Thank You, Riot

I don't like airing laundry or anything, but I thought credit needed to be placed where credit is due.

I know Riot doesn't care about every one of us as an individual. That doesn't mean they make a point to not care. It's just a fact of business, and as a capitalist myself, I understand and have no hard feelings because of this. They are here to make money, provide for their own families, and improve their own happiness. That is the point of business, and they seem to be doing a great job at it. Besides, with over 100 million players, it is absolutely impossible for them to care about each person specifically.

But the fact is that they do care. They don't know me; they don't know you. They can't. But the passion they put into this game shows they do care after all. I know this game doesn't always feel balanced, and the ranking system can be frustrating, and the community can be rough. (Just like every community on the Internet, FYI.) But they are always moving and always producing something new. It may seem slow sometimes, but in the year (or less) that I have been actively playing League of Legends, I have seen so much change, and it is wonderful. I know some things have taken a long time to implement. I'm aware of how long it took them to create special maps like the Snowdown map. But they made it. They did make it. And they are making a new client. They have made a Blood Moon map. They have updated ancient characters like Warwick. They are updating the lore with beautiful art and thoughtful stories. And as annoying as I think Camille is, it's amazing that they are still coming up with creative ideas for champions when one might have thought they would have run out of ideas a few years ago.

But I'm not here to kiss Riot's butt. At least, not out of fanaticism or because I want free stuff or even for attention. I'm just here to give credit where credit is due.

Today I was sent to the hospital out of concern for my mental health. I have clinical depression and recent events have just compounded that to a point where I was told I could either go voluntarily or my doctor was going to call the police and have them escort me there whether I wanted to or not. It's scary to think that things would come to this.

The good news is that I was sent home after an evaluation because it was determined that I did not pose an immediate threat to myself. I'm still going to have to see a psychiatrist and most likely be medicated. But the wonder of all that is the fact that I am still here at all.

When I started playing League of Legends, I was legitimately suicidal. I'd even been pulled over by cops that month and had my car searched because they were wondering what I was doing stalled out in the middle of the road at 3AM. I had no friends who I could consistently keep in touch with, I had no drive or energy to stay physically active, and I was over video games with tiresome stories and cold AI.

For some reason, I recalled that I had a League of Legends account. I had tried the game out before, but it just seemed overwhelming at the time. But I had always seen the art around (I am so happy to see a new fanart section on this site for that reason.) and the characters depicted were so magnetic, even if a little cheesy in some cases. Reminded of this awesome art, I decided to give it another shot, hoping the game was as epic as the characters appeared.

What is so great about League of Legends is how beautiful everything is presented. The painted playing field is a nice escape from the usual 3D textures. The characters are cartoony, and even the most evil ones have an obviously playful design. The game just doesn't take itself too seriously. I've never been a fan of the fantasy genre, but this game hits everything in such a way that it's not required for you to enjoy Lord of the Rings in order to enjoy League of Legends. There's sci-fi, there's movie spoofs, there's freaking Shakespeare with a gun. Puzzled by the epic armor with gratuitous cleavage from your "gritty and real" fantasy games? Riot says stop taking yourselves too seriously and have a pool party skin to boot. It's lovely.

It's the same game every time you queue up, sure. There aren't any quests or character choices to make. But the game's presentation is so warm and imaginative, and there's just something to it I can't quite grasp that makes it like nothing I've ever found before. It drew me in and it has been enough of a therapy for me that, despite my situation, at least I am still here today.

Anyway, I just felt like the boards could use some positivity. And I wanted to embrace the good that I can find when I'm not in a good place. I'm aware this is a really long post and I doubt nearly anyone will take the time to read it. But I didn't really type this for anyone's sake but my own in the end.

So I just want to say thank you, Riot. I wish the best for this game and its community and hope it is still here for years to come, because thankfully I am still here today.

We must press on.