Minecraft
| Minecraft | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Developer(s) | Markus Persson |
| Publisher(s) | Markus Persson |
| Designer(s) | |
| Composer(s) | |
| Engine | |
| Platform(s) | Java platform, Java applet |
| Release | Alpha: May 17, 2009 |
| Genre(s) | Sandbox, Adventure, Physics Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Singleplayer, Multiplayer |
Minecraft is a sandbox game which allows players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D world. It is currently in development by Markus Persson, aka "Notch". The gameplay is inspired by Dwarf Fortress, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Dungeon Keeper, and especially Infiniminer.[1] The game is split into two variants, Alpha and Classic; Classic is both single- and multiplayer and includes only the building aspects of the game with unlimited blocks, and Alpha also has a single- and multiplayer mode and includes monsters and a much greater variety of crafting available, as well as requiring players to mine their own blocks. Alpha is currently the alpha release of Minecraft, and will move into beta sometime in August 2010. Minecraft was developed for about a week before its public release on May 17, 2009 on the TIGSource forums, where it gained a considerable level of popularity. It has been continually updated since then.
Gameplay
Minecraft features two separate game modes, each focusing on the core mechanic in a different way: Survival mode and Creative mode. Creative mode is solely a building simulator, while Survival mode adds monsters as well as many other features. Survival mode is broken up into four different development versions: Classic, the most basic; Indev, which added a number of new features; Infdev, which added an infinite playing surface; and Alpha, the most recent version of the game. Indev and Infdev, while still available, are no longer supported or updated, and Alpha has become the main version of the game, with the free version being renamed Classic.
Alpha
Alpha is the only version of Minecraft which is currently being updated, and is only available to users who have purchased the game. Currently only featuring a survival mode (although with single and multiplayer variants) Alpha requires that the player use the building mechanic as a method of protection from hostile monsters, and as a way to uncover useful ores in the ground. Alpha also includes limits on the number of blocks that can be held by the player, using an inventory system, and requires that all blocks be mined first rather than giving the player an unlimited supply as in Classic's creative mode. Different blocks can be crafted into items such as chests, minecarts and tracks, and buckets. There are also plants and animals, which can be farmed and hunted for other resources. The player has an inventory in which to hold blocks and items, as well as a health meter. Health can be restored upon eating certain items and is lost from long falls or attacks by monsters. Upon death, the player respawns at the same point that they began that game world at originally without their inventory, though it can be recovered if the player reaches the point where they died before the items and blocks disappear.
Alpha allows for an infinite horizontal playing surface, though limits exist on vertical movement both up and down. The infinite surface is created as the game world is generated procedurally as the player explores it, with the full size possible stretching out to be nearly 8 times the surface area of the earth before running into technical limits.[2] Alpha can be played either with a stand-alone client or in a browser, and in either single or multiplayer mode. Minecraft Alpha is expected to move out of alpha status into beta soon, along with a name change.[3]
Classic
The other Minecraft mode is Classic, which is divided into two modes, survival and creative. Survival is a very basic version of the Alpha survival mode and contains far less features, while creative features only the game's base functionality, allowing players to build and destroy any and all parts of the world, either alone or in a multiplayer server, without the need to worry about being attacked by mobs or avoiding hazards like lava or steep falls. The player is given an unlimited number of blocks with which to build, and can place and remove blocks instantly regardless of type. Unlike Alpha, Classic is free to play, though it is not updated like Alpha. Classic is intended to be phased out as Alpha progresses, leaving Alpha as the only Minecraft game. An official version of the Classic server software is available from the Minecraft website, but several fans have created their own custom servers with extra features.
Development
The developer of Minecraft, Markus Persson, began programming computers at the age of seven. His father had purchased a Commodore 128 home computer and began subscribing to a computer magazine which featured type-in programs. Following experimentation with the code of these programs, Persson produced his first game at the age of eight, a text adventure.[4] Professionally, he has worked on games such as Wurm Online and as a game developer for King.com for over four years.[5][4]
Minecraft development started on May 10 2009, soon after Persson had quit his job as a game developer for King.com in order to concentrate on independent development.[4][6] Persson was inspired to create Minecraft by several other games, including Dwarf Fortress, RollerCoaster Tycoon and Dungeon Keeper. He was still working out the basics of what the gameplay would be when he discovered a game called Infiniminer and played with other forum users of TIGSource, the website of independent game developer Derek Yu.[5][6] At the time, he had been visualizing an isometric 3D building game that would be a cross between his inspiration games, and had built some early prototypes of what it could look like.[4][7] Infiniminer heavily influenced the style of gameplay that eventually resulted, including the first-person aspect of the game and the blocky visual style.[6]
The game was first released to the public on May 17, 2009 as an "alpha" build; it is expected to move into beta after multiplayer is fully integrated into survival mode.[3] Although at first Notch maintained a day job with Jalbum.net, he later moved to working part time and has since quit to work on Minecraft full time as sales of the alpha version of the game have expanded.[5] Minecraft is continually updated, with near-daily releases pushed out automatically to users. Persson plans to continue these updates after the release of the full game, as long as there is still an active userbase.[6] These updates have included new items, blocks, and changes to the game's behavior such as the way that water flows. Persson plans to release the game as open-source eventually, after sales have dropped off and he wants to move onto other projects.[5]
Reception
Minecraft has received generally favorable responses. It has been praised for the creative freedom it grants its players in-game, and for how dynamic its overall gameplay is.[8][9][10] PC Gamer listed Minecraft as the fourth best game to play at work in issue 200.[11] A review of the alpha version by Scott Munro of the Daily Record called it "already something special" and urged readers to buy it.[12]
As of January 12 2010, the number of registered users have reached 100,000, 200,000 in April, 300,000 the following month, and 400,000 in late-July.[1]
References
- ^ Markus Persson (2009-05-26). "Credits due". Markus Persson.
- ^ Persson, Markus (2010-03-19). "How saving and loading will work once infinite is in".
- ^ a b Persson, Markus (2010-07-29). "I'm going all gaga now, 1000 sales in 24 hours!". Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ a b c d Handy, Alex (2010-03-23). "Interview: Markus 'Notch' Persson Talks Making Minecraft". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^ a b c d McDougal, Jaz (2010-07-29). "Community heroes: Notch, for Minecraft". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ a b c d Persson, Markus. "About the game". Minecraft.net. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^ Persson, Markus (2009-10-30). "The Origins of Minecraft". Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ PC Gamer UK Issue #204, Jim Rossignol "Building-block World"
- ^ PC PowerPlay Issue #169, Daniel Hindes "Trouble Down Mine"
- ^ Reinhart, Brandon (2010-7-28). "Is that an Equalizer in your pocket?". Valve_Corporation. Retrieved 2010-7-28.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Rossignol, Jim (2010). "50 Games to Play at Work". PC Gamer. Future plc.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Munro, Scott (2010-07-27). "Minecraft (Alpha Review)". Daily Record. Retrieved 2010-08-03.