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Saw this on the BBC website this morning and choked a little on my coffee. $2 billion seems a vast amount for any company to spend on a video game plus assorted rights. But then I don't really get Minecraft at all, so I guess it would amaze me.
I can appreciate the hours that people spend on it, I'm a massive Football Manager fan, but it's just never grasped me.

$2 billion (or 2.5 or however much it was), IS a lot.

Minecraft has sold, what, about 50 million copies at around $20 each (just ballparking it here)? That's about a billion dollars right there, after a few years of sales. Microsoft will need to sell another 100 million copies of the game to get their money back. I'm sure that is not a realistic possibility, and I'm sure MS is aware of that, too. So, MS must already have a plan in place to to make their money back.

I honestly expect the XBox versions to now receive priority over the PC for updates and new content. I also expect the PC version will a get a new launcher that ties directly into MS's new Minecraft Store where you can buy MS-approved skins, texture packs, and mods. Oh, and the big content updates like 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, up to the newest 1.8? Yeah, those will cost you a couple a bucks now.

There really is no other way for MS to make their money back unless they're really willing to wait for the sales of the game alone over the next 10 years (plus any merchandising and Realms profits).

Maybe minecraft will bocome a real game now? Maybe it will use a real game engine and have some sense of direction?

text removed. Don't ever use terms like this on Dakka.
Reds8n

If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Minecraft is more around $25 dollars. I think the price has gone up and down. But right now it's like $29 American Dollars.

And if they bring Games for Windows live into this. I'll sue. I mean it.

Aren't they getting rid of that games for windows thing? Overall, I mean?

 illuknisaa wrote:
Maybe minecraft will bocome a real game now? Maybe it will use a real game engine and have some sense of direction?

.

It already is a real game with direction, its called a sandbox, its a type of game that requires imagination to work best.

It was about as ground breaking and original as it gets in my opinion.

Its a shame that these shysters bought it out, I guess all good things have to come to an end.

Rayvon wrote:
It already is a real game with direction, its called a sandbox, its a type of game that requires imagination to work best.

It was about as ground breaking and original as it gets in my opinion.

Its a shame that these shysters bought it out, I guess all good things have to come to an end.

You do know that "sandbox" and "direction" are mutually exclusive terms?

Melissia wrote:If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Thats racist.

I'm pretty sure this whole thing was done to drive sales for the XBOX ONE. They will probably getting exclusive stuff on that platform to stimulate the minecraft crowd.

Which is pretty stupid but hey, it's MS.

illuknisaa wrote:

Melissia wrote:If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Thats racist.

Speaking of racist, antisemitic or otherwise offensive language:

MS didn't buy the game, they bought Minecraft, period

They now own the whole franchise, sales of the game - MS wallet, royalties from merchandise - MS wallet, the whole caboodle.

Considering minecraft kids clothing is available in most UK supermarkets, I'd say MS got themselves a pretty big revenue stream. Excepting of course that MS doesn't let the executives do any meddling and kill the franchise.

What I laugh about is the reasons notch gave for flogging and running, which basically boiled down to 'Minecraft is too big a responsibility, I want to go back to slouching around my house in my pants, watching TV and messing about making small-fry indie games again'

Yeah, it's pretty easy to do that when you just sold your biggest responsibility for a cool 2.5billion

 Soladrin wrote:
I'm pretty sure this whole thing was done to drive sales for the XBOX ONE. They will probably getting exclusive stuff on that platform to stimulate the minecraft crowd.

Which is pretty stupid but hey, it's MS.

I'm more worried about "Minecraft 2.0, Only available on Windows 9"

I refuse to buy 8, so I'm doubtful I'd like 9.

Well most sequels DO suck, so "M$ Minecraft 2" sucking wouldn't really buck any trends...

sirlynchmob wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
I'm pretty sure this whole thing was done to drive sales for the XBOX ONE. They will probably getting exclusive stuff on that platform to stimulate the minecraft crowd.

Which is pretty stupid but hey, it's MS.

I'm more worried about "Minecraft 2.0, Only available on Windows 9"

I refuse to buy 8, so I'm doubtful I'd like 9.

I don't knw why people hate 8/8.1 so much. It's a good OS, they took chance. People just don't like change.

sirlynchmob wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
I'm pretty sure this whole thing was done to drive sales for the XBOX ONE. They will probably getting exclusive stuff on that platform to stimulate the minecraft crowd.

Which is pretty stupid but hey, it's MS.

I'm more worried about "Minecraft 2.0, Only available on Windows 9"

I refuse to buy 8, so I'm doubtful I'd like 9.

Yeah, like that'll happen.

(It won't)

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

sirlynchmob wrote:

 Soladrin wrote:
I'm pretty sure this whole thing was done to drive sales for the XBOX ONE. They will probably getting exclusive stuff on that platform to stimulate the minecraft crowd.

Which is pretty stupid but hey, it's MS.

I'm more worried about "Minecraft 2.0, Only available on Windows 9"

I refuse to buy 8, so I'm doubtful I'd like 9.

I don't knw why people hate 8/8.1 so much. It's a good OS, they took chance. People just don't like change.

Mhm.. no, I have to work with daily and I am used to it. It's still a piece of crap.

That said, following the way windows works would tell you 9 will be excellent. It's always 1 bad 1 good.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
I don't knw why people hate 8/8.1 so much. It's a good OS, they took chance.

