YouTube’s viewership on mobile devices continues to grow
Since 2006, there has been nothing but growth for YouTube. The service continues to generate a massive amount of money for Google because of ad revenue backed by views. Really, YouTube has shown no signs of slowing down.
Omid Kordestani, Google’s chief business officer, commented on YouTube’s performance on mobile devices:
“On mobile, the average [YouTube] session is now over 40 minutes.”
That is nearly an hour of being on YouTube with a phone or tablet. Personally, I use YouTube for no more than ten minutes at a time; however, there are plenty of people glued to YouTube for all it offers (such as YouTube Kids and YouTube Gaming). YouTube is starting operate as an on-demand video streaming service of its own. Also, Kordestani noted that the service reaches more people in the 18-49 demographic than any cable network in the United States.
Via: Wired
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Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes reveals potential for virtual reality games
The Samsung Gear VR has a new game available that shows how virtual reality devices can be used in new, creative ways for game play. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a cooperative video game that requires at least two players – one wearing a Gear VR headset and one manning a bomb defusing manual. As a demo video for the title shows, getting a group together for some gameplay will work as well and may even add to the experience.
The premise is simple. The game generates a random bomb comprised of puzzles that is presented in the Gear VR device. The person wearing the device has to describe what they see to their fellow players who have the bomb defusing instructions. To help spice things up, the manual is intentionally convoluted forcing players to really pay attention to what is being described to them. Those players then have to relay instructions back to the person viewing the bomb on how to stop it. In the true tradition of classic bomb squad work, there is a time element that the players are up against as they try to defuse the bomb and stop a virtual explosion.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is scheduled to hit the Gear VR story today for $9.99. You can check out a video showing some gameplay below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Steel Crate Games
via: Engadget
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Moov Now fitness tracker announced, only $60 for a limited time
Moov has just announced a new fitness tracker, the Moov Now. The company says its smaller than the original and features a battery that can last up to 6 months.
The Moov Now can do many of the same things the original fitness tracker could, but it’s been severely improved, adding features like the ability to track your sleep and daily activity (e.g. steps while at work, casual walks, and etc).
The fitness tracker attaches to your ankle or wrist, whichever is most comfortable or convenient for you, and connects to a smartphone application, which is available on both Android and iOS.
Exercise drains a lot of your energy, and in the heat of the moment it can be easy to give up, but the Moov Now aims to give you that extra boost of motivation to push a little further.
Click here to view the embedded video.
If you’re interested in picking up the Moov Now, it’s available for pre-order at a discounted rate. Just $60 will get you a single Moov Now, and if you buy three or more, they come down to $50 per band.
You can hit the source link below for more information.
source: Moov Now
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Google Fiber joins initiative to offer free Internet access to public housing communities
Google Fiber has announced they are partnering with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in a new program launched by the White House, ConnectHome, that hopes to bring Internet connections to public and affordable housing communities. HUD has selected 28 locations throughout the country for the initial deployment of ConnectHome, which will provide free Internet connections to public and affordable housing residents in those locations. In communities where Google Fiber exists or is being deployed, like Atlanta, Durham, Nashville and Kansas City, as well as future Google Fiber markets that may overlap, Google will provide the Internet access portion.
As part of the ConnectHome initiative, Google will also partner with local community groups to provide basic computer skills training and they will help with the development of computer labs in the communities. According to Google, 26% of households who earn less than $30,000 annually do not have Internet access versus only 3% lacking access who earn $75,000 or more. This “digital divide” can have a huge impact on the opportunities available to school-age children in a world that is increasingly connected.
Google says they pursued the partnership after their experience with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA). In Austin, Google worked with HACA, EveryoneOn.org, Austin Free-Net and Austin Community College to create digital literacy training classes, provide computer access, and rollout free Internet service. Google hopes to replicate the success they had in Austin in other locations where they roll out Google Fiber services.
