League of Legends Lecture

League of Legends Lecture is a class that examines the popular video game, League of Legends, through several different lenses, including gameplay, eSports, and psychology. Students will spend time both in and out of class discussing, analyzing, and learning about the game through weekly homework assignments. The aim of this course is to help students develop critical thinking skills when examining video games and their broader cultural impact.

A re-read of the League of Legends story: Before millions of players, billions in revenue, and esports tournaments attracting 100 million viewers, Riot Game’s League of Legends was only an idea. Its birth was a 10-year journey punctuated by terror, wild leaps of faith, and a team that included a college junior studying film and an MBA-graduate who was seeking employment at Bain & Company.

There’s a lot to explore in the League universe: an ever-expanding roster of champions with unique abilities and lore; a massive global community of people interacting through social media; a competitive ranked system where players can test themselves against each other; and an industry-leading professional esports scene that brings together the best players in the world. There’s also an item system that allows players to dramatically increase their champions’ power, but which items they choose and how they use them is a complex decision with far-reaching effects. This chapter helps players navigate the League item economy by highlighting the important factors to consider when making choices.롤대리