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Bethesda tells Mojang to lay down its virtual guns, lawyer up for a trademark battle
Time was, men could settle their disputes with glinting swords at the ready and their honor on the line. Nowadays, only the cosplaying and Comic Con attending folk alike are likely to burnish (elvish) blades, although they're rather inapt to sully them with enemy blood. Well, unsurprisingly, Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson's modern day offer of a Quake 3 Arena simulated duel -- his proposed method of extralegal recourse -- was shot down by Bethesda, the company suing the Minecraft creator for use of the word "Scrolls" in its unreleased card game. As these are apparently sue-happy times, both parties are headed to court to battle it out, with Mojang facing the terrible repercussion of a forced product name change. From the looks of the defendant's Twitter feed, however, it doesn't appear the impending litigation's breaking this Swede's stride.
Minecraft 1.9 also leaked by Mojang
Jens Bergensten, Minecraft developer extraordinaire, has once again tweeted out a link to a pre-release of a new update to the popular world-building game. The 1.9 version is said to focus on The Nether, Minecraft's version of Hell. Jens revealed earlier that the update would add "two new hostile mobs," one of which "will (nearly) force you to get better upgrades. If you want to fight it, that is." [Thanks, Derek.]
Minecraft 1.8's bow mechanics quickly utilized for Duck Hunt
For Minecraft players, a new update is almost as good as Christmas morning. See, updates mean new tools and/or creatures, which function as imagination-crack for the industrious and crafty crafters that call Minecraft home. The update has barely been available for 48 hours, yet its new mechanics are already being used to create inventive and entertaining constructions. Sethbling's Duck Hunt replica may not feature actual ducks, but it does manage to capture the innocence and nostalgia of our 8-bit youths, all the way down to that damn dog's mocking, condescending laughter. Keep laughing, pooch! We'll see how funny it is when the Endermen come in the night and "collect" you while you're sleeping.
Minecraft 1.8 update leaked by Mojang
Minecraft's massive Adventure Update 1.8 has been leaked -- by Mojang right-hand man, Jens Bergensten, or Jeb. Minecraft creator Markus Persson is content with the leak, as shown through his subtle use of a winking emoticon in this tweet, and the following message, which says, "(I am fine with you using it. Make sure you get it from the leaked url we are hosting, though)." Jeb affirmed his part in the leak with yet another emoticon, in the long-eyed equals-sign style, on a Reddit post. Jeb had previously tweeted he would upload the jar file for "expert users," which is exactly what he did nine hours later. If you're an expert Minecrafter, download the file here and get your adventure started. When a developer leaks its own game a few days early, we think that should just be called a release. But hey, what do we know?
Minecraft 1.8 update trailer is pretty adventurous
Here at Joystiq, our bread and butter is certainly our ability to combine words in a way our mom says is "passable." But some of you are busy, busy beavers and don't want information so much as you want production value. Well, the above video chronicling the 1.8 update for Minecraft is just what you're looking for.
Scrolls teaser trailer leaps from the page into your eyeballs
Straight outta PAX comes this teaser for Markus "Notch" Perrson's newest Mojang joint, Scrolls. It's chock full of hand-drawn art, magical stuff and concludes with some sort of golem punching robot thing. Now that's something we can get behind! (You're safe from its punches there).
Notch explains why Minecraft has yet to get Steam'd
Minecraft has been widely available for quite some time in various forms (alpha, beta), but when it fully launches this November, it won't be available on Steam. "Being on Steam limits a lot of what we're allowed to do with the game," Mojang president and founder Markus "Notch" Persson explains in a post on his Tumblr blog. "We (probably?) wouldn't be able to, say, sell capes or have a map marketplace on minecraft.net that works with Steam customers in a way that keeps Valve happy," he adds. Notch worries that inclusion on Steam would divide the PC/Mac market of Minecraft users, rather than offer more to existing players. It's not as though there's any animosity though, with Notch kicking off the post by lavishing a paragraph of praise upon "the best digital distribution platform I've ever seen." He also notes that Mojang "are talking to Valve about this" to try and make things work for everyone, but, understandably, "We just don't want to limit what we can do with Minecraft." [Image credit: Steam forums]
How to hide your treasure in Minecraft: an instructional video
Hiding your valuables from looters in Minecraft can be tricky. Thankfully, Minecraft world builder "Zaka" created this instructional video on how to make sure your super secret stones stay super secret. (But is it still a secret at this point?) [Thanks, Zack.]
Official Minecraft... socks?
So, you've got your $302 Minecraft Vans Slip-Ons crafted by KyozoKicks, which is a good start, but in our opinion your feet still don't seem Minecraft-y enough. Look at your ankles! We can see them and everything. It's like you're not even trying. Nope, this simply will not do, especially when Swedish "sock powerhouse" Happy Socks has three different pairs of official Minecraft socks available for the low, low price of fifty whole damn dollars. Sometimes, we think you want to disappoint us.%Gallery-131889%
Watch Notch of Minecraft fame code a game from scratch, live
Notch, the mastermind behind Minecraft, claims to be a programmer, but we're pretty convinced that he's actually some sort of alchemist or double-wizard. We've been watching his live-stream, and after careful deliberation, we figure that's the only explanation for what we're seeing.
Notch: challenging Bethesda to Quake 3 duel 'might have been a poor choice'
Minecraft maker Markus "Notch" Persson has admitted a strategic miscalculation in challenging Bethesda to a Quake 3 tournament to settle their legal dispute over Notch's Scrolls, whose title Bethesda says conflicts with its Elder Scrolls franchise. Considering Bethesda owns Quake 3 and employs a handful of professional players, Notch admitted his choice of game might have been a poor one. "If it came to a Quake 3 tournament, I have a feeling we just might have to change the name," Notch told Wired. Notch isn't giving up his fight with Bethesda, saying the entire lawsuit is a "bogus claim," but attorney and game industry analyst Mark Methenitis says Bethesda has a "reasonable argument" based on established US trademark-law tests. Perhaps Notch should challenge Bethesda to a Twitter duel, because at 303,000 followers, Notch could trounce Bethesda's 50,000 roughly six times over and still have enough people left over to play the Scrolls alpha when it launches later this year, and that's ridiculous.
Minecraft creator challenges Bethesda to deathmatch for the word 'scrolls'
While Samsung, Apple, HTC and others battle it out in court with lawyers and expansive patent portfolios, one man seems to know how real geeks settle disputes -- with a deathmatch. Markus "Notch" Persson, the man behind Minecraft and head of Mojang, has decided the best way to put the trademark squabble with Bethesda to rest is two rounds of three-on-three Quake 3 Arena action. The Elder Scrolls developer is sticking with the same tactics that have made smartphone companies our new least-favorite corporate citizens, but Notch thinks ownership of the word "scrolls" can best be determined with BFGs and railguns. With any luck this will catch on and, when Steve Jobs and Larry Page lead their forces into battle in Team Fortress, we're gonna have to put on our money on the Mountain View crew.
Minecraft Pocket Edition hits Android Market, only Xperia Play users need apply
Just a couple months after making its grand debut at this year's E3, Minecraft has finally made its way to the Android Market, much to the delight of cube enthusiasts and time-wasters everywhere. With this new, Pocket Edition app, Mojang is hoping to faithfully recreate the Minecraft experience on mobile platforms, with a special emphasis placed on the game's creative side. In version Alpha 0.1, users will be able to explore randomized worlds, invite friends to play along in their worlds and save multi-player realms directly to their phones -- all while manipulating 36 different kinds of blocks from the comfort of their touchscreens. For now, the game will only be available for Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play, though Mojang plans to release it for other Android handsets "in the near future." You can grab it now for $6.99, or swerve past the break for more information, in the full press release.
Minecraft available now on Xperia Play
If you're one of the lucky few who owns Sony's "PlayStation Phone," the Xperia Play ... now you have something to do with it. The very first release of the Xperia Play-Xclusive Minecraft: Pocket Edition is in the Android Market now, for $6.99. Go! Build! Actually, that's all you can do at the moment. "Alpha 0.1" has 36 different block types with which you can build, alone or with another local wireless player. Other features will be built into the game later, as with the main game. Also coming later is a wider Android release. While you think about whether to try this out, here's a miniature tragedy: That Minecraft-themed Xperia Play phone auction hasn't ended yet, so its new owner definitely doesn't have it in time for Minecraft's release.
Mojang auctioning off custom Minecraft Xperia Play on eBay
This custom-designed, limited edition Xperia Play phone is being both given away at Gamescom later this week, and auctioned off on Ebay by Mojang to benefit a charity of the Minecraft team's choice. And it's definitely well-designed, from that sweet skin on the device's back to the matching in-game wallpaper. But as beautiful as the phone is (at least $1,325 of beauty, as of this writing), that's not even the most beautiful thing about it. The real gorgeousness is that someday, someone will be able to build a replica of this phone, using the scene on it, inside the actual game of Minecraft, while using this very phone. It's overwhelming!
