Notes

Minecraft: New Marketplace For Community Creators

Minecraft A new marketplace for community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter



10 April 2017



Minecraft wants to make it easier for players to avail of the content created by fans and community creators.



Many players have created complex worlds to explore, adventures to play or even alter the game itself to offer new experiences within it.



They will now be able to sell the content through the game on the brand new Minecraft Marketplace.



"We want to enable entrepreneurs to start businesses through our platform," producer John Thornton informs Newsbeat.



Up to now, those who design adventure maps skin packs for characters or other experiences to play the game have not been allowed to sell them directly to other players.



Official Minecraft content is not available for sale in this way. However, some people still earn a living from the game.



James Delaney, is founder of the group of Minecraft creators called Blockworks and he's created a successful business despite the restrictions.



He is happy to welcome the Marketplace.



He told Newsbeat that he hopes that it will be the beginning of a regular and steady income.



"In the past, we've relied on commissions to be paid and you're never sure when that is."



He is the responsible person for 62 creators working in 20 countries.



Their main source income is from the creation of Minecraft-based content for educational and marketing campaigns.



James "got very interested in" creating Minecraft maps with his online friends and realised some time later that there was a chance to earn a living.



He adds, "At least now we have a sense of the audience for our content."



"If it's successful, then we are confident we can continue to work on more regular and stable basis.



"Also this is content that we can decide to create instead of being asked to create it, which means we can control the content's creative direction."



The marketplace will be available on both the Pocket and Windows 10 versions of the game.



This means that the vast majority of Minecraft players around the world, estimated at 120 million, will have access to the game. However console gamers will not.
IPAGD'S BLOG


John Thornton states, "Our vision is for us to connect creators and our players."



"On Pocket edition, it isn't always easy to download content onto devices. This makes it challenging for users and creators to share content they love with the world.



"By connecting creators and the marketplace it will make it easier for users to find something they like, then purchase it, and then have it available on their devices."



Players will have access to them for free, meaning players can still make community experiences.



Producers hope that people will be willing to purchase content that is easier to find.



John says, "If you want people to share your content now, you should put it on the internet and let them know where it is."



"You can make use of existing social networks to do this, but it's more effective if you bring it into the game."



"Players can interact with things they love within the context of the game they play."



He hopes the development will enable people like James to have thriving businesses thanks to the game.



The Minecraft team has launched the new service with nine creators from around the globe to start.



The central Minecraft team will be monitoring the adventure maps, skin packs, and other experiences to ensure that they are suitable for the audience of the game.



Follow us on Instagram @ BBCNewsbeat, and on Snapchat Search for BBC Newsbeat


Website: https://ipagd.com/