Minecraft

File:Minecraft explore landscape.png

File:Minecraft Mobs.png

Minecraft is a sandbox video game developed by Mojang Studios. The game was created by Markus "Notch" Persson in the Java programming language and was released as a public alpha for PC on May 17, 2009, before being fully released on November 18, 2011. Minecraft has since been ported to various platforms and has become one of the best-selling video games of all time.

Gameplay

Minecraft is a game that allows players to explore a blocky, procedurally-generated 3D world with infinite terrain. Players can discover and extract raw materials, craft tools and items, and build structures or earthworks. Depending on the game mode, players can also fight computer-controlled "mobs," as well as cooperate with or compete against other players in the same world.

Game Modes

Minecraft offers several game modes, each providing a different experience:

• Survival Mode: Players must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health.
• Creative Mode: Players have unlimited resources to build with and the ability to fly.
• Adventure Mode: Players can play custom maps created by other players with certain restrictions.
• Spectator Mode: Players can freely move throughout a world without being affected by gravity or other game mechanics.
• Hardcore Mode: A variant of survival mode with the difficulty set to the hardest setting and permadeath, meaning the player cannot respawn.

Development

Minecraft was initially developed by Markus Persson, who later founded Mojang to continue development. The game was inspired by several earlier titles, including Dwarf Fortress, Dungeon Keeper, and Infiniminer. After its initial release, Minecraft received critical acclaim and was purchased by Microsoft in 2014 for $2.5 billion.

Community and Modding

Minecraft has a large and active community that contributes to the game through mods, custom maps, and servers. The modding community has created a wide variety of modifications that add new gameplay mechanics, items, and features to the game. Custom maps and servers offer unique experiences, ranging from mini-games to role-playing servers.

Educational Use

Minecraft has been used as an educational tool in various settings. Its open-ended nature allows educators to use it to teach subjects such as mathematics, history, and computer programming. The game encourages creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among students.

Also see

• Markus Persson
• Mojang Studios
• Sandbox game
• Procedural generation
• Video game development