[Prodigy9]

At the very least, I don't see this making MC worse than it currently is, worst case scenario we might stop getting nice free updates. Even if MS wrecks the game, we ought to be able to still continue playing the current version (or whatever version Intelli decides to keep MR on).

[meloetta_344]

At the very least, I don't see this making MC worse than it currently is, worst case scenario we might stop getting nice free updates. Even if MS wrecks the game, we ought to be able to still continue playing the current version (or whatever version Intelli decides to keep MR on).

This and I would say the best case scenario is Minecraft becomes even more popular under Microsoft and grows faster than anything ever made. (hint Minecraft is the number 3 most sold game right after Wii Sports and Tetris)

[monkeychunks]

Really smart business deal on Mojangs part. I think Mojang will love that they can start making a lot of other games other than minecraft and I think the minecraft fad has faded a little. Also I think Mojang has been running out of ideas in the updates. Hopefully Microsoft can advertise minecraft better and to older audiences so we might see it come up to be very popular again!

[alexrybicki]

I really hope it doesn't mean much to "Minecraft" as we know it. The game is essentially "done". They might continue yearly content updates (Yes, Mojang only released 1 update this year, 1.8... and it seems likely to be the only one). I don't think they're really interested in selling it currently as a game, so much as the name "Minecraft"... and future titles and marketing, etc. Of course we'll see super pretty versions for xbox... probably exclusively for months after release. Think of EA's buyout of Plants vs. Zombies becoming PvZ: Garden Warfare... if you want an example.

One of the original draws to minecraft for me was that it was a bit grassroots, and had that independent feel. It felt very 'Open source', you could make mods, run servers, etc. I have a feeling minecraft 1 will be the last one like that.

As for Notch... I think he hates the persona he's become. He's just a guy who likes to mess around, do some programming, stay up late... and he became a bit of a star... arguably that was his own fault, but I can't help but feel a little sorry for him. He pretty much killed 0x010c because people were expecting it; wanting it to be an EA title, and really he just wanted to mess around with a fps, with maybe some computers thrown in. Some people can handle stardom, others can't. Still, I hope he can cry himself to sleep with his 2.5 billion. He deserves the holiday.

Some fun math... the breaking bad 'money bed' is estimated to contain about 50 million in various denominations... so imagine 500 of those... that's about how much money Mojang has now.

[TheDreamerOfTheDay]

I was worried that this would happen but for over 2 billion dollars, you can't even blame the guy. I would forsake my morals if that much money was on the line. I hope Microsoft does not destroy Mojang like they ruined Rare, the makers of Goldeneye 64. They made Rare do all sorts of crappy spin-offs and junk. Mojang can certainly expand the company and make other games besides Minecraft (or scrolls I guesss) as well now, which seems exciting.

[XsyntaXerrorX]

Some fun math... the breaking bad 'money bed' is estimated to contain about 50 million in various denominations... so imagine 500 of those... that's about how much money Mojang has now.

50 of them. Otherwise we are talking 25bn here...

[alexrybicki]

Some fun math... the breaking bad 'money bed' is estimated to contain about 50 million in various denominations... so imagine 500 of those... that's about how much money Mojang has now.

50 of them. Otherwise we are talking 25bn here...

Ohh right. Good catch... The brain does things with so many zeros.

[Sandsnake]

I'm not going to get all pessimistic here. This could be good, it could be bad. What is abundantly clear from Notch's letter is it was time to move on and this is the only way it was going to happen.

I don't think Microsoft will **** up Minecraft. They just shelled out a ridiculous amount of money for an IP and they're well aware of what makes it special. It's going to get a whole lot less indy feeling marketing-wise though...Could be good, could be bad. They'll try an MC2 for sure, which will probably fail horribly as it will be harder to mod for, but hey.

All that aside, I got my $20 worth.

[Lucario]

Ran out of ideas my bum 08. Thers litterly dozens of mods i know that aint game breaking in the slightesst. Such as computercraft (of course theyd remove turtles for our own good) And bibliocraft the furniture mod. Adding potion selves armor stands book shelves and reading glasses. They could've added way more terrian. Sch as blue green gray schest. Marble limestone red sandstone, ect. Notch just got careless and letting his game fall into crap from the evil ms.

[dlgn]

I really doubt they'll try Minecraft 2. It just wouldn't make any sense for this kind of game.

Compare it to Portal. It has a set map and game progression, and a finalized set of mechanics. So Portal 2 has a new map, a new plot, more characters, and more mechanics.

But Minecraft has a potentially infinite number of maps based on constantly updating pseudorandom terrain generation; no set game progression apart from what can roughly be described as the constantly updating and generally optional "achievement order" (diamonds before obsidian before the Nether before before Blaze Powder before the End, for example) since it's sandbox; and an enormous set of complex mechanics and mobs that are constantly being added to. There isn't anything they could do in Minecraft 2 that they couldn't do in an update, apart from a complete overhaul of terrain and mechanics, far beyond what is done by most mods, which wouldn't really be Minecraft and would defeat the point of acquiring such a popular game in the first place.

Sequels usually add on to the original game, but we already have that with updates, which Microsoft will be able to tell if they do any research whatsoever, or even just ask Jeb. So, media or comics? Sure, though there's no way they'll be superior to what's been made by the community (which Microsoft will hopefully allow to continue, as community feedback and participation has made Minecraft what it is). But a sequel? If Microsoft has any idea what they just spent 2.5 billion on, not a chance.

~dlgn

p.s. Note that they made no promises to continue updates for Linux. Let's hope they do so.