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[Faustek]

In Krona only.

Still able to post nude selfies and people would say he was ripped and sexy.

 

[Corto]

What do people want from 'upgraded graphics'? I keep seeing people talk about production values, but I would say part of Minecraft's appeal IS its unique pixel 3D art style. They can add a few next-gen flourishes, maybe a better lighting system or something... but I'm pretty sure drastically updated the graphics is a bad idea if they want to retain Minecraft's popularity.

How would you update its graphics whilst still retaining its unique visual character?

SOE Everquest Landmark seems to be chasing the Minecraft explore, resource gathering, build moto with HD visuals but I would bet that will never reach similar numbers.

 

[theSlacker]

Ya.. but maybe the GTA guys don't want to sell their ip.

sigh...As in that money could fund 14 different games of GTAVs price, not saying that they could have bought rockstar.

 

[BrokenEchelon]

What a dumb investment if true. The game has already made the majority of the money it's going to see, and Mojang isn't exactly on a roll with titles fiscally or creatively on par with the fad/phenomenon that Minecraft was/is.

 

[Trust me. I'm a PhD]

Good luck to both parties if true. But doesn't this feel a little... Rare like? The company's best game is already on another system and we do not know if they have another hit in the works... MS please do not make them work on Avatars and Kinetic games for the next decade...

 

[DrWong]

Twist: It's actually Amazon, not Microsoft.

These rumors get misinterpreted all the time: Mojang might be selling but it might not be MSFT buying

Remember Twitch.

Amazon Lines Up $2 Billion Credit Facility

 

[Wickerbasket]

Oh my god, I realized that a Minecraft 2 might mean that we'd get a PC version that isn't running on shitty java.

I'd buy that.

I'd literally buy the exact same game again in non java form.

Edit: As for the whole sale thing, I don't think buying a company that's only managed to create one hit game is a very good idea.

 

[Cheat Code]

Here's what i think:
1. It should be worth more than $2bil
2. Microsoft trying to screw everyone because they know they're losing the console war. Minecraft will now only be exclusive to Xbox One...that sucks.
3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

That isn't how business works.

 

[BruiserBear]

Have you been reading the thread? People have justified it over and over again.

Well, it is an extremely successful company, but I just don't see how this could be worth that much going forward. I kinda doubt Mojang has another Minecraft like hit in their future. Few people ever strike gold like that twice.

 

[tuna_love]

I'm positive this is just a two billion dollar investment in getting a Steve project spark cameo.

 

[Truespeed]

At best I think they would keep it off Sony consoles. I can't see them leaving PC, iOS and Android from the game.

Imagine MS puts Minecraft on Steam.

But then they would have to give Valve 30% of the proceeds.

 

[MattKeil]

2 billion.......Minecraft is already on every platform. What other games have they successfully released? Seems like a massive waste of money.

One word: Nintendo. An entire generation of kids is growing up playing Minecraft on hand-me-down tablets. Those are customers for life, just like the kids who grow up playing Nintendo. Buying Minecraft as a brand now means you have those customers for decades to come.

 

[DangerMouse]

Sony's first party through PS1 and early PS2 was a damned joke. They pretty much heavily relied on third party exclusives to get where they are today. The reason to own Playstation was MGS FF series, DMC and a host of other third party games. Few gave a shit what their first party was doing. Hey i enjoyed Twisted Metal as much as the next guy but they didn't have many studios putting out shit like that. Remember 989? Ugh... When it came to first party Sega and to a lesser degree Nintendo were where it was at.

PS1 definitely, but that early PS2 changed pretty quickly where they got a lot more balanced and finally did a lot of first party games and also a lot of 2nd party stuff going like multiple games with Insomniac, Level-5, etc.

 

[Ambition]

Make it on something that isn't Java so that it doesn't cause memory leaks and eat up more performance than Ryse of Crysis.

Isn't Minecraft already this on consoles? PC version isn't demanding enough to justify a complete remake imo.