After the White House announcement earlier this week, HUD Secretary Julián Castro has been visiting the communities selected for ConnectHome to launch the initiative where he has been joined by Google executives. In locations without Google Fiber, other Internet providers are being tapped to assist with access.
source: Google Fiber
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Nintendo was right about the Wii U. We were wrong.
With the announcement of the Wii U, everyone thought Nintendo was wrong. Hell, we thought Nintendo was out of touch, foolish and doomed for producing a gaming-focused, two-screen console that wouldn’t be able to compete technologically with whatever Sony and Microsoft offered in the new generation. The most vocal players wanted better graphics, bigger games and more online experiences. The Wii U offered sub-standard graphics, convoluted online policies and a lineup of classic franchises that, in theory, could eventually show up on the console. By its launch in November 2012, the Wii U was a joke and its sales suffered.
But then: Sony launched the PlayStation 4; Microsoft launched the Xbox One; and as hype for each rose and fizzled out, the Wii U began to look more promising. It had been out for a year longer, meaning it had more games. It offered local cooperative and competitive experiences, something in short supply from the online-focused PS4 and Xbox One. Most importantly, it offered fun — and today, with a lineup of revamped classics and fresh competitive experiences, the Wii U is the most consistently joyful console of the current generation. As it turns out, Nintendo wasn’t wrong. We were.
Nintendo’s Wii U GamePad
Jessica Conditt, Senior Gaming Reporter
Let’s be clear here: The Wii U isn’t a current-generation powerhouse like the Xbox One or PS4. Its sales record remains poor and Nintendo is already preparing to divert attention (and consumer cash) to a mysterious new console code-named “NX.” Details about that system won’t emerge until 2016, but it says a lot that Nintendo, a traditionally secretive company, is already talking about a new console. This could be a move to sweep the Wii U under the rug alongside the Virtual Boy, Power Glove and GameCube.
But, just like the GameCube, the Wii U has wiggled its way into the hearts of many players, including myself. A lot of people have that one, Wii U-owning friend who will extol the virtues of Nintendo’s latest console for hours on end (and if you don’t have that friend, you might be it). The conversation usually goes something like this:
“There’s no point in getting a Wii U with the Xbox One and PS4 out now.”
“Wrong. The Wii U is amazing.”
“But it’s so weird. What’s with that big controller with the screen in it?”
“It’s so fun. And that controller is magical as a hand-held device with all the power of a living room console. Plus, the Wii U has Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse and Bayonetta 2 and Super Smash Bros. and — why don’t you just come over and play with me?”
“No, thanks. I have to finish milking this cow before dinner.”
OK, so the conversation probably doesn’t end like that, but most people with a Wii U have most likely enacted variants of this dialogue. I certainly have. Sometimes it ends well: It’s wonderful when a group of friends gather at my place for a night of Wii U madness — usually Mario Kart 8 or Smash Bros. — and everyone is down for another round. And another. And another.
“Just like the GameCube, the Wii U has wiggled its way into the hearts of many players, including myself.”
— Jessica Conditt
Nintendo excels at capturing the strange magic of video games, and the Wii U is no different. Nintendo’s franchises are joyful and bright, and its hardware choices often appear to make zero sense until you actually get your hands on them. The industry needs a company like Nintendo — it isn’t heavily invested in military-style first-person shooters and it oftentimes seems to completely disregard what its competitors are up to. When Nintendo announced the Wii U, it was as if the company hadn’t ever heard of 60fps or 1080p, and Microsoft and Sony were just two organizations barely on the periphery of Nintendo’s marketing plan. Such an approach turned out to be a detriment to Nintendo’s bottom line this time around, but sometimes it clicks and alters the industry for decades to come. Does anyone remember the Wii, the silly little console that relied on motion controls? Your little sister, older brother, mother, father and grandparents sure do. Sony, Microsoft, Oculus VR, Valve and a dozen other hardware companies do. Nintendo’s weirdness is often a boon to the creativity of the industry.
In the wake of Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata’s death, I carry one hope for the company going forward: that it stays weird. I hope it never loses its sense of fun and its emphasis on childlike joy in video games. I hope it keeps creating odd, risky consoles like the Wii U — but that it also has some industry-defining Wiis and DSes in the mix.
