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Mojang working on three new games, two of which will be announced before Q3
Mojang seems to know that, like sharks, developers must continue to move forward at all times, lest they succumb to an early grave. The company's cuboid-smashing smash-hit Minecraft might be enough to allow Notch and crew a break, but rather than rest on their laurels the team at Mojang continues to plow ahead by working concurrently on three unannounced titles. One title is, of course, being spearheaded by Notch himself. As Minecraft's shimmering golden crown has been passed to Jens Bergensten, Notch is now free to focus on his new project that, according to Mojang CEO Carl Manneh, is still a complete mystery: "What it is today, I don't think he knows himself," Manneh told Edge. "We certainly don't. It's probably going to be a lot of testing and playing around to see what works." As for the developer's two other projects, Manneh says that Mojang is currently under non-disclosure agreements with other companies that prevent the developer from being as transparent as it would normally prefer. However, both games will be announced (and potentially even released) during the first half of 2012. Our gut instincts tell us that at least one of these new titles will be a Kinect-enabled rhythm/shmup thrift-store clerk simulator.
Minicraft gets even smaller, ported to Android
Minicraft, the game created by Minecraft man Markus "Notch" Persson in 48 hours last year, has been ported to Android devices. It's not an official port of the game, but has instead been (ahem) crafted by Folstad Consulting. The developer implemented touchscreen controls with optional keyboard controls for compatible devices. If you missed Minicraft the first time around, it's essentially a miniaturized, 2D version of Minecraft. Though it lacks many features found in the bigger Minecraft, it does let you slay enemies, harvest resources and craft items. If you need some crafting on the go, you can download Minicraft for free from the Android Market.
Sequel to Notch's 48-hour game gets a new name: MiniTale [update]
Way back in December last year, Minecraft developer Notch participated in a 48-hour game-programming competition, and he live-streamed the whole thing. He made a Harvest Moon-inspired zombie game, tentatively titled Minicraft. He has renamed that game MiniTale, with more info to come here and here. Update: It's the sequel to Minicraft that Notch has renamed MiniTale. We apologize for the small confusion.
Minicraft 2 in the works and needs a better name, Notch reveals
Notch, proprietor of Minecraft, has rode a massive wave of success over the last year. As part of the Ludum Dare 22 competition earlier this month, Notch created an even more pixelated version of his indie darling, called Minicraft. It took him under 48 hours to create on his own, and today via his Twitter account he revealed that a sequel is currently in the works. We don't have any information right now, but we imagine we'll be able to play it in, oh, four days?
Notch creates 'Minicraft' in less than 48 hours, you can play it now
Lest you missed the live stream, Notch has finished his creation for the Ludum Dare 22 competition. Created in less than 48 hours, Minicraft strikes a familiar, albeit pixelated chord. Kill monsters, collect resources, build stuff. You can check out the browser game for yourself right here.
Notch live-streams making a game in 48 hours, listens to dubstep*
Notch is participating in Ludum Dare 22, a 48-hour programming competition that challenges developers to create an entire game from scratch based on community suggestions, and he's live-streaming all of it -- including the dubstep blasting from his desktop. There are more than eight hours left in this weekend's competition, so if you have the time, settle in and watch an indie master at work. If you mute the video (or if you enjoy aural torment of the womp womp variety), you can still marvel at the speed and obvious practice this man has put into game programming, though you may miss the cute things Notch says every now and then in response to the streaming comments. In a previous 48-hour challenge, Notch made Left 4k Dead, a terrifying zombie romp inspired by Zynga's Farmville -- er, Valve's Left 4 Dead series. Also, he uses MS Paint to create his objects. How adorable. * Depending on when you begin watching Notch's live-stream, he may not in fact be listening to dubstep, but to jazzy songstresses or Disney music instead. But he was listening to dubstep at one point, trust us. We can't forget it.
Notch steps down as lead developer on Minecraft to focus on 'new project'
You know Notch. He's the behatted Swedish developer that eats, breathes, and sleeps Minecraft, right? Well ... he was. Now Mr. Markus "Notch" Persson is relinquishing lead development duties on the massively successful indie game so he can invest his time as head honcho at his growing development house Mojang. So who's going to take over that high-profile (don't mess up!) spot while Notch starts "work on some new project"? Meet cat-lover Jens Bergensten (pictured), who's no stranger to Minecraft. "We've been working together on Minecraft for a year now, and I'm amazed at how much in synch we two are when it comes to how to design the game," Notch wrote on his Tumblr. "And when we don't agree, we discuss it and something much better comes out at a result. He's truly a great person to work with, and I feel very confident handing over the leadership of Minecraft to him." In fact, Notch is so confident he's going to take a break for "rest." With the first MineCon convention over, a 1.0 version of Minecraft released, and some four million plus paying users (!) we think he's earned it. But not you, Bergensten. Back to work!
How the beautiful beasts of Minecon were made
Minecon hosted a sold-out venue in Las Vegas for panels, pictures and merch-buying, a Deadmau5 concert and -- most impressively -- dozens of life-size, physical replicas of Minecraft classics, including pixelated Steves, Creepers, sheep, chickens, tame dogs, weapons, torches, mushrooms, buildings and a 40-foot-long Enderdragon. These scale models were all hand-made by special-effects superstar Greg Aronowitz and his team, who have written an in-depth behind-the-scenes blog post about the entire affair, demonstrating how difficult, stressful and fun the Minecon build was. For example, this is what Notch sent Aronowitz as a texture guide for the Mooshroom and all the other characters: Yes, at that size, just 123K. To see how these tiny images became real-life versions of Minecraft characters, check out all of the photos in Aronowitz's blog post.
