Poll: The State of Minecraft

[shticks]

First of all, as some people have said, Notch could just abandon the game and go buy himself an island in Hawaii.
Secondly, that's just the way mods work. If a game is moddable, modders will add things the developer didn't. And if the developer start going around adding all of the good mods, the game would quickly become unrecognizable, and there will STILL be more mods with amazing things the game doesn't have.
Finally, to the people saying that the updates are to few and far in between, as a modder I have to update my mod every single time Minecraft updates. Frankly, it's a pain in the ass, and my mod isn't even nearly as large or complicated as some of the mods available. I can only pity the people who must have pages upon pages of code to update, and Notch knows this. Perhaps if the modding community were smaller or non-existent, he could release updates every few days with constant minor updates. But if he were to do that with the modding community as big as it is, he might lose their support, and since mods are unquestionably one of the reasons the game is so popular, it wouldn't be the smartest move possible. So rather than do that, he releases more significant updates, but less frequently.

i like your post. thanks for the insight

 

[The Lugz]

if you can compete with notch's code, make your own game there's no use trying to make it something it isn't, it will drive you nuts trust me on this one!

 

[jpoon]

He's got some great ideas, he definitely needs to help create the foundation of the game, perhaps he should be adding more people, enough that the game could swiftly be completed and the game could overachieve expectations.

I'm pretty sure modders are used to having to fix code after updates with other games, aren't they? Or is this something that is only happening with minecraft in particular?

 

[Ultra_Caboose]

I can understand your frustration at slow official updates, but at the same time I simply don't agree with you.

Notch and his team are slow to update, and while they fix loads of bugs, they add relatively little. That's a given.
What I don't agree with is the thought that a creator should be forcibly removed from his creation because people think everyone else makes the creation better. It isn't your place, or anyone else's other than Notch to make that decision. He made Minecraft, without his contributions you would never have had such a fun game to play. What right do you or anyone else have to force him away from the game he took the time and effort to create and consistently (albeit erratically) update?

Also, as for the mod community, consider the mod community for other PC games. Hell, just consider Doom. When Doom was released, it was tailor-made for modifications. Because of this, hundreds upon hundreds of Doom mods were created and still exist to this day, many of them could be considered as good or better than the original game itself. Does this mean that Id should've been removed from developing Doom sequels because the mod community did interesting things with their game?
However nice mods may be, they aren't part of the actual game. Whether you like it or not, Minecraft will still be developed, patched and updated at it's own pace. If you don't like it, just ignore the updates and play with the mods.

 

[Davey Woo]

I really don't care what happens to it, the fact is I spent less than a tenner on it and I think it's good for passing the time occasionally. I also don't really like downloading mods for games, so I'm good waiting for official stuff to be done.

 

[Pat8u]

He invented the thing. You are acting like an entitled prick.

Remember, please, that there would be no Minecraft if Notch hadn't had his stroke of genius. Respect that, and let the fantastic mod community continue its work.

Finally someone reminds me of that word I forgot about Thanks I will need to use that later Im always forgetting entire words
OT: He should stay developing it he made the game just think WITHOUT THE GAme there would be no modders

 

[42]

Not everyone is impatient and self entitled? dude, he'll add features as he works on the coding. the reason why he would add it when there a mods already in existence, is because mabye he thought it was such a good idea, he might add it so EVERYONE can enjoy it, not just the people who know how to download Mods. i certainly don't but i'm also patient for these kind of things.

 

[thublihnk]

Um, I and a lot of other people play vanilla Minecraft almost exclusively (I kick around with mods if I'm feeling like it, rarely), and lemme tell you--I'd rather have Notch's eventual bug-fixes and updates to gameplay than 'the modding community' at large deciding what goes into Minecraft. See, that's the great thing about mods--they can throw the balance off and do whatever they want, but the vanilla game is still there. And the vanilla game is GREAT. I bought around 1.4, I believe (it was late last year, I wasn't really paying attention to the version numbers at that point) and I was positively enthralled the by experience I was getting at that point, and continue to be by the subsequent versions that have come out since then.

I can definitely say you haven't thought this little scheme through entirely. Why would the modding community take over? It's not like you can't use all your wonderful little mods that you love so much. You can play your modded client, and leave vanilla Minecraft for those of us who are satisfied with just that.

