[PAX Prime 2012] Smite

[Ghostbear]

It’s probably a character failing, but I just can’t get into most Moba games. Perhaps it’s the intense communities, the time you need to spend in order to be even passably good, or the fact that as I get older, twitch gaming becomes less and less enticing. Smite is a fairly remarkable exception to my “No Moba” policy. Perhaps all it took was the changing of the camera perspective, but I am having a great time playing the game, especially after my time at PAX.

Unlike games like League of Legends, Smite’s camera sits just above and behind your character; think of the perspective in most MMOs for reference. Like those MMO’s your character is driven by not just the mouse, but with a traditional WASD keyboard layout. This makes the game feel more immediate, more in your direct control. Instead of clicking on the map where you want to go, you simply trundle off in a direction and lay waste to your foes.

A nice feature for Moba newbies is the option to have the game level your abilities and buy items for you as you progress during a match. You’ll be able to jump in and play without having to worry about whether you should get that attack speed item or a potion. If you prefer finer control never fear, you can still choose every ability and item by disabling that option.

Smite also has a good matchmaking system, attempting to keep the very experienced players from being paired up with newer ones. Nothing can crush your desire to play a game like being walloped your very first attempt. Speaking of matchmaking, you can team up with pals who also want to crush deities beneath their feet. Keep in mind though, this might mean tougher opponents, depending on the rating of your partners.

All of Smite’s characters are gods of myth and legend. If you ever wondered what a fight between Thor and Hades would look like, now you know. Pulling from multiple pantheons, the developers plan to have 30 gods available to play on launch. Right now in the beta, about 20 are ready to use.
Smite, like other Moba games, will be free to play. It will have two forms of currency, Favor which is earned in game and gems, which are what you have to spend money on to get. Gems seem to mostly be used for things like new skins for your characters. You can also use gems to unlock new gods, if you don’t have the patience to earn enough Favor to unlock them.

I had a great time with Smite and have been playing in the beta ever since PAX. If you want to play, you need to get a beta key from key.smitegame.com and sign up for an account. I also have some PAX exclusive skins for the goddess Artemis. If you want one, simply post in the thread and ask. Even new Coggers are welcome to these keys.

[BLeeP]

Oooh, I want an exclusive Artemis skin!

I've messed around in the beta, and I really enjoy what they are doing but I also feel that, once again, competition is going to be fierce which makes the community absolutely horrid :/.

[SilentScreams]

Had a great time with the beta, especially once I started playing as Bastet. I'll be interested to see how well this game does. It's going to be hard to break the stranglehold that LoL has though.

[hunterx280]

This was the first thing DanielOut and I played when getting onto the floor. I'm not a MOBA fan for the same reasons as Ghostbear but I figured I would give it a go since I loved Tribes and I had a beta invite sitting in my inbox at home. I was blown away by how much fun I was having just by changing the perspective. I actually felt in control of my character. I've since installed the beta but haven't had time to play it. I think I will have to give it some more time as soon as I have a spare few hours.

[SilentScreams]

I personally think the MOBA community thing is a myth. All online games have their highly vocal douchebags and as an avid player of LoL and a dabbler in Dota 2 I can't say I've encountered more assholes in either than I have in any other online game.
Even when you do encounter them, ignoring them is as simple as clicking a button or typing in an /ignore command.

[Widgetcraft]

I'm always up for skins Also, this is a really fun game. I'm not sure if it's just the change in perspective, or what, but it is significantly more engaging than other games in the genre. Me and some friends played it for a while, up until the Guild Wars 2 release that has swallowed up our time.

[Lint of Death]

SMITE is a fantastic game but with the typical MOBA community, so either play with friends or be a damn cheery guy or you're going to suffer an overdose of teammate-berating surrender-monkeys!

Bright side: it is completely impossible to talk to the enemy team until the match is over, and you can report all the assholes.

[AversionFX]

I've been playing a lot of Smite and having a lot of fun with it.

I would most definitely be interested in an Artemis skin.

[Panthera]

I've been playing and enjoying this, even put a bit of money in to pick up a couple new gods. I'll take a skin.

[GrrSnort]

I'm weak and bought the $30 character pack they had on offer a couple of weeks ago that gives every character and unreleased characters up to release. I've had a load of fun with it and have recorded a video feature on the website linked to in my sig.

[Ghostbear]

Ok, sent skins to folks who asked for them so far. Anyone else let me know. I have a few more.

[Mashidar]

I'd love one of these skins Ghostbear. I have enjoyed my time in the game so far. I even paid for a bundle of Gem's back in the day just to support the team in hopes of making the game even better.

[GrrSnort]

I'd be willing to part you with one of those skins.

[Lint of Death]

Originally Posted by GrrSnort

I'd be willing to part you with one of those skins.

Premium vanity content, though it may cut deeply into one's wallet, is not as sharp as one might think.

[Wasson_]

the game is pretty good and it quickly getting better. But escape abilities can contribute to characters having too much of an advantage at times. They need to make it where an escape cancels a disable, but just permits normal movement.

also...idk what the fuck they're thinking with Cupid. He is so out of place stylistically and crazy over powered. I hope he is not a foul harbinger of further pointlessly neotenic characters...

[Lint of Death]

Cupid is ADORABLE.

[GrrSnort]

Thor is pretty rad. Trying to practice with him.

[Ghostbear]

Feel free to add me to your in game pals list. Ghostbear1

[GrrSnort]

I'll add you tomorrow!

[GrrSnort]

SMITE is launcing an open-beta. It's a really great take on the MOBA genre. It controls well, and is reasonably well balanced now (Cupid and Artemis no longer eat everyone's lunch). If you join up, add me. (GrrSnort)