League of Legends: Find your Champion

March 27, 2012 | 12:54 p.m.

Champion: Garen, the Might of Demacia. A heroic, archetypical warrior with a big ole sword. Can be unlocked by playing games, or purchased for 260 Riot Points, around $2.00. (Riot Games)

Champion: Annie, the Dark Child. A deranged little girl who can transform her teddy bear, Tibbers, into a giant, flaming bear of doom. Can be unlocked by playing games, or purchased for 260 Riot Points, around $2.00. (Riot Games)

Skin: Frostfire Annie. Instead of shooting magical fire, Frostfire Annie (and Tibbers) wield deadly ice. Can be purchased for 975 Riot Points, around $7.50. (Riot Games)

Skin: Sanguine Garen. A darker, more battle-hardened take on Garen. Can be purchased for 520 Riot Points, around $4.00. (Riot Games)

Earlier today, Los Angeles Times business writer Alex Pham wrote about the game-changing aspirations of the eSports scene and companies such as Riot Games. Here’s more on how the business works.

How do “free” online games make money? Simple — they charge for virtual items. One example is League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena game played by more than 4 million people every day.

While the game is free to play, people can still buy “Champions,” or warriors they can use in battle. Riot Games, the developer, releases a new Champion about every two or three weeks. Every Champion can be earned by playing the game and earnings points. Or they can unlock the Champions right away by paying.

Players can also buy “skins” that change the appearance, animation or sound effects of their Champions, but does not affect the characters’ fighting abilities.

Flip through the gallery above for a look at a few of the champions and skins in League of Legends. Be sure to click the “CAPTIONS ON” option.

– Alex Pham

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