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A heartfelt thank you.

Rokdog·11/11/2014, 10:52:13 PM·62 votes·4,237 views

Dear Riot,

Thank you for being the kind of company you are, and for doing what you do. It may seem odd being thanked for doing something that 1) you probably enjoy 2) is the dream-job of many and 3) also comes with a paycheck, but last year I got to experience gaming in a way I never had before. My friends and I took a road trip from Arizona to California for the 2013 semi-finals at the Galen Center near USC. Among our company was my best friend of over a decade who I used to stay up late with playing countless games of DotA All-stars during Frozen Throne's hey-day. He's the same friend who introduced me to League and it was love-at-first-sight. His name is Louis, and despite suffering from his second round of cancer, he was a total trooper and went with us. He got to meet Sky Williams, C9's Hai, Snoopeh and many other League "personalities" and got some great pics and had some great conversations.

We screamed until we were hoarse while watching the match live, but Louis didn't. Not because he wasn't able to or wasn't excited, but because it's not who Louis was. Every one of us remembers him as the player who never raged. He studied Buddhism and was one of the best damn examples of living it that the West has ever seen. Always calm, always accepting, always patient. He won battle after battle against his cancer, but in the end it won, and claimed his life this year in June. The Season 4 World Championship happened to fall on the 27th birthday he would have had on October 19th; I can only imagine his smile at that.

I apologize for the heavy story, but I felt as Season 4 came to a close, it's important to me and helps give me a little closure to know that I've told you how you have all provided me and my best friend with countless hours of entertainment and some amazing memories. So from the bottom of my grieving heart, thank you. On top of being an amazing company with record-shattering growth, you're still very personal and down-to-earth with your players as the recent Q&A with Kalista proved. Please please please never lose that. Don't go the route that companies like Activison-Blizzard has. It's what has kept me here since season 1 and provided my friend and I with the kind of memories that we have.

Thank you, Riot.

  • An extremely (how much is extremely anyway?) grateful fan

10 Comments

RiotRiot Sweet11/12/2014, 9:01:09 PM20 votes

Hey Rokdog, thank you for sharing this — even though it must have been difficult.

It's a beautiful thing when you're able to connect with like-minded players and form bonds of friendship. Or when games enable you to build stronger relationships with existing friends. It's part of the magic that make games special. I remember my guild from WoW was my family for many years, just like my co-workers at Riot are like my family now. Many of us here, maybe all of us, have similar stories of friendship, love, dedication and even hardship.

Louis sounds like an amazing guy and it sounds like we lost a good one when he finally 'left the game'. My sincere condolences, though it won't ease the pain in his passing, his memory will live on with you and now with everyone you have shared it with.

Finally, thank you. You are the reason we do this every day. You are the reason we work hard. We are here for you, and each and every player out there.

Ecliptika11/11/2014, 11:58:19 PM14 votes

Your story is so bitter sweet. Really pulls at the heart strings. I'm glad you two were able to build such beautiful memories together. May Louis Rest In Peace.

Rokdog11/13/2014, 1:48:22 AM7 votes

Everyone's positive responses here have been more helpful than I would have expected. It's amazing how much weight the sympathy of others, even strangers, can carry at the right time.

TrentBatNA11/12/2014, 1:40:52 PM3 votes

Sad. item 3070 Amumu item 3070

Hi lm Kalista11/12/2014, 1:39:49 PM3 votes

gj Riot you do good things looks in rito's direction YES you too Rito.

BlackRaven11/12/2014, 12:53:13 AM2 votes

why would he rage? he has perfect ping.

Silverthane11/12/2014, 6:15:03 PM2 votes

my feels...

Doominator1011/13/2014, 2:04:02 AM2 votes

Don't worry Rokdog. I got your back. Zilean

Memory lives on.

Trinityunicorn11/13/2014, 3:00:53 AM2 votes

As a door closes, another opens. With each ending there is a new beginning. I hope the door swings wide open for you and you revel and enjoy your new beginning. I'd love to be a fly on the wall as your future unfolds. I hope you enjoy this, it made me think of your friend and you and today and now. Your expression of gratitude and the response. Thank you for sharing with us,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jF6u4GJQ-Un

D0nC11/13/2014, 4:47:08 AM1 votes

I will bite for Astroturfing sakes.

Thank you ART/ANIMATION TEAM.

Thank you NEW HERO DEVELOPERS.

The rest:

Social systems design.

Server management.

Management in general.

Can all go to hell.

I did not mention balance because this game allows you to play with any hero, but yeah, there are heroes that should be neutered. ( I do not care).