What a great documentary! It seems he gathered some nice people around him developing minecraft.
What I found interesting is when Markus asked himself what would be the final version. My 2 cts would be that the whole point is that it’s like this unique synergy of the Minecraft developers and players being creative and imaginative. In my opinion that’s what Minecraft is all about. It’s not about working towards a final version, it’s about keeping this synergy alive and building upon it.
As I see it, the v1.0 version is the version that you release to sell. I mean, seeing the numbers of customers that are loving it as it is, it seems a bit hard to keep up the notion that it’s still in Beta. It might as well be 1.0 already?
The trick is as long as they are in beta, they have an easy way to increase the price again (“we’ve been telling you for months we would do it!”). The timing could work out perfectly (sell rate will eventually go down, at which point the game can leave beta status and need less sales to make up for it).
But even that is a gamble. Would he still be getting 10k new sales per day if the discount never existed? That’s the big question of many businesses (and nearly impossible to A/B test when you have significant visibility)
Watched the docu, really cool.
Great to see that Markus built up a company that is continuing his vision.
It shows that all this was for the fun and enjoyment of making the game, not just for profit.
I must admit I envy Markus. Not for the fame and fortune, but the peace of mind he now must have.
No financial worries and being able to do what you love to do. That I envy!
Great job Markus! Move over Carmack, we have a new star.
Though if it were my game, I would sell it soon. Now it is the hype and you are making a lot of money. But one day the hype will fade.
Even if my heart hangs on it, instead I would sell it and concentrate on TheGameAfterMinecraft.
But that is just me.
So I met Markus yesterday at GDC, and I asked him why he doesn’t come back to JGO anymore. He said he can’t remember his password.
He was very nice and humble, entertaining a woman who was close to nutjob status, whooping loudly, running around all excited, hugging him, all that stuff. There were also several super dorky guys treating him like they were his best friend, so by the time I got to him I figured I would rather make it short and professional. So I can gratulated him on Minecraft’s success, asked him a bit about JGO, and said bye.
But, even though I was acting like I was just meeting another member of the JGO community, I also wanted to meet him because I admire him, I’ll admit it.
[quote=“Eli Delventhal,post:372,topic:33567”]
Hallelujah for being poor! ;D
I’d love to meet him though, he’s a nice guy - I hope the super-dorks don’t turn him cynical.
A Minecraft event is currently on to build Christchurchs Cathedral(and other things like Japans flag), that was badly damage in the earthquake. Which all donations go aiding those who have lost homes and families. http://www.minecraftforchristchurch.org.nz/