DOTA 2 Announced

DOTA is set to return as Valve has announced DOTA 2 for the PC and Mac which will be released sometime next year. Developer Icefrog will be bringing the full roster of 100+ characters over from the original DOTA Warcraft III mod so fans of Warcraft 3 and DOTA will be extremely pleased, and also possibly give this new game an edge over it rivals. It was thought Valve were working on the next DOTA following Valve’s recent DOTA trademark filing. The announcement comes via Game Informer who posted an article which announces the game officially.
With Valve behind the game, gamers can expect a Source Engine powered game with a few extra additions such as improved global lighting and true cloth simulation. Voice chat will also be included removing the need for a third party application.
A neat feature is a new coaching mode where players can go in and train other players. Coaches can then earn rewards if they are voted highly by the other players. Coaches will be able to see the other player’s screen and communicate with voice.
Bots will also take over when players disconnect so there is to be a large emphasis on decent AI. However, a single player game does not look like it will materialise according to the article.
With titles such as Heroes of Newerth already gathering a solid following and Riot Games’  League of Legends also playing in the DOTA arena, competition is going to be fierce.