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'Minecraft' Creator Notch Persson Distributes $3 Million in Dividends Among Employees
Fri Mar 02, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Minecraft, Notch, Indie Games (all tags)
Suddenly this whole "indie games" business is looking pretty good.
'Minecraft' isn't a gorgeous looking action game. It doesn't have a big budget soundtrack, nor does it have an all-star cast of voice talent, the support of a major publisher or a significant marketing team. Despite that, it has pulled in over five million sales since it launched - more than many AAA titles.
When major studios bring in massive sales, the money usually ends up in the same place it winds up in other businesses - the guys at the top. When Mojang's 'Minecraft' brings in a ridiculous amount of money, it goes to the people that helped make it happen.
Markuss "Notch" Persson, at a party with his Minecraft team yesterday, announced that he's giving each of his employees an even cut of the $3 million in dividends he earned in 2011. Split among 25 employees, that's around $120,000 - not a bad bonus at all.
Source: Venture Beat
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'World of Warcraft' Being Recreated in Minecraft
Thu Feb 09, 2012 at 11:30 AM ETTags: World of Warcraft, Minecraft (all tags)
The project uses special user created software and mods to map out the entire world of Azeroth - dungeons and all.
Minecraft has been used to create some impressive sights, from the humble beginnings of 8-bit character recreation to more recent undertakings like set pieces from 'The Lord of the Rings'. The project undertaken by a user named Rumsey makes those look tiny by comparison.
Rumesy is recreating 'World of Warcrfaft' in 'Minecraft'. Not just some of it - all of it. Every continent, every city, and every dungeon. Rumsey has developed special software that takes architecture from 'Warcraft' and puts turns it into data for 'Minecraft.'
The continent of Kalimdor is nearly finished and Rumsey is working on the rest. Check out Rumsey's Imgur set to get a feel for how he's doing.
Source: Joystiq
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Tim Schafer and 'Minecraft' Creator "Notch" Persson in Talks About 'Psychonauts 2'
Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 11:30 AM ETTags: Psychonauts, Minecraft, Tim Schafer, Notch, Psychonauts 2 (all tags)
Schafer said that all he needs is a few million dollars, Notch says he's got that to spare.
Tim Schafer, in a recent interview, revealed that he's been trying to make 'Psychonauts 2' happen, but without much success. The first game in the series is a fan favorite and a cult smash, but didn't translate to big money at release. In regards to development, Schafer said "I'd love to do that game, but I'd have to convince someone to just give me a few million dollars. That's all."
As it turns out, Markus "Notch" Persson - the creator of the runaway hit 'Minecraft' -is a fan of the classic title. After reading the interview, he sent a tweet or two over to Schafer. "Let's make Psychonauts 2 happen," said Notch. It wasn't just idle talk either, as the conversation was quickly moved offline by Steven Dengler, who funded both 'Costume Quest' and the 'Psychonauts' Mac version.
Notch says that he and Tim are talking possibilities and that nothing at all is in place at this time. Meanwhile, Double Fine has released a statement simply saying "Tim and Markus are talking. Who knows what might happen?"
Source: 1up
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Tim Schafer and 'Minecraft' Creator "Notch" Persson in Talks About 'Psychonauts 2'
Wed Feb 08, 2012 at 11:30 AM ETTags: Psychonauts, Minecraft, Tim Schafer, Notch, Psychonauts 2 (all tags)
Schafer said that all he needs is a few million dollars, Notch says he's got that to spare.
Tim Schafer, in a recent interview, revealed that he's been trying to make 'Psychonauts 2' happen, but without much success. The first game in the series is a fan favorite and a cult smash, but didn't translate to big money at release. In regards to development, Schafer said "I'd love to do that game, but I'd have to convince someone to just give me a few million dollars. That's all."
As it turns out, Markus "Notch" Persson - the creator of the runaway hit 'Minecraft' -is a fan of the classic title. After reading the interview, he sent a tweet or two over to Schafer. "Let's make Psychonauts 2 happen," said Notch. It wasn't just idle talk either, as the conversation was quickly moved offline by Steven Dengler, who funded both 'Costume Quest' and the 'Psychonauts' Mac version.
Notch says that he and Tim are talking possibilities and that nothing at all is in place at this time. Meanwhile, Double Fine has released a statement simply saying "Tim and Markus are talking. Who knows what might happen?"
Source: 1up
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Official 'Minecraft' LEGOs are On the Way
Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Minecraft, LEGOs, Cool Stuff (all tags)
The idea has passed through review and the project is now in the works.
If you're 'Minecraft' player, you've probably gotten there at some point. You've just created an absolutely stunning tower with an automatic crop harvester and a machine that lets you infinitely mine stone when you realize you haven't blinked in hours. It's time to get away from the computer.
Soon you won't have to give up your 'Minecraft' just because you've stepped away from the screen. 'Minecraft' LEGOs will provide you with that building fix you're looking for. "We're happy to announce that the Minecraft project on LEGO CUUSOO has passed the LEGO review and we are now developing a concept that celebrates the best aspects of building with the LEGO system and in Minecraft," says the CUUSOO blog.
