Ever heard of Minecraft?

A friend pointed me towards a video of a game thats been in development for about a year and a half now called Minecraft (http://www.minecraft.net), it's a VERY addicting 3D survival/creative game thats getting better all the time.

I was wondering if anyone here knew about it already? If not, I can't recommened checking out this video enough:

Edit: Also forgot to mention, the game is currently on a sale of %50 off until the next main version comes out. Although its only going from Alpha to Beta, the creator has said that a one-time purchase entitles you to all future updates and expansions which is nice

Well, I THOUGHT I knew what is was, but now I've actually looked at the website I realise I had completely the wrong idea about it. I think I'll check it out.

Am I missing something?

Although I admire the 3D engine he's built, I don't think much of the graphics or the gameplay.

And it's not a free game!?

Like I said, maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see much of a game here, let alone a commercial one.

EDIT: Actually, the more videos I see about this, the more I realise that gameplay-wise, it's got something interesting going on.

I'm still not convinced that the graphics are good enough.

I'm not talking about the block size of the landscape, but the low-res textures used for each block.

I wouldn't mind spending a couple of quid on this, but I wouldn't spend more than that in it's current condition.

Krush.

I'm still not convinced that the graphics are good enough.

I'm not talking about the block size of the landscape, but the low-res textures used for each block.

I think that he did this art style because he wanted to make it similar to the game that inspired him called Infiniminer (http://www.zachtronicsindustries.com/?p=713). Also, you can try/there are people working on texture packs to make it look better if you don't like the style (like this:

).

The game looks to be pretty modable in ways other than textures too

And it doesn't seem like it's worth buying right now at first, but once you start playing it you realise where its headed and find yourself itching to get it while its still half price (sale ends when beta comes out within the next month or two).

Take a look at this video the guy making it posted of one fully generated world:

(supposedly 8 times the surface of the Earth)

I've played this before and it is surprisingly addicting. You need to play it to appreciate it. The paid version is actually the latest release (I think they call it the Alpha build. Can't remember). You can play the previous version for free, both Single Player and Multiplayer.

Multiplayer is cool because you can collaborate with other people on building other stuff. ^_^

Regarding the low resolution graphics, there are some high resolution texture packs available for the game. It obviously does nothing for the chunky look overall, but adds some quality without ruining the retro look.

It's an interesting game. If he continues to add features and make improvements, the graphics will matter less and less.

Yeah, I'm probably being over-critical with the textures, as this sort of game is more about exploring, resource collecting, etc.

In the space of a few hours, I've been turned around on this game.

The series of videos by X are great, and really show you what the game is about.

I was just watching the second video where he says he going to build an entrance to his cave, and while he's collecting resources for it, he notices a cave disappearing into the ground.

So he decides to explore it, even though he doesn't really have enough coal for torches.

It's really creepy lighting up the different parts of the cavern, while he's hoping nothing spawns in the dark.

My phone rang just as he said something about hearing a skeleton, and he's jumped down a ledge too steep to get back up, so that's where it's paused right now.

You got to love the procedural generation of the world.

Very impressive.

I think I'll end up investing in this very soon.

Problem is, games like this take away my programming time, and I don't have a lot of time for that at the moment.

Krush.

the game is really nice, but sadly there is no survival mode in the free version and the sandbox style in the free version is not very addicting to me.

When I saw the videos by X, the game reminded me of the Discovery show Man Vs. Wild

kind of offtopic but does anyone know any similar survival game ??

It is pretty much like Dwarf Fortress in 3D.

I really like the graphic style the game uses, the hi res textures in that video look awful in comparison.

I bought the game a few weeks ago. Love taking a stack of torches, jumping into a natural cave and seeing where it takes me.

Whoa! I saw this lake in the sandbox and I had the engineering impulse of building a tunnel under it, that goes over a bridge crossing this underground lake I found.

Beautiful!

Now I wonder about the game around it but... is there any? is it online? can anyone explain how the official paid version works?

kind of offtopic but does anyone know any similar survival game ??

With less focus on the mining and more focus on surviving (you need to eat food, drink water, sleep, etc), Stranded 2 is a pretty good survival game (http://www.stranded.unrealsoftware.de/s2_infos.php).

Now I wonder about the game around it but... is there any? is it online? can anyone explain how the official paid version works?

The paid version lets you play singleplayer survival mode (and when beta is released, multiplayer survival mode), where you have to find the resources to make tools, and build shelter from the creatures that come out at night and hunt you, but usually disappear when it's daytime. It also adds alot of buildable items like stairs, ladders, boats, minecarts, and minecart tracks to make fun inventions like rollercoasters (video on main page of http://www.minecraft.net), or just use them for exploring the maps.

At the moment, the multiplayer online appears to only be creative mode (unless you join a modified server, which could be anything from Portal to Role Playing), which is similar to the free version. However, creative mode in the paid version allows you to make items as you normally would in single player.

Also, the game is updated all the time (even now it's only 1.5 years old) and any updates or expansions come free once you own it. So although the game doesn't have a distinct goal or ending at the moment, the creator has mentioned that he would like to have some method of winning the game.

Edit: forgot to mention, paid users can also download a client to play the game in instead of just playing it in their browser.

Bought this game some weeks ago. It's a really cool idea and really addictive

Now I wonder about the game around it but... is there any? is it online? can anyone explain how the official paid version works?

These are the videos on YouTube that I was on about.

He's done 33 videos on Minecraft, and he's learning about the game as he's playing which I think adds to the fun of watching them.

If you read my first post in this thread, you'll see how sceptical I was about the game.

This morning I purchased the game, and this afternoon I enjoyed a couple of hours building my base.

Great fun.

And if you read the info on MineCraft.net you'll see that there's quite a few nice things on the way with the updates planned (like hidden temples!!!).

24 hours ago I'd never heard of it.

Today, it's all we can do to stop ourselves playing it.

Seriously, you need to watch the videos I've linked to.

Krush.

Huge fan of Minecraft, avid player & enthusiast

Right now the single player game is having some performance issues, it usually runs way faster and without the stuttering we're experiencing.