Riot is sitting on a goldmine and doesn't dig it...

SaltyToplaneGoat·9/7/2016, 8:32:05 PM·28 votes·3,946 views

... and every single day I want to smash my head against a wall because of that stupidity. Now I'm not a genius when it comes to storywriting and marketing, but given my field of study (Media Studies) I think I know enough to talk about it.

Riot is in a rather unique situation right now, one that other writers and creators would maybe even kill to be in:

a.) They have an established universe that has been widely accepted while at the same time being somewhat unique.

b.) They have a widely used platform of distribution with their game, what leads to a massive reach due to:

c.) A huge audience that uses said platforms, some of said audience already are the "hardcore lore nut"-club. Just think of Sharjo if you want the prime example for that.

d.) It is very clear what the audience wants - and in some parts they really just want something with their favourite character in it as until now some of them are kinda "blanc slates" (= many old champs) and you could literally write anything, as long as you get the character right the people are going to love it. All that is left is to deliver.

Yet they don't. Once a year we see an event somewhat loosely tied to game content that gives us a few pages of text and maybe some fancy facts, and then maybe when there is a champion release we get a teaser or a 2 page comic and that's it. The main problem with it: it is not a constant stream of connected content. It's random tiny bits sprinkled in sometimes.

The thing is: people like me don't necessarely want a super-high-quality cinematic movie. I just want... something. Something I could look forward to every week/two weeks/month. Something consistent that gives me the feeling that something in this fictional universe actually HAPPENS - because all I get right now is a reminder every few months that it kinda exists and something has maybe happened but that's it. Also, with a small, but constant release of content these boards would be more lively too... I mean, we story people had to be mixed together with Sound and Art, that's already degrading...

And at the same time Riot has made a game so big, some small studios would probably fight each other to get a deal with them to just produce something for them as given the potential size of audience it might turn out to be a massive hit. But nooo, instead all money goes into lame Esport none watches anyways (I know none who does, and I don't see the appeal of it. If Asian Team A or Asian Team B wins is completly irrelevant for me, I am busy playing the actual game.) It is also fascinating that the absolutely horrible Retcon is set in the seasons where LoL as an Esport really "blew up". All the ressources where put into this instead of actually putting them into something that would actually benefit the game itself.

At the same time this would be the perfect chance to produce content that will reach an audience beyond the "LoL-fan". Just take Game of Thrones as an example: I bet MANY people never knew of the books until the first season of the show proved to be exeptional. After that, book sales went through the roof. In Riot's case that would mean: more players, more Merch Sales, eventually more public interest into their stories -> it becomes more lucrative to produce even more content.

There is JUST SO MUCH POTENTIAL, YET IT ALL GOES AWAY COMPLETLY UNTOUCHED.

IT MAKES ME SO FREAKING MAD. AND SAD. BUT MOSTLY MAD.

72 Comments

Ralanr9/7/2016, 8:36:35 PM6 votes

I think future decisions will be based on the sales of their art book.

Which I predict won't go well because the book was 75$.

THE RlVER KlNG9/8/2016, 2:28:43 AM5 votes

Totally agreed. I want consistent updates on lore, I want Champions of the Week where they tell us about a different champion and their lore once a week (especially ones not tied to a faction or city-state they can lump them into for lore events). I want a lore section of the client and diverse quotes and personalities for champions like WW or Fiddlesticks. I want novels and poems and plays and encyclopedias and fan writing contests (of which they had one in OCE and I got second place!) and consistent lore podcasts and more. I want to learn and know more and more about Runterra and the Void and all its inhabitants and gods and monsters and places and........things.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/indianajones/images/2/2e/IrinasFakedDeath.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081020201544 I VANT TO KNOW

some degenerate9/8/2016, 5:10:46 PM4 votes

To all of those saying that lore doesn't sell: - that's because Riot barely puts any consistent effort into it. Everything goes to the esports scene now, but even that's starting to fall apart for a number of reasons (recent Tryndamere public message fiasco, Korean teams always winning it off in the long run, streamers and pros dropping out due to dynamic queue, LCS viewership dropping by half within the last two years, the recently revealed fact that Riot esports scene is basically a sort of giant ponzi scheme because they don't even pay their teams well at all in comparison to other esports games such as DOTA, let alone allow them to get sponsorship,) and so on.

