What is the difference between DOTA and MOBA?

1. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 11 years ago

   What is the difference between DOTA and MOBA?
   
   I'm pretty sure both of these game types fall under the real time strategy genre, but I find that I'm confused every time a gaming article mentions one. I know that DOTA started as a warcraft 3 mod and ballooned into its own thing, but what is MOBA? Are they more like the army based combat of starcraft or are they more like the single player experience of diablo? Also, do they have single player campaigns or are they strictly multiplayer? I feel old, as the gaming industry seems to be leaving me behind.

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2. 57

   SOEposted 11 years ago

   DOTA or Defense of the Ancients, is a game series in and of itself, like you stated, that started as a Warcraft custom map (Aeon of Strife) then grew. MOBA is also known as Multiplayer Online Battle Arena is the genre of video games that DOTA falls under. The two are kind of synonymous in a way.

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3. 68

   Michael Poonposted 10 years ago

   Dota is a game, while moba is a genre. Though, some may call dota a genre since it was the first game of this genre.

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4. 60

   shushgamingposted 10 years ago

   So basically what you're asking is if there're any other games like DOTA, the answer is NO, DOTA isn't even a game, like you said, it's just a WC3 Mode, (heavily modified, and now on independent platform.

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5. 75

   JohnGreasyGamerposted 10 years ago

   An MOBA is a Player versus Player genre, dedicated wholly to fighting against other players in arena-like combat. MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, the single greatest example would be the now closed Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes (which I've reviewed on my Page). DOTA is an example of an MOBA because it defines the multiplayer, the online and the battle arena aspects of the genre. It's a genre that can't change all that much save for the view - top-down, third or first person. Another thing is that many people think MOBAs are MMOs, because in some (like the example I provided, WoH), the combat is very similar to an MMORPG. Thankfully any site that dares review an MOBA for the "MMO" aspect gets shot down in flames by semi-intelligent people.
   
   To avoid further confusion, DOTA was not the first in the genre but it did add an emphasis to the "MO" part of the gameplay. Earlier examples include Hogs of War, several Starcraft and WC2 mods and Worms.

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