CUUSOO is a program that's a bit like Kickstarter, but for LEGOs. In order to get an idea through to the LEGO review board, you need 10,000 supporters. Once you get that, the idea needs to be approved based on certain criteria. 'Minecraft' LEGOs have done both and a real product is on the way.
"We can’t wait to show it to you," reads the blog, "but it isn't ready just yet. These things take time, so we appreciate your patience. More details are to come."
Source: Joystiq
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Official 'Minecraft' LEGOs are On the Way
Wed Jan 25, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Minecraft, LEGOs, Cool Stuff (all tags)
The idea has passed through review and the project is now in the works.
If you're 'Minecraft' player, you've probably gotten there at some point. You've just created an absolutely stunning tower with an automatic crop harvester and a machine that lets you infinitely mine stone when you realize you haven't blinked in hours. It's time to get away from the computer.
Soon you won't have to give up your 'Minecraft' just because you've stepped away from the screen. 'Minecraft' LEGOs will provide you with that building fix you're looking for. "We're happy to announce that the Minecraft project on LEGO CUUSOO has passed the LEGO review and we are now developing a concept that celebrates the best aspects of building with the LEGO system and in Minecraft," says the CUUSOO blog.
CUUSOO is a program that's a bit like Kickstarter, but for LEGOs. In order to get an idea through to the LEGO review board, you need 10,000 supporters. Once you get that, the idea needs to be approved based on certain criteria. 'Minecraft' LEGOs have done both and a real product is on the way.
"We can’t wait to show it to you," reads the blog, "but it isn't ready just yet. These things take time, so we appreciate your patience. More details are to come."
Source: Joystiq
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The Indie Music Bundle - 17 Albums for $10
Mon Nov 28, 2011 at 09:30 AM ETTags: Indie Games, Videogame Sales, Super Meat Boy, Minecraft, Impostor Nostalgia, Game Soundtracks (all tags)
There's plenty to love in the bundle, including 'Minecraft' and 'Super Meat Boy.'
There are plenty of big deals happening in stores and on websites across the internet, but they generally offer the same thing - games, systems and accessories. The Indie Music Bundle gives you something a bit different.
You can pay as much as you want for the 10 game bundle which includes the music from 'Super Meat Boy,' 'Minecraft,' 'Impostor Nostalgia' and more. If you choose to shell out $10 though, you'll get seven more albums worth of tunes. You'll also have access to FLAC versions of the files, normally available as 320kbps MP3s.
Even if you haven't played these games, you're getting hours of instrumental music - most of which is really good background for, say, writing game news - at just under 60 cents an album. The catch? The deal closes on midnight of Monday, November 28th.
Source: Indie Music Bundle
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The Indie Music Bundle - 17 Albums for $10
Mon Nov 28, 2011 at 09:30 AM ETTags: Indie Games, Videogame Sales, Super Meat Boy, Minecraft, Impostor Nostalgia, Game Soundtracks (all tags)
There's plenty to love in the bundle, including 'Minecraft' and 'Super Meat Boy.'
There are plenty of big deals happening in stores and on websites across the internet, but they generally offer the same thing - games, systems and accessories. The Indie Music Bundle gives you something a bit different.
You can pay as much as you want for the 10 game bundle which includes the music from 'Super Meat Boy,' 'Minecraft,' 'Impostor Nostalgia' and more. If you choose to shell out $10 though, you'll get seven more albums worth of tunes. You'll also have access to FLAC versions of the files, normally available as 320kbps MP3s.
Even if you haven't played these games, you're getting hours of instrumental music - most of which is really good background for, say, writing game news - at just under 60 cents an album. The catch? The deal closes on midnight of Monday, November 28th.
Source: Indie Music Bundle
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Minecraft Beta Ends - Version 1.0 Released
Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Minecraft, PC (all tags)
The client won't update yet though, you'll have to install it yourself.
It's been a year and a half since 'Minecraft' was first playable and the whole time that people have been investing massive amounts of their days into it, the game's only been in Alpha or Beta stages. Last night, the games creator, Notch, announced that 'Minecraft' is officially finished and that the second release candidate should be considered the final product. To quote from Notch's Twitter feed, "So, yes, Minecraft has gone gold :D"
As of this writing, the client isn't automatically downloading the patch, but you can go get it yourself and install it manually. Download the update from this direct link and then pop it into the proper folders. If you don't know how to handle the manual install, there's a handy guide at Minecraft Download.
Source: Joystiq
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'MineCraft' Sells 4 Million Copies Before Leaving Beta
Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 08:30 AM ETTags: Minecraft, Sales Figures (all tags)
By comparison, 5 million copies of 'Madden NFL 11' were sold this year.
You'd never guess by looking at it, but 'MineCraft' is a ridiculously successful game. It's blocky and the graphics are dreadful and there's no voice acting, cut scenes or story, but it's a game that's managed to capture more attention than some of the AAA titles out there.
The game was first available for sale during its Alpha phase in 2009 where it accumulated a few hundred thousand sales. On August 5th, 2011, the game reached 4 million sales, and that's before it even left the Beta.
The numbers are huge, but it's even more staggering when compared to bigger titles like 'Assassin's Creed Brotherhood,' which took in just over 3 million sales this year.
The full version of the game comes out on the 11th, with iPhone and Xbox 360 versions to follow.
Source: Forbes
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