE GAME.

Irelia Bot2 votes

I know where they are

I is in dotatwoland.

Also you can watch games from inside the game instead of having to watch from twitch and the like which is actaully really nice since there is less issues with video quality.

Seriously Riot it has been like 4 years since you first talked about it. You had a functioning version on the PBE for a while just not the "space" to store the games. Get the space and get this into the game already.

disregardable1 votes

They have responded to this, several months ago. They don't think it's a necessary feature to the game, and they have no reason to remake something the community already does for them. If you want replays, I'd recommend replay.gg personally.

Tribbles Foxfolk3 votes

[{quoted}](name=Very Toxic Jinx,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2015-11-26T13:52:06.604+0000)

They have responded to this, several months ago. They don't think it's a necessary feature to the game, and they have no reason to remake something the community already does for them. If you want replays, I'd recommend replay.gg personally.

There is no reason for there to NOT be Replays integrated into the game and it's bullshit to argue otherwise. Just because "The community does it for them" does NOT equal "They can ignore basic features all they want because someone else is gonna do it."

Also, I'm not gonna stop complaining about it until they drop the bullshit and implement these BASIC FEATURES, AKA: These features should come STANDARD with the game, not be forced to download a mod.

disregardable1 votes

No, actually, everyone doesn't want it. Casual users that play one game a week, that only play against bots, that play ARAM, will probably never rewatch any of their videos. Riot's goal when developing new features is to improve the experience of as many people as possible. Look at the new champion select that they made- it's just as good for people that don't really care and just want to have fun as it is for hardcore players that are trying their best to improve. A basic feature is a feature that everyone would use, but replays, like item sets, would pretty much only be for a limited number of tryhards.

Tribbles Foxfolk3 votes

[{quoted}](name=Very Toxic Jinx,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=000200000000,timestamp=2015-11-26T14:34:58.499+0000)

No, actually, everyone doesn't want it. Casual users that play one game a week, that only play against bots, that play ARAM, will probably never rewatch any of their videos. Riot's goal when developing new features is to improve the experience of as many people as possible. Look at the new champion select that they made- it's just as good for people that don't really care and just want to have fun as it is for hardcore players that are trying their best to improve. A basic feature is a feature that everyone would use, but replays, like item sets, would pretty much only be for a limited number of tryhards.

Did I ever CLAIM that "everyone" wants it? NO. Quote me where I said that "Everyone wants Replays." I never did.

And nothing you say really holds ground when comparing Dota 2. Dota 2 has a Replay system and it strictly benefits the game. Dota 2 has Leaver Forgiveness (If someone leaves, you can leave too while only losing MMR points instead of tanking that and an abandon). It strictly benefits players as well. Dota 2 punishes anyone that doesn't gain non-natural Gold and XP within 5 minutes by giving them an abandon. League does nothing.

Do you see where I'm going with this? Dota 2 has many more net-positive BASIC features than League does. League only gets away with it because people give up after Riot says "It's toxic."

Please stop giving in to Riot's bullshit, OK? There's no reason to NOT campaign for basic features that other MOBAs have. Yes, they've said that they don't want to implement it because it "only affects a portion of the playerbase". Here's the thing, though: There is NO negative to Leaver Forgiveness, Replays, and more active punishment for leavers and trolling. It is net-positive across the board and it's impossible to make a legit claim otherwise.

disregardable1 votes

Nice edit. Dota 2 is a different game and its developers have different values. If you want to play Dota 2, go ahead. This is the League of Legends forums though, and it's meant for discussion about League of Legends. If "Dota does it" is the only argument you have for a replay system, maybe you should actually reconsider the way you feel about it. The loss for implementing it is other cool features that would better benefit more players. Replay.gg can give me replays, but replay.gg cannot give me the reworked champion select!

Tribbles Foxfolk2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Very Toxic Jinx,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=00020000000000000000,timestamp=2015-11-26T15:10:57.733+0000)

Nice edit. Dota 2 is a different game and its developers have different values. If you want to play Dota 2, go ahead. This is the League of Legends forums though, and it's meant for discussion about League of Legends. If "Dota does it" is the only argument you have for a replay system, maybe you should actually reconsider the way you feel about it. The loss for implementing it is other cool features that would better benefit more players. Replay.gg can give me replays, but replay.gg cannot give me the reworked champion select!

