This is NOT minecraft, or is it?

Cubelands - Online multiplayer building game

Background to finding this:

I was trying to prototype writing a minecraft like game in 3D in flash and whilst I made some progress flash just isn't capable, yet.

So I thought I'd download something called Unity 3D to play with, and I was just looking at what people have done with this, and lo and behold, an MC clone! Well I think it is, it's closed beta so can't play, