Midterm Paper

                                                                

                                                                     Chapter 1

  INTRODUCTION

      A.)   Background of the Study

Mathematics is really important in many fields. Numerous fields of studies as well as in sports or games need mathematical knowledge. Most of the games are inclined with many mathematical concepts and information like statistics. The use of statistical methods dates back at least to the 5th century BC. The earliest writing on statistics was found in a 9th century book entitled: "Manuscript on Deciphering Cryptographic Messages", written by Al-Kindi. In his book, he gave a detailed description of how to use statistics and frequency analysis to decipher encrypted messages, this was the birth of both statistics and cryptanalysis, according to the Saudi engineer Ibrahim Al-Kadi. Its mathematical foundations were laid in the 17th century with the development of probability theory by Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat. Probability theory arose from the study of games of chance. The method of least squares was first described by Carl Friedrich Gauss around 1794. The use of modern computers has expedited large-scale statistical computation, and has also made possible new methods that are impractical to perform manually(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics).

There are many fields where statistics has its role specially on computer online games. Examples of these are DOTA, League of Legends, Cabal Online and many more were inclined to this field of mathematics. One example of applications of statistics to DOTA is the computation of attack speed, movement speed, effects of items, DPS, AOE, magic reduction, cooldown, special buffs, armor , magic resistances and damages, gold management, HP and mana regenerations passives skills and orb effects...etc. This field of mathematics is very important to DOTA players in playing the game. As well as in sports, mathematical knowledge are applied in order for the players and organizers will know the strategies and skills that they might use. DOTA is the main game that this research is about where these knowledge are applied.

Blizzard Entertainment released the third edition of the Warcraft 3 series; Reign of Chaos, in 2002. DotA started on Reign of Chaos before the expansion, The Frozen Throne came out. It was based on the custom map "Aeon of Strife" from Starcraft, a team game focusing on hero combat. It is a 5v5 game with two sides: the sentinel and the scourge.Dota offers a variety of game modes, allrandom, allpick, random draft, league mode, and many others. Competitive play started off with standard league mode; sentinel could only pick sentinel heroes and scourge could only pick scourge heroes.  

However, there are also difficulties in understanding these statistical details even though one has played this game many times. There are complicated computations that are included in order for players should do if they want to know the effects and causes of winning or losing the game. Hence, this game needs critical and mental thinking in order to understand statistical details that would be present in this study.

The main purpose of this study is the advantages that mathematical and statistical knowledge can provide to these DOTA players.

 B. Statement of the Problem

       This study aims to answer this questions:

1.       What advantages can mathematical knowledge and statistical applications provide DOTA players?

C. Significance of the Study

       DOTA Players. This research paper would help those DOTA players who are fun of playing the game. Players are benefited because they could use the information in making strategies and in improving expertness in playing.

         Youths. The youths are benefited because they would be able to know the purpose of the

mathematical and statistical information provided for them in order that learning this game would be easy. Youths can become mentally notify, cooperative and strategic when it comes to playing games.

         Game Planners. Knowledge in this study can help the game planners to create and upgrade the game information and to produce more specialized versions of the game.  They can also get the relevant details to be adapt in making the new productions and improve the qualities of the game.

        Future Researchers. This study would help them to understand and be inform of the knowledge present to the study that may help them find new information they can use in papers.

D. Scope and Limitations

            This study focuses on the advantages of mathematical and statistical knowledge provided to DOTA players. Games and sports are considered since mathematics has been widely used in these things due to lack of time, this study will only focus on some relevant information which can be adapted in genres of gaming such as online games, LAN games and many more as sources of information. This also gives focus on games as source of knowledge to be used in improvisation. Moreover, research believes that games are provided by this knowledge over the years. Therefore, this study would be important to continue the improvisation. Aside from this, the researchers also consider the numerous sources provided as one of the primary limitation for the study. This is due to the large number of resources regarding the application of mathematical knowledge in upgrading games.  

E. Materials and Methods

                 This research employs an informative method since the researcher aims to inform and discuss the advantages of mathematical knowledge from computer games. This method is more on the process of collecting, analyzing, organizing, classifying data and information and make such presentation and interpretation about such details. Bear on mind that this informative method suites and is appropriate for the study.

 Information relevant to the study was gathered from various references such as books, surveys and articles from online sources. In addition, interview to people who are inclined to the study and strengthen it more.

F. Definition of Terms

Statistics. The study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data.  It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments.

Cryptanalysis.The procedures, processes, methods, etc., used to translateor interpret secret writings, as codes and ciphers,for which the key is unknown (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cryptanalysis).

Mathematics. The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. A group of related sciences, including algebra, geometry, and calculus, concerned with the study of number, quantity, shape, and space and their interrelationships by using a specialized notation. Operations and processes involved in the solution of a problem or study of some scientific field (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mathematics)

DOTA (Defense of the Ancient). A  multiplayer online battle arena mode for the video game  Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft.