[hitoshi]

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: 4J Studios / Mojang
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Release date: 2012.05.09
Price: 1600 Microsoft points


Official website: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Pr...5-d802584111f7

Minecraft is a sandbox construction game, inspired by Infiniminer, Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper, created by Markus Persson, the founder of Mojang AB. The game involves players creating and destroying various types of blocks in a three dimensional environment. The player takes an avatar that can destroy or create blocks, forming fantastic structures, creations and artwork. (http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Minecraft_Wiki)

The Xbox Live Arcade exclusive console version is based on the 1.6.6. beta (relead in May, 2011). 4J is planning constant updates, providing new features, new gameplay modes for the players. Mod and skin support is planned but will not be available at launch. Simultenaous multiplayer with the PC version is not possible: there are too many obstacles (for example: the difference in versions).

• Optional Kinect support, but not available at launch: will be patched into the game later on

• New crafting inferface: console oriented GUI and controls

• 60 FPS

• Split-screen multiplayer: 4 players

• Online multiplayer: 8 players

• Skins and mod support: TBD

• Game will be updated with free patches

Into The Nether (40 points)
Construct a Nether Portal.

Dispense With This (20 points)
Construct a Dispenser.

MOAR Tools (15 points)
Construct one type of each tool (one pickaxe, one spade, one axe and one hoe).

Leader Of The Pack (30 points)
Befriend five wolves.

When Pigs Fly (40 points)
Use a saddle to ride a pig, then have the pig get hurt from fall damage while riding it.

Cow Tipper (15 points)
Harvest some leather.

Monster Hunter (20 points)
Attack and destroy a monster.

Time to Strike! (10 points)
Use planks and sticks to make a sword.

On A Rail (40 points)
Travel by minecart to a point at least 500m in a single direction from where you started.

Delicious Fish (15 points)
Catch and cook a fish!

Getting an Upgrade (15 points)
Construct a better pickaxe.

The Lie (40 points)
Bake a cake using wheat, sugar, milk and eggs!

Bake Bread (20 points)
Turn wheat into bread.

Time to Farm! (10 points)
Use planks and sticks to make a hoe.

Acquire Hardware (15 points)
Smelt an iron ingot.

Hot Topic (15 points)
Construct a furnace out of eight cobblestone blocks.

Time to Mine! (10 points)
Use planks and sticks to make a pickaxe.

Benchmarking (10 points)
Craft a workbench with four blocks of wooden planks.

Getting Wood (10 points)
Punch a tree until the block of wood pops out.

Taking Inventory (10 points)
Open your inventory.




Metacritic

Official Xbox Magazine UK 4J has turned in an accomplished port, boasting crisp, high-resolution visuals and a reorganised inventory...In terms of console sims, nothing touches it. Minecraft's world is one that everybody should experience. >>>

GameTrailers Minecraft on the Xbox 360 does an admirable job of reproducing the essence of its forbear, and on the strength of the local co-op, it also manages to improve upon it in a small but essential way. >>>

Destructoid I don't regret the engrossing, addictive, and often boring adventure I've had. No matter how tired I may be by the end of a day's excavating, stone smelting, and undead slaying, I can say that, overall, it was worth the effort. Just about. >>>

Polygon The plethora of in-game tips and tutorials make Minecraft far less intimidating to gamers with little time or patience to stumble around blindly looking for the fun, much of the mystery and discovery of the original game has been stripped away by the very things meant to make it more palatable. >>>

On March 13, 2012, Minecraft avatar items were released on the Xbox Live Marketplace. They are priced between 80 to 240 Microsoft points: you can buy a pig, a creeper, a sheep, a sword, a shirt or a cape for your avatar!











Video
















OXM Introduction
OXM Trolling
Split-Screen Demo
Multiplayer demo feature
Minecon demo
Tutorial mode




Trial version

Full version



Thanks to Ape Gone Insane we have a universal GAF account. Feel free to add it so we can invite people via friends of friends:

Minecraft GAF

If anyone wants to post his/her GT individually, please let me know and I'll update the list!

LIST

1. eisnerguy
2. RebornYeti
3. CrAzYLeGzRDS
4. BattingTITAN
5. pyr0
6. Yes Pringles
7. Raging Begal
8. BinarySquash24
9. Markew001

[snoopeasystreet]

its out next week?

