Minecraft Getting Preferential Treatment From Microsoft

[Coldster]

I hope they keep doing updates every now and then to try and keep up with the still superior PC version of Minecraft. That would be nice.

...and so the whole pc vs. console battle is decided.
OT: I don't own an Xbox, but wtf Microsoft. It's really as bad as all the paranoid people claim.

Well, as a Xbox gamer, its true. We can't download the mods or of those texture packs. Plus it seems we can't actually do as much as we can in the Xbox 360 Minecraft. Maybe its just that they haven't updated it yet, but so far its true. That's all I meant.

 

[Worgen]

The lesson here is "don't release a game on the xbox arcade unless it has already sold a million copies" that way ms won't try and fuck you.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

Microsoft's refusal to allow free updates to games has been a sticking point for a number of developers - such as Valve, which chose to simply stop supporting Team Fortress 2 on the 360 rather than charge for content updates. Gabe Newell went on label Xbox Live policies "a train wreck."

"Damnit man! If you wont accept this free ice cream without asking to pay for it, I'm not going to give you this ice cream at all!"

^--- That's what I believe most Xbox Live fans think of when they think of Valve refusing to update TF2.

It sucks we have to pay for major updates, however most Devs need to realize we are more than willing to pay for them if we like the game.

Seriously, I still don't see Valve's line of logic. "If you wont let us be generous to you we aren't going to give you what you want... Even if you're willing to pay for it."

I believe it's a matter of principle, Gabe doesn't like Microsoft, and who can blame him.

People love Valve for being incredibly consumer friendly, so they stick to those ethics.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

I'm just annoyed that the Xbox version of Minecraft is even a real thing. After making dozens of millions, Notch's top priority is getting the game on as many platforms as possible instead of finally starting to develop content at a not-snail-like pace.

P.S. Minecraft on the Xbox360 sucks.

How does it suck on the 360? Granted, I havent really played the game much, but I was considering picking it up on the 360, because one of my boys might really be interested in it. So, I am highly uninformed when it comes to the game. Any further input on that comment would be helpful, so I will know if I should spend any money on this or not.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

I'm just annoyed that the Xbox version of Minecraft is even a real thing. After making dozens of millions, Notch's top priority is getting the game on as many platforms as possible instead of finally starting to develop content at a not-snail-like pace.

P.S. Minecraft on the Xbox360 sucks.

How does it suck on the 360? Granted, I havent really played the game much, but I was considering picking it up on the 360, because one of my boys might really be interested in it. So, I am highly uninformed when it comes to the game. Any further input on that comment would be helpful, so I will know if I should spend any money on this or not.

It's a year-old, even more basic version of the game than it is already. Plus, the map is literally the size of a 1000x1000 square. You run into invisible walls if you try to leave that square.

That would be enough, but why stop there. I seriously doubt mods are present on the Xbox360 on any level. Minecraft without mods is seriously dull and shallow, unless you're into the creative mode.

As a personal pet peeve, I hate it when any sort of an FPS is being made on a console. The wooden aiming just kills me.

Ok, thanks. I was just curious.

 

[newwiseman]

I've been playing MineCraft using an xbox 360 controller and Pinnicle since I bought the game way back when it went beta has always worked great. That said I would never think of actually playing the game on the xbox, some people just must not have computers... how sad.

 

[GeorgW]

I choose to see this as a herald of some unannounced policy shift. Sure it'll have to be forced at first, but at least it means it can be done. Very interesting to see how they've handled it, good to see Mojang fighting hard-ball, maybe Bethesda's taught them something.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Minecraft without sporadic and occasionally game breaking updates isn't Minecraft. There would be no other way of getting a "true" Minecraft experience.

OK. That has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the content of the article regarding Microsoft's XBLA policies.

Well, it is, because Microsoft's XBLA policies would normally make the updates he's referring to impossible. It's actually directly addressing the article.

The point of the article is that Minecraft is being allowed to bypass all of the limitations Microsoft places on every other Live title. Saying that Minecraft "needs" that bypass is not relevant, because there have been other titles which would have "needed" that bypass, such as TF2.

Umm it is relevant. Here's why. Minecraft updates one hell of a lot. A lot more than any other LIVE Market game. TF2 is a full freaking game that couldn't even get these bypasses.

