Golden Joystick recently announced Minecraft as the 2011 best downloadable game award winner.
"More of a phenomenon than just a game - Minecraft is without doubt the biggest thing to happen to digital entertainment in a long time," the Golden Joystick's website stated of Minecraft.
Minecraft has over 15 million users now and is still growing.
Earlier this month, Minecraft also won two Game Developers Choice Online Awards. The two awards they won were Best Community Relations and Best Live Game.
This is the 2nd year for the GDC online awards, but the 29th year of the Golden Joystick awards, also known as People's Gaming Awards. They have several different categories including best shooter, best MMO and best RPG.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Mojang can continue use of "Scrolls" for now
Mojang founder Markus "Notch" Peterson updated the status of the Mojang vs. Bethesda court case via Twitter yesterday, October 18.
"We won the interim injunction! We can keep using the name "Scrolls." ZeniMax/Bethesda can still appeal the ruling, but I'm very happy," Notch tweated.
An interim injunction is a court order prohibiting someone from taking an action until the court has come to a full decision. Bethesda wanted a Swedish court to order Mojang to discontinue the use of the name "Scrolls" until the court can decide whether Mojang is infringing on the "Elder Scrolls" trademark.
Bethesda failed, and Mojang can continue using Scrolls for now. This means a one up for Mojang, but it doesn't mean they've won. Bethesda could try to appeal the court's judgement or continue with the lawsuit anyway.
But chances look bleak for Bethesda. It would waste months to try and repeal the court ruling. Plus, the court clearly prefers Mojang's case to Bethesda's, otherwise they wouldn't have ruled the way they did.
Bethesda isn't giving up though. But Notch says he thinks there is something more to this case.
"When Bethesda contacted us, we offered both to change the name to 'Scrolls: <some subtitle>' and to give up the trademark," Notch said in a blog post. "They refused on both counts. Whatever reason they have for suing us, it's not a fear of us having a trademark on the word Scrolls, as we're offered to give that up."
"We won the interim injunction! We can keep using the name "Scrolls." ZeniMax/Bethesda can still appeal the ruling, but I'm very happy," Notch tweated.
An interim injunction is a court order prohibiting someone from taking an action until the court has come to a full decision. Bethesda wanted a Swedish court to order Mojang to discontinue the use of the name "Scrolls" until the court can decide whether Mojang is infringing on the "Elder Scrolls" trademark.
Bethesda failed, and Mojang can continue using Scrolls for now. This means a one up for Mojang, but it doesn't mean they've won. Bethesda could try to appeal the court's judgement or continue with the lawsuit anyway.
But chances look bleak for Bethesda. It would waste months to try and repeal the court ruling. Plus, the court clearly prefers Mojang's case to Bethesda's, otherwise they wouldn't have ruled the way they did.
Bethesda isn't giving up though. But Notch says he thinks there is something more to this case.
"When Bethesda contacted us, we offered both to change the name to 'Scrolls: <some subtitle>' and to give up the trademark," Notch said in a blog post. "They refused on both counts. Whatever reason they have for suing us, it's not a fear of us having a trademark on the word Scrolls, as we're offered to give that up."
Bethesda suing Mojang over use of game name
For those Minecraft players who don't know, the gaming company Bethesda is suing Mojang, the company that made Minecraft.
Bethesda started the lawsuit after Mojang announced a fantasy card-trading game they are creating called Scrolls. Bethesda's attorney sent Mojang a letter in August stating that the name "Scrolls" would cause confusion with Bethesda's own trademark Elder Scrolls, a role-playing game.
Mojang co-owner Markus Notch Persson initially challenged Bethesda via his blog to settle the suit like true gamers, by playing the video game Quake 3.
"If we win, you drop the lawsuit. If you win, we will change the name of Scrolls to something you're fine with. I'm serious by the way," Notch said in his blog.
Notch later told Wired magazine that Quake 3 wasn't the best choice since Bethesda technically owns the game. But he said the match would "bring both parties a lot of good PR."
Bethesda declined the offer and continued with the lawsuit. Notch started out feeling lighthearted about the whole thing.
"I love Bethesda," Notch said in an August blog post. "I assume this nonsense is partly just their lawyers being lawyers."
Lawyers spent a lot of time in discussion before the lawsuit went to court, and Notch referred to the legalities as "terribly boring."
But as the lawsuit got more serious in September, Mojang had to come to grips with it. The independent company started getting more serious about the situation.
"If we're going to court, I will fight this for as long as it takes," Notch said. "It's a bogus claim, and they have several one-word-named games that share a noun with other games."
While Notch is developing a more fiery attitude towards the lawsuit, Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines is trying to maintain a more diplomatic stance.
"Nobody here enjoys being forced into this. Hopefully it will be resolved soon," Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines said.
The difference between Mojang and Bethesda is definitely visible. Mojang is a small independent company started only a year ago that's famous for one game: Minecraft. Mojang employees are allowed to invent their own job titles.
Bethesda is a huge, international gaming country that's famous for several games including Rage and the Fallout games. The company has also bought other smaller game companies.
So, while Notch is making this lawsuit more personal by tweeting and blogging about it, Hines is focusing on keeping their case within the court.
"This is a business matter based on how trademark law works," Hines said. "and it will continue to be dealt with by lawyers who understand it, not by me or our developers."
