Coming from humble beginnings in 2009, Minecraft started as a small sandbox game developed by Mojang Studios. Notch, Minecraft’s creator, learned several different programming languages before settling on Javascript for Minecraft’s engine. Minecraft started out very differently, Notch first created Infiniminier a block-based open-ended mining game, before starting on Minecraft. He learned many different things from his original games, before eventually implanting them into Minecraft. His story has inspired many gamers and programmers alike because Minecraft creation was full of the trial and error that many programmers have come to expect when creating a game or software.
Innovation
Minecraft set the standard for what an open-world sandbox game should be; other games have tried to capture the lightning in the bottle that the game had. Minecraft may look simple in nature, however, even at its base form was full of complex systems and a gameplay loop that kept gamers hooked. Simple is sometimes better. What made Minecraft so unique, is that anyone could have created it. On a modest budget and with no state-of-the-art machinery, Notch created a cultural phenomenon. Every would-be programmer is waiting to make their first Minecraft.
What made Minecraft so special was its simple design allowed for plenty of experimentation and it all ran smoothly. Randomly generated worlds and quick spawning biomes meant that the designers were not saddled with creating a detailed level design. With the systems in place through the team’s programming, the world and levels created themselves. Every player’s game was unique to them. The programmer’s goal was complete freedom, players had the opportunity to do whatever they want and whenever they want; the game had no end.
Modding
Another innovative and user-friendly addition Minecraft had was an easy-to-access developer kit. Users could create whatever they wanted from Minecraft’s code and engine. Some user mods would greatly change the game; adding new systems and functions that transformed gameplay.
These mods sometimes eclipsed the base game. Game launchers such as Feed the Beast or Tekkit player complied all user mods into one ready-to-go software. These mods were all made on no budget and were all passion projects created by players of the base game. These mods would sometimes lead to the creators being offered jobs within the studios or beyond. Notch’s original inspiring story led his players to follow a similar path.
These mods would all focus on different aspects of the game, giving the creators a wide portfolio to use to gain further work. Some mods changed the lighting engine of the game, the water physics, or even changing how a base function like crafting worked. These mods were the results of weeks or even months’ worth of work; all built out of a passion for the base game. Mods became an essential part of the game while Mojang was independent. Players would buy a PC just to play a modded version of Minecraft. Many who grew up playing this version of the game, would often learn more about the process and research coding languages to see how it was all possible.
Minecon
Minecon is an annual convention based entirely around the game, hosted by those close to Mojang studios. The convention would go over new content, have competitions with Minecraft YouTube content creators, and feature a panel where coding of the game was discussed with developers.
Players of all ages would attend these conventions, learning more about the ins and outs of how the game was made. Some would-be mod creators would ask the developers for tips on how best to approach a certain idea. This close relationship that players could have with the developers was an incredible experience for setting them on their path to becoming a programmer. The developers would take time out of their schedules to pass down wisdom to these programmers.
Later on, in the convention’s history, mod developers were eventually given a space to discuss the creation of their own mods. These developers started out as little more than fans of the games, who created their own passion projects, and were not given the space to discuss their process and inspire others. This grass-roots approach to programming meant that other potential programmers could see that anyone had the potential to become a programmer.
Conclusion
Minecraft continues to be a powerhouse of the gaming field; with the player base still going strong every year. While the modding community has changed somewhat after Mojang’s purchase by Microsoft, the game still invites users to try their hand at programming and create their own mods from the game’s source code. The game is still as impressive as the day it was first created, with the developers still working hard to innovate and add to the experience. If you have yet to have played Minecraft and are eager to try, Minecraft can be played free here at minecraftforfreex.