And for fuck's sake, you bought a solid, clever, cheap, unfinished game. I have no idea why you think the development of that game should be wrestled away from its creator, or why you feel so damn entitled (yes, that dirty word) to YOUR updates the WAY YOU WANT THEM and NOW GODDAMMIT, NOW.

 

[Extravagance]

Yes. It's his game, company etc. It's an incomplete game, it gets updated when they can, it's still a work-in-progress, you still get to play it even though it's not complete, stop whining. Games are never 'finished' these days anyway, and you still have to pay $40-$60 for them.

Just...get over it. It's a f*cking privaledge to be able to play it in its entirity when it's not a finished profuct. Stop complaining.

 

[SirAroun]

some points:

1) it will come out this November

1 1/2) people use to say that beta would never come out and it did

2) your a selfish prick

3) 25% (or more) of the vanilla game comes from mods now. so he is looking

4) not all mods fix the feel that minecraft is going for (aka the gun mod)

5) half life 1 took 4 YEARS to make and that is with a whole studio of people and Iji ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33mxD4FjD3w ) was made by one guy and took 5 years to make; in comparison minecraft development time is just over 2 years from classic to the final this November.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I dont mind it. I rather like it, though I suppose it would be nice if he took a few other people to help so things got done faster. But I'm in no hurry.

And hey, if its not suiting your needs, make a mod, not ***** about how slow progress is.

 

[DasDestroyer]

I'm pretty sure modders are used to having to fix code after updates with other games, aren't they? Or is this something that is only happening with minecraft in particular?

Well, I honestly don't know how much updates break mods in other games, but lets face it, most games don't get nearly as many patches as Minecraft.
And regardless, being used to it doesn't make it any more enjoyable.

 

[Waffle_Man]

if you wish to add as to why he should be replaced...

Replaced? By whom? Under who's authority? Are you suggesting that anyone, anywhere has the authority to systematically deprive Notch of his intellectual property and transfer all of it to another party? Are you suggesting that Notch has any single other person in the world that he owes anything to for the success of minecraft? You didn't do Notch a favor; you bought the privilege to play the game before release. It was an exchange of goods and services, not a favor.

In fact, let me read the "terms and conditions": When you purchase Minecraft you do so as is, be it in the early stages of development or already fully released. Subsequent updates are only an added bonus and not a guarantee, as icing on a cake. Purchases during the development of the game are discounted and include the full game upon release.

"As is." Notch isn't legally obligated to provide a damn thing.

Furthermore...

I want a better game in the end that will give me the best of best experiences.

So, not only do you feel entitled to more updates, you want Notch to magically be able to figure out your specific whims and desires. You want him match your ideal. If you really want exactly what you want, just add on your fun mods and let people who are looking for something else not be forced to deal with what you think of as better. Or better yet, if you want the best of best experiences, make your own game.

 

[njrk97]

ehh if we got all the inovative mods to be included the game would be overcrowed so just let notch do what he does

ps darthcendiarygrenade im sooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry about reporting you i didnt mean to i accidently clicked it so very sorry really im sorry

 

[viranimus]

I for one am getting quite dissapointed with the level of content produced by Mojang. For me I do not want to have to mod the game. Hell the only mod I use is the photorealism texture pack, and even that gets broken every time the game gets patched. I really do not like to waste time having to tweak with settings and requisite files, and especially nothing with modifiying Java which is entirely too buggy and easy to screw up to begin with.

So honestly it makes me mad to see mods with all this content like extensive furniture, NPC villages, Air realms with dozens of new block types and recipes, yet for a patch we get an inferior clone of a mod feature (pistons)

My biggest problem is the lack of focus. I get it. Its an indie company with 6 people or so working. But A: how is it that individual modders in their spare time are outpacing these 6 people who are "focused" on this? B: If there are only 6 people working on the game then why on a game thats already sold over 2 million, would you divert attention from the main product to branch out and migrate to the 360 platform, or the Macintosh platform?

Seriously... the base game is supposed to launch full and complete to the public in november. A game that is all about designing and building things, Amazing things like large castles, cities, ect, but the only pieces of furniture consist of a bed and a book case to fill these structures?

