Joystiq

Next MineCon 'most definitely in the US'

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST

While there's still no official word on when Mojang's next Minecraft-centric MineCon event will take place, the convention's potential location has at least been narrowed down to a specific country: "It'll be in the US, that's for sure. It's most definitely in the US," Mojang director of fun Lydia Winters told the audience during a recent SXSW Interactive panel.

"That's all I can say," Winters added. "I would like to tell more, but it's not 100 percent certain so I can't say anything yet." MineCon 2012 took place at Disneyland Paris, while the inaugural event stormed the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to her panel-hosting duties, Winters mentioned that her SXSW schedule included a meeting to discuss the next MineCon.

Next MineCon 'most definitely in the US' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MineCon 2012 going to Disneyland Paris this November

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST

Where on Earth can you hang out with such adorable pop culture icons as Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Markus "Notch" Persson? Only at Disneyland Paris during MineCon 2012. Mojang will hold the annual Minecraft convention at the theme park November 24 and 25, a definite step up from last year's Las Vegas location, though it does complicate travel plans for those of us not in the same continent as Disneyland Paris.

Mojang will open up registration for tickets and accommodation "soon." Start stapling plastic mouse ears onto your favorite fedora now.

MineCon 2012 going to Disneyland Paris this November originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MineCon digs out of Vegas, headed to Europe; Mojang attending PAX Prime

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:15:00 EST

MineCon will return in 2012, though it won't be held in its previous Las Vegas digs. Mojang director of fun (seriously her title) Lydia Winters took to the company's blog and cursorily detailed the next MineCon as taking place in "a secret location" somewhere in Europe. Winters promised "ALL the details" as soon as Mojang signs the lease for its Europe-based convention.

Additionally, Winters confirmed that Mojang will indeed be attending PAX Prime once more this August/September, though she didn't say what those Minecrafty folks will be showing off. We've got high hopes of seeing the next big update to Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition, and we suspect that 0x10c may also be in attendance.

MineCon digs out of Vegas, headed to Europe; Mojang attending PAX Prime originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How the beautiful beasts of Minecon were made

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

Minecon hosted a sold-out venue in Las Vegas for panels, pictures and merch-buying, a Deadmau5 concert and -- most impressively -- dozens of life-size, physical replicas of Minecraft classics, including pixelated Steves, Creepers, sheep, chickens, tame dogs, weapons, torches, mushrooms, buildings and a 40-foot-long Enderdragon. These scale models were all hand-made by special-effects superstar Greg Aronowitz and his team, who have written an in-depth behind-the-scenes blog post about the entire affair, demonstrating how difficult, stressful and fun the Minecon build was.

For example, this is what Notch sent Aronowitz as a texture guide for the Mooshroom and all the other characters:

Yes, at that size, just 123K. To see how these tiny images became real-life versions of Minecraft characters, check out all of the photos in Aronowitz's blog post.

How the beautiful beasts of Minecon were made originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Build a place in your day for the MineCon keynote

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST

If you weren't fortunate (or fervent!) enough to secure an entry pass to the first-ever MineCon -- that's shorthand for Minecraft Convention, obvs -- you can now watch the full, 39-minute keynote, courtesy of Gamespot. (And catch the new Mega64 video at the 33-minute mark!)

Build a place in your day for the MineCon keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is what playing Minecraft on XBLA will look like

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:30:00 EST

Minecraft is officially out, but that's just the beginning of post-beta playtime, with the exclusive XBLA release still expected to hit in 2012. To celebrate Minecraft's incumbent console release, Notch and the Mojang gang made a little video that is as adorable as it is hilarious. It may even be funnier than this video Mega64 made for the Minecon festivities, but neither of those are more adorable than these.

Gallery: Minecraft Xbox 360 (Minecon 2011)

This is what playing Minecraft on XBLA will look like originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Minecraft is out!

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:45:00 EST

In an explosion of streamers and cheers, the Mojang team officially launched Minecraft 1.0 as a final(ish) product today from the stage of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, kicking off this weekend's "MineCon" convention. Surprising absolutely no one, the servers selling the game have been crashing from server loads intermittently. Oops!

