What was the reason behind Wisps name change to Io?

[SoftBonez]

hello, i was just wondering if anyone knows why wisps name was changed to Io? I know it was his name in Dota 1, did they just decide to change it now instead of earlier, because it cant possibly be a copyright issue, right?

wisp after all, is hundreds of years old and originates from folklore...

[Arx Akmarum]

Who knows, it was his original name anyway.

[SoftBonez]

I know. its just that they seem to favor the "english" names for most characters instead of their real names. (what i mean is that lifestealer is lifestealer and not n'aix etcetcetc)

[TheKasp, 뱁새]

Well, it is actually most probably a copyright issue. The original DOTA used units and names set in the Warcraft universe and Wisp with that design (as in, model) might have been a little too close (this is the reason why many heroes have either their real name, a shortage or the class description, depending on what they were called in DOTA). I assume it is the agreement that was made between Blizzard and Valve.

[Scrumdiddlyumptious]

"Wisps" from whatever mythology they came from, and most games, have always been little balls of white, blue, or red light floating about. Kinda hard to claim copyright to a model of circular white light. Might just be to give him character.

[IanAJ]

Originally posted by Mareep:

"Wisps" from whatever mythology they came from, and most games, have always been little balls of white, blue, or red light floating about. Kinda hard to claim copyright to a model of circular white light. Might just be to give him character.

This is true but it is blizzard we talking about who is now a money grabbing ♥♥♥♥♥ and they wouldnt have given two ♥♥♥♥♥ if the game wasnt popual but because it is they got butt hurt over val getting ice frog and working with them.

[SoftBonez]

i highly doubt it could be a copyright issue, dozens of things, including games, have had wisps even before the warcraft series...

copyrighting wisp is like copyrighting "ghost".. a see through spirit of the dead

[TheKasp, 뱁새]

Originally posted by SoftBonez:

i highly doubt it could be a copyright issue, dozens of things, including games, have had wisps even before the warcraft series...

copyrighting wisp is like copyrighting "ghost".. a see through spirit of the dead

No one says that anyone has a Copyright on Wisp. Buuuut DOTA used a ton of assets and units / names from Warcraft, which is copyrighted and since those designs are part of their intellectual property so is a Wisp in this particular setting.

The change to Io is, like I wrote, most probably based on the agreement between Valve and Blizz to try and disconnect everything from the Warcraft DOTA while keeping it as a sequel (since DOTA on its own is not Blizzards property).

[dubesor]

Wisp was always named Io in the original dota. http://i.imgur.com/Mbamk8Y.jpg

[SoftBonez]

dubesor, what did i write in the original post? i know it was his name, im wondering why it took so long to make a decision about his name.

would love to hear from valve on this, because even though i usually understand the whole design issue and all, wisp is such an old concept and all, its a floating ball of light.. i somehow do doubt anyone would associate it with warcraft before just thinking of it as a normal, english word..

[76561198038009544]

rikimaru is rikimaru and not stealth assassin

[dubesor]

Well they obviously have the choice between the heroes name or it's definition. Why isn't Anti Mage called Magina? Or Doom Lucifer or Life Stealer Naix? Why on the other hand is Slayer called Lina, Admiran Kunkka, Shadow Priest Dazzle etc etc. I could go on and on about allmost all the other heroes. It's clearly a design choice. They choose what they seem to be more fitting.