Mojang not looking to sell
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Minecraft maker says it has turned down every offer presented thus far; "We have more money than we need," says cofounder.
Minecraft developer Mojang has fielded numerous buyout offers, but has turned them all down, cofounder Carl Manneh told Reuters.
"We are living the dream, really," Manneh said. "An exit would be huge, but do we really need that money? In our case, we have the cash flow. We have more money than we need."
In fact, Manneh said being independent is what makes Mojang so successful.
"We've always felt that the independence we have is one of our core strengths. We can take decisions by going into a room and in 15 minutes we're done," he said. "We try to be extremely agile, to release games quickly."
The Minecraft franchise--which spans versions for PC/Mac, mobile devices, and Xbox 360--has sold over 20 million units to date. Manneh said if Minecraft sales continue at their pace, the game has a shot at toppling The Sims from its post as best-selling PC game.
"It looks like we are going to outsell The Sims in one or two years if things progress," he said.
The report further states that Napster cofounder and early Facebook investor Sean Parker wanted to get involved with Mojang. He reportedly attempted to win the company over by flying the three founders--Manneh, Markus Persson, and Jakob Porser--on his private jet to London for a party. Mojang turned him down.
Persson, who created the Minecraft series, recently commented on the wealth he has amassed from the franchise. He said it is "weird as f*ck," noting he has made a "sh*t ton" of money, some of which he plans to set aside and also give to charity.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
134 comments
good. Now take that cash and expand Minecraft already, make it easier to mod and take the best mods and include it in the standard package. And please get rid of XP farming... I don't find it fun at all.
they must be rolling in it. such a basic game yet so successfull.
i need to think of something like this
Well, a small indie studio which managed to sell a staggering 20 million copies of a game. They are indeed living a dream. My advice to them is not to not get complacent. Remember Zynga and Farmville? What is Zynga now? A near collapsed studio. Sudden or early success for a startup company is not always a good thing. I hope Mojang realizes that.
@jhcho2 I wouldn't call this "sudden". I think Notch started developing MC in early '09, so that's a few years he's had to get success.
@jhcho2 No i don't remember those games as i never palyed them because they are shit facebook games you play for free, these guys got real cash, no1 spent shit on any facebook game and if you did your a fuktard.
4 Like "We've always felt that the independence we have is one of our core strengths. We can take decisions by going into a room and in 15 minutes we're done,"
In an ideal world, all game developers would have this kind of freedom. All we can do is dream, I suppose...
Amazing thing is these games like Minecraft and Hotline Miami and FTL...they're all indie...they're all reletively cheap.
And I've spent large amounts of time playing them. They're more fun than most AAA releases.
These small dev...they take risks. In their own way they're more complex. They make it fun to game.
It's weird that little groups can deliver this and AAA companies do not.
As if they would sell it now, they would be fools to sell it anyway
Minecraft just started to take off. Everyone know Minecraft now back when i first had it no one new what it was now everyone knows of it or has it.
@GH05T-666 I'd never heard of it till about a year and a half ago, but I can tell it's going to be around for a llllloooonnnnnggggg time.
Good that they're keeping it. Other companies just want to cash in on the franchise which will probably just ruin it. Personally I'm not interested in Minecraft, but I support companies being independent.
They said if Minecraft sales continue at their pace then i guess Notch is going to be a next billionare of gaming world
I like Minecraft but I am not crazy about it.. but when it comes to notch as a person in this industry well.. I am happy that he is there! Shittons of happy!
Keep your independence. Last thing we need is a free-form sandbox game bastardized into some stupid series with pointless DLC cash-ins.
1 Like ""weird as f*ck," noting he has made a "sh*t ton" of money"
Now THAT'S what a professional sounds like.
I kinda wish they would sell. Or at least to have another company try and do something like Minecraft. It has so much potential that Mojang will never crack into. I for one would love to see a city/civilization/empire builder like Minecraft. with eras and unlocking technologies. Think Sid Meier's Civilization series meets Minecraft.
2 Like I don't know who would want to own Mojang. It's pretty obvious they are a one hit wonder.
Yes, funny them being a "one-hit-wonder", considering they've only released ONE game...
At least wait until their other titles have been released into the market and we have some figures to compare before making such inane comments.
@Cyber_Skaarj @spammehardo The space one Notch is working on sounds interesting. Almost as interesting as minecraft.
only reason you have people wanting to invest is they see the cash cow.
But again, when companies have a lot of money to give away, they should charge less for the product.
The report further states that Napster cofounder and early Facebook investor *Justin Timberlake* wanted to get involved with Mojang. He reportedly attempted to win the company over by flying the three founders--Manneh, Markus Persson, and Jakob Porser--on his private jet to London for a party. Mojang turned him down.
Yeah that sounds like something that cocain-sniffin ego freak would do.
2 Like "We have more money than we need". If that statement is true, then you guys have as much respect that I could possibly give to anyone. I'm sorry to say I'm not interested in your game though. It also looks like you don't need or want my money. Still much props to you.
@Falru LOL yeah I kind of set myself up for that one, but maybe I should have had one that said, I fucking hate greed, and their bastards.