Nintendo’s former CEO Satoru Iwata
Sean Buckley, Associate Editor
I knew I was going to be wrong about the Wii U the first time I saw it. It’s almost a tradition: Nintendo announces a new product; I denounce it as an awful idea; and it turns out to be great. It happened to me when Nintendo created the DS (two screens? Absurd.), and again when it went all-in on motion controls (where’s my dual-stick gamepad?). I even dismissed the 3DS as a gimmick until I looked through it with my own eyes. Year after year, Nintendo proved to me that my instincts were wrong. So, when the Wii U launched, I threw those instincts out. I indoctrinated myself as one of the Nintendo faithful, come hell or high water. And so far, I have no regrets.
That isn’t to say my faith is blind. I’ve written at length about Nintendo’s struggles, both as a hardware and software company. I’m a Nintendo apologist, but I’m not a moron. Nintendo messed up a lot of things with the Wii U’s launch, but I can’t agree with the folks who argue that the company’s path to success lies on the road more traveled. I’m speaking of arguments that Nintendo needs to ditch its strange controllers, low-cost hardware and bizarre, dual-screen devices for more traditional game consoles. Making the next Nintendo console a Mario-powered Xbox won’t save the company; it’ll strip it of everything that makes it unique, fun and worthwhile. The Wii U has problems, but I love it because it’s weird, insane and non-conventional, not in spite of those things.
Splatoon
Take Nintendo’s latest sleeper hit, Splatoon. It’s everything a team shooter isn’t supposed to be: colorful, bright, quirky, childish and completely devoid of voice chat and matchmaking. It’s also the most fun I’ve ever had with an online multiplayer shooter. I adore it — from the motion-based control scheme (a far better replacement for PC-gaming mouse-look than the traditional dual-analog setup), to how the multiplayer’s main game mode emphasizes teamwork over individual player scores. It’s a Nintendo-exclusive experience — not because it’s a Nintendo exclusive game, but because it’s more focused on being a fun game than a competitive by-the-numbers shooter.
“Making the next Nintendo console a Mario-powered Xbox won’t save the company; it’ll strip it of everything that makes it unique, fun and worthwhile.”
— Sean Buckley
It’s not just the attitude, either. Nintendo’s unique hardware has enabled experiences I simply can’t get elsewhere. Recently, my Wii U has become my teacher, gently guiding me through the technical aspects of illustration and painting with Art Academy: Home Studio. I remember mocking the Wii U Gamepad for having an outdated resistive touchscreen, but now that I’m using it to learn to paint, its limitations are enlightening. I used to think you needed expensive tools to make art, but Nintendo’s outdated technology reminded me that it’s not the tool that matters; it’s talent. Somehow, I don’t think I would have learned the same thing from an Xbox One.
Nintendo’s Iwata said it best. “Above all, video games are meant to just be one thing: Fun for everyone.” This simple phrase has become one of the most widely shared quotes since the CEO passed away earlier this month, and I can’t think of a better way to describe what makes Nintendo and the Wii U unique. Nintendo’s brand of fun is founded in a simple joy that applies to everyone. As much as I love my PlayStation 4 and my custom gaming PC, I just can’t say that for the rest of the market.
That said, I had my early doubts about the Wii U. Nintendo was using a hardware architecture completely out of step with the rest of the industry, a move that would make it hard to stay competitive. It looked grim then, but the fanboy in me argued otherwise. The Wii U’s processor was also a half-step forward, living somewhere between the old console generation and the new one. Was Iwata trying to carve out a half-generation console cycle? I certainly thought so.
At the time, it made sense: The Wii U was launching a year before the rest of the next-gen consoles while being less powerful than them, but still being more so than the current generation. I was convinced Nintendo was trying to beat the Xbox 360 and PS3 at the Wii U’s launch, optimize its games to keep pace with the PS4 and Xbox One later on and quietly introduce hardware that beat both of them halfway through the next generation — when it could no longer compensate for its lower specs with optimized software. For a while I abandoned this theory, but with the NX on the horizon, I’m starting to wonder if it’s still possible.
