Minecraft Creator Won't Support Windows 8

[Fasckira]

I dont understand why hes kicking off about this tbh, really dont think introducing a form of app security into the OS is that bad a thing. Admittedly I dont use many non-"big" apps though.

I don't think it's just adding app security though. Admittedly I haven't looked into things too much, but it does sound like having the Windows Store bundled in there gives them an unfair advantage over competitors, and it certainly seems like the potential is there for Microsoft to tighten the reigns on the OS if they chose and start kicking big players off or at least making their lives hell. Not saying they would, but having the ability to is a frightening prospect.

Microsoft have been burned too many times on the old monopoly front though, I think it'd be pretty stupid of them to try it again... but then again, you never know to be honest. You're 100% right though, if they start all locking people in like a year after release when people are sitting on 8, things are going to get messy.

If anything I cant help but feel Notch has been a bit ungrateful here; MS bent over backwards to ensure Minecraft got onto Live (essentially the same thing Windows 8 will be touting), even giving him all that 0-day sales information and stuff. Here they've gone out their way to say, "Look mate, we're doing this on 8 too, would you like to set up getting it approved?" and hes suddenly too good for Microsoft now? Meh.

 

[BrotherRool]

Windows 8 isn't a problem because it will fail. Not necessarily because it's not good, but because since Windows 95 Microsoft have always released two platforms based around a similar design concept and the first is always a failure and the second is always hailed as a return to form. 98 was better than 95, XP better than Millenium Edition, Windows 7 better than Windows Vista and equally Windows 9 will be better than Windows 8 and a lot of people will just wait until 9 is released

 

[Andrewtheeviscerator]

Hm well I guess this means I won't be supporting Minecraft anymore, if he wants to leave a huge amount of his customers out in the dust just because he doesn't like the operating system then I say fuck em' lots of other, far better games out there to play.

 

[Baldr]

I don't care how famous a developer you are or what grudges you have, your first and foremost responsibility is to the players of your game. Even if that means supporting an OS you dislike.

This certification only requires two things: A check to see if the game runs on Win8 and a GDF(game definition file) that requires a minimum of two things. One is the language of the game(there is a language neutral option) and a Ratings System, which you fill out yourself, it also helps parents set parental controls.

There is no requirement for the Windows Store or anything else.

 

[jaymiechan]

i had a roommate who was testing the beta for Win8. Yeah, no way in hell am i ever going to it.

 

[DazZ.]

Hm well I guess this means I won't be supporting Minecraft anymore, if he wants to leave a huge amount of his customers out in the dust just because he doesn't like the operating system then I say fuck em' lots of other, far better games out there to play.

It'll still run on Windows 8, it just won't be Microsoft certified.

 

[FEichinger]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Metro Launch Screen which effectively splits the whole thing into two seperate interfaces, Accounts tied to Windows Live, Software Store forcing similarly expensive certification as for the XBOX. Oh, and it's totally designed for tablets, while it is a desktop OS.

Of course, Minecraft will work the same way as it used to, as a non-certified desktop application. But it shows a "OHMAHGAWD IT'S NOT CERTIFIED, IT MIGHT BE MALWARE!!!!!" message, unless you switch them off, and Microsoft could choose to just plain refuse to allow installing them whenever they like.

Right now I'm glad I'm running Linux and Gaming support is growing.

Thanks for clearing that up... but im curious as to the certification cost which is similar to that of xbox live, does that mean a developer has to pay royalties to Microsoft in order for them to host their product? and would that entail the god awful patch / update process the consoles have to endure? where by a developer has to pay for a patch to go into the certification process before becoming available to download for the general public?

Any game and each patch has to be certified by Microsoft to be available for download through XBOX Live/Windows 8 Store. This includes bugfix patches and patches that cause the bugs to begin with. It won't be available for download until it passed the certification process. So, yes, same shit as with consoles, on a system that's supposedly open. (Of course, right now it's optional, but it's not necessarily unlikely that this changes.)

Hm well I guess this means I won't be supporting Minecraft anymore, if he wants to leave a huge amount of his customers out in the dust just because he doesn't like the operating system then I say fuck em' lots of other, far better games out there to play.

Like how many people use Macs or Linux systems and only recently get decent games, even though the market would be there, because a large amount of people just stays on Windows because there are no other options.

 

[Baldr]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Metro Launch Screen which effectively splits the whole thing into two seperate interfaces, Accounts tied to Windows Live, Software Store forcing similarly expensive certification as for the XBOX. Oh, and it's totally designed for tablets, while it is a desktop OS.

