MOBA is an extension of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. Literally, it can be interpreted as a battle in an arena conducted by several players online. Sounds weird? This is fair, because until now the term "MOBA" is still debated by some people, where they prefer to use the term ARTS (Action Real Time Strategy). Why the debate over the term used? This will be discussed in the next session. But the answer will be seen by re-opening the history of MOBA game to find out!When we pull backward, the history of the MOBA game is actually initiated from the genre RTS (Real Time Strategy) that attracts it has begun before the 90s! One of the "fathers" of the RTS game itself is Herzog Zwei which was launched in 1989 for the Sega console.Herzog Zwei's own game does have some MOBA elements, where we play a unit and aims to destroy enemy headquarters assisted by several units controlled by AI (artificial intelligence).The next development of MOBA game history took place nine years after Herzog Zwei, where Future Cop game: LAPD was released for Sony Playstation in 1998. The advantage of this game compared to Herzog Zwei is the use of symmetrical map, controlled units have different capabilities, as well as the ability to collect various power ups and objectives from the map.In the same year, Blizzard launched one of the most popular RTS games, the Starcraft for PC. Armed with the ability to create custom maps, a player named Aeon64 created the Aeon of Strife folder which first introduced a map system with three different lanes. Aeon of Strife is considered the forerunner of modern MOBA games that we know today.
The popularity of Aeon of Strife continues until the history of the next MOBA game rolling in the appearance of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos in 2002. Armed with Warcraft III World Editor, Eul created the first custom folder named Defense of the Ancient (DOTA), referring to Aeon of Strife. DOTA's popularity at that time made many modders (custom game creators and maps) create a variety of custom Warcraft III similar maps that refer to the Eul's folder.It was not until 2003 in the release of Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, a modler named Meian trying to combine the various DOTA folders that exist and gave him the name DOTA Allstars containing various heroes from various DOTA folders ever made in the period 2002. DOTA Allstars exploded and became very was popular in his time. At this point, one of the most important figures in the history of the MOBA game was Steave "Guinsoo" Feak, who at that time committed to developing the DOTA Allstars folder by creating new heroes as well as improving the game.Kepopuler DOTA Allstars increasingly left behind Guinsoo when IceFrog took over the development. In the IceFrog era, DOTA Allstars has been played by a million people every day!