Bethesda started the lawsuit after Mojang announced a fantasy card-trading game they are creating called Scrolls. Bethesda's attorney sent Mojang a letter in August stating that the name "Scrolls" would cause confusion with Bethesda's own trademark Elder Scrolls, a role-playing game.
Mojang co-owner Markus Notch Persson initially challenged Bethesda via his blog to settle the suit like true gamers, by playing the video game Quake 3.
"If we win, you drop the lawsuit. If you win, we will change the name of Scrolls to something you're fine with. I'm serious by the way," Notch said in his blog.
Notch later told Wired magazine that Quake 3 wasn't the best choice since Bethesda technically owns the game. But he said the match would "bring both parties a lot of good PR."
Bethesda declined the offer and continued with the lawsuit. Notch started out feeling lighthearted about the whole thing.
"I love Bethesda," Notch said in an August blog post. "I assume this nonsense is partly just their lawyers being lawyers."
Lawyers spent a lot of time in discussion before the lawsuit went to court, and Notch referred to the legalities as "terribly boring."
But as the lawsuit got more serious in September, Mojang had to come to grips with it. The independent company started getting more serious about the situation.
"If we're going to court, I will fight this for as long as it takes," Notch said. "It's a bogus claim, and they have several one-word-named games that share a noun with other games."
While Notch is developing a more fiery attitude towards the lawsuit, Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines is trying to maintain a more diplomatic stance.
"Nobody here enjoys being forced into this. Hopefully it will be resolved soon," Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines said.
The difference between Mojang and Bethesda is definitely visible. Mojang is a small independent company started only a year ago that's famous for one game: Minecraft. Mojang employees are allowed to invent their own job titles.
Bethesda is a huge, international gaming country that's famous for several games including Rage and the Fallout games. The company has also bought other smaller game companies.
So, while Notch is making this lawsuit more personal by tweeting and blogging about it, Hines is focusing on keeping their case within the court.
"This is a business matter based on how trademark law works," Hines said. "and it will continue to be dealt with by lawyers who understand it, not by me or our developers."
Friday, October 7, 2011
Minecraft users offer varied reactions to Pocket Edition
Picture provided by OSX2000 on the Minecraft forums
Minecraft players are manifesting mixed reactions to today’s release of Minecraft - Pocket Edition.
“Works like a dream and feels just like its big brother. Yes, it lacks some features but these will come soon. Worth the money,” Minecraft player Hitch said on a Droid Marketplace review.
But some Minecraft players are disappointed to find out that Minecraft - Pocket Edition does not yet include survival mode.
"For the initial release of the game on the rest of the android devices, this has turned out great. I patiently await the eventual release of survival," one player said on Droid Marketplace review.
Other players have issues with Pocket Edition controls.
An anonymous review on the Android Marketplace read, “Seriously Mojang you just just ****ed the game up with this update... We need the xperia controls back!!”
The review was referring to the controls used on the Xperia version of Minecraft - Pocket Version which came out in August. Some players prefer those controls to the ones on the new version.
Some players are more optimistic than others about the differences between the two games.
“The controls aren’t so responsive, the d-pad’s not so great. But again, this isn’t fully implemented. Give it time and it will be awesome. I have faith,” Minecraft player Barry said on a Droid Marketplace review.
Some players suggest that Mojang release Minecraft on other devices and gaming consoles, but...
“No on the 3DS version. Seeing creepers jump out in 3D would make me never play Minecraft again,” Minecraft player R3Miixmaster commented on a wireless.ign.com article.
There is also the confusion of who has to pay the $6.99 for Pocket Edition and who doesn’t.
“It would be nice if people who bought the game on the computer could get the pocket edition for free,” Minecraft player Gunbros21 commented on a wireless.ign.com article about Pocket Edition.
Other players commented that Minecraft agreed to give all future versions for free to players who had bought Minecraft while it was still in alpha mode, but it is still undetermined how previous owners can get the edition for free, if they can.
Picture provided by Psychonauticus on the Minecraft forums
Minecraft released for Droid devices
Today marked the world-wide release of Minecraft - Pocket Edition for all Android devices.
Minecraft - Pocket Edition was set to come out on September 29, but Mojang pushed it forward until today because of a bug found within the game.
That wait caused even more excitement amongst Minecraft players for this release, and they are not wasting any time buying copies for their smart phones.
One player tweeted: "Trying out #Minecraft pocket edition on my phone works really good just can't wait til it's survival."
Though Minecraft - Pocket Edition does not include survival mode, it includes all the features available in Minecraft creative mode. Players can mine materials and build as much as they want.
Players move around in the game by pressing the arrows on the screen, and they look around by sweeping the screen with their thumbs. They click to place blocks, and they hold down in one spot to remove blocks.
Another thing available in Minecraft - Pocket Edition is the ability for multi-player worlds, and sharing worlds from phone to phone.
The release of Minecraft - Pocket Edition is a big step for Mojang, but they said they would continue working on the game.
"Just like the PC/Mac/Linux version of Minecraft we're planning to continue developing the Pocket Edition for a long time with frequent updates," Daniel Kaplan, Mojand developer, wrote on the Mojang website. "We're looking forward to engaging in further discussions with our community as we take the next step for the Pocket Edition."
See the video below for more information.
See the video below for more information.
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