Study on disadvantages of DOTA

February 11, 2013
Statement of the Problem

Video gaming has been a part of most people’s lives since 1950’s and it has been developing since then. As technology flourished, video gaming trailed just behind it, coping with the changes and improving as the time passed by. Now, in the 21st century, there are tons of types of video games out there; games of different kinds, for different personalities. And, undeniably, there are, of course, the “best” and the most popular games out there. One of which what the researchers is going to discuss deeper in this research, particularly, the game called Defense of the Ancients (DotA). DotA or Defense of the Ancients, as students may know, is a well known game to the whole wide world. It is an extension map for the game Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, and was developed by, a seemingly anonymous person to the public, namely, IceFrog.

Introduction

Defense of the Ancients (DotA) is a custom scenario for Warcraft III, based on the “Aeon of Strife” map for StarCraft. The objective of the scenario is to destroy the opponents “Ancient”. The two teams’ ancients are heavily guarded structures at opposing comers of the map. Players use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled fighters called “creeps”. As in role-playing games, players level up their
hero and use gold to buy equipment during the mission.

The scenario was developed with the “World Editor” of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and was updated upon the release of the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. There have been many variations of the original concept; currently, the most popular is DoTaAllstars, which has been maintained by several authors during development. Since its release, Allstars has become a feature at several worldwide tournaments, including Blizzard Entertainment’s BlizzCon and Asian World Cyber Games, as well as the Cyberathlete Amateur and CyberEvolution Leagues; Gamasutra was declared that DotA was perhaps the most popular “free, non-supported game mod in the world”. The map has gone on to influence other maps and games, including LOL(league of Legends), HON(Heroes of New Earth), and Demigod.

DotA Games have now been with us for over 30 years. The Atari 2600 is nearly 25 years old. Civilization is now nearly 10 years old. Yet, many people fail to recognized this complex achievements as more than fads or child’s play. Ask most people what they think about video games many will respond that they’re a waste of time.

Research Questions:

1. Does Dota really affect the Academic Skills of Fourth Year Students in St. Thomas Academy? 2. What are the disadvantages of DotA in the Academic Skills of Fourth Year Students in St. Thomas Academy? 3. Does it corrupt the minds of the Fourth Year Students in St. Thomas Academy who are playing this game?

Body
Defense of the Ancients (most commonly known as DotA) is one of the hottest and most popular games in the world of video games. But first, what is DotA? For starters, DotA is an extension map of the game Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. It has gained international fame among young people, especially here in our country. Many critics argue that games produce socially isolated people or promote violent behavior. DotA games are simple and mind numbing
entertainment. Playing games is a waste of time. Some of these criticisms may (or may not) be true, but to view all game playing through this lens is to ignore the broader history of games and the diverse range of game playing experiences available. In fact, the DotA game sales chart reflects this diversity.

The Sims –the “animated dollhouse” game where players create and play out digital fantasy households has dominated the chars for 18 months straight. There are so many computer games which is being addicted by the children or students either in high school, college and even the elementary really like the DotA games or video games. Today million of students has been playing DotA games and become their habits it is so hard for them to avoid playing DotA games. It is a big Physical and Psychological for them mostly their students. Defense Of The Ancients is a very popular computer game for a teenager nowadays and truly gives some benefits like fast typing, mental alertness, improving strategies and team participation. But some teenagers were mostly acquiring this game’s disadvantages that keep these teenagers away from education.

First, in terms of money, some teenager students spend more money from their allowance in playing DotA instead of paying tuition and for buying such projects. Furthermore, many of them use it for placing bets on a team whether they will win or not, in other words “Gambling” and their other way of playing which money were involved. Next, as in this game it could also give problems in our eyes because DotA has very high qualities in color, brightness and other video parts, but even though teenagers could adjust it doesn’t mean they can avoid such problems in terms of sight like this so-called “Far-sighted” or “Near-sighted” and results us with an eyeglass. And the last is that DotA could sometimes cause addictedness and may result in failing grades.