[Mik2121]

Online multiplayer limited to 8 players? Yuck!...

[MRORANGE]

it's on XBLA ? this seems more funny now.

[V_Ben]

It doesn't even have a solid date yet... So surely this isn't appropriate yet.

[MightyHedgehog]

Online multiplayer limited to 8 players? Yuck!...

Maybe, but four-player local split is neat.

[RooMHM]

it's on XBLA ? this seems more funny now.

It's only natural to split the community into two parts : the master race and the dirty console peasants.

[hitoshi]

It doesn't even have a solid date yet... So surely this isn't appropriate yet.

The achievement list is out there, avatar items have been released, a tons of gameplay videos was posted after GDC and moer and more things point to an April release... so it really is appropiate now.

EDIT: I was dumb!

[Kafel]

It's only natural to split the community into two parts : the master race and the dirty console peasants.

isn't this shit bannable ?

[V_Ben]

The achievement list is out there, avatar items have been released, a tons of gameplay videos was posted after GDC and moer and more things point to an April release... so it really is appropiate now.

Usually OTs are put up a week before release, so as we don't have a date, nope. :)

[mrklaw]

Lack of cross platform multiplayer is understandable but disappointing.

[hitoshi]

Usually OTs are put up a week before release, so as we don't have a date, nope. :)

Then I am sorry. A mod can delete it.

[BigNastyCurve]

Too soooooooooon!

(edit: just messin' with ya - I don't have a dog in this hunt)

[Bomber Bob]

Lack of cross platform multiplayer is understandable but disappointing.

that's an xbox live limitation

[truly101]

isn't this shit bannable ?

No, PC gamers have been allowed to troll console owners forever on GAF. The reverse does not hold true.

I might check this out when it drops just to see what the fuss is about. I enjoyed Torchlight when it made its way to XBLA.

[Game Analyst]

I am really looking forward to this game. 0_o

[Valnen]

No, PC gamers have been allowed to troll console owners forever on GAF. The reverse does not hold true.

Oh wow =/.

[SailorDaravon]

Fuck, seeing this thread I thought this meant it was out next week :/

[Dabanton]

isn't this shit bannable ?

In the make my PC 2012 thread it says on the banner that "master race is not Gaf appropriate in 2012".

Maybe a mod can clear up what that means in the case of using those terms. Either way this master race/console peasant nonsense does nothing but start shit and derail actual discussion.

It was mildy amusing at first but as with most things on the internet it's been run into the ground.

[Jockel]

Aw man, I thought it was out now.

[Gowans]

Yeah I thought there was a release date, has to be soon.

Can't wait for this with easy online.

Bought because its awesome and Notch is god tier.

[abracadaver]

Do we know if its 30 or 60 fps ?

[Doffen]

The game isn't done yet.

http://twitter.com/#!/Kappische/stat...02343477805056

[legacyzero]

NO NOTCH NOOOOOOO!!! I cant buy this game again!!

Bad enough I'm addicted to this shit on the PC. Plus I heard that this is a very early version of Minecraft that isn't like today's version on PC. So if I DO but this game, I'll wait a bit until they start rolling out patches.

[Stumpokapow]

The game isn't done yet. http://twitter.com/#!/Kappische/stat...02343477805056

the dumbest thing about that initial tweet is that XBLA games don't come out on Saturdays :p

Edit: Please PM a currently online mod a week before release

[hitoshi]

New avatar items were released yesterday:

http://playxbla.com/all-new-minecraf...now-available/

I have updated the OP, thanks for Evilore for reopening the topic!

[Rekubot]

I'm in. The inclusion of splitscreen alone makes this worth a purchase.

[ckohler]

I'm really looking forward to this. I played Minecraft for like six months straight until I got burnt out. I even used to livestream it. Playing on Xbox gives me an excuse to give it another go.

The only downside I've seen to this version is that it appears that online is only peer-to-peer. You can start a new world and up to seven of your XBL friends can join your game world (you can have multiple worlds). However, when YOU leave the game you end the server and the others can't continue playing. I don't have definitive evidence that this is how it works but from the video I've seen and the options on the menus, this seems to be the case.

