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This is what playing Minecraft on XBLA will look like
Minecraft is officially out, but that's just the beginning of post-beta playtime, with the exclusive XBLA release still expected to hit in 2012. To celebrate Minecraft's incumbent console release, Notch and the Mojang gang made a little video that is as adorable as it is hilarious. It may even be funnier than this video Mega64 made for the Minecon festivities, but neither of those are more adorable than these. %Gallery-139905%
PSA: Minecraft is out!
In an explosion of streamers and cheers, the Mojang team officially launched Minecraft 1.0 as a final(ish) product today from the stage of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, kicking off this weekend's "MineCon" convention. Surprising absolutely no one, the servers selling the game have been crashing from server loads intermittently. Oops! Just as soon as they're more stable, the launch version of Minecraft can be purchased on PC and Mac for $26.95. Maybe for now you could spend some time with that mobile version of the world builder? Or just keep refreshing. That's probably a better idea. [Image credit: @2PProductions]
The MMO Report: Occupy Azeroth edition
This week on The MMO Report, Casey wonders whether we're occupying Azeroth yet -- after all, Blizzard seems to be one of the few MMO companies capable of losing a million players while increasing profits. "You guys gonna have to sell your Lear jets in order to cover your yacht maintenance costs?" wonders Casey. No. No, they are not. The Beard also discusses EverQuest II's latest free-to-play transition ("people are still paying for that game?!"), The Secret World's Templar week, Minecon in Las Vegas this weekend, and Bigpoint's Game of Thrones MMO -- an IP we'll probably be sick of "before the game even comes out." Casey winds down with a list of winners for the ongoing MMO Report drinking game contest and an amendment to the rules: "Taking a drink every time I say something sarcastic is not a drinking game. That's just called drinking. Because it never ends." Make the jump for the full MMO Report!
Minecraft has gone gold
We knew it was coming, but to finally hear that Minecraft has completed its year-long beta-testing phase and successfully transformed itself into a retail product brings a tiny cubed tear to our square, pixelated eyes. If you're already a crafty crafter, Minecraft Version 1.0's release client can be obtained here (warning: direct link). The code is so complete that Notch told reviewers to go ahead and treat it as review code, claiming that any changes made before the title's official Friday launch would be minimal. We're not positive, but we're pretty sure two years is the most lead time any games journalist has ever had for a review.
MineCon's official trailer, featuring baller Steve
Conventions don't usually have trailers, but MineCon isn't the average gathering of game fans. The event, taking place November 18-19 at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas, will give Minecraft fans the opportunity to be there when the phenomenon actually, officially launches. Attendees won't just be there to watch some Swedish dude upload code so he can afford a second platoon of lawyers. Visitors will also receive access to alpha code vouchers for Scrolls and Cobalt. Considering Mojang made it rain money with a game's beta, they should be able to float a couple more projects off the buzz of a few paid alphas.
MineCon attendees get alpha codes for Cobalt, Scrolls
Mojang Specifications is making a pretty big assumption about the character of the folks who are attending the first MineCon expo: That they enjoy playing Mojang's games. Frankly, we think this disposition seems a little presumptuous, but nevertheless, the successful indie studio has announced that it will hand out vouchers to download alpha code for Scrolls (its next first-party title) and Cobalt (its first third-party title) to all of the event's attendees. Now that we think about it, Mojang's missing out on some pretty great contest opportunities by just giving those things away. Why not hide them inside of cuboid trees, and give attendees axes, and just tell them to go crazy? Or bury them far, far below the earth, perching them precariously over a pit of awaiting lava? Or hide them in Notch's hat!
MineCon tickets available now
MineCon is attempting to craft an audience by selling of tickets on the interwebs. The first 500 registrants to the show, taking place November 18-19 at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Vegas, are entered to win "The Ultimate Fan Experience." The status will grant the lucky soul VIP seating to keynotes and "classes," along with a meal at the same table as Team Mojang -- no word if the developer will pick up the bill, though. The early bird special has tickets costing $99 until September 30, with the regular price and onsite ticket prices set at $139. Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson is expected to launch the game at the event.
Minecraft's 'MineCon' convention set for November 18 - 19 in Vegas
Rather than setting its convention in the icy grip of its home country's chilly November, Sweden-based Minecraft studio Mojang Specifications is holding what it dubs "MineCon" in Las Vegas. "For me, MineCon is about celebrating the full release of Minecraft," Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson told PC Gamer this week. Apparently the delayed title will see its full launch in grand style, with Notch "getting up on stage and pushing the button to upload the final build." When he first spitballed the idea back in May, voters overwhelmingly responded, "No, definitely not" when asked whether they'd attend such an event. That said, the minority's 42,000 votes were assuredly enough to convince him of demand for such an event. Speaking of, Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino will host MineCon on November 18 and 19, and the ticket registration site is set to go live next week -- apparently Notch will announce as much on his Twitter account, so keep an eye out. That is, if you can tear yourself away from building that to-scale replica of Hogwarts. Update: This year marks the second MineCon.
