# valve's free to play dota 2 documentary to consider valve's dota 2 documentary "free to play" as a coldly calculated garming industry promotional video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-rkqganq-y ask who this documentary is actually for - what's the implied message; how are viewers supposed to receive it (if not with open arms) good grief; the background music which plays throughout - sometimes epic sometimes emotional dig those standard industry tropes hard at work like some myth-of-meritocracy rocky training montage: "the hope - the dreams - the pride- the sacrifice - personal tragedy - ultimate victory: dota 2" that typical 'human interest' angle used; an attempt to humanise esports / garming generally (which implies it needs it) valve heads talk in deathly hollow terms about "a revolution"; certainly one in marketing "vindication" is also mentioned; justification against denial or censure - defense - a means of exoneration from an accusation. ask who is accusing who of what (heaven forbid anyone be critical about video garmes) benedict han yong lim (who despite efforts to paint players as 'just like you and me' - still came across as the most human being): "the chance to be best in the world at something (..] you don't get that much in life." what about simply being the best at life benedict: "how you take care of the people you love" as the most important thing ever; yet what does the existence of such sentiment mean within the context of such a slick (corporate) production valvespeak: "this is the beginning - this is where it all started"; a warning valvespeak: "when more and more people support it - and it becomes more and more normal(tm) it's going to go from a niche to becoming accepted." what a remarkable insight - which nonetheless is true valvespeak: "changing mindsets is never easy - so it's going to take a while." how perfectly insidious a strange short of a sign below an all amerikan flagg: "the only thing achieved in life without effort is failure." thanks dad; garming as another extension of the protestant work ethic. ironic how most of the players in this corporate document expended nothing but effort - and got diddly squat for it the closing shot of real estate investor dendi not playing a video garme - in fact as far away from computers and competition as possible - just fishing; like some b.s rustic perfectly natural return to alleged roots / reality - except of course everything's already changed the documentary ends with valve hypercorporation's discrete logo: again noticeable by ir absence (which is the entire point. our ever humble infinitely benevolent benefactors meanwhile many understand garming's just all about dat ca$h near future scenario: in which professional garmers(tm) become fur wearing pimps in some violently egotistical pop video: "playing that garme how it's supposed to be played" // republic of bob