Of course, Minecraft will work the same way as it used to, as a non-certified desktop application. But it shows a "OHMAHGAWD IT'S NOT CERTIFIED, IT MIGHT BE MALWARE!!!!!" message, unless you switch them off, and Microsoft could choose to just plain refuse to allow installing them whenever they like.

Right now I'm glad I'm running Linux and Gaming support is growing.

Thanks for clearing that up... but im curious as to the certification cost which is similar to that of xbox live, does that mean a developer has to pay royalties to Microsoft in order for them to host their product? and would that entail the god awful patch / update process the consoles have to endure? where by a developer has to pay for a patch to go into the certification process before becoming available to download for the general public?

It the same Microsoft developer license fee that is used for Xbox Live, which Mojang already has. If they were to put the game on the Win8 store, they would have to share part of the profits with Microsoft, but that not part of this certification.

 

[Zombie_Moogle]

Why is Microsoft trying to be Apple? I'm pretty sure PC users go with Windows because they prefer it to Apple. I know all that app store money is inviting, but your business comes from people who do not want Apple & us your OS because it isn't Apple. Who at Microsoft thought that going from "incomparably different advantages than competitor" to "inferior version of competitor" was a good idea? In my experience, a lot of the people who use Apple do so for the sleek, fun interface (these things are easily emulated), NOT for the software restrictions

Vista taught them nothing

 

[Smooth Operator]

Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Essentially yes, but they aren't complete idiots so W8 will only come with a built in DRM/distribution service but not prevent you from using others, right now they want to get all possible devs on board so they will have the majority of software under their heel and people would simply not go elsewhere.
Then you can imagine they can start charging some subscription and certification fees, ultimately making it a MS exclusive platform where they take a cut on everything.

But with them getting ass whipped over just the built in browser I imagine this will cost them another few billion in court.

 

[uchytjes]

well, that is the last nail in the coffin containing my desire for windows 8... I already knew that I wouldn't buy it or upgrade anytime soon, but this just settles it.

 

[Zombie_Moogle]

I dont understand why hes kicking off about this tbh, really dont think introducing a form of app security into the OS is that bad a thing. Admittedly I dont use many non-"big" apps though.

I don't think it's just adding app security though. Admittedly I haven't looked into things too much, but it does sound like having the Windows Store bundled in there gives them an unfair advantage over competitors, and it certainly seems like the potential is there for Microsoft to tighten the reigns on the OS if they chose and start kicking big players off or at least making their lives hell. Not saying they would, but having the ability to is a frightening prospect.

Microsoft have been burned too many times on the old monopoly front though, I think it'd be pretty stupid of them to try it again... but then again, you never know to be honest. You're 100% right though, if they start all locking people in like a year after release when people are sitting on 8, things are going to get messy.

If anything I cant help but feel Notch has been a bit ungrateful here; MS bent over backwards to ensure Minecraft got onto Live (essentially the same thing Windows 8 will be touting), even giving him all that 0-day sales information and stuff. Here they've gone out their way to say, "Look mate, we're doing this on 8 too, would you like to set up getting it approved?" and hes suddenly too good for Microsoft now? Meh.

A) Xbox is a game console; software restrictions are unfortunate, but pretty much par for the course. Windows is/was an open platform OS. Taking what is disagreeable about the former & applying it to the latter is a legitimate concern, considering such a thing would have likely prevented Notch from ever creating Minecraft in the first place if this was the case for PC

B) Ungrateful? Microsoft "bent over backwards" because they knew they'd make a boner-inspiring amount of money with Minecraft on Live. Perfectly good reason to go to lengths to make it happen, but hardly a favor to Notch

 

[Rainboq]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Metro Launch Screen which effectively splits the whole thing into two seperate interfaces, Accounts tied to Windows Live, Software Store forcing similarly expensive certification as for the XBOX. Oh, and it's totally designed for tablets, while it is a desktop OS.

Of course, Minecraft will work the same way as it used to, as a non-certified desktop application. But it shows a "OHMAHGAWD IT'S NOT CERTIFIED, IT MIGHT BE MALWARE!!!!!" message, unless you switch them off, and Microsoft could choose to just plain refuse to allow installing them whenever they like.

Right now I'm glad I'm running Linux and Gaming support is growing.

Thanks for clearing that up... but im curious as to the certification cost which is similar to that of xbox live, does that mean a developer has to pay royalties to Microsoft in order for them to host their product? and would that entail the god awful patch / update process the consoles have to endure? where by a developer has to pay for a patch to go into the certification process before becoming available to download for the general public?

Certification is around the ballpark of 40,000 USD.

 

[Alex Beisley]

Some important things to note, in no particular order.

1. Microsoft Smartscreen will not, in fact, bring up UNCERTIFIED messages when minecraft is downloaded, if only from it's popularity rating.