Whatever Nintendo’s next console is, I know it’ll be radical and unconventional. My first instinct will be to reject it, but I’ve learned my lesson. I already know I’m wrong and I can’t wait to admit it.
Joseph Volpe, Features Editor
I get Nintendo. Whether that’s because I’ve been there with the company since its NES beginnings (I received the console in the winter of 1985 during the New York soft launch) or the years I spent studying Japanese language and culture, Nintendo’s always made sense to me. But, make no mistake, I am far from a Nintendo apologist. I’ve shaken my fists in frustration and cursed the company’s bizarre choices (Metroid Prime: Federation Force, anyone?) and tone-deaf marketing as much as the rest of the internet haterade parade. But mine is a tough love for a gaming outfit so married to its entrenched philosophy of games as “fun,” whereas the collective sentiment of the online mob seems to be: Kill! Kill! Kill! Because, well, that’s what they like to do in HD.
But has anyone ever stopped to wonder why the loudest voices in gaming are lusting over Nintendo’s supposed death rattle? Why are we so angrily shouting for the end days of a company that’s staunchly refused to abandon its pursuit of innovation and experiences that provoke childlike wonderment? Is it because we’re actively trying to murder our childhoods? Has Nintendo become the blankie we’re all afraid to admit we hugged tightly before going off to sleep at night?
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
This is a company that saved gaming from Atari’s notorious blunders, kicked off a home entertainment revolution, cemented a multibillion-dollar industry and carved out a reputation for itself as gaming’s preeminent content maker. This is a company we all invariably have some fond memory of — be it your first experience with whatever reinvention of Mario or Zelda or Pikmin or Metroid or Kirby or Donkey Kong or Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. This is a company that bucked the trend of high-octane, “It only does everything” silicon horsepower for decidedly underpowered, meek and quirky hardware at a lower cost (and kicked off yet another gameplay revolution). This is the company that got your grandparents to “bowl” in their living rooms. This is a company that used Muppets in its recent E3 digital presentation. MUPPETS.
If that’s a long list of sins against gaming, then I guess we have different interpretations of wrongdoing. Locking down a console that’s not connected to the internet or telling prospective gamers to pick up a second job to finance a console seem like more egregious corporate infractions. But, hey, that’s just me. You vote with your dollars and the message has been made abundantly clear: Nintendo must die.
“Has anyone ever stopped to wonder why the loudest voices in gaming are lusting over Nintendo’s supposed death rattle?”
— Joseph Volpe
In a sense, that mission’s been nearly accomplished. Nintendo is now reluctantly embracing mobile; a new console is on its way; and the Wii U, by all accounts, is dead. It’s not dead in my living room, but in the narrative that’s been concretely spun in the press and on countless internet forums and social channels. I don’t think anyone would argue that Nintendo didn’t massively bungle the Wii U’s launch — that’s a fairy tale for the most extreme of fanboys. But if there’s ever been a more compelling case for a second act, it’s the massive turnaround Nintendo’s pulled off in the Wii U’s stellar lineup of first-party games. I own all three current-generation consoles, but the Wii U is the only one I actually use to play games. Shocking, I know. And to think, back when it launched, we mocked Nintendo for creating a console so laser-focused on the gaming experience. What fools, right?
The Wonderful 101
I won’t list out all of the must-buy AAA games I’ve amassed for the sure-to-be-collectible console, but I will share this quick anecdote. Back in the fall of 2013, Nintendo published The Wonderful 101, a tremendously overlooked exclusive from Platinum Games that suffered from one dire fault: Its control scheme wasn’t well-explained. I’d picked up the game at release and then promptly abandoned it after 30 minutes of playtime. It wasn’t until one weekend night months later — around February or so — that I’d read up on forum posts and watched some YouTube tutorials that laid out the combat mechanics, which involved using the stylus, or a thumb to squiggle sigils on the GamePad’s screen. Eight hours later, and I was still balancing on the exercise ball in front of my TV, furiously scrawling sigil after sigil on the GamePad’s screen, mashing out combos and happily playing through each of the game’s missions. I can’t remember ever having that much nonstop fun on any other company’s system. It made me look upon the DualShock 4 and Xbox One controller with pity. With the GamePad, Nintendo had done something different and it was joyous.