DotA helps the youth who are playing this game to become mentally alert, cooperative, and strategic. It also increases their knowledge in mathematics by computing the gold’s, damages, magic and physical reduction present in the game. Indeed, DotA really helps the youth by playing this game. In the other hand, playing this game without time management and priority can lead to irresponsibility. Starting from their responsibilities, the youth spend
more time playing this game rather than doing their tasks. Studies were forgotten, students became lazy, and relationships with their family were also affected because of this game.

Playing this game also triggers the player to lose his/her temper and values. Why? It simply because of the different languages used during the game or what we called “Trash talks”. Trash talks such as foul languages can really lose their temper and values. As a result, the both sides will fight against each other.

Gamble is also present in this game. Again, money for them is not that important anymore. Many players says that “DotA is the best past time ever,” so it’s fine for them to waste their money.
Due to playing, eating is irrelevant; the satisfaction they get from playing is the same as the satisfaction they get from eating. As a result, the body’s immune systems are getting weaker and now expose the different viruses and diseases.

All in all, DotA really affects the life style of the youth who are in to this game, although it has one good benefit, but it corrupts the mind and the way the youth think. It also weakened the body system, money and moral values were not given importance because of this game. There are some reasons why the Fourth Year Students in St. Thomas Academy shouldn’t play DotA:

DotA is a Waste of Time and Money
Most, if not all, the students who play DOTA do not get any benefits from DOTA. Or if the students really get anything from it, the disadvantages of playing DOTA greatly outweigh the advantages. If there is some students who is gaining from this game, it is the developer and company behind it. At the end of each game, no student really won because every student lost their money and precious time. Remember, time is a priceless commodity. When time is gone, it is gone forever. The students cannot bring it back. It is estimated that an average game of DOTA will last for 45 minutes. That is 45 minutes of student’s life lost and gone FOREVER. If the students used that
for other productive things such as studying or learning new things, they could have been a better person at the end of 45 minutes.

DotA is Harmful in student’s Health
Playing countless hours of DOTA deprive the students of being an active person. The students will just burn their butt and seat and not calories and fats. Playing DOTA is part of sedentary lifestyle. Instead of going outside home, to smell the roses, to play ball with your friends, or to explore the world, the students are glued in front of the computer monitor and trapped in an imaginary world of DOTA. Instead of having their own adventure, they are playing the adventure of other character and in this case, their hero.

Spending too much time in playing DOTA will lead to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, muscular atrophy, visual problems, musculoskeletal problems, decreased immunity, and other diseases caused by sedentary lifestyle.

DotA is Addictive
If the students cannot control themselves from playing DOTA and they find their activities of daily life greatly being impaired because of DOTA, then welcome to the addiction club. Playing DOTA is a slippery road. Once student started to play it, there is no telling if they can still stop. Since there are over a hundred of heroes to choose from and probably millions of strategies to try out, the students might just get curious to try each of them. Not to mention the regular updates being made with its map, they will find more reasons not to stop. The more the students play it, the more they get addicted, plain and simple.

In its basic form, playing DOTA is the same as being addicted with illegal drugs though it is not illegal to play it. Just the students do not feel immediate negative effects when they play the game does not mean that the students will escape the compound and cumulative effects of DOTA.

DotA destroys student’s Mental and Emotional Stability
Students are not the same person when they get really addicted. The time that the students burned in playing DOTA deprives them of studying time. Instead of reading books, they will memorize skills, strategies, and killing methods in DOTA. Because of the stress being brought by DOTA, they become irritable and forget their real priorities in life.

DotA is A Product of Evil
Students might feel uncomfortable with the top one reason of not playing DOTA but this is the truth. DotA is a product of EVIL because it contains many elements that are just against the teaching of the Bible. Almost all of the characters of DotA are of the dark side which God said we should not have anything to do with them. Many might not notice it but the “Ancients” mentioned in the Bible refers to God the father. The game is actually commanding the students to destroy God and His way of life. Each time that the students play DotA is also a time they are feeding their minds with ungodly things. The expressions of each hero and the exclamation stated when they kill someone is a blunt evidence of swearing and an encouragement to kill more and more.

God gave us equal time each day, 24 hours. He wants us to use it for His glory and honor and not to waste it with a diabolical game. The negative effects of DotA are real and it can affect the students whether they know it or not.