 

[Amir0x]

3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

lol

like anyone in Sony is going to endorse shelling out 2 billion dollars for Minecraft with the shape that company is in right now. They'd have to be legit insane. And you think Microsoft can't simply outbid them? They have tons of money. Having tons of money and trying to buy their way to victory is 2/3 of their whole strategy for Christ's sake. Sony won't win the spending money game

 

[Dega]

Here's what i think:
1. It should be worth more than $2bil
2. Microsoft trying to screw everyone because they know they're losing the console war. Minecraft will now only be exclusive to Xbox One...that sucks.
3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

You'd kill Sony in the process though. lol

 

[nbthedude]

Err... What would be the point? Minecraft has already been released on PS4.

Minecraft 2, 3, 4, 19 all Xbox exclusives. Annual release cycle.

 

[Duxxy3]

$2 Billion is a lot of money. How many AAA studios/companies could MS buy with that? 15 Atlus. 2 Capcoms. 1 Square Enix. 1 Take-Two.

Maybe MS should unload those checks elsewhere.



Minecraft is that rare kinda game that a developer can retire on. Notch/Mojang will never have to make another game if they want. It's a guaranteed source of income (millions). In the long-run, it would make far more sense to keep the IP and just outsource it (game ports, merchandising, tv shows/movies, etc).

If Mojang is to sell, they I'm guessing they think Minecraft is a fad (it's not).

None of those companies you mentioned have half the importance that Mojang does in the PC and Mobile space. They also have massive operating costs.

 

[TomShoe]

I think we all know how this will go.

Mojang will get bought my Microsoft, and there'll be a huge talent exodus from the company. You can buy a studio and it's assets, but there's nothing stopping the people there from twiddling their thumbs and leaving once their contract runs out.

 

[legacyzero]

Holy fuck, no way.

Good news is, Notch hasn't done shit since Minecraft anyway, so the joke's on Microsoft.

I think we all know how this will go.

Mojang will get bought my Microsoft, and there'll be a huge talent exodus from the company. You can buy a studio and it's assets, but there's nothing stopping the people there from twiddling their thumbs and leaving once their contract runs out.

Also this. Notch doesn't seem like the kind of guy to be owned.

Also, didn't Notch have a huge problem with MS, and the Xbox one?

 

[Faustek]

What do people want from 'upgraded graphics'? I keep seeing people talk about production values, but I would say part of Minecraft's appeal IS its unique pixel 3D art style. They can add a few next-gen flourishes, maybe a better lighting system or something... but I'm pretty sure drastically updated the graphics is a bad idea if they want to retain Minecraft's popularity.

How would you update its graphics whilst still retaining its unique visual character?

Tried it with Ocolus?
The HD textures are needed. It physically hurts me if I don't have the HD textures on :/

 

[Metallix87]

Here's what i think:
1. It should be worth more than $2bil
2. Microsoft trying to screw everyone because they know they're losing the console war. Minecraft will now only be exclusive to Xbox One...that sucks.
3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

1.) So what?
2.) Microsoft is not trying to screw everyone, they're trying to do what they feel is good both for their business and for their platform.
3.) Sony isn't in any position to start making large acquisitions.

 

[TouchMyBox]

It would be a shame to see Mojang ruined this early.

 

[GodofWine]

Wouldn't a Minecraft sequel be a huge deal? Highly updated graphics, improved gameplay, maybe even MMO elements with MP...

Sounds like the kind of game people were hoping Mm would do after laying down LBP.

Perhaps, or maybe Minecraft was just oddly perfect as it was.

Maybe they just want it for the merchandising revenue...who knows

 

[Truespeed]

I'd buy that.

I'd literally buy the exact same game again in non java form.

Edit: As for the whole sale thing, I don't think buying a company that's only managed to create one hit game is a very good idea.

So you would rather have the C# form?

 

[Jomjom]

What would MS get out of this? Minecraft is already on everything you could put it on so exclusivity is out.

AFAIK they arent really making anything big right now and even if they were, there is a risk it could turn out bad.

So the only safe bet is......Minecraft 2? What would a sequel like that even add?

1) Proceeds from merchandise sales
2) Potential for future expansion of the IP (let's go crazy, Minecraft Land, think Lego Land, but with Minecraft)
3) Future sequel not just exclusive on Xbox, but on Windows phone.
4) Potential that the talent at the studio could come up with another huge hit

Here's what i think:
1. It should be worth more than $2bil
2. Microsoft trying to screw everyone because they know they're losing the console war. Minecraft will now only be exclusive to Xbox One...that sucks.
3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

How many buildings do you think Sony can pawn?