And that’s because the company’s never been afraid to take risks. Sure, we can all bleat on about wanting a Nintendo console “that’s as powerful as the PS4 or Xbox One,” but have you seen the art direction in any of Nintendo’s Wii U games?! For a console that’s essentially three GameCubes stacked together (or so they say on GAF), it does a fine job at delivering HD eye candy (see: the very “fresh” Splatoon) that rivals its more able console brethren. Besides, Nintendo answered that community cry for a powerhouse console once before. It was called the GameCube and it didn’t sell. I think the commonly held explanation for that commercial disappointment was that it failed to let us kill things in HD. And, oh how we love to snipe in high resolutions.
Super Mario Maker
Alas, no matter how many times Nintendo’s products fly in the face of criticism and contradict the assault of naysayers (e.g., Nintendo Wii; online multiplayer in Splatoon), it’s doomed to live in a Groundhog’s Day of its own devising. See, Nintendo has a brilliant message, but for whatever reason, the company can’t seem to translate it properly. Iwata, Nintendo’s beloved and recently deceased CEO, knew this and was trying to overcome it. I just hope the rest of Nintendo can continue to ignore the haters and carry on his legacy.
[Images: Bloomberg via Getty Images (top image; Satoru Iwata); Nintendo (Wii U; Splatoon; Art Academy: Home Studio; Kirby and the Rainbow Curse; The Wonderful 101; Super Mario Maker)]
UK report details what happens when police spying goes wrong
Surveillance is a contentious issue in the UK — the government, police and intelligence agencies see it as a vital tool for preventing and solving serious crimes, whereas others see it as an unwelcome intrusion into their lives. The debate over whether the UK’s surveillance laws are legal continues to rumble on, but a new report has shed some light on what happens when spying goes wrong. Interception of Communications Commissioner Sir Anthony May revealed today that there were 17 “serious” errors made by police or communications providers in 2014, which included the misidentification of innocent people as sex offenders.
The report noted that nine errors were down to human mistakes, with the others caused by technical system faults. In one case, police sought to trace the owner of a social media account that was used to groom a young girl. Using surveillance powers, they applied for data on the user’s email address, but missed the underscore. Police then served a warrant to the residence of an innocent person’s home and confiscated their computer equipment, only to find that they had no connection to the victim.
A number of errors also saw authorities incorrectly state the timezone when tracing an IP address. When IP data was used to convict a drug dealer, timings were submitted in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) when the correct timezone was British Summer Time (BST). It meant that the results were called into question, but police were able to rely on other data to successfully prosecute the defendant.
In total, 10 of the 17 human or computer errors were linked to IP addresses, of which eight were related to investigations into the sexual exploitation of children. May notes in the report that any police action taken as a result of incorrect checks “could have devastating impact on the individuals concerned.” The people targeted incorrectly had nothing to hide (a phrase often used by authorities to justify the use of surveillance tactics), but were potentially labelled as paedophiles and suffered undue stress.
Incidentally, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA), which was used by police and other agencies to procure such data, has just been struck down at the High Court. Conservative MP David Davis and Labour MP Tom Watson, represented by the Liberty human rights organisation, successfully argued that the UK’s “emergency” spying laws were illegal and broke the public’s right to a private life. While in the “majority” of cases, individuals were said to be “incredibly understanding” about the errors and wanted put the issue behind them, some have sought legal advice.
[Image credit: eGuidry, Flickr]
Filed under: Internet
Via: BBC News
Here’s the secret on how to get a OnePlus 2 invite
Like it or not, the invite system that OnePlus implemented throughout the OnePlus One release enabled the company to regulate and accurately predict supply and demand to ensure there wasn’t surplus stock costing them money and there weren’t huge waiting lists.
