Minecraft Factsheet

KEY TERMS...

• Digitally convergent media- video games consoles are an excellent example of digitally convergent device, you can not only play games but access social media, surf the internet, streams films and TV content  and upload content into cloud based servers. Cross-media content helps maximise profits and also improve reach to new customers.

• Production- this refers to all phrases of designing, developing and making the media product. 

• Distribution- this refers to all processes linked to delivering the media product to audiences both through tangible (disc) and digitally (cloud based) media. 

• Consumption- explores the way in which the media text is used by audiences for pleasure but also explores the rise of user generated content across several platforms. 

Minecraft...

• Minecraft is a sandbox game, created and developed by Swedish based Mojang Studios. 
• The game has been described as a virtual world of Lego that involves following simple instructions in order to play it : explore, mine and build. 
• Users only have to log in and proceed to create a world full of textured 3D cubes. 
• There are predominantly two game modes: Creative or Survival, although more recent additions include Adventure, Spectator and also Multi-Player Modes.
• In November 2011, prior to the game's official release, Minecraft had over 16 million registered and 4 million purchases. 
• Due to it's popularity, Minecraft was released across multiple platforms becoming a commercially viable franchise with increased interactivity. 
• Minecraft: Pocket Edition was released on Sony Xperia Play, available on Sony Xperia smartphones. Minecraft also became on Android and iOS devices shortly after. 
• Modern versions of the game, notably Minecraft: Story Mode, follow more of the recognisable institutional conventions of game development including tutorials on how to play the game, something the original Minecraft series never had. 
• In a global context, the purchase of Mojang by Microsoft studios for US$2.5 Billion is a testament to lucrative industry and global appeal of such a game across different platforms. 

The relationship of recent technological change and media, production, distribution and circulation. 

• Due to the original nature of the game, most players simply logged in to play Minecraft and did not need a physical copy of the game. 
• When the Xbox and PlayStation versions were created there was often a chance to offer digital versions of the same game across the Windows 10 operating system to promote the Microsoft bran across home computers, a form of synergy. 
• Users were often encouraged to download the game through the cloud servers rather than a physical copy of the game which would incur more of a cost for the institution.
• The pattern of release for Minecraft shows that physical copies are often released six months after the downloadable version, most likely as a way to limit the impact of piracy, hacking and file sharing. 

The significant of patterns of ownership and control, including conglomerate ownership, vertical integration and diversification. 

• Mojang Studios, which is now owned by Microsoft Studios, a division of the parent company, Microsoft. 
• Mojang Studios is their only first-party studio in Europe.
• Given the nature of the parent company and the loyal fan base of PC gamers, it was in the company's interest to invest US$2.5 Billion to purchase Mojang for long term revenue. 
• Other collaboration with gamers developers include Telltale Games who helped develop the Minecraft: Story Mode in 2015. 
• The PlayStation versions were developed by 4J Studios. 

• Formats- by 2012, Minecraft was available for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. In 2013, Minecraft: Pi Edition, meant for educational purposes for novice programmes and players, was also released. In 2014, Microsoft acquired Minecraft intellectual property for $2.5 billion. In 2015, it reached 30 million copies sold. To date, over 121 official copies of the game have been sold across a variety of formats and platforms. 
• Distribution- versions of the game can be purchased over the internet using such outlets the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade. Recent additions include the Nintendo platform which was excluded from the initial Minecraft releases; available to download for December 2015 with physical copies from June 2016 and most recently for Nintendo Switch (May 2017) and Nintendo 3DS (download only from September 2017). The Minecraft: Story Mode- A Telltale Games series is also available via Steam.
• Critical Reception- on it's release, the game won five awards at three conferences, including an Innovation Award, Best Debut Game, Best Downloadable Game, Audience Award and Seumas McNally Grand Prize. 
• Genre- Sandbox Game- a game free of structure and constraint; players are free to roam and make choices about how they use available content. Sandbox games are often described as having open world settings. Minecraft later created a hybrid genre with the story versions and is sometimes categorised as sandbox, survival. 
• UK's share of the market is just over $4 billion. China, the fastest growing sector, currently enjoys US$24.4 billion versus America US$23.6 billion.