1 Like Great news for a company with a great future. If, that is, they can ever manage to make something nearly as nice as Minecraft. I wish them well, as I certainly want to see it happen. It's just a tall order to reproduce a phenomenon like Minecraft.
@Hellswrath99 don't hold your breath. Notch himself boldly acknowledges that Minecrarft's success was a fluke.
Although I never played and will never played Minecraft. Minecraft creator and business people did the right thing. I believe in their philosophy of "independence" because they ultimately served the core gamer like you and I. A company totally working for the customers.
@ulgk The thing is, Mojang is a company of gamers and artists who made and support a game for gamers and artists. This is the consumer base making a contribution to the industry it loves when so many other companys say their 'by gamers for gamers' as a marketing ploy or company motto.
1 Like It must be great telling who -ever to stick their offer up where the sun doesn't shine
"We try to be extremely agile, to release games quickly."
They were founded in 2009 and have released one game that was third party created, and MineCraft that went public before the studio existed. That's a pretty funny comment.
@Tabain Game development takes a long time, even using an agile approach.
Define "quick" for me, Tabain.
1 Like can someone tell me what's so special about this ubber dumb looking game? are pc ppl the only ones playing this, whats the hype behind this crap?
@RustedTruck650 i compare it with lego but then digitally and we all love LEGO!!!
Also last years it was the second most played online game right next to call of duty even more then battlefield 3 and world of warcraft THATS how big it is.
I would say give the game a try there is a free demo version (i myself was like you one day now i am addicted to minecraft)
4 Like @RustedTruck650 This is one of the most creative and relaxing games I think I've played in 20 years...
I could say so much about this game, but I can see why it wouldn't be for everyone. It's a slower game with moments you make more than the game makes for you. Definitely not your COD Black Ops or God of War experience...
How could I describe minecraft... Hmmmm :::::Inserts Daydream Chime Sounds:::::
As I stepped out into the open field I saw a mountain in the distance... "That's where I will build my house!" I said to myself. After finding raw supplies in the form of a wooden pick axe and hatchet I made from trees I began mining stone, coal, diamonds, iron and various riches of the earth to begin building my mountain fortress. I even dug up sand on the beach and made enough glass to build a glass tower to the sky eventually...
I'll never forget my first night, when I heard the strange screeches coming from the forest. I had fashioned a wooden sword and desperately saught higher ground fearing what would arise in the night. After making a small camp with torches and a bed I made from boxes and some sheep wool. I cooked myself some steak and mushroom soup for breakfast and began digging again... determined to finish my ever changing plan for a megafortress...
I had decided to dig straight down today... supporting the journey with ladders I had made from sticks. It was a long trip down to where I was digging... wondering if I would find an end I broke through a stone barrier only to find myself falling, falling into a rushing current of water which swept me away into an underground opening so vast it was as if a city existed underneath my feet the whole time.
I heard the groans of an undead creature... like the ones I had seen the other night. A few tribal villagers gave me trouble as well, but after quickly disposing of them I ventured forth towards a dim light ahead of me in the chasm...
After placing some more torches on the walls for light I saw various riches in the distant glow of a lava lake that now rest before me. Should I head back?, Do I have enough food?, Do I want to risk falling in that lava or getting killed and losing my diamond pick axe? There were so many questions of what laid before me... and to go back? Well, there was plenty of time to hang out in the sun, tend to the crops, animals, pet dog, and explore the countryside later... Not to mention work on my vast megafortress... I think I'll just explore for a little while longer. Perhaps invite a friend to help out and or come find me... All I know is....This is just the beginning
This is but a drop of what Minecraft is....
@jumalan75 @RustedTruck650 (Claps and cheers) Bravo sir! Sounds like a journal one may find in an Elder Scrolls game! (And sums minecraft up beautifully)
@jumalan75 @RustedTruck650 So its just a lego sims with lazy graphics that hit the jackpot. Well, good for the devs.
1 Like @RustedTruck650 @jumalan75 It's like Lego, except these days, every Lego set is so customized that you can't build too much other than the set that is on the box (unless you go out and buy a sh*t ton of other sets). With Minecraft, you can literally build anything you want with a little imagination and some basic engineering sense. My two kids and I all have accounts and can play together on a local server. I built the great pyramids. It's a pretty good time. And who can't get nostalgic about 8-bit graphics?
4 Like Serious reply: it's a sandbox that lets the player do whatever they want, build whatever they want, etc. Essentially Legos, but cheaper and monsters try to kill you.
And if the graphics bother you, well, you're a terrible person.
1 Like @sunyatanada76 LOL. i dont want to hate, id rather have a honest and serious response from a a fan. I guess its just for a younger audience specifically.
1 Like blah blah blah I like this game, blah blah blah this game sucks, blah blah blah consoles are better than pcs, blah blah blah pcs are better than consoles.
1 Like @sunyatanada76 @Sevenizz Says the fail troll who's initial comment had nothing to do with the subject at hand.
@sunyatanada76 @Sevenizz It's ok to admit to having bad reading comprehension...and even worse trolling skills.
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