Well, that same invite system is back again, but this time with an enhancement, for the OnePlus 2 – the companies latest next-generation device to the original OPO. With 4GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 810 processor, fingerprint sensor, and 3300mAh battery, all for under $450, the OnePlus Two is shaping up to be one heck of a device. Hell, even the camera looks pretty decent.
“With the OnePlus One, we did a bit better than we thought we would. This has made us more confident, and therefore we will have far more launch inventory than last time. We’re talking about 30-50x last year. This means that it will be significantly easier to get an invite from the very beginning.“
This time around, for the OnePlus 2 launch, the company have introduced a reservation list, and this will be key to everyone getting the invite they want. No need to beg, steal, or borrow anymore, since you can simply put your email address on this reservation list and you’ll be contacted when your invite is available.
For those who don’t have time to hang out on forums or social media, we’ll have a quick and painless reservation list. Simply enter your email and we’ll send you an invite as soon as they’re available. We’ll be prioritizing our early forum supporters here.
Everyone who buys a OnePlus 2 will also receive invites to share with their close friends like last time, so whilst the reservation list will see you get an invite, there will still be some begging you’ll have to pull to get one instantly.
Source: OnePlus Blog
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Rovio announces Angry Birds 2 coming July 30th
Back in 2009, Angry Birds took the world by storm, and introduced a really fun, and addicting game. This was before the days of Flappy Bird or Timberman and pretty much paved the way for these types of games to enter the Play Store. Since the initial release, Rovio has released a variety of Angry Bird spin offs, but never released a true sequel to the original game.
Yesterday, Rovio changed things up a bit, and announced that Angry Birds 2 would be coming out on July 30th of this month. While they haven’t exactly announced or shown off what the game play will look like, Rovio gave everyone a teaser trailer to look at. Rovio also detailed that there will be a press event in New York on July 28th to go more in depth about the latest Angry Birds game.
Angry Birds was one of my first purchases on the Play Store, and the iOS App Store. While I’ve played a few of the spin-offs, like the 2 Star Wars versions, I’m actually pretty excited for Angry Birds 2 to come out.
Let us know what you think about the release of Angry Birds 2 in the comment section below, and what you think Rovio may have up their sleeve for the sequel. Or do you think this is just a marketing ploy to gain Rovio some extra income.
Source: Rovio
Via: Android Central
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SwiftKey releases new themes in anticipation for PIXELS
Most of us out there remember playing the classics like Pac-Mac, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders. Well in anticipation of the release of PIXELS, Swiftkey has released five new themes to show your excitement. While PIXELS doesn’t come out until July 24th, you can get your fix starting now on your devices.
It’s got video game aliens, a team of misfits including Adam Sandler and Peter Dinklage, and a Pac-Man that literally eats San Francisco. Who’s not excited forPIXELS, out in theaters on July 24th? Good news: you don’t have to wait any longer to get a peek at all your favorite old-school arcade characters.
SwiftKey partnered with Sony Pictures to bring these new themes to your devices, and have the following themes available:
- Donkey Kong
- Pac-Man
- Q*bert
- Centipede
- Space Invaders
No, don’t worry, you don’t have to pay for these new themes. You can either download only the themes you want, or download all five of the PIXELS themes in a pack within the theme store on your device.
Let us know in the comments below if you are excited for the release of PIXELS and what your all-time favorite games are, new or old.
Source: SwiftKey Blog
The post SwiftKey releases new themes in anticipation for PIXELS appeared first on AndroidGuys.
This is Minecon: the biggest ‘Minecraft’ fan convention
Inside the main convention hall, children scurry left and right with foam diamond swords raised high above their heads. Eyes wide and mouths agape, some of them rush toward a blocky reimagining of Big Ben, where Minecraft‘s formidable Ender Dragon can be found wrapped around the clock face. Below, parents wander between life-size character statues and trees with cube-cut canopies, a mixture of fascination and bemusement etched onto their faces. For one weekend in July, 10,000 of the most dedicated Minecraft players have descended upon London’s Excel Exhibition Centre for Minecon, a fan convention celebrating the blockbuster sandbox building game. With panels, signings, tournaments and merchandise, it’s the Minecraft equivalent of Disney World and Comic-Con.
