In 2003, a map editor named Eul created a mod inspired by Aeon of Strife called Defense of the Ancients. Like StarCraft, it came with tools that enabled players to create custom maps and scenarios. In 2002, Blizzard released its next real-time strategy game, Warcraft III. Heroes also didn’t level up as the game progressed, and you didn’t see a jungle of extra creeps (gamer lingo for computer-controlled monsters) and roads between the three lanes. Instead, one team of player-controlled heroes went up against a team of computer-controlled characters. Also, Aeon of Strife wasn’t a competitive game. For one thing, teams had four players each instead of five. While Aeon of Strife created the groundwork for the MOBA genre, it had some notable differences from what we’d expect from a true MOBA today.

The objective was to destroy the other team’s base. These lanes connected the bases of two teams. In it, players controlled a single hero unit and fought with a team against computer-controlled units in three lanes. In 1998, a modder called Aeon64 created Aeon of Strife, a fan-made custom map for Blizzard’s real-time strategy game StarCraft. It sounds simple, but it’s actually an incredibly complex and challenging, competitive experience. Three top investment pros open up about what it takes to get your video game funded.