Abstract
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry was to explore and understand the Lived experiences of the five specified Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) Players of Fatima National High School, North Fatima District, Division of General Santos City. The participants underwent one-on-one, in-depth interviews to gain knowledge and more understanding of the phenomenon. The focus of the study, which is interpretive, is on the richness of their personal views and feelings and their impact on their experiences as DOTA players. It utilized the thematic analysis approach through the coded method in analyzing data. This research expedition revealed that being hooked on DOTA gaming created both positive and negative impacts on the participants. The interview data yields the following themes: Strengthen Social Connections, Recreational Therapy and Coping Mechanism and Aptitude Enrichment, Adrenalin Rush, Positive feelings, Negative feelings, Develop Inferiority Complex, Health risk, Effects on Academic Performance, Effects on plans, Effects on the relationship with family or loved ones. Furthermore, the result exposed that playing DOTA has numerous effects on the part of the Player. Hence, nowadays, learner/s are so fond and hooked to DOTA gaming, notwithstanding the fact that their Academic, Social, Family, and Personal lives have been strongly affected and shaped by these new advancements in technology like video games with their virtual reality environments.