Mojang offers limited edition Minecraft Xperia Play on eBay
There may not be many people willing to pay over $1,000 for an Xperia Play, but it turns out there's at least a few willing to go nuts when there's some Minecraft involved. That limited edition model pictured above will be given away to a few lucky winners at the upcoming Gamescon conference in Germany, but Minecraft developer Mojang has decided to let one loose on eBay beforehand, where the bidding has already topped a grand with a full six days left. Adding a bit of extra incentive for those with deep pockets, Mojang says that it will also donate all the proceeds from the auction to an as yet unnamed charity. Hit the source link below if you're in a generous and / or Minecraft-obsessed mood. [Thanks, Andrew]
Minecraft studio threatened with suit by Bethesda over 'Scrolls' title
Not exactly unexpectedly, about four hours ago Markus "Notch" Persson -- creator of Minecraft and head of Mojang Specifications -- received a letter from a Swedish law firm representing Bethesda Softworks. It claimed that his company's trademark of the word "Scrolls" for use with a currently-in-development game was infringing on Bethesda's own trademark, "The Elder Scrolls," and requested "a pile of money up front" before things could proceed. But Notch could've guessed it was coming. Writing on his Tumblr page, Notch explains that "about half a year ago," his company's legal team suggested registering "Minecraft" as a trademark. In the process, Mojang also filed to register "Scrolls," killing two birds with one stone. Notch writes that "A while later, out of the blue, we got contacted by Bethesda's lawyers. They wanted to know more about the 'Scrolls' trademark we were applying for, and claimed it conflicted with their existing trademark 'The Elder Scrolls.'" At the time, Mojang responded by offering what Notch calls a compromise: "We'd agree to never put any words in front of 'Scrolls,' and instead call sequels and other things something along the lines of 'Scrolls - The Banana Expansion.'" In his piece, he says that he's not sure if Mojang ever heard back. Fast-forward to this afternoon, and a "15-page letter" from a Swedish law firm, on behalf of Bethesda, arrives for Notch (pictured above). He says it's threatening a lawsuit if Mojang refuses "to stop using the name 'Scrolls,'" and that Bethesda will sue should that be necessary. Regardless of the current situation, Notch notes at the top of his piece, "I love Bethesda. I assume this nonsense is partly just their lawyers being lawyers, and a result of trademark law being the way it is." Here's hoping that compromise works out, and Notch is somehow legally bound to name the first Scrolls DLC "The Banana Expansion." Update: This piece was originally headlined "Minecraft studio being sued by Bethesda over 'Scrolls' title," and has since been amended to more accurately reflect the situation.
Minecraft hits 3 million, Notch buys us all
In January, Minecraft passed its first major sales milestone: 1 million downloads. Three months later, in April, it clocked another cool million. And today, just five days into August, the game has surpassed its 3 millionth paid user -- every four months, eh? Smells like a trend! Those 3,000,961 folks (as of this writing) make up over a full quarter of all accounts at 26.24 percent. At around $22 per purchase, that's quite a bit of dough -- and with no publisher to pay. We imagine Mojang Specifications head Markus "Notch" Persson will be investing a good chunk of that dough in the upcoming MineCon, which kicks off the official launch of Minecraft on November 18. [Thanks, Matias.]
Notch doles out more details on Minecraft for 360, Kinect functionality
Markus "Notch" Persson is in a bizarre position, especially given his usual openness about his studio's first creation, Minecraft. "There's going to [be] actual marketing for the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft, so I've agreed to be slightly less transparent than usual when it comes to that version," he tells IGN in a recent interview. But don't despair! Notch still offers a handful of new details, saying that the Xbox 360 version (announced during E3 2011) will have "completely different" crafting, and that the Kinect functionality will include a mode where "you wave your arms around to mine and use items" -- "it's just too silly not to include," he adds. Hilariously, rather than respond to a question about console exclusivity and the possibility of Minecraft coming to PS3/Wii U, Notch simply draws the ridiculous (and admittedly adorable) sheep you see above. He also reveals that the upcoming Xperia Play version of Minecraft will cost $7 when it drops sometime "this fall," and that it was programmed "in a way that will make it easy to port to all sorts of mobile phones."
Talk about zombies: Minecraft has over 10 million users
Over 10 million people now live at least part-time in the mythical world of Minecraft, where the trees are green, the zombies are dumb and the dirt is sharp enough to cut you, fool. Markus "Notch" Persson, creator of Minecraft, posted news of his growing minion army on his personal blog and twitter, and the game's official website proudly states on its Stats page that there are "10005777 registered users, of which 2674483 (26.72%) have bought[*] the game." If you still haven't joined the Minecraft militia, hurry and buy it now, for 25 percent off while it's still in beta mode, because we all know it won't stay that way forever.
