Minecraft is digging its own grave with its latest release on XBLA - and by "grave" we mean "lavish, gold-plated throne room with indoor pool and grape-feeding robots." Minecraft was profitable within an hour of its launch on XBLA and developer Markus "Notch" Persson tweeted today.minecraftservers This is in addition to the multimillion-dollar version for PC that Notch has developed.
Based on leaderboard participation numbers, Minecraft sold more than 400 000 copies in just 24 hours, Notch said. According to Microsoft, Minecraft sold more digital copies than any other XBLA game on its first day of release breaking records for digital sales.
Notch tweeted earlier today that he had Minecraft sales numbers (turns out that they were the above leaderboard figures), which sparked an exchange of opinions about the inner workings XBLA developer contracts and Fez's Polytron. Polytron isn't yet aware of Fez's exact figures despite the fact that it was published a month ago.
"Standard procedure" according to Polytron is "you find out how much you've sold when you receive your first check three to four months later." Notch believed that receiving immediate numbers was the norm, but he avoided contract negotiations and doesn't know the details.
Minecraft also has free updates, "which is something every other developer on the platform is told is not an option," Polytron wrote. Notch replied: "We had to fight for that and we were able to get a limited number of them. I'm not sure why they don't like it."
We might have discovered the hidden talent of Notch and key to his success is fighting for something in a contract, avoiding contract negotiation and winning.
MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION BREAKS DIGITAL SALES RECORDS Microsoft Studios Presents: Arcade NEXT program delivers two back-to-back record-breaking titles in four weeks
Microsoft today announced that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition the console version of the extremely popular PC game developed by Mojang, has broken all previous digital sales records, selling more than any other game in the first 24 hours of Xbox LIVE Arcade.
This comes on the heels of Trials Evolution, which similarly reduced revenue numbers on the first day of sales as the first game in the "Arcade Next" program.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition was created by 4J Studios and Mojang in collaboration with Microsoft Studios. It introduces new gaming experiences such as crafting menus that are unique and tutorials for games. Split-screen multiplayer and online multiplayer for up to eight players over Xbox LIVE are also available.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition can be purchased on Xbox LIVE Arcade at 1600 Microsoft Points. It is the final game in the "Microsoft Studios Presents Arcade NEXT lineup that also includes Trials Evolution (Redlynx), Bloodforge(Climax), and Fable Heroes, (Lionhead).
For more information on the 360, click here