Just as soon as they're more stable, the launch version of Minecraft can be purchased on PC and Mac for $26.95. Maybe for now you could spend some time with that mobile version of the world builder? Or just keep refreshing. That's probably a better idea.

[Image credit: @2PProductions]

PSA: Minecraft is out! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft has gone gold

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST

We knew it was coming, but to finally hear that Minecraft has completed its year-long beta-testing phase and successfully transformed itself into a retail product brings a tiny cubed tear to our square, pixelated eyes. If you're already a crafty crafter, Minecraft Version 1.0's release client can be obtained here (warning: direct link).

The code is so complete that Notch told reviewers to go ahead and treat it as review code, claiming that any changes made before the title's official Friday launch would be minimal. We're not positive, but we're pretty sure two years is the most lead time any games journalist has ever had for a review.

Minecraft has gone gold originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MineCon's official trailer, featuring baller Steve

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:15:00 EST

Conventions don't usually have trailers, but MineCon isn't the average gathering of game fans. The event, taking place November 18-19 at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas, will give Minecraft fans the opportunity to be there when the phenomenon actually, officially launches.

Attendees won't just be there to watch some Swedish dude upload code so he can afford a second platoon of lawyers. Visitors will also receive access to alpha code vouchers for Scrolls and Cobalt. Considering Mojang made it rain money with a game's beta, they should be able to float a couple more projects off the buzz of a few paid alphas.

MineCon's official trailer, featuring baller Steve originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MineCon attendees get alpha codes for Cobalt, Scrolls

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST

Mojang Specifications is making a pretty big assumption about the character of the folks who are attending the first MineCon expo: That they enjoy playing Mojang's games. Frankly, we think this disposition seems a little presumptuous, but nevertheless, the successful indie studio has announced that it will hand out vouchers to download alpha code for Scrolls (its next first-party title) and Cobalt (its first third-party title) to all of the event's attendees.

Now that we think about it, Mojang's missing out on some pretty great contest opportunities by just giving those things away. Why not hide them inside of cuboid trees, and give attendees axes, and just tell them to go crazy? Or bury them far, far below the earth, perching them precariously over a pit of awaiting lava? Or hide them in Notch's hat!

MineCon attendees get alpha codes for Cobalt, Scrolls originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MineCon tickets available now

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:40:00 EST

MineCon is attempting to craft an audience by selling of tickets on the interwebs. The first 500 registrants to the show, taking place November 18-19 at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Vegas, are entered to win "The Ultimate Fan Experience." The status will grant the lucky soul VIP seating to keynotes and "classes," along with a meal at the same table as Team Mojang -- no word if the developer will pick up the bill, though.

The early bird special has tickets costing $99 until September 30, with the regular price and onsite ticket prices set at $139. Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson is expected to launch the game at the event.

MineCon tickets available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft's 'MineCon' convention set for November 18 - 19 in Vegas

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:40:00 EST

Rather than setting its convention in the icy grip of its home country's chilly November, Sweden-based Minecraft studio Mojang Specifications is holding what it dubs "MineCon" in Las Vegas. "For me, MineCon is about celebrating the full release of Minecraft," Mojang head Markus "Notch" Persson told PC Gamer this week. Apparently the delayed title will see its full launch in grand style, with Notch "getting up on stage and pushing the button to upload the final build."

When he first spitballed the idea back in May, voters overwhelmingly responded, "No, definitely not" when asked whether they'd attend such an event. That said, the minority's 42,000 votes were assuredly enough to convince him of demand for such an event.

Speaking of, Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino will host MineCon on November 18 and 19, and the ticket registration site is set to go live next week -- apparently Notch will announce as much on his Twitter account, so keep an eye out. That is, if you can tear yourself away from building that to-scale replica of Hogwarts.

Update: This year marks the second MineCon.

Minecraft's 'MineCon' convention set for November 18 - 19 in Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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