Notch didn't say how long the full-game beta will last, but did add that updates will probably be infrequent and mods will not be available on XBLA at launch, for fear of breaking the system.
Minecraft to begin (and possibly never end) with a beta on XBLA
by Jessica Conditt 
on Aug 6th 2011 6:00PM
53
Notch didn't say how long the full-game beta will last, but did add that updates will probably be infrequent and mods will not be available on XBLA at launch, for fear of breaking the system.
Reader Comments (53)
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:05PM (Unverified) said
Notch, I implore you to see reason!
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:06PM Prboi said
Will this be free?
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:41PM Draugdraugr said
@Prboi
Plenty of beta's aren't free.
Gears of war 3, HoMMVI for example, just off the top of my head. You essentially had to buy your way into the beta.
Then of course there is the situation where it's 'retail' but it should still be in beta, always a pleasure ;)
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Plenty of beta's aren't free.
Gears of war 3, HoMMVI for example, just off the top of my head. You essentially had to buy your way into the beta.
Then of course there is the situation where it's 'retail' but it should still be in beta, always a pleasure ;)
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:09PM Andrew12h said
@Prboi
The beta is already essential a full game,
but, Notch keeps adding stuff that makes the game even better, like new mobs, new blocks, everything.
As he moves through the stages, the game nears closer to the price of the full game.
Right now, it's about $21, but if you bought it earlier, it was only around $10.
When it releases, it will be about $28.
So, essential, you're paying for a game AND basically any future version of the game.
I mean sure if Notch was a money grubbing bastard like many people today, he would charge full price for this version and market off the future addons as expansions, but because he's awesome, the expansion are free.
Reply
The beta is already essential a full game,
but, Notch keeps adding stuff that makes the game even better, like new mobs, new blocks, everything.
As he moves through the stages, the game nears closer to the price of the full game.
Right now, it's about $21, but if you bought it earlier, it was only around $10.
When it releases, it will be about $28.
So, essential, you're paying for a game AND basically any future version of the game.
I mean sure if Notch was a money grubbing bastard like many people today, he would charge full price for this version and market off the future addons as expansions, but because he's awesome, the expansion are free.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:11PM Courtney said
@Prboi
On PC, Notch has steadily raised the price as MC progressed. Don't quote me on the prices, but it was something like $10 for the alpha, $20 for the beta and it will be $30-$40 for the final product. Once you buy it, you get updates for free for as long as he develops the game.
Reply
On PC, Notch has steadily raised the price as MC progressed. Don't quote me on the prices, but it was something like $10 for the alpha, $20 for the beta and it will be $30-$40 for the final product. Once you buy it, you get updates for free for as long as he develops the game.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 8:01PM Ospov said
@Prboi
Actually the way it worked for the PC was the earlier you bought it, the cheaper it would be and you got access to the full game when it came out. I bought it when it was still in alpha so I paid like $16-ish for it. Right now it's in beta and it's about $21. It's in another currency so I don't know exactly what it is. Whenever the full game comes out it'll be more than that.
The full game isn't even out on the PC yet, but he's made millions upon millions of dollars just from the alpha and beta sales of the game.
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Actually the way it worked for the PC was the earlier you bought it, the cheaper it would be and you got access to the full game when it came out. I bought it when it was still in alpha so I paid like $16-ish for it. Right now it's in beta and it's about $21. It's in another currency so I don't know exactly what it is. Whenever the full game comes out it'll be more than that.
The full game isn't even out on the PC yet, but he's made millions upon millions of dollars just from the alpha and beta sales of the game.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 8:06PM Drakkenfyre said
@Courtney
The "free upgrades" was only if you purchased it in the alpha. That line has been removed a long time ago.
If you bought it in the alpha, then anything he comes out with he might charge you for.
Reply
The "free upgrades" was only if you purchased it in the alpha. That line has been removed a long time ago.
If you bought it in the alpha, then anything he comes out with he might charge you for.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 8:15PM drunkenpandaren said
@Prboi
It will be free if you purchased Minecraft when it was still in Alpha.
Reply
It will be free if you purchased Minecraft when it was still in Alpha.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:07PM StormChaser91 said
I can't wait hopefully beta sign up info will be released soon :D
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:46PM MrPistachio said
@StormChaser91 I can see there's a good few people on here that've never played Minecraft before. it's not a beta like a BF3 beta, it's a beta that is sold as a game for less than the full game will sell for.
You still buy the beta, and at the time the beta is the full game that's released, the release version (none beta) will just have more content than the beta and will be more costly.
