Notes

Minecraft: New Marketplace For Community Creators

Minecraft Marketplace for Community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter



10 April 2017



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



Many players have created intricate worlds to explore, adventures to play or even modify the game itself to provide new experiences within it.



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



"We would like to help entrepreneurs to establish businesses through our platform," producer John Thornton informs Newsbeat.



People who design adventure maps, character skin packs or other experiences for the game are not allowed to sell them to other players.



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



James Delaney is the founder of Blockworks, a group of Minecraft creators. He's been able to build a successful business despite all the limitations.



The Marketplace is a good thing for him.



"Hopefully it's the start of regular and stable income," he tells Newsbeat.



"In the past we've been relying on commissions to be paid but you're not sure when that is."



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



Their primary source of income come from creating Minecraft-based content to support marketing and educational campaigns.



James "got quite into" making Minecraft maps with his online friends, and realized a few years later that it was possible to earn a living from it.



He says, "At least now we know there is an audience for our content."



"If it does succeed then we will know that we can continue to work on a more steady and stable basis."



"Also it's content we could choose to produce, instead of being required to create, so we've got creative control over it in this regards."
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The marketplace will go live later this year and be available on the Windows 10 and Pocket versions of the game.



It means the majority of the estimated 120 million players of Minecraft worldwide will have access to it, although people who play on consoles won't.



John Thornton states, "Our goal is to work towards connecting creators and our players."



"On Pocket edition it can be tricky to get content onto devices, which means it's difficult for creators to show off content they want to share with the world.



"By connecting creators with the marketplace, it will make it easier for players to discover something they want to play with, buy it and have it on their devices."



People will still be able to build community experiences outside the market, and players will be having access to them for free.



Producers hope that consumers will spend more money for content that is easier to find.



John says, "If you want people to share your content right now, you must 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 the things they cherish in the context of the game they play."



He hopes that the game will help James to start an enterprise that is successful.



The Minecraft team are launching the new service with nine creators from across the globe to begin.



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



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