Aside from that, it's pretty feature rich (it's not like that simplified iPad version). You can build redstone contraptions and everything.

[Borman]

From everything Ive seen of the game, it is actually really, really nice. Even on split-screen, the framerate looks to hold up really well. One complaint from some of the people with the game already is that the worlds are a bit small, which might be disappointing.

[ckohler]

Here's a couple of brand new gameplay videos posted just few days ago (April 26) by the UK Official Xbox Magazine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jt9dHr0Veo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijxL6M4-h3w

[Shadow Hog]

From everything Ive seen of the game, it is actually really, really nice. Even on split-screen, the framerate looks to hold up really well. One complaint from some of the people with the game already is that the worlds are a bit small, which might be disappointing.

Wait, they're not infinite?

[CitizenCope]

I still don't get this game after watching numerous videos. What's the hook? I'm almost tempted to purchase this without "getting it" as millions of people can't be wrong, right?

[BruiserBear]

I still don't get this game after watching numerous videos. What's the hook? I'm almost tempted to purchase this without "getting it" as millions of people can't be wrong, right?

I've been wondering the same thing. What's the hook?

[ckohler]

I've been wondering the same thing. What's the hook?

Basically, it's a survival/creation game. The game world is like a giant lego set that you explore and can build upon. Every world you generate is like a fractal painting and is completely unique. You can play alone or with friends and build anything your imagination and time allows. At night, monsters come out and you have to survive until the morning. There is massive depth to all the things you can find/combine/build/do.

Here was PA's take on it:

[-Yeti]

Wow, this thread is old haha.

I'm so pumped for this! I bought this for PC, but my laptop sucks and can barely even run Minecraft! So, this being on 360 is like a dream come true.

[Ranger X]

I still don't get this game after watching numerous videos. What's the hook? I'm almost tempted to purchase this without "getting it" as millions of people can't be wrong, right?

Millions of people buy Britney Spears albums. Of course they can be wrong. You have to know first what you are purchasing.
Minecraft is the only true sandbox game available right now. This means its a game in wich your thrown into a world and then you discover what there is to do by yourself and find goals for yourself. Just like a sandbox doesn't tell the kid what to do in order to have fun, Minecraft doesn't hold any hands (except their achievements that will sort of guide you). If you don't like games that are entirely non-linear, RUN THE FUCK AWAY. If you want to experience something new, a game that simply isn't partaking into the normal "videogame rules" and is completely open, jump in.

[Addnan]

Hoping someone can answer a little question about the MP.

Will it be like the PC where the MP servers are separate to what you do in your own little world, or will we be able to invite friends into our worlds?

[blamite]

Wow, watching the tutorial video in the OP I'm realizing how out of date the game is compared to the PC version. That combined with the high price... I think I'll pass until this gets updated some more.

[BruiserBear]

Basically, it's a survival/creation game. The game world is like a giant lego set that you explore and can build upon. Every world you generate is like a fractal painting and is completely unique. You can play alone or with friends and build anything your imagination and time allows. At night, monsters come out and you have to survive until the morning. There is massive depth to all the things you can find/combine/build/do.

Millions of people buy Britney Spears albums. Of course they can be wrong. You have to know first what you are purchasing. Minecraft is the only true sandbox game available right now. This means its a game in wich your thrown into a world and then you discover what there is to do by yourself and find goals for yourself. Just like a sandbox doesn't tell the kid what to do in order to have fun, Minecraft doesn't hold any hands (except their achievements that will sort of guide you). If you don't like games that are entirely non-linear, RUN THE FUCK AWAY. If you want to experience something new, a game that simply isn't partaking into the normal "videogame rules" and is completely open, jump in.

Hmm. I have a feeling this is a game I'd like to think I would enjoy, but in reality I'll find myself lost and bored after a couple hours. I should just give the demo a shot though.

[Ranger X]

Hmm. I have a feeling this is a game I'd like to think I would enjoy, but in reality I'll find myself lost and bored after a couple hours. I should just give the demo a shot though.

Yes, downloading the trial and playing it is always the way to go.

[ckohler]

Minecraft doesn't hold any hands (except their achievements that will sort of guide you).

