[Minecraft] Alpha to Beta, 12/20

Thornhammer

Nobody Loves Oily Homer
20 Year Hero!
From The Word of Notch:

Minecraft hits Beta status as of 12/20.

Only real information updates at this point are that the price will go up, and the "free updates for life" goes away for anyone who purchases the game during Beta.

If you already have an account, you still get free updates forever.

If you haven't bought an account yet and think you might want to, do so in the next nine days!

-Thornhammer
 
He mentions that bugfixes will always be free (which is as one would expect), though now I'm a little confused now as to what he means by "updates". Is he gonna start charging for all new features, or include significant gameplay changes (such as biomes and the nether) in the free patches and just charge for the "fun extra stuff", like pumpkins and what-not?

I s'pose we'll find out eventually. I'm an alpha user, so whatever it is he's planning apparently won't affect me, but I envision a Maelstrom Of Angry Confusion from the rest of the community.

EDIT: Though I do want to add that I'm very impressed with Notch's "A promise is a promise" business model for Alpha users. Nice to see when a one-man startup turns into a Real Company.
 
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Is he gonna start charging for all new features, or include significant gameplay changes (such as biomes and the nether) in the free patches and just charge for the "fun extra stuff", like pumpkins and what-not?

I got the impression that there are no specific plans as of yet. They just changed it because they weren't prepared to make such a promise past Alpha.
 
I got the impression that there are no specific plans as of yet. They just changed it because they weren't prepared to make such a promise past Alpha.

Sure, that makes sense.

(He says, non-sarcastically.)

(He also clarifies that his clarification is also non-sarcastic.)

How the hell do you say "Sure, that makes sense" without it coming off as sarcastic online, anyway? :)
 
I got the impression that there are no specific plans as of yet. They just changed it because they weren't prepared to make such a promise past Alpha.

The promise "scares both lawyers and the board" so they took it out, according to his Twitter feed.
 
From The Word of Notch:

Minecraft hits Beta status as of 12/20.

Only real information updates at this point are that the price will go up, and the "free updates for life" goes away for anyone who purchases the game during Beta.

If you already have an account, you still get free updates forever.

If you haven't bought an account yet and think you might want to, do so in the next nine days!

-Thornhammer

well we all knew that the price would go up for beta. it say so when you buy the alpha something like 'Now Half off!'


it is nice that it is finally going beta.

I can see why they removed the 'free updates for life' I imagine they'll add something similar back in but with better wording :) like 'we will provide free patches as long as we are working on the game.'
 
I'm guerssing this an isnsetive fopr me to buy the thing before the 20th.
Is paypal up and running, are the Anonymous still attacking it?
 
I just realized I'm considering buying a second alpha copy for a hypothetical friend to hypothetically share in the future.

I'm such a dork.
 
Wait, he has a "board"? When did that happen?

I imagine a few of his initial employees were lured in part with ownership in the final company. Hence, they would be the 'board'.
 
Whereas when I hear board I think of discussion board, like the minecraft forums, say.
 
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