Well, it is still Windows, right .
Do they still have the “We do updates without telling you about them, and while you are playing, we aggressively reboot the computer to install them. Sorry about any progress lost, but we do not care”, for instance?

 Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
I don't knw why people hate 8/8.1 so much. It's a good OS, they took chance.

Well, it is still Windows, right .
Do they still have the “We do updates without telling you about them, and while you are playing, we aggressively reboot the computer to install them. Sorry about any progress lost, but we do not care”, for instance?

I haven't had anything like that. It downloads the update and then installs it when you next restart or turn off the computer.

You have to manually turn that off, and it gets harder to manually turn off (the switch is more and more hidden) the later version of Windows you have.

It's never happened to me.

 illuknisaa wrote:

Melissia wrote:If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Thats racist.

What about Mel's statement is racial in anyway?

 Cheesecat wrote:

 illuknisaa wrote:

Melissia wrote:If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Thats racist.

What about Mel's statement is racial in anyway?

Clearly it's discriminatory to compact carriage horses with a high stepping trot

 Leigen_Zero wrote:
MS didn't buy the game, they bought Minecraft, period

They now own the whole franchise, sales of the game - MS wallet, royalties from merchandise - MS wallet, the whole caboodle.

Considering minecraft kids clothing is available in most UK supermarkets, I'd say MS got themselves a pretty big revenue stream. Excepting of course that MS doesn't let the executives do any meddling and kill the franchise.

What I laugh about is the reasons notch gave for flogging and running, which basically boiled down to 'Minecraft is too big a responsibility, I want to go back to slouching around my house in my pants, watching TV and messing about making small-fry indie games again'

Yeah, it's pretty easy to do that when you just sold your biggest responsibility for a cool 2.5billion

And the problem with that is what exactly? He made a game, sold it for a gakload of money, and now wants to sit on his ass for the rest of his life making games. Why does that rub people in such a bad way? Because it wasn't them?

A lot of the bad blood towards Notch goes back to the beginning of Minecraft. Notch abandoned the game unfinished in its early stages and just left it out there to be freely distributed. A bunch of modders picked up the game and turned it into what is now. Then Notch came back, asserted control over the game and began charging for it when at that stage, he'd had less involvement than others in its creation.

He's also just kind of a general douche but that's more like salt than the actual steak that rubbed everyone the wrong way.

 illuknisaa wrote:

Rayvon wrote:
It already is a real game with direction, its called a sandbox, its a type of game that requires imagination to work best.

It was about as ground breaking and original as it gets in my opinion.

Its a shame that these shysters bought it out, I guess all good things have to come to an end.

You do know that "sandbox" and "direction" are mutually exclusive terms?

On the contrary, they can and do overlap, especially in Minecraft.

The game is clearly a sand box. You can go wherever you like. Do whatever you like. Build whatever you like.

But the game also provides a clear progression of challenges for players to follow, tracked by the Achievement system.

Craft tools, weapons and armour.
Build a shelter.
Hunt Animals.
Breed animals.
Farm crops.
Craft food.
Mine ores and other resources.
Upgrade your tools, weapons and armour.
Explore caves and dungeons.
Fight monsters.
Discover and explore ruins.
Build a portal to the Netherworld.
Explore the Netherworld.
Kill the Netherworld's monsters.
Build a portal to the end.
Explore the End.
Kill the End Dragon.
Create the Wither.
Kill the Wither.
Enjoy the End Game loot that makes you a god among mortals.

Now consider all that, and tell me Minecraft is not a Sandbox game with a direction for player progression, I dare you.

Melissia wrote:If Minecraft starts using a hackneyed, hacked together derivative of the Quake or Unreal engines that developers these days use, I quit.

Thats racist.

This is non-sensical.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 LordofHats wrote:
A lot of the bad blood towards Notch goes back to the beginning of Minecraft. Notch abandoned the game unfinished in its early stages and just left it out there to be freely distributed. A bunch of modders picked up the game and turned it into what is now. Then Notch came back, asserted control over the game and began charging for it when at that stage, he'd had less involvement than others in its creation.

He's also just kind of a general douche but that's more like salt than the actual steak that rubbed everyone the wrong way.

Wow, I did not know that. That makes him a sort of parasite.

You don't have to do any of that stuff though. Make a creative game, do whatever you like, enjoy.

the achievements to me seemed more of a "hey did you know you can go into the nether?" which sent me to google and the wiki, how do I do that?

It's a great sand box game, you can do whatever you like and lately I like spleef the mini games in minecraft are amazing.

So what will M$ do make a Minecraft halo edition Minecraft the FPS? Minecraft Fable? the possibilities are endless!

I imagine Microsoft will be aiming more to skin various Minecraft Mods in popular franchies for premium purchase, a la the Lego games did with Lego, Batman, etc.

sirlynchmob wrote:
You don't have to do any of that stuff though. Make a creative game, do whatever you like, enjoy.

the achievements to me seemed more of a "hey did you know you can go into the nether?" which sent me to google and the wiki, how do I do that?

It's a great sand box game, you can do whatever you like and lately I like spleef the mini games in minecraft are amazing.

I know, that was my point.

It IS a Sandbox game, but there is a definite progression of content for players to follow if they choose to. The game just doesn't do a good job of sign posting it (no in game tutorial or crafting guide etc).

Honestly I think Minecraft would be WORSE if it had a modern tutorial.