The point of the article (as read in the Title) is to show that MS is literally creating an unfair market with preferential rules for just Minecraft. Had it not been for these rule changes Mincraft would not be on the LIVE marketplace. Period.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Less about favoritism, which I first thought, and more about Microsoft desperately wanting a piece of the somehow still impressive sales bucket that is Minecraft. That Notch was able to barter for things in his favor is impressive.

 

[ablac]

The exceptions make the game possible, its a shame ps3 users dont get it. right now it doesnt have texture packs or mods, as it is on console, and they plan on putting these in through updates. This convinced me to buy the game as without mods and texture packs it wouldnt be worth the cash. Microsoft dont allow constant updates for free as it would cause every problem to be fixed when it appeared and it would be inconvenient, plus it encourages devs to have everything sorted on launch, they do allow the first update free which is fair as it helps route out the big bugs, however it means game such as new vegas dont get fixed and they are still pretty dodgy. Charging is scummy though. If they wanted to limit it then they could easily implement a time basis or simply give them a set amount. I doubt they like breaking this fairness, either that or it really does cost em if they had difficulty getting it on minecraft. I can understand why they show such favouritism, they probably want to make a good relationship with notch and they want such records published quick as was the case with trials i presume, though how they show it simply fixes an issue they have anyway.

 

[ablac]

Microsoft's refusal to allow free updates to games has been a sticking point for a number of developers - such as Valve, which chose to simply stop supporting Team Fortress 2 on the 360 rather than charge for content updates. Gabe Newell went on label Xbox Live policies "a train wreck."

"Damnit man! If you wont accept this free ice cream without asking to pay for it, I'm not going to give you this ice cream at all!"

^--- That's what I believe most Xbox Live fans think of when they think of Valve refusing to update TF2.

It sucks we have to pay for major updates, however most Devs need to realize we are more than willing to pay for them if we like the game.

Seriously, I still don't see Valve's line of logic. "If you wont let us be generous to you we aren't going to give you what you want... Even if you're willing to pay for it."

I am not willing to pay for updates. Updates fix broken games, why would you have to pay for that? Even Microsoft doesn't charge for years of updates to Windows.

The updates on windows are part of the package, I assumed so since they need to make it compatible with most programs and that would need constant tinkering.

 

[Epona]

Microsoft's refusal to allow free updates to games has been a sticking point for a number of developers - such as Valve, which chose to simply stop supporting Team Fortress 2 on the 360 rather than charge for content updates. Gabe Newell went on label Xbox Live policies "a train wreck."

"Damnit man! If you wont accept this free ice cream without asking to pay for it, I'm not going to give you this ice cream at all!"

^--- That's what I believe most Xbox Live fans think of when they think of Valve refusing to update TF2.

It sucks we have to pay for major updates, however most Devs need to realize we are more than willing to pay for them if we like the game.

Seriously, I still don't see Valve's line of logic. "If you wont let us be generous to you we aren't going to give you what you want... Even if you're willing to pay for it."

I am not willing to pay for updates. Updates fix broken games, why would you have to pay for that? Even Microsoft doesn't charge for years of updates to Windows.

The updates on windows are part of the package, I assumed so since they need to make it compatible with most programs and that would need constant tinkering.

The updates for games are also part of the package. What's the difference?

 

[bjj hero]

I tried the demo and really don't see what all of the fuss was about? Seems like a passing fad to me, I dont get the hook.

Its now been done, which leads the way to other developers getting free DLC.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Minecraft on PC: mods, custom worlds, adventure maps and texture packs.

Minecraft on 360: .............

Irrelevant flamebaiting is irrelevant. Though I have Minecraft on the PC, I would have liked a PS3 version, considering the 360 version has both a split-screen option and the ability to invite friends into my world via a friends list.

On topic, from what I've seen so far, Minecraft on the 360 looks like it's built on a version before the adventure update. It would suck for the Xbox players to pay for an incomplete version AND have to fork over more for extra content (read: the rest of the actual game). Kudos to notch for getting Microsofts heard out of their arse, however brief it may be.

 

[zombiesinc]

I can understand why it'd be frustrating for every other company releasing games on XBLA, y'know, seeing Minecraft being treating all special-like, but I'm certainly not complaining. Even if Minecraft only gets a set number of free updates, it's certainly better than paying for every single one. Yes, I'm completely bias, what can I say?

Having said that however, it'd be nice to see Microsoft start allowing a set number of free updates or being a bit faster when it comes to releasing sales stats, period. So, speak up disgruntled companies, speak up!