????貝克表示，盡管自Riot創立以來游戲業已發生了翻天覆地的變化，但有一樣東西卻始終如一：那就是玩家體驗的重要性。如果哪家公司能提供這種體驗，那他可以打包票現在的玩家也會一如既往地熱情追捧，而且他們還會向自己的朋友賣力介紹這種游戲。

????貝克說：“現在的新情況是：出現了各種潛在的發行渠道。游戲公司應該嘗試自行發行嗎？今天這個市場中出版商還有什么作用？推動我們發展到今天這個地位的重大因素正是可以自行發行。現在在Riot和玩家之間的中間商和溝通障礙都減少了。”

????Riot還在電子競技領域投入了上百萬美元，把《英雄聯盟》變成了一項引人矚目的國際賽事，并通過大量流媒體播放將職業游戲推向最高水平。現在Riot的“英雄聯盟系列錦標賽”（League of Legends Championship Series）已舉辦到第三屆了，為粉絲們提供了另一條體驗、接觸這款游戲的途徑。

????隨著這類游戲的競爭進入白熱化，Riot必須加快腳步、奮力迎戰。華納兄弟互動娛樂公司（Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment）、社交游戲公司Zynga和暴雪公司（Blizzard）這些業界巨頭們正紛紛緊追《英雄聯盟》成功的腳步，投身這場競爭。而這正是成為業界老大后必須面對的挑戰。（財富中文網）

????譯者：清遠

????Beck says that while a lot has changed in the game industry since Riot was founded, one thing remains the same -- the importance of an excellent player experience. If a company delivers that, he promises today's gamers will respond pretty much like gamers always have -- with lots of enthusiasm. They'll tell their friends about the game, too.

????"What's new are the potential distribution choices," said Beck. "Should companies try to self-publish? What's the role of a publisher anyway in today's market? A big contributor to where we're at today was the choice to self-publish. There have been fewer intermediaries and communication barriers between Riot and players."

????Riot has also invested millions of dollars in electronic sports, or e-sports, turning League of Legends into an international spectator sport and propelling professional gaming into the stratosphere with huge numbers of live-streams. Riot's League of Legends Championship Series is currently in its third year, offering fans another way to experience and stay connected with the game.

????Now Riot will have to keep on its toes as competition in the genre heats up. Powerful firms like Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, Zynga (ZNGA) and Blizzard are all going after League of Legends' success. Such is the peril of being number one.