We don't even need to explain what Minecraft is to you. You'd recognise the iconic pickaxe icon, the creeper head and the block-based open world from miles off. After the game's release in 2011, it quickly grew to become the second most popular video game of all time right behind Tetris. It has over 200 million active players and is a multi-millionaire company in terms of merchandise, there's even talks of the UK opening an official Minecraft theme park! Plus did we mention the new Minecraft Movie that's out now...
In this blog, we take a look at how the game got so popular, and why its main features allowed it to really outshine the competition... for almost 2 decades!
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Did Minecraft release in 2009 or 2011? - The first public game was released in 2009 and was a Java programming language nicknamed Cave Game. In 2011, the game was fully developed and released officially as Minecraft. So when people ask when the game was released, technically the answer is twice!
What made Minecraft unique?
The first reason why Minecraft is such a popular, family favourite game is the fact that every player can play the game in a unique way. No one will ever have an identical Minecraft experience. Maybe you like being creative and want to build the best palace, hotel, or restaurant... or perhaps you just want to take on survival mode and reach The End.
When you game you can take on any personality you'd like, a miner, a famers, a roller coaster operator, build an empire, destroy the world and so much more!
Are all maps the same in Minecraft?
If you get bored mid-game, make a mistake or genuinely just want a fresh start, Minecraft has the option to start a new game alongside your current one. And with the new world seed, each spawned will be completely new, meaning you'll have much more to explore. And of course, will so many different, ever growing biomes in Minecraft, there's always something new to see.
How many biomes are in Minecraft?
- Plains
- Ice plains
- Savanna
- Forest
- Flower forest
- Snowy taiga
- Bamboo jungle
- Grove
- Cherry grove
- Caves
- Swamps
- Badlands
- Desert
- River
- Frozen river
- The Nether
- The End
Is Minecraft an educational game?
Considering the game is based on defeating blocky enemies and surviving this block-like realm, the game is very educational. It allows children to understand problem-solving and gets their creativity to flow. And (although targeted for older children) the Redstone crafting and creations can be a great introduction to the world of physics and science. Not to mention the Minecraft Education edition made specifically for teaching children.
Was there ever a Minecraft 2?
And finally, whilst there are a couple of spin-offs and recreations by other companies of the game, there's essentially only one Minecraft. We never got a Minecraft sequel, and this is simply because the game doesn't need it. It gets enough updates and regular bug fixes that we don't actually need a completely fresh version of this game. It's great for the game's reputation and durability.
Why is Minecraft so therapeutic?
At Custom Controllers, we've got a personal reason why we think Minecraft is so popular. For one its gameplay is appealing to younger audiences because they can design, create and destroy. And for older audiences the game is very therapeutic. I quite enjoy mentally switching off, logging into a Minecraft open world and designing whatever comes to mind with no care! It gives us something to do and takes the mind away from the daily responsibilities of adulthood, we get to feel like kids again. Does anyone else agree?
- Cave Game - 2009
- Minecraft - 2011
- Minecraft Pocket Edition - 2011
- Minecraft Story Mode - 2015
- Minecraft Education - 2016
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Conclusion:
Minecraft is definitely an iconic, household-name video game that will continue to entertain us and our young ones for years and years to come. What was your favourite thing you ever made in Minecraft? And are you going to see the movie? We want to know!
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