Reply
You still buy the beta, and at the time the beta is the full game that's released, the release version (none beta) will just have more content than the beta and will be more costly.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:53PM StormChaser91 said
@MrPistachio yea, thanks lol i never did play MineCraft though allot of my friends and my brother played and brought it thanks for that clear up :) still can't either way plus it being used with Kinect will be really cool
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Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:09PM Bears That Beat Box said
With my laptop too run-down to play this, I'm quite looking forward to playing it on XBLA:)
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:11PM Babaloo said
For me personally, things like this mod (http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/151-mod-spotlight-update-aether-is-out/) keep the player guessing as to what's coming next, and always provide new and interesting additions to the game, which sometimes even make their way into the vanilla game (See: Pistons, Ambient Occlusion (I think that's its name)). A vanilla Minecraft is still really cool and exciting if you haven't played the game before, but once players become veterans and begin demanding more, the content generated by Minecraft's users simply won't be present, and that, for me, is half of the fun of Minecraft. Not to mention the possibility of a lack of Adventure / Puzzle maps.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:16PM Peril said
PC 4 LYFE
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:06PM Nick Frost said
@Electrium
I'm guessing he was joking with his comment. If not... ITS CONSOLE XBL FAMILY TIL I DIE HOMIE WHERE YOU FROM?!
Reply
I'm guessing he was joking with his comment. If not... ITS CONSOLE XBL FAMILY TIL I DIE HOMIE WHERE YOU FROM?!
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 6:09AM The Soft Machine said
@Peril pcfanboy with an avatar of a macbook. hahaohkay
Reply
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:28PM SitriStahl said
As long as I only have to pay once, okay; I'll take whatever Minecraft I can get.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 6:30PM (Unverified) said
I hope we get to change texture packs, 16x at least.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:46PM Raiderfan said
Kinda like all these other "finished" games we plunk down $60 for and have to deal with all the glitches and problems while they roll out frequent updates after launch... seems most games I buy anymore are thinly veiled betas. At least it seems Minecraft won't be charging extra for stuff they create for it in the future, or especially the stuff they already have created for it... I'm looking at you day one DLC!
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Posted: Aug 8th 2011 11:56AM Colorfuljosh said
@arucious what does that matter :S ? they play games better than consoles NOW regardless of the past...
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Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:10PM Nick Frost said
Does anyone know what texture pack is being used in the screenshot?
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 9:40PM Nick Frost said
@Epsilon
The leaves, sun, and the dirt blocks are definitely different, but the textures do look similar to the originals which is why it appeals to me. I'm hoping I can find it.
Reply
The leaves, sun, and the dirt blocks are definitely different, but the textures do look similar to the originals which is why it appeals to me. I'm hoping I can find it.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 7:18PM (Unverified) said
I think one of the awesome things about Minecraft is that it has a huge modding community for it.
Minecraft is like cereal. It's awesome straight out of the box once you add milk it's even more awesome.
If you can't use mods or texture packs on the console versions, then I really see that as being one major disadvantage to it on consoles.
Minecraft is like cereal. It's awesome straight out of the box once you add milk it's even more awesome.
If you can't use mods or texture packs on the console versions, then I really see that as being one major disadvantage to it on consoles.
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 12:03AM PoisonedAl said
@Will96 0/10 Must troll harder. Even if you somehow are reading a gaming site and didn't know what Minecraft was, you'd just google it. Unless you really are a moron, then I do apologize.
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Posted: Aug 6th 2011 8:04PM Drakkenfyre said
"Updates will be infrequent."
Is this any different from the pc version?
Is this any different from the pc version?
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 9:34PM MasterBrief said
but there wont be mods on this for xbox thats like the best part
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 11:48PM SuperWoody64 said
I don't care what the Kinect features are as long as I can sit down whilst playing.
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 1:12AM asslber said
I'm disappointed that there's not InvEdit for the XBLA title.
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 5:49AM knight5ofgod said
where do u get into the beta ?
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 10:24AM Emophia said
I couldnt play Minecraft without texture packs and mods.
And I wonder how the online thing is going to work...
And I wonder how the online thing is going to work...
Posted: Aug 7th 2011 11:24AM Bones3D said
It might be worth noting that there are already three different minecraft clones on XBox Live under the indie developer section. Each is around $5, and at least two of them feature online multiplayer. One of the more recent versions uses certain blocks as a form of achievement awards, and already gives you an unlimited supply of several kinds of blocks for those who'd rather jump straight into building without having to mine for them. One of the older clones uses mining and purchasing (in game currency) to obtain new items/blocks types, and also has a series of item blueprints scattered throughout the world, allowing you to construct new tools using resources from items/blocks you collect while mining. It also has hazards like earthquake cave-ins.
All of the clones have features unique to them that makes each worth buying.
All of the clones have features unique to them that makes each worth buying.
