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Never heard of Dota 2 or unfamiliar with eSports? No problem, because this documentary is also fascinating to newbies. Which team is the best in the world at this fantasy cross between soccer and chess and will seize the grand prize of one million dollars?



Game giant Valve (creators of revolutionary games such as Half-life and Portal, who became very wealthy with their digital game store Steam) is behind this documentary about their multi-player game Dota 2, "a cross between soccer and chess", but with a fantasy edge. But the film is not so much about the game itself, as it is about the players and especially the so-called eSports phenomenon. From a marginal activity, it expanded into a professional and international competition. As one of the cyber athletes describes it, yesterday they played for 24 bottles of beer as a reward, but today the grand prize is a million dollars. Three pro gamers from completely different backgrounds have set their eyes on this prize when they participate in the first international Dota 2 tournament in 2011, but for Danil 'Dendi' Ishutin from Ukraine, Clinton 'Fear' Loomis from the VS and Benedict 'HyHy' Lim from Singapore, there is more at stake than just the cash.

Choice of 'Blikverruimer' Hermen Hulst/Guerrilla Games

Credits

Production company
Valve
Distributor NL
Valve

Title: Free to Play
Year: 2014
Duration : 1 hour, 15 minutes
Category: Long Documentary
Edition: NFF 2017

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