Dota constantly needs updates

Caster and former professional player Clinton 'Fear' Loomis reflected on the first tournament in The International series, and discussed Valve's approach to developing Dota 2.

Regarding the first The International, he highlighted two lasting memories. The first was the daily commute by metro or train to the venue, which left a strong impression on him. The second was the difficulty of hearing anything during the matches, as they played at Gamescom next to a very noisy Razer booth. This issue was particularly noticeable during the group stage when they weren’t in soundproof booths.

When asked how his perception of the tournament series changed after TI1, Loomis acknowledged a significant shift. He explained that his expectations were either very low or non-existent at the first event, as no one knew what to anticipate. However, the event grew in scale each year, with the quality of teams improving as everyone began to take the competition more seriously. Players started viewing it as their career and profession.

Reflecting on The International 2014, Loomis noted that he was a coach due to a hand injury. He expressed that it was a difficult experience for him, as he was disappointed not to compete as a player. Nevertheless, he found some solace in being able to participate as a coach.

On Valve's approach to developing Dota 2, Loomis remarked that while innate abilities, aspects, and talents had drastically changed the game, he believed these changes were necessary. He emphasised that Dota requires constant updates and that the developers have done an impressive job introducing new and engaging features that keep players invested and enjoying the game year after year.

When discussing the heroes he would prefer to play regularly, Loomis admitted that he primarily "spams" heroes that are overpowered, which heavily depends on the meta. He mentioned that he doesn’t play much for fun. Recently, he has been playing Naga Siren as a support, particularly because he found the Deluge aspect to be broken, a fact that was proven during the latest TI.