Riot is Amazing (And this is why)

This one goes out to Riot games.

Today, I logged in to play League, just like any other day. Upon signing in, I was greeted with a brand spanking new skin, High Noon Yasuo.

It was that moment I realized how amazing of a company Riot games is. Though the free skin did trigger this realization, their awesomeness as a company goes far beyond merely giving out free stuff.

I started to think back- back to when i first started playing League of Legends. How well- crafted of a game it is. The lore rivals some of the greatest fantasy and sci-fi lores out there today. I couldn't help but completely immerse myself in the lore of each champion, and I had quickly developed a connection to every single one, understanding their motives, their rivalries, and creating hypotheses about their secrets. There is no other game in existence that gives me the same adrenaline rush, the same power in victory, or the same pissage in defeat. It might have champions like Fizz, Riven, Udyr, and Teemo who were co-designed by Hitler, the Anti-Christ, and Osama bin Laden, but the fact that the game has a near perfect balance of team reliance and self-empowerment makes up for that. (Sorry Rito, I had to) :)

But enough about gameplay. We all know the game itself is amazing, and we've all wasted unnecessary amounts of time on it in an attempt to improve, or to enjoy the game with friends. But the company itself, Riot, is truly a class act. I cannot think of another company that has better company- customer interaction. The Rioters' presence on the Boards is both enlightening and entertaining. They (The Rioters) are truly a part of the community and without them, discussing the game would just feel weird. Their new champion Q & A system is top-notch and very informative, and they do their best to hit all the points.

But us players always seem to forget one thing. The game, in all its glory, is free to play. Wrap your mind around that. Now, I can already hear people saying "but Riot only lets us play a select few champions for free each week; in other games, all the champions are unlocked." The free week rotation system is in fact, genius. By providing a select pool of champions for new players (or whoever) to play, is akin to putting these champions in the spotlight. If a new player logged in to league to play pvp for the first time and wanted to play someone besides Garen or Ryze or whoever the starter champions are, and all the champions were instantly unlocked, then that player would most likely have trouble finding a starting point. By spotlighting a group of champions, Riot isn't restricting players, Riot is providing a means to form connections with champions not owned by the player. Besides, a limited champion pool seems like a small price to pay for the amazing Riot community and support.

The game is ultimately free. You can rise to diamond without spending a damn dime. Yet, I constantly hear the sob stories of how Riot is "screwing" people. I have to hold back from pooping myself from some of the things people say. I need not provide examples. You can find them anywhere.

Now, back to the free skin. Riot is literally rewarding people for not being utter douchebags. I would like to think this would be a given, as a member of the League community. Riot should not have to do things like this. (not that i'm complaining about my new skin). Cut them a break. Receiving this gift from Riot was a wake-up call. League is a truly amazing game, and Riot is an even more amazing company. So next time you decide to complain about how OP you think AD Heimerdinger is, or how Riot "screwed" you by having increased bonus RP after the Holidays (oh no, that RP card you got for Christmas is worth more RP now? Better throw a fit about it), I want you to think about how great this game is, how involved Riot is with their community, and how much they do for us players who don't have to pay a dime to play the game. Rytalfo out.

This is my first post, so I'm hoping at least someone will read it. And sorry if my formatting isn't the best :P