S2 Games today announced a new way to play Heroes of Newerth with Core Pool, a new optional game mode that provides players both new and old with access to a controlled environment to hone their skills using 40 selected heroes from the current pool of more than 100. The new game mode, available with today's update, aims to allow players the chance to learn the game, improve their skills or just enjoy a classic game of Heroes of Newerth.

The new Core Pool game mode announcement follows Heroes of Newerth’s recent change to the “All Heroes Free” model.

Check out the Core Pool trailer below and visit the Heroes of Newerth website to learn more.

Meet the New MOBA

S2 Games Launches Heroes of Newerth: Core Pool

All-New, Optional Game Mode, Featuring 40 Heroes
Challenges Genre with New Approach to the MOBA Experience

Kalamazoo, MI (August 17, 2012)—Today’s gaming world boasts infinite digital universes and characters beyond imagination, but is that really the best way for players to learn a game? At the height of GamesCom, the world’s largest games event, S2 Games today answered definitively no and declared a new approach to Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games with Heroes of Newerth's Core Pool. With months of development, this all-new, optional game mode offers players a controlled environment to hone their skills with 40 carefully selected heroes, rather than the current pool of over 100. A video for Core Pool is available here.

“We are always challenging ourselves to think of new ways to improve the player experience,” said S2 Games co-founder and CEO, Marc DeForest. “Core Pool represents something the entire MOBA genre has been missing – a more effective way for players to learn the game and hone their skills, without the burden of learning how to play with and against new characters every few weeks.”

Embodying a “less is more” philosophy, Core Pool encourages players to focus on their game and take their skills to the next level in an environment of “core” MOBA heroes. As Core Pool is an optional game mode, any player can choose the mode at any time to practice their skills, develop strategy, or just have fun playing a classic game of HoN. Core Pool also follows closely on another major change to Heroes of Newerth, a hero schedule featuring new heroes released every four weeks, instead of the previous two-week schedule.

“The games in the MOBA genre are always looking to add more: more characters, more maps, more abilities, more free stuff. Core Pool and our four-week hero schedule take a completely different approach to the way things are normally done with MOBAs, and significantly reduces the burden of knowledge, especially for new players,” added Heroes of Newerth Director Pu Liu.

The most popular MOBA’s each offer over 100 characters, and while variety ensures that no two games are alike, learning that many characters can be daunting for new players. Even experienced players can have difficulty keeping up with frequent new character releases. The difficulty associated with getting into a MOBA and staying current is well known and frequently lamented by gamers everywhere.

“Core Pool directly addresses the steep learning curve prevalent in all MOBA’s. No other MOBA offers a controlled environment like this, and so players are struggling with learning new characters all the time, without the ability to focus on their skills,” added DeForest. “Core Pool, and the concept behind it, is something the MOBA genre was missing and we’re really excited to bring it to our players.”

Added Liu, “Core Pool is great for both experienced and new players, as it offers a place to practice skills and try out new techniques by yourself or with your team in a more controlled game.”

Also launching with Core Pool are Death Tips, brief suggestions for players on how to use their hero better while they are respawning.

Visit HeroesofNewerth.com for more details on GameHoN and the new match reward system. Join S2 Games and Heroes of Newerth on Facebook and Twitter.

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About S2 Games:

S2 Games is a game publisher and developer with a mission to identify, develop, evolve and unleash the future of online multiplayer games. Since its inception in 2003, S2 has been focused on driving innovation into the global online game space, through identifying and solving industry issues, listening closely to its passionate gamer base and incorporating features that gamers truly want.

Active in sponsoring and helping drive many global tournaments for their flagship title Heroes of Newerth, S2 is focused on providing the best online multiplayer gaming experience and opportunities for its fans to shine. For more information about S2, please visit s2games.com and follow Heroes of Newerth on Facebook and Twitter.