Today we bring you another sticker-covered page from the secret diary of Swedish indie dev sensation Mojang, the creators of Minecraft and arbiters of bacon.
Fellow fans of PC Gamer! The time has come for yet another update on the subject of daily life at Mojang.
Some time during Saturday, April 23, Minecraft raced past a new milestone as it passed 2 million sales. Obviously, this called for celebration, so the Mojang crew hit the town for a night of poorly-controlled fun! After dinner, a couple of the guys from 2 Player Productions showed up to join the celebrations and as it turned out, they too were magnificently bad at controlled fun and we were all happy they left their cameras at home.
Speaking of 2PP, they are back in Stockholm to continue shooting the documentary about us. For those who are unfamiliar with them, 2 Player Productions is a video and production team who contacted us in October last year and asked if they could do a small documentary about Minecraft. We accepted, so they flew over from Portland and followed us around for a week. The result of that can be found here (yes, I do go public with the fact that my two-year-old sucks at Mario Kart in it, but I assure you that he got that from his mothers side!).
As it turned out, the audience approved of the documentary and 2PP managed to raise money to do a full length version about us. It is weird to have that kind of attention as we really are but mere game developers, but at the same time we are very appreciative for it as it enables us to keep doing what we love: develop games!
On that topic, what's going on with the development?
Exclusive reveal: Notch's new hat!
Minecraft
Minecraft was bumped to beta 1.5 a couple of weeks ago and introduced statistics, achievements and weather among other things. A fun side note about the weather is that lightning can effect creatures if they are struck by it. So if you see a blue glowing Creeper, run. Seriously, I really do mean it. Run!
In the 1.6 patch, we'll introduce maps! Maps will start out as a blank parchment and you will need to have it in your hand and move around for it to be filled in. You will also be able to copy maps from your friends to save yourself from the back breaking work of filling it in. Nifty, huh? Apart from maps, 1.6 will contain a huge bunch of bug fixes to make the game more stable.
From the fridge of Mojang: Swedish bacon paste.
Scrolls
The development of Scrolls is moving along nicely. We recently signed a contract with two awesome indie game musicians to make the music for it. Check out some of their work at Anosou.com (@anosou) and Jwmusic.org (@soundofjw). The stuff I have heard so far are nothing short of awesome and we are very happy to have them on board.
We are still a bit hesitant to set a release date. I know many of you are craving for one, and hopefully it will not be long before we can give it to you along with more information, screenshots and other related stuff.
Finally, last bit of information about the office renovation. It is done! As a result of this, we will be having a office warming party for ourselves and our 80 closest friends or so. I am sure you will get to see some pictures from it on twitter or at the very least in the documentary as 2PP will attend, cameras in hand.
Until next time!
Jakob Porser
Game Developer, Mojang
twitter.com/notch – Markus Persson, Game Developer
twitter.com/JahKob – Jakob Porser, Game Developer
twitter.com/carlmanneh – Carl Manneh, CEO
twitter.com/kappische – Daniel Kaplan, Business Developer
twitter.com/jeb_ – Jens Bergensten, Game Developer
twitter.com/mollstam – Tobias Möllstam, Front End Developer
twitter.com/jnkboy – Markus Toivonen, Graphical Artist
twitter.com/danfrisk – Daniel Frisk, Chief Architect
Why is Scrolls apart of a Minecraft update? Should be in a different part
of this site in my opinion. Everyone wants Minecraft. Most of scrolls
dev team was stolen from Minecraft, now its moving at a snails pace. I
don't really care about Scrolls honestly...
That's kinda harsh saying that. If you really like games, like Minecraft, you should support the developers and look at their other games they're producing. Perhaps you'll like Scrolls when it comes out. Even if it's takes a long time to come out.
Scrolls is a game they are making themselves. It didn't steal anyone :/
As for Minecraft. Well, how much more does it update than any other game? TF2? Call of Duty? Any other game that exists today?
No?
I am a big supporter of Indie games, financially as well, but I certainly do not approve of having one thing be abrubtly slowed down by another, just because of that.
Unlike other games, however, Minecraft is *still* not done, Kizzy .. I know you'll always argue for the fact that it is, but there are plenty good arguments, for the fact that it is not.
like?
My comment here: Moddb.com still covers exactly the same.
Mainly, though; It's about optimization, about the lack of modding tools etc.
Ah, I see. that I can agree. but if you had a perfect computer, that wouldn't be an issue. it's just that no-one has a perfect computer, not even me. but it's at release quality.
as for nether, I guess that's a good point. but all it really is for is fast travel.
also, I meant, the AVERAGE minecraft player will not use pistons. ever.
as for busy, I was referring to the company, and his marriage planned for august.
basically, for it to be release quality, he needs to optimise it and add MP nether. it's more or less release quality as-is.
I believe the poster is copying Notch personal blog. That blog covers all of Notch projects.
(sorry for double post)
uh, yes. I am. I am updating the page with their news. under each news, there is a source link :T
Exclusive: Notch's new hat! :D
What is Scrolls?
Mojang's second upcoming game.
Hooray.
I'd kill for an "I pork Minecraft" shirt.
Why not just buy one? There need not be unfortunate yet obligatory murder...
Jinx.com
I think Mojang has more parties, celebrations, and social gatherings than the Obama Administration...and coupled with the bilateral development of Scrolls, things seems to be slowing down a bit. I have no doubt it will be released on time, though...for the big release PARTY.
Honestly, I come from many years of Magic [The Gathering] Online and have also played some card-based titles like Guardians of Graxia and the like and I'm surprised Mojang went with something so delicately complex that would be quite easy to fail. As it is now, Magic Online is the largest cash sink known in gaming history simply because new card sets come out every 2 or 3 months and you can't be competitive without having to own $50+ cards in your deck. They have already mentioned the cards will be paid DLC for Scrolls, which leads us right down the same road as Wizards of the Coast.
I love Minecraft, I think it's what the industry needs right now, but seeing how the core game was thrown together in 7 days and it's taken 2 years to get this far with 6 months to go yet...I think they need to shift resources over to Minecraft to dial that in first before screwing with a new IP that will ultimately **** off existing Mojang fans to no end. I can assure you...as much as I LOVE Magic the Gathering, I abhor the entire ideal of paying for cards like that and having a poor client to play in on top of that.
just to say, you CAN pay for cards, but you can also get them in-game, and there will be a trading marketplace.
just remembered that from what they said. so paying people have no real advantage, other than more cards.
bacon paste?
wtf man, wtf oO