Valve gifts Notch his own head, on other people's heads
It's official -- Notch, the creator of Minecraft and all-around Swedish dude, has made it big. In his most recent blog post, Notch describes his intense love for Valve's TF2 and then shows off the custom-made fancy hat that Valve made for his characters exclusively, called Top Notch. It's basically a cardboard box with square-ish pasties resembling Notch's Minecraft avatar worn over a character's entire head, and it's the sweetest gift we've seen in a long time. Notch agrees, writing, "Hooooly cow. Thank you, Valve. You wouldn't believe the amount of medic I get now. Also, spies."
Build a place in your day for the MineCon keynote
If you weren't fortunate (or fervent!) enough to secure an entry pass to the first-ever MineCon -- that's shorthand for Minecraft Convention, obvs -- you can now watch the full, 39-minute keynote, courtesy of Gamespot. (And catch the new Mega64 video at the 33-minute mark!)
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%
Minecraft turns 1.0, digital building blocks in beta no more
Minecraft mania has been in full swing for a while now, though lately, the hullabaloo surrounding the game was about its arrival (in somewhat neutered form) on both Android and iOS. However, fans of the full Minecraft experience can jump for joy because Mojang's title has officially left its beta days behind and has turned the big 1.0. The announcement was made by none other than Mr. Minecraft himself, Markus "Notch" Persson, at the first ever MineCon event, and the update is available now. Well, what are you waiting for? Your digital utopia won't build itself.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition out on iOS today
The Pocket Edition of Minecraft, released a little while ago exclusively on Android, has been spotted on the New Zealand App Store today, which means the title will work its way around the world and arrive on the App Store in North America this evening. The full PC version of Minecraft (which has been selling millions of copies despite only being in a public beta this whole time) is due for an official release on Friday, so this release makes a lot of sense. When it does arrive on the App Store in this country, the universal title is expected to cost US$6.99. Unfortunately, as you might imagine, the mobile version is a little less functional than the full PC version, with not all of the many, many blocks of the full game appearing in the mobile one. There are also some blocks that appear but can't be manipulated by the player. And there are only three blocks available on the game's "hotbar," rather than a full spectrum of blocks to use. But if you've never played Minecraft (or are a huge Minecraft fan), the iOS version will probably be a nice sampler before the real thing. We'll keep an eye out on the store, and give it a shout when it finally appears stateside.
Minecraft easter egg makes its way into Skyrim
Who says a nasty legal battle means you can't appreciate each other's work? A nice little nod to Minecraft made its way into Skyrim, Ology reports. Neat! Pictured above is the Notched Pickaxe, which looks an awfully lot like the one from Minecraft -- Notch, you likely know, is the creator of the game. Hats off to the Bethesda devs for including this in the game. If you want to see it for yourself (and perhaps use it to kill a few of the smaller dragon pups), you can find it in The Throat of the World. It shouldn't be too hard to find the one-of-a-kind pickaxe stuck in the biggest mountain in the game.
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.
Minecraft for consoles exclusive to Xbox 360, building spring 2012 launch
Markus "Notch" Persson has confirmed via Twitter that the console version of Minecraft, announced during E3 for Xbox 360, will be exclusive to Microsoft's system (meaning no PSN or WiiWare versions). The game will arrive on Xbox Live in the spring of 2012. Those heading to MineCon in Las Vegas next month will be able to try out the Xbox 360 version. The PC version is also being completed, having already sold millions in its beta state. Those heading to MineCon will receive alpha codes for Mojang's Scrolls and Cobalt.
Mojang wins interim injunction battle, can keep using 'Scrolls' name for now
As ZeniMax and Mojang begin their back alley knife fight, it seems that Notch and Co. has drawn first blood. The indie studio won the right to continue to use the "Scrolls" name -- which Bethesda claims infringes on its Elder Scrolls copyright -- until the case goes to trial. The decision, as Notch pointed out in his Twitter feed, can still be appealed by Bethesda parent company ZeniMax. Should that go badly, we've prepared some less contentious names that will still really irritate Bethesda. Gloom FRUSTRATION Tectonic Event Arena Live Remaining Radioactive Material 3 Edge Slippery Rogue Warrior (note: Bethesda will probably let this one slide) Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships (note: ditto) Remaining Radioactive Material: New Atlantic City
Bethesda: Nobody enjoys being 'forced' to sue Mojang
Bethesda VP of marketing Pete Hines is providing some context for its case against Minecraft-dev Mojang's coming title, Scrolls, saying Mojang hasn't fairly presented Bethesda's side of the fight (probably because it's on the side against Bethesda). "Mojang's public comments have not given a complete picture as it relates to their filings, our trademarks, or events that have taken place," Hines said. Bethesda has an obligation to protect its trademark -- Elder Scrolls -- at the risk of diluting or losing it entirely. In that regard, this isn't something Bethesda wants to do, but it is something it has to do: "Nobody here enjoys being forced into this," Hines said. "Hopefully it will all be resolved soon." I bet that Quake 3 duel is looking pretty good to both sides right now.
Bear witness to Minecraft's blocky dragon
This prototype of a dragon on its way to the world of Minecraft may be ... basic, even by the standards of the blocky world. But when a dragon is headed your way, don't you want as much early warning as possible? Let other outlets wait for final screenshots, we'll cover a Notch-tweeted prototype if it keeps you and your cubical loved ones from getting burninated. And just so we're clear, it's ... just the one dragon, right? Because if it's an unlimited number ... well, let's just say we'd hate to see you end up with with a double lawsuit.
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.
