Minecraft a Snackable Indie Sandbox

Drew Davidson

a little bit about me

Analysis

•  Game Design

– Gameplay Mechanics

•  Development

– Public Beta

•  Literacy & Mastery

– Snackable

– Post-Secret

play

•  single-player

– new world

– some of day

Why?

•  In-Depth “Close Reading”

•  Critique & Analysis

•  Gameplay Experience

•  Meaning & Value

Full Disclosure

•  Playing Game since January

•  Minepedia (Wiki)

•  One Spoiler (!)

•  ETC hosted a Server

– MC Local 700

play

•  single-player

– more of day

Gameplay

Narrative

Overall Experience

•  Mining & Crafting

•  Creative & Survival

•  Sandbox & Projects

•  Snackable & Post-Secret

play

•  single-player

– finish up day

Playing the Game

•  World –  Procedural

•  Day –  10

•  Sunset –  1.5

•  Night –  7

•  Sunrise –  1.5

play

•  single-player

– watch sunset

Making the Game

•  Notch (Markus Perrson)

– Mojang

•  Public Beta

•  Community Support

– Minepedia

– Mods

•  Pre-Orders

play

•  single-player

– night

The Game

•  PC/Mac •  Mine and Craft – Ramping

•  Old School – Gameplay – Art

•  Inspiration(s) –  Infiniminer – Dungeon Keeper – Dwarf Fortress

play

•  single-player

– finish night

Snackable

•  Convenient & Easy

•  Time

•  Complete Play Experience

•  Reduce Friction

play

•  single-player

– watch sunrise

Post-Secret

•  Spoiler Pop Culture

•  Star = Hero

•  Digital Distribution

•  Player Created Content

play

•  single-player

– world 1

Sandbox

•  Exploration •  Creation •  Engagement •  Multi-Player

•  Game? – Survival – Projects – Achievements – Sweat Equity

play

•  multi-player

Minecrafters Local 700

•  ETC Server

•  since January

– some play before

•  Playing together

MC Local 700 - January

MC Local 700 - April

MC Local 700 - Spring

MC Local 700 - Scale

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

MC Local 700

•  Screenshots

•  Flythroughs

Literacy & Mastery

•  Interpret & Analyze

•  Design & Develop

•  Gameplay Mechanics

•  Value & Meaning

•  Teaching & Learning

Well Played

•  In Both Senses

•  Ludic Narrans

•  Performance of Play

•  http://etc.cmu.edu/etcpress/

MC Local 700 ‒ Thanks!

•  Steve Audia •  Dave Bennett •  Ian Bowie •  Robby Duncan •  Andrew Edwards •  Jerry Fu •  Wai Kay Kong •  Andy Korzik •  Anthony Palma •  Felix Park •  Anton Strenger •  Ross Treyz

Thanks!

•  Questions?

– drdrew@cmu.edu