What is Minecraft? Here's what you need to know about Microsoft's latest acquisition

Word is out that Microsoft will by buying Minecraft for a whopping $2.5 billion though it already has Xbox under its arm. So what’s the deal with this Mojang creation and why should it matter so much to Microsoft? Well for starters, the Lego-like multiplayer game is currently the top paid app for iPhone and Android devices in the US, so Microsoft is betting on its popularity to make Windows phones look just as ‘cool’ (if not cooler) as its iOS and Android rivals. Windows Phone currently has only 2.5 per cent of the world’s smartphone market and Microsoft is hoping that the addition of Minecraft will help drive mobile sales.   Apart from the app, Minecraft is also available for desktop use. For those who don’t know what sets Minecraft apart from other gaming apps, here’s the full scoop:   1. An action game with a twist The twist is that there are practically no rules in the game. As there are no objectives to accomplish, you can create a world where you take charge and become the hero. Now, who wouldn’t want that? You can destroy anything with your tools and collect the debris to build something new. In the Survival mode, there are hostile creatures that crop up in the night time such as zombies, skeletons, creepers and spiders that you’ll need to protect yourself from with weapons and shelters you craft. You can create your own rules and weapons, give yourself unique abilities and use your imagination to build environments. In the Creative mode, players can focus on building large projects without being affected by the environment.   2. Build whatever you want Minecraft is a sandbox game so it gives players the freedom to modify the virtual world they are in. As mentioned earlier, you can unleash your creativity to make endless creations with textured blocks and build your own constructions such as castles, tunnels or a sci-fi city, especially in the Creativity mode. Your inventory is the various blocks you have collected and the tools you’ve made to collect them. Some player-made modifications or ‘mods’ even get incorporated in the official game. Here are some mind-blowing Minecraft creations.

  3. The Nether and the End Minecraft features two additional dimensions besides the main world – the Nether and the End. The Nether is an underground hell realm accessed via player-built portals that contains uncommon materials. The End is a barren land where you’ll need to combat a great dragon called the Ender Dragon.   4. Play with your friends You can play Minecraft with your friends by running your own server. This is possible if your friends know your IP address. Multiplayer on Minecraft enables multiple players to interact and communicate with each other on a single world. Any player can host a Minecraft world on his local machine or a dedicated server. Other players must know your server’s address to join the world.   5. There’s a free version, too Though the current, popular version is selling for $26.95 or around Rs. 1,600, the original version of the game called Minecraft Classic is free of cost. It functions much the same as creative mode, allowing players to build and destroy any and all parts of the world either alone or in a multiplayer server. You can try out the free version here or download the paid one here.