I've Been Digging Around...

Oh.

Hi there, I've been gone a while. That is because there is an indie game that has been taking the Internet by storm and that has taken my life over. That game is Minecraft.

If you have not heard of the game, allow me to enlighten you. The game started development in 2009 by Markus "Notch" Persson. Released to the public in a pre-alpha state, and having just hit the beta stage in December 2010, the game has hit ONE MILLION total sales just last month.

Now this popular game must have the sweetest graphics and you will need a high end computer to play, one might ask.

No and yes. The beauty of this game is the look and the feel of the game. It is a 3D open sandbox block game about construction and I could leave it at that because there is currently no story or goal to the game yet, but why has something so seemingly simple attracted so many fans?

It's the detail within the game. You start off plopped on a map during the day. The map in the game is randomly generated and infinate. Hope that you are spawned near some trees because that is one of the first things you need to harvest. Once you harvest the lumber, you can then craft it into wooden planks, and from there you can craft a crafting table.

From there you need to craft a wooden pick axe and find some coal to harvest to make torches and a small fort before the day is through because at night, zombies, spiders and other enimies will sneak up on you with little to no warning.

You continue a pattern of building during the day and digging during the night. You can find iron, gold, and diamond to craft with. and there are way more building materials than I would like to list on this blog.

You can also find Red Dust, which is used to make circuts and even make your own traps. The level of though that has gone into this game is insane. One can only wonder what will be added to the final version.

Speaking of the final version, Notch ended up forming his own company and hired people to help him develop the game.

The beauty of the game is you are in control of the design of the city and the what you want to add. It's even better when you log on to a multiplayer server. Getting to see and interact with others creations gives inspirations on what you can do.

What did I do last week? I make a hockey arena. The week before? A skyscraper. Before that? spent 6 days explore a cave system that was naturally formed under my city. What have I seen others do? Oh, how about making a Cake Dispenser of DEATH! (awesome I know)

While the game is still in development, Notch is giving a discount to those how purchase the beta. which I belive still clocks in under $20. This is $20 that will be well invested. So have fun and check it out. I got more digging to do.