 

[Amir0x]

SOE Everquest Landmark seems to be chasing the Minecraft explore, resource gathering, build moto with HD visuals but I would bet that will never reach similar numbers.

Yeah but that's entirely different in many ways. And it does not retain the unique visual style of Minecraft. That style is now entirely associated with the franchise. The blocky characters for example are on t-shirts. It's part of the essence of the series now

 

[Cov]

Oh my god, I realized that a Minecraft 2 might mean that we'd get a PC version that isn't running on shitty java.

Minecraft 2 will be Silverlight exclusive!

 

[makingmusic476]

Minecraft seems like a "lightning in a bottle" phenomenon.

I feel like Microsoft will be as mystified about the performance of their new titles as Nintendo was when Wii Sports U came out.

 

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

Make it on something that isn't Java so that it doesn't cause memory leaks and eat up more performance than Ryse of Crysis.

Java can't have memory leaks. It's a VM. You can have hanging references, but I think even those can be cleaned up in GC.

 

[Cheat Code]

1) Proceeds from merchandise sales
2) Potential for future expansion of the IP (let's go crazy, Minecraft Land, think Lego Land, but with Minecraft)
3) Future sequel not just exclusive on Xbox, but on Windows phone.
4) Potential that the talent at the studio could come up with another huge hit

I think we all know that's unlikely, otherwise we'd be seeing kids wearing Scrolls merch

 

[Krilekk]

Here's what i think:
1. It should be worth more than $2bil
2. Microsoft trying to screw everyone because they know they're losing the console war. Minecraft will now only be exclusive to Xbox One...that sucks.
3. If i am Sony, I will buy it for more than $2bil just to screw Microsoft.

If you're Sony you don't have 80 billion in cash waiting to be invested.

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Rare 2.0 waiting to happen.

 

[brett2]

Microsoft as a whole is a net negative on the gaming industry. As the XBONE struggles to make any money over the next few years I hope that MS comes to its senses and leaves the industry for good. Their efforts are better directed towards not blowing every single major trend in tech in the last 10 years such as smartphones as tablets.

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

Wouldn't a Minecraft sequel be a huge deal? Highly updated graphics, improved gameplay, maybe even MMO elements with MP...

Sounds like the kind of game people were hoping Mm would do after laying down LBP.

Look at all the mods on PC.
The game really doesn't need a sequel.
The important thing is the core gameplay, everything else players have been adding themselfs.

 

[hodayathink]

These rumors get misinterpreted all the time: Mojang might be selling but it might not be MSFT buying

Remember Twitch.

The Twitch rumor was never misinterpreted. It's just the Google deal fell through at the end, just like this one could. Which means the absolute takeaway from this rumor, like that one, is that Mojang/Notch are willing to sell.

 

[Guevara]

The Twitch rumor was never misinterpreted. It's just the Google deal fell through at the end, just like this one could. Which means the absolute takeaway from this rumor, like that one, is that Mojang/Notch are willing to sell.

I agree.

 

[timetokill]

Microsoft as a whole is a net negative on the gaming industry. As the XBONE struggles to make any money over the next few years I hope that MS comes to its senses and leaves the industry for good. Their efforts are better directed towards not blowing every single major trend in tech in the last 10 years such as smartphones as tablets.

Could you please explain why Microsoft is a "net negative" to the gaming industry?

 

[Aika'svyse]

reptilexcq2's post has me in tears laughing.

 

[MilesTeg]

And MineCraft has a bigger audience. There are millions of little kids playing it. GTA is big, but you can't sell it to a universal audience or use it in schools. Government and government agencies have released Minecraft maps. This thing goes beyond our little gaming world.

A Take-Two purchase would net them not just GTA but Borderlands, Red Dead, Bioshock, NBA 2K etc. GTAV has sold what, 35 million in a little under a year at $60 a pop and hasn't released on next gen consoles yet or PC? Not even counting whatever money GTA Online has made? And as streaming becomes more mainstream MS could stream the next GTA to phones and tablets or whatever. No reason why people need to think "Take-Two = purchase for consoles".

And of course MS would have a stranglehold on the videogame market. Sony wouldn't be able to compete. Basically it would be over for Sony.