Yeah I give credit where it is due. Notch made a great indie game. However, its impossible to justify this slow of a progress and lack of originality in what is offered. If 6 people cant keep up.. then perhaps you either need to hire more people, or go the route of valve and buy out your modders projects.

Once the game moved to a point of profit, there was no excuse for relying on indie esque developmental expectations.

 

[Toasty Virus]

but lets face it, most games don't get nearly as many patches as Minecraft.

Minecraft isn't a finished game though.

OT: It's his game, he can do what the hell he likes with it.

 

[DasDestroyer]

but lets face it, most games don't get nearly as many patches as Minecraft.

Minecraft isn't a finished game though.

OT: It's his game, he can do what the hell he likes with it.

But it is a game with a large modding community.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

Just as Dannibal said, you are acting like a prick with an unreasonable sense of entitlement. This is why we can't have nice things. He's just a person, and he just got back from a vacation. Yes, that's right, he's been on VACATION. Also, as good as the "better than wolves" mod is, it's just so up in your face about "how lame the wolf update was". Also, he has to keep the bigger picture in mind, he's developing the vanilla game, he can't just add something because he wants it, he has to consider what would actually be more or less be fun for everyone. He can't just say "I want to have flying alien paper maché robots that can shoot lasers in the game", it has to fit with the bigger picture that is Minecraft.

Seconded...

Minecraft is a work in progress and we shouldn't be saying the lead developer needs to step down simply because the game didn't spring into being fully developed. Besides, putting aside intellectual rights, if we kick out the lead developer of such a tiny development team it is going to slow the progress down even more! How is kicking Notch from his project going to better it in any way?

Now that being said, there is a lot of things he could do with some of the great mods that are being released: Bring the mod development team on board. Sure it is a small company with limited resources, but already these mod teams are working for free. Many would gladly join up with Notch for nothing more then their name on the project and a tiny amount of royalties when it does get released. So why not bring more minds into the mix to speed up the process?

Hell, some of the mods are just reinstalling things he had in the game but removed prior, due to some timing issues that look as if they have been resolved. Many are just the addition of additional types of blocks and recipes, such as furniture, which are aesthetic additions at best. Such mods will only add to the game. A lot of the mods that I have seen, via Yogscast mostly, have been in line with the overall objectives that Notch has put forth and he should be using these mods to his advantage.

So why not hire some of the mod teams that made this stuff and incorporate into the full version of the game?

 

[tomvw]

I for one am getting quite dissapointed with the level of content produced by Mojang. For me I do not want to have to mod the game. Hell the only mod I use is the photorealism texture pack, and even that gets broken every time the game gets patched. I really do not like to waste time having to tweak with settings and requisite files, and especially nothing with modifiying Java which is entirely too buggy and easy to screw up to begin with.

So honestly it makes me mad to see mods with all this content like extensive furniture, NPC villages, Air realms with dozens of new block types and recipes, yet for a patch we get an inferior clone of a mod feature (pistons)

My biggest problem is the lack of focus. I get it. Its an indie company with 6 people or so working. But A: how is it that individual modders in their spare time are outpacing these 6 people who are "focused" on this? B: If there are only 6 people working on the game then why on a game thats already sold over 2 million, would you divert attention from the main product to branch out and migrate to the 360 platform, or the Macintosh platform?

Seriously... the base game is supposed to launch full and complete to the public in november. A game that is all about designing and building things, Amazing things like large castles, cities, ect, but the only pieces of furniture consist of a bed and a book case to fill these structures?

Yeah I give credit where it is due. Notch made a great indie game. However, its impossible to justify this slow of a progress and lack of originality in what is offered. If 6 people cant keep up.. then perhaps you either need to hire more people, or go the route of valve and buy out your modders projects.

Once the game moved to a point of profit, there was no excuse for relying on indie esque developmental expectations.

It's kind of unfair to compare mods with the base game.
Modders can get away with designing features for a specific audience. They can also get away with breaking game-balance because of that.
Notch doesn't have that kind of freedom, since every update he does goes out to everybody who owns Minecraft. If he could just "add cool stuff", I bet he'd do it, but he has to consider his entire audience, not just that specific niche who want this or that.