2. Gabe Newell is just mad because microsoft is going to have a store too.

3. No changes to the desktop.

4. All app stores require certification. Microsoft isn't going to make an exception and allow viruses.

I use windows 8 on a daily basis, and while I normally don't support microsoft, to be honest I find myself consistently surprised at how good it is.

Thank you for reading.

 

[Vivi22]

If anything I cant help but feel Notch has been a bit ungrateful here; MS bent over backwards to ensure Minecraft got onto Live (essentially the same thing Windows 8 will be touting), even giving him all that 0-day sales information and stuff. Here they've gone out their way to say, "Look mate, we're doing this on 8 too, would you like to set up getting it approved?" and hes suddenly too good for Microsoft now? Meh.

I don't know that I'd say that given that game consoles and PC's are entirely different beasts. Sure, there's some overlap in functionality, but it's not like Microsoft currently controls the majority of the console market and is trying to make a traditionally open system closed. Consoles haven't been an open system in decades, but there's still a good amount of competition there. On the PC though, that's not really the case. Windows is basically the de facto market share leader by a wide margin and is now taking a platform that used to be pretty damn open and is building in the potential to end that, whether they do or not. And while there are plenty of other options in the OS arena, the reality is that most of them wouldn't be able to just step up and take the place of Windows without overcoming some time consuming hurdles.

So I can understand why Notch or anyone else would be bothered by that in the PC arena. It really is a completely different beast, and if Microsoft did choose to go down that road, it would be dangerous for both consumers and businesses that rely on that openness, and a hell of a lot of people would be left scrambling to catch up if people on either side started trying to jump ship.

 

[Epona]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Apparently so. I was under the impression that only Metro apps would need certification.

 

[WanderingFool]

Could someone help me out here. Whats so bad about Windows 8 again?

 

[Baldr]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Metro Launch Screen which effectively splits the whole thing into two seperate interfaces, Accounts tied to Windows Live, Software Store forcing similarly expensive certification as for the XBOX. Oh, and it's totally designed for tablets, while it is a desktop OS.

Of course, Minecraft will work the same way as it used to, as a non-certified desktop application. But it shows a "OHMAHGAWD IT'S NOT CERTIFIED, IT MIGHT BE MALWARE!!!!!" message, unless you switch them off, and Microsoft could choose to just plain refuse to allow installing them whenever they like.

Right now I'm glad I'm running Linux and Gaming support is growing.

Thanks for clearing that up... but im curious as to the certification cost which is similar to that of xbox live, does that mean a developer has to pay royalties to Microsoft in order for them to host their product? and would that entail the god awful patch / update process the consoles have to endure? where by a developer has to pay for a patch to go into the certification process before becoming available to download for the general public?

Certification is around the ballpark of 40,000 USD.

No it is not. Certification does require a Microsoft developer license fee, which Mojang already has(with Xbox 360 version of Minecraft).

 

[Epona]

would someone mind explaining to me why windows 8 is going to be so bad? not that im interested in switching over to it, windows 7 is just too good in my opinion. Are microsoft trying to make windows 8 locked down like xbox live?

Metro Launch Screen which effectively splits the whole thing into two seperate interfaces, Accounts tied to Windows Live, Software Store forcing similarly expensive certification as for the XBOX. Oh, and it's totally designed for tablets, while it is a desktop OS.

Of course, Minecraft will work the same way as it used to, as a non-certified desktop application. But it shows a "OHMAHGAWD IT'S NOT CERTIFIED, IT MIGHT BE MALWARE!!!!!" message, unless you switch them off, and Microsoft could choose to just plain refuse to allow installing them whenever they like.

Right now I'm glad I'm running Linux and Gaming support is growing.

Thanks for clearing that up... but im curious as to the certification cost which is similar to that of xbox live, does that mean a developer has to pay royalties to Microsoft in order for them to host their product? and would that entail the god awful patch / update process the consoles have to endure? where by a developer has to pay for a patch to go into the certification process before becoming available to download for the general public?

Certification is around the ballpark of 40,000 USD.

No it is not. Certification does require a Microsoft developer license fee, which Mojang already has(with Xbox 360 version of Minecraft).

...and how much is this license?

 

[Nocturnus]

Let me get this straight....

Microsoft reached out to Notch, offering to help him get certified for the new OS. Notch says no. Notch then, after declining Microsofts offer to bend over backwards to bet his game certified, runs around screaming about how much the new operating system sucks.

This screams childish asshole to me.

Not only that, but this certification feature already exists in Windows 7. There is a prompt warning users with confirmation before they open an uncertified driver or program.