Like I said before though it possible the talent would leave, giving MS nothing but a bunch of names without the people that made it successful. Kinda like Rare.

Anyway though the rumor was Activision was looking at Take-Two I think.

 

[Jomjom]

I think we all know that's unlikely, otherwise we'd be seeing kids wearing Scrolls merch

Just because they don't hit gold with every single game doesn't mean they can't ever. While not a huge hit like Minecraft, From Software made a bunch of shit games before they suddenly stumbled onto Souls.

 

[Truespeed]

Java can't have memory leaks. It's a VM. You can have hanging references, but I think even those can be cleaned up in GC.

But, the VM can have memory leaks since it's written in C.

 

[miDnIghtEr20C]

Stock is at a 14 year high. Titanic boat loads of money rolling in every month. I think they know what they are doing.

I have no idea why, but your post cracked me the hell up. Ha ha ha... good stuff man. Ya, MS doesn't know what they're doing! 14 year high.. good stuff.

 

[Teeth]

One word: Nintendo. An entire generation of kids is growing up playing Minecraft on hand-me-down tablets. Those are customers for life, just like the kids who grow up playing Nintendo. Buying Minecraft as a brand now means you have those customers for decades to come.

I've seen this before...I just don't think people work this way.

Nintendo continues to leverage Mario in new and interesting ways and has since basically inception. The Nintendo and Mario names mean something because of what they continue to do, not what they did.

So unless the continuous Minecrafts that come afterward inspire like the original does, I just don't feel like the name means much.

 

[watership]

It's incredible that Microsoft has been in this industry for more than a decade and yet still has to buy the creative talents of people outside of the company rather than design interesting ideas internally.

Ehh, Microsoft has been IN the games industry since the early 90s. If your talking about Xbox then, ya, but this deal (if true) is larger than Xbox like others have said.

 

[Infinite Xero]

None of those companies you mentioned have half the importance that Mojang does in the PC and Mobile space. They also have massive operating costs.

But the IPs have so much potential as money makers (exclusive games and merchandising/media).

 

[ArcaneFreeze]

One word: Nintendo. An entire generation of kids is growing up playing Minecraft on hand-me-down tablets. Those are customers for life, just like the kids who grow up playing Nintendo. Buying Minecraft as a brand now means you have those customers for decades to come.

While I understand the logic I dont know if it'll work out so well. Minecraft is what it is, it can get updated here and there but overall theres not much that can be changed without it not being Minecraft anymore. With Nintendo they were able to grow their userbase with several different IPs that span different genres, and the ones that stuck (i.e Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, etc.) are able to be different from what people first played all those years ago. I mean we have Mario games that span a variety of different genres from the standard platformer to RPGs to sports games and more, I dont know if Minecraft can achieve that sort of variety.

 

[outunderthestars]

nah man, minecraft sinks its teeth into kids' time and attention waaaaay more than angry birds. it's a different beast.

For now. But I have questions as to how MS could possibly recoup 2 billion dollars in a company that made one game.

What will drive people to buy a new version?
Has the current version already generated the bulk of the revenue that it can?
Will kids still care about Minecraft in five years? ten years?
What is to stop it from being a fad, like Neopets, pogs, and wheelies?
Will kids still think it is cool when it is a Microsoft product?

How do you recover 2 billion dollars from a game that generated almost half of its sales for $7 or less per copy?

Can MS properly man age a kids franchise or will they turn it into another Viva Pinata?

MS made skylanders styled toys, stuffed animals, a cartoon shows, etc. They spent tens of millions of dollars marketing it, and the entire effort was a complete failure. Can they actually find a way to market to kids?

Everything about this deal just sounds like desperation from within MS after seeing signs that their third try at dominating in the gaming market is meeting with limited success.

 

[miDnIghtEr20C]

sigh...As in that money could fund 14 different games of GTAVs price, not saying that they could have bought rockstar.

Oh.. so now MS will spend that money on 14 different games of GTA V's price and all 14 games would sell and be as good as GTA.

Sigh is right.

 

[BomberMouse]

If I were Notch I'd sell. Minecraft is a tough act to follow and developing Minecraft 2 would be a PITA, it would never match expectations.

I'd use that money and invest into hundreds of smaller indie devs, giving them the chance people gave him with Minecraft. Basically a VG angel investor.