Actually, in an effort to draw in more people, the Xbox version includes an optional gameplay tutorial for first time players. Also, the crafting system has been completely redone for controllers to include the recipes so you don't have to look them up online or figure them out through trial and error.

[Santiako]

What does this version not have that the pc already has? I have the pc version but I'd rather play it on the xbox.

[Ranger X]

Actually, in an effort to draw in more people, the Xbox version includes an optional gameplay tutorial for first time players. Also, the crafting system has been completely redone for controllers to include the recipes so you don't have to look them up online or figure them out through trial and error.

Oh!! wow.
I didn't remember that, that's true. Oh well, I think it's good and would help more people being drawn in.

What does this version not have that the pc already has? I have the pc version but I'd rather play it on the xbox.

As far as I know it's based on the Minecraft PC release version 1.0
This means you are missing the lastest terrain generation algorythm, snow in taiga biomes, jungle biomes and what it contains (different sort of woods, cats, etc)
It's not like you missing THAT much. The game was already pretty awesome at 1.0

[animlboogy]

Actually, in an effort to draw in more people, the Xbox version includes a full gameplay tutorial for first time players. Also, the crafting system has been completely redone for controllers to include the recipes so you don't have to look them up online or figure them out through trial and error.

I'll admit that I'm one of those assholes who enjoyed the community aspect of learning recipes from friends, figuring out basics on your own, and and looking up the rest on community wikis and forums. I get them doing this on consoles, though, as it isn't really fair to put out a game that makes people look up information constantly on that platform.

I'm sure it'll come to the PC eventually. And it will be a good thing overall. Something will be lost, though.

Maybe, but four-player local split is neat.

!!!

The time is now for me to start lobbying Mojang at every turn to include this in the PC version with controller support. This alone makes the 360 version pretty damn compelling even if you have the updated PC version.

Oh, and kudos to Microsoft in general for including a game like this on their service, especially considering all the updates and upcoming mod support. I've left console gaming almost completely because I'm tired of all the limitations, with stuff like MMOs getting working 360 ports canceled (Champions Online) and Team Fortress 2 being what it is. More like this, please, and I'd be happy to let the convenience of a console re-enter my life.

I Aside from that, it's pretty feature rich (it's not like that simplified iPad version). You can build redstone contraptions and everything.

I'm still pretty annoyed with that situation. When it was announced my mind went right to it pretty much being like the PC version, except with slower updates due to the approval process. The update that added enemies feels like adding insult to injury more than anything. It's that worthless. It does run nicely on my iPhone 3GS, I'll give them that.

[Infamous Chris]

Day fucking one. Double dip get!

[Santiako]

As far as I know it's based on the Minecraft PC release version 1.0 This means you are missing the lastest terrain generation algorythm, snow in taiga biomes, jungle biomes and what it contains (different sort of woods, cats, etc) It's not like you missing THAT much. The game was already pretty awesome at 1.0

OK, I'll definitely double dip then. I was thinking this was missing the Nether or something big like that.

[ckohler]

What does this version not have that the pc already has? I have the pc version but I'd rather play it on the xbox.

• Maximum of 8 players online per each xbox-hosted world
• Online games are peer-to-peer only. Once the host quits playing, other players must quit. (This isn't confirmed but seems to be the case).
• Size of game worlds are probably fixed versus being unlimited. Again, not confirmed.
• Devs say it is a few point releases behind the PC version (but not by much, apparently) however they plan to release title updates to bring it up to parity with the PC version.
• Can't use skins, yet. That will likely be added in a future title update.
• Can't use mods (obviously).

That's all I can think of.

[TheMan]

looks interesting, but 1600 fuckpoints is asking too much. Trials evolution was only 1200!

my question: how different is fortresscraft than this? i'd like to get into the genre and at 3 bucks, fortresscraft might make a good intro if it doesn't suck. Thanks.

[Infamous Chris]

looks interesting, but 1600 fuckpoints is asking too much. Trials evolution was only 1200! my question: how different is fortresscraft than this? i'd like to get into the genre and at 3 bucks, fortresscraft might make a good intro if it doesn't suck. Thanks.

Why? It's cheaper than the PC version. And it has more replay value than most retail games.

[OrangeOak]

Do you have to fight at night or can you simply hide ?
It sounds like I Am Legend so I am interested ;P.