Growing up playing DOTA in the Philippines, a true story by Ryan Ison

“It will always be a part of me. No matter what chapter of my Life.”

I remember when I was in elementary school, I used to hate the idea of playing DOTA. I’d often see students and adults wasting their money and acting rashly while playing the game. I promised myself I would never try something like that. Little did I know, I’d end up breaking that promise in no time.

Back then, we didn’t have internet at home, so my only option was to go to an internet café to play games. I would repeatedly play single-player games, but after a while, it started to feel bland. One day, I tried to pirate Warcraft III by copying it from the local café. The funny thing was—I only copied the game icon, not the actual folder. I think we’ve all had a moment like that at some point. Eventually, I got to play the real thing, going through the campaign and downloading different DOTA map versions to play against bots.

Then came high school, when DOTA 2 launched and suddenly dominated every gaming screen. It was the game—everyone at the internet cafés was playing it. As a high schooler, it was impossible to avoid, especially since I already knew the basics. A classmate invited me to play after school at a nearby café, and that quickly became our daily routine. We’d play almost every afternoon until graduation.

At that point, I had no idea how much money I’d spent on the game. I know it turned into an addiction for a while—but there was more to it than that. The time I spent at those internet cafés was unforgettable. I made so many friends and connections with people I never thought I’d get along with. Turns out, we shared a lot of interests beyond gaming—like basketball and other sports! Those moments, though temporary, were irreplaceable. We joined tournaments, trashtalked each other endlessly, but still played together no matter if we won or lost.

It’s inevitable that we all go our separate ways as we grow up, but like I said, DOTA will always be part of my life. It changed me—not just as a gamer, but as a person. It taught me how to communicate and connect. The people I met through the game helped shape who I am today.

From my perspective, my circle of friends in senior high was held together by DOTA. And if they ever read this, I know they’d agree. Even after a decade, we still hop back into the game from time to time. Even if one of us takes a long hiatus, we always return—like DOTA is our hometown.

Even now, as an adult, DOTA holds a special place in my heart. It shaped my personality and became part of my journey. As much as I hate certain parts of the community, DOTA is still a game that connects people by letting them be their true selves—sharing frustration, excitement, and, most importantly, having fun.

Until the next DOTA session!

-Ryan

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