Independent Publishers Group (IPG) - Master Builder Respawned (Minecraft)

Contents

All screenshots for criticism and review. Minecraft & 2009-2020 Mojang/Notch.

Introduction

In the decade since its original release, Minecraft has turned into a true cultural phenomenon. Walk the aisles at any department store and youll probably find shelves of licensed merchandise and see plenty of kids in Creeper shirts along the way. While players are united by their love for the game, the reasons why theyre attracted to it are as diverse as its fanbase. Some are drawn to the thrill of exploring a new world and leaving their mark on untamed lands. Others dive deep into redstone engineering, creating stunningly complex contraptions. And still others just like riding pigs around until the square sun sets. To each their own.

Whatever your reasons, youre in good hands here. A lot has happened in Minecraft over the past few years, thanks to Mojangs insistence on keeping Minecraft fresh by adding new features, gameplay systems, and mechanics. If you havent played the game for a while, theres a very real possibility that youll find yourself overwhelmed with all the new stuff. Thats where we come in.

In these pages, well do our best to give Minecrafters the solid foundation theyll need to have the best possible time. If youre new to the world of Minecraft, welcome. Well introduce you to the essential elements you need to know before you set off into the world for glory and fame hopefully minimizing your failures along the way. Experienced Minecrafters will find some new ideas and tips as well, particularly those who have taken a bit of a break from the game. If you already know what you like to do most, well show you how to get there fast. And maybe well introduce you to some of your soon-to-be favorite activities, too.

Minecraft is more than just the core title, too. Mojang is releasing two new Minecraft-oriented experiences, and well get you acquainted with those. Minecraft Earth is an augmented-reality game that turns your mobile device into a Minecraft portal, like an even more awesome Pokmon Go. Minecraft Dungeons gives combat fans more to look forward to, in an all-new action adventure with loot, bosses, and tons of dangerous mobs to slay.

As big as Minecraft is now, its only getting bigger. Lets get going, shall we?

The State of the Game

Minecraft is one of those rare games that virtually everyone knows a bit about, whether or not theyve spent a second swinging a pixelated pickaxe. Since the original release in 2009, more than 176 million copies of the game have been sold worldwide, making it the best-selling video game of all time. And those downloads and retail copies arent lying dormant; according to Microsoft and Mojang, more than 112 million players are actively building and exploring every month.

Its remained a powerhouse both as a game and a cultural touchstone, but its recent 10-year anniversary brought it back into the spotlight even further, if thats at all possible. Popular YouTubers who started their careers with Minecraft Lets Plays have returned to the game in a big way, making it seem more relevant than ever. It managed to reclaim the title of most-viewed game from previous titleholder Fortnite, which is a sign of just how strong that renewed wave of enthusiasm has been.

Mojang has steadily updated the game over the decade, adding now-ubiquitous features like enchanting, villages, and rideable horses. Development has also gotten more streamlined, while simultaneously getting a little more complicated. If youre interested in getting into Minecraft for the first time, chances are youre going to face a fairly significant choice right out of the game: What version should you get?

Java (top) and Bedrock (bottom) have subtle, but important differences, including the crafting interfaces.

If you play on mobile or most consoles, the choice is essentially made for you. PC players have a couple of different options, each with their own positives and negatives. Years ago, the mobile version of the game was available in a form called Minecraft: Pocket Edition, while the PC and consoles like Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, and PlayStation 3 had their own versions of Minecraft. Microsoft and Mojang eventually shifted its focus onto building what they called the Bedrock Edition of the game, which provided a unified version thats now what youll play on the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. PC players can also choose to play the Java version, which is the original release. Unlike Bedrock, which has been coded in the C++ programming language, Java edition is built using you guessed it Java.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock is in some ways the flagship version of Minecraft. It offers cross-platform play, meaning that if you have that version, you can play along with your friends that have Bedrock, regardless of whether theyre playing on a mobile device, console, or PC. It runs better, too, with the ability to render larger chunks of the in-game world without taking a significant performance hit. Playing with friends and adding new content is a smoother experience overall, with a user interface that may be easier for new players to navigate. If youre someone who prefers using a controller over mouse and keyboard on PC, Bedrock supports that without having to add any third-party mods.

Java Edition

Java isnt without its own advantages, however. Updates historically hit Java first, making it a clear destination for people who want to experience the leading edge of whats coming to Minecraft. The modding scene is also much larger on Java, and there are an abundance of multiplayer servers to explore, including minigames that you can only play on Java. There are a ton of other things, both large and small. Some block variations are only available on Java, and the crafting interface is different. You can pick items up with fishing rods in Java. Most notably, redstone works a bit differently between versions, which can create confusion for players who watch YouTube tutorials and find that theyre unable to get things working in Bedrock, since the majority of streamers use the Java version.

One of the fun things thats currently a Java exclusive is the ability to generate Amplified biomes, which essentially turn the terrain up to 11.