I agree with those who're mentioning Overwatch: Blizzard does it right; they know that characters and lore are huge marketing tools for attracting NEW players while the competitive scene usually grabs the marketing interest of EXISTING players. They're balancing both out fairly well.

Meanwhile Riot is a mess in both regards, though the lore aspect of it is in a far worse state. I'm not asking for expensive character-based shorts or cinematics, but a series of outsourced novels or comics shouldn't be that difficult or costly to do.

WestwardZephyr9/8/2016, 2:32:18 AM4 votes

I definitely agree with this. Part of, for example, Overwatch's draw is it's characters personalities and story. That's why there are entire blogs devoted to just exploring a character even as underdeveloped as of now as McCree. You don't see that in any other shooting games like CoD, and you don't really see it for League. Even the characters that don't have a short yet (another thing I admire about Overwatch that League could benefit from) still have enough history established that someone can analyze their character, unlike, say Morgana who has literally no reason to exist anymore and a whopping 25 seconds of dialogue. Even as someone who mained her for a while, I can't define any personality traits for her other than eeeevil (ish). TL;DR- Overwatch has some dank lore and characters, League needs to imitate them in this regard.

GenoXx9/8/2016, 2:10:11 AM4 votes

I'd love if Runeterra can eventually turn into an rpg on something. The lore is just....viable enough for it.... Or even a comic or something. It's a bit upsetting.

KIM JONG REEEEEE9/8/2016, 7:52:52 AM3 votes

This conversation really got me thinking about something awesome, mainly the argument of lore v esports.

What if, somehow, we could sort of combine the two? Well, not necessarily esports itself but take the meta for instance.. every 2 weeks or so, Riot releases a patch that attempts to balance champs out, right?

Well now, imagine that with each patch there is a lore update. When champ ions get nerfed into the ground or boosted into the galaxy, there could be a real story behind it. When champs burst onto the meta, they could be sort of, reintroduced into the storyline.

Could be interesting I think.

P.S. I'm one of the aforementioned esports and arts and lore kind of fan. :)

P.S.S. Go Cloud 9!

Had Lucians Wife9/7/2016, 8:40:32 PM2 votes

But you know thats where the community comes in, we now these character, we adore and love them, and the ones how do right by them make up for what Riot doesn't make, to be honest Riot kind of does that on porpus, all the lore is there. they just let the millions of fans create for the community, and i think they do a damn great job.

Azphreal9/8/2016, 12:52:38 PM2 votes

You mean like the Journal of Justice, which Riot scrapped in, oh, must've been season three or so, because it was too much effort for them? I think they've tried to have these constant updates, and decided it wasn't worth the investment, and there's likely issues with consistency if all their lore writers are contractual, which wouldn't surprise me.

Handy Sandy 9/7/2016, 8:42:48 PM2 votes

Around 400 million people watch esports around the world and they make a ton of money from it.

Miku Append9/7/2016, 9:35:12 PM2 votes

I really wish Riot would continue with the world building within League of Legend's universe. Yes, champions have their backstories, but why can't they sort of do what Blizzard did... but reverse? Inb4 the obligatory "if you don't like what Riot's doing, then leave!!!1!" clown fiesta. I WANT to play a game where I can journey through Bilgewater. It sounds like a really neat place to explore. And we don't know much on that place Lulu met Pix at, so that would also be a unique and magical place to explore.

Chromatic Eagle9/7/2016, 9:52:24 PM2 votes

I want lore content too more frequently but these things take time. They've been trying to do lore updates along with the VGU like Yorick and Ryze.

CrimsonCobra39/7/2016, 11:46:42 PM2 votes

Hm. I do agree. The lore should feel more alive. Right now it feels like reading old history books.

Sionnan699/8/2016, 8:19:46 PM2 votes

Riot has been proving how incompetent they are for the last 5+ years.

Lunæ9/8/2016, 9:52:02 PM2 votes

Anyone remember the old JoJ?

Pepperidge Farms remembers.

Marshbouy9/7/2016, 9:45:21 PM1 votes

Can you TL ; DR me because i want to respond but i also need to start on my homework xD

Veltox9/8/2016, 10:25:49 PM1 votes

Their budged would skyrocket if they would start an anime/movie instead of extremely boring(kinda subjective)LCS matches where we are damn bored of watching same champions do same stuff with the same champions and the occasional play there and there.