Minecraft is an anomaly in the video game industry. The first version was released by Markus “Notch” Persson in 2009 and was quickly championed by the press and indie game community. With no marketing, the desktop version surged in popularity as players embraced the primitive, colorful aesthetic and non-linear gameplay: Build a home, survive the night and then do whatever you like. Even now, it takes time for beginners to learn how to craft different items, and the randomly generated worlds always provide a fresh challenge. The game is unique and, surprisingly, no developer to date has managed to copy the experience and its commercial success.
More than six years after its debut, the game continues to sell. Persson is no longer attached to the project and the studio he founded, Mojang, was bought by Microsoft for $2.5 billion. Most developers would have released a sequel by now, but instead the team has busied itself with console ports and updates for the “vanilla” game. Minecraft has many older fans — the average player is 29 — but in the last few years, the game has clearly benefited from an influx of younger players. They’ve helped Minecraft form a diverse gaming community spanning different ages, genders and geographies.
That expansive player base was clearly reflected at Minecon. Not just in the attendees, but also in what was offered to keep them entertained. Many of the younger Minecraft fans wanted to see famous YouTubers like Joseph Garrett, otherwise known as Stampy. Videos of his daily adventures have attracted more than 6 million subscribers and led to an online animated series called Wonder Quest. On the first day of the convention, he held an hour-long show on the main stage that featured a slew of Minecraft-themed games and activities. One, for instance, saw him teaming up with a fellow YouTuber who was trying to play the game blindfolded — a second pair picked from the crowd then raced the duo to complete challenges in the world. At the same time, the crowd was encouraged to cheer and shout out their suggestions. “Go to the meadows,” one boy screamed from the top of his lungs. “No, not there; right a bit; right a bit,” a girl farther back muttered dejectedly.
It wasn’t just Stampy whipping the crowd into a frenzy though. Some fans raced to see members of Mindcrack, a community of YouTubers and Twitch streamers that play Minecraft online. “Just meeting a couple of them was really amazing,” Nelson Jansen, a Minecraft buff who’s been playing since the very first version said. “So far, that’s easily the best thing that’s happened.” Internet personalities are an obvious draw, but for some, the event was just a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet fellow fans.
More than 70 million copies of the game have been sold, so you would be forgiven for thinking that every schoolyard is filled with Minecraft addicts. But in reality, that’s not always the case. “At my school there’s only a few people that play it,” said Lewis Walmsley, a student from Manchester. “So it’s nice to meet other people that play — obviously they have different ideas that you can share.” Jurrien Brondijk, a fellow Minecraft player felt the same way: “It’s a big event with a lot of people that enjoy Minecraft and those sorts of things. So that’s very appealing, just to meet all those people and talk about the game.”
Internet personalities are an obvious draw, but for some, the event was a once in a lifetime chance to meet fellow fans.
Fancy dress has become a massive part of convention culture, and Minecon was no exception. At every panel, booth and queue, players would feverishly compare polystyrene pickaxes and swords covered in signatures from their favorite developers, modders and YouTubers. Some of the attendees went even further, making outfits that resemble classic monsters from the game. Unlike most video game conventions, however, the enthusiast “cosplay” scene wasn’t really apparent. Almost all of the fans in dress-up were young children and there was a rough, heartwarming feel to everything they had made. One little girl had decorated a dress to make it look like her personal Minecraft world, topped with glitter and stars for some personal flair. None of them were professional cosplayers, or hobbyists that relish the challenge of perfectly recreating their favorite character’s outfit. Instead, these were fans that just wanted to show their appreciation.
“You know you can come here and walk around with your diamond sword and no one will have a problem with it,” Sam Walker, a Minecraft player hooked on community mods, said. “While if you take it on the London Underground, you might get a few shifty looks!”