Nice job pulling the typical "If you don't like it, don't play it" card, especially considering I LOVE League, and this is why I criticize it for not having Replays. If you love something, you want it to be the best it absolutely can and will passionately criticize it for any shortcomings. I just want a better game than what we have, but apparently you disagree. I'm willing to agree to disagree, but I'm done arguing with you since it's clear nobody's breaking ground and just reverberating themselves.

Also, it isn't just Dota 2 that has Replays, it's Counter-Strike, Turbo Dismount (A casual indie game about making a test dummy die in the best way possible), and Happy Wheels (A browser game about trying to survive obstacle courses) too.

disregardable1 votes

Do you have something against third party replay services? I don't really understand why you want them to remake something that already exists. The game should focus on providing as many features as possible, and League making a replay system ultimately means it has less features. Because that feature already existed via third party and it took away what could have been. The only reason I can imagine it'd be better for you is if you completely refuse to use 3rd party replays for some reason.

Tribbles Foxfolk2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Very Toxic Jinx,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=0002000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2015-11-26T15:28:50.011+0000)

Do you have something against third party replay services? I don't really understand why you want them to remake something that already exists. The game should focus on providing as many features as possible, and League making a replay system ultimately means it has less features. Because that feature already existed via third party and it took away what could have been. The only reason I can imagine it'd be better for you is if you completely refuse to use 3rd party replays for some reason.

Look, can you just stop at this point? All you're doing is trying to put words in my mouth. I never said I hated 3rd-party services. I don't understand why you have a problem with me and not Riot. I wouldn't be here complaining about Replays if they were already in the game.

This is my last reply to you since it's VERY clear to me that you don't want a legit discussion, you just want to argue. I'd be very happy to have a legitimate discussion when you decide to stop being so aggressive.

disregardable1 votes

That was a legitimate question...?

lB2kGRlc8y2 votes

You're basically saying that they should keep their shitty incomplete model of a MOBA because they're in too deep and have other responsibilities now? I think League may run better if ported back to warcraft 3 considering how many functions it doesn't have that it should.

disregardable1 votes

It has a bunch of players that battle around online in an arena. What part of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena hasn't League satisfied?

lB2kGRlc8y2 votes

It's entire format was derived from an RTS, the fact that they deviated from that gained them nothing and lost them massive amounts of functionality. They opted out of QoL conveniences deliberately, for no reason.

Korillo1 votes

Replay.gg exists. If I was Riot why would I spend money on something somebody else is already doing for free? lol.

Tribbles Foxfolk2 votes

{quoted}

Replay.gg exists. If I was Riot why would I spend money on something somebody else is already doing for free? lol.

Because their competitors are doing it? Because they already had it finished at one point? It's not rocket science.

Korillo1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Eevee Girl Alex,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=00040000,timestamp=2015-11-26T16:00:17.134+0000)

Because their competitors are doing it? Because they already had it finished at one point? It's not rocket science.

I doubt it's really a priority of theirs and none of those reasons end up with them making more money.

They probably feel they are better of focusing their efforts on profitable ventures.

Tribbles Foxfolk2 votes

{quoted}

I doubt it's really a priority of theirs and none of those reasons end up with them making more money.

They probably feel they are better of focusing their efforts on profitable ventures.

So, the new champ select is more profitable somehow? I fail to see your point.

Korillo1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Eevee Girl Alex,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=jB99TqXd,comment-id=0004000000000000,timestamp=2015-11-26T16:14:46.291+0000)

So, the new champ select is more profitable somehow? I fail to see your point.

Eliminating one of the biggest gripes people have had with this game for the past 5 seasons? Yes I imagine that will benefit their bottom line.

R1101 votes

IIRC it was because the servers can't handle the extra load.

Tribbles Foxfolk1 votes

{quoted}

IIRC it was because the servers can't handle the extra load.

Well, that shouldn't be an issue now since they moved/upgraded to Chicago.

R1101 votes

I guess it's a problem for multiple regions.

TwinkiePro1 votes

You have to understand that Blizzard and Valve already had replay in mind when they crafted their games engine. Back when League was just blooming, they never thought it would grow to the juggernaut it is today and did not anticipate many of thing we, the players, are asking for. The literal reason behind this is "Spaghetti code." It's difficult to implement sandbox and replay, simply because the games structure won't be able to support it. The few replay things that are out there, only work for one version, and needs to be tweaked for every new build. Riot doesn't want to do that, and thus are cleaning up the system, given it a thorough and deep clean. We will get our replay mode, just give Riot the time to implement it.

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