Even after hours, Minecon was an impressive sight. Huge fortresses were erected in the corners of the main convention hall, lovingly painted to look like stone, ice and sand. Statues of blocky builders guarded their entrance, while a pair of Iron Golems stood watch in the building’s central hallway. Near the back of the convention, you could wander through a series of farmyard pens filled with sheep, pigs and other Minecraft animals. During the day, there was even an opportunity to have your picture taken atop one of the horses, if you didn’t fancy leaning over the fence for a quick selfie.
“Our one and only priority is just that everyone that comes here has a good time and gets to celebrate Minecraft,” said Matt Booty.
The amazing decorations didn’t stop there. To match its London setting, Minecon offered a “Minepark,” which resembled London’s eight Royal Parks. The leafy escape had artificial grass, park benches and a bridge overlooking a river and swan. Families could gather at the tables and log stools for lunch, before wandering down the strip to take in some carnival attractions. These were, of course, all Minecraft-themed, with names such as Tic-Tack-Inventory, Creeper Catch and Mine Racer. Some were devilishly tricky, but others were simple enough so that everyone walked away with a prize.
“Our one and only priority is just that everyone that comes here has a good time and gets to celebrate Minecraft,” said Matt Booty, Microsoft’s general manager for the Minecraft team in Redmond. “I think that’s different for everybody. For some people, that means getting to meet their favorite YouTubers; for others, that’s going to be getting to meet Jens (Bergensten), the creative director from Mojang. For others, it’s going to be coming and getting to go to the panels. So I think it’s just that everybody comes away feeling that they got to somehow participate in their favorite game and got to be a part of the community.”
For Minecraft maniacs, Minecon is a special event. But the game’s popularity does beg the question: Why hold a convention at all? Minecraft is selling well and the community will grow regardless of whether Minecon is a success. Well, according to Booty, none of that really matters. Minecon is about thanking the fans and proving that Microsoft isn’t about to meddle with a winning formula. “Our approach is very much a partnership, so we’re just working together with Mojang and not looking to come in and radically change things, or try to turn them into something more Microsoft-like,” Booty said. “We mostly want to make sure that we’re a great resource and they continue to succeed.”
Microsoft and Mojang have a surplus of player feedback from social media, Reddit and the Minecraft forums. But sometimes, it’s easier to record and act upon this information by meeting people in person. Over the weekend, Microsoft hosted competitions to win one of 25 golden tickets and a rare HoloLens briefing. With this augmented reality headset, you can project and manipulate digital images in the real world, similar to Minority Report and Iron Man. Microsoft has only shown it on a few occasions and one of its most impressive demos to date incorporated Minecraft. At E3 in Los Angeles, the player was seen projecting a virtual TV screen onto a blank wall and later pulling the entire Minecraft world onto a table. In the latter mode, he could view the landscape from an aerial perspective, follow other players and interact using various voice commands. Few people outside of the press have tried it, but Minecon was the perfect place to put it in the hands of the public. “Giving players the opportunity to see something like HoloLens — I don’t know where else we could do this,” Booty said.
Minecon wasn’t just for the fans — delighting them re-energized Mojang and Microsoft employees too. The positivity inside the Excel Exhibition Centre was infectious; every panel ended with rapturous applause and during the closing ceremony, some children said they were the best days of their lives. “We all come away from this excited about working on Minecraft,” Booty said. “It’s hard to sit in the big room for the main stage or be on the show floor and see how excited everybody gets, and not come away excited yourself.”
Minecon is unusual. It’s now the largest convention dedicated to a single video game, beating events like EVE Fanfest and Summer of Sonic. But this year’s event was still small and surprisingly peaceful. Ten thousand tickets might sound like a lot, but it’s a slither of the attendees now turning up for MCM London Comic Con. Not that it really matters. Unlike most conventions, Minecon has never been about making money. It’s a celebration of Minecraft, and a way for both the fans and its creators to say thank you. A humble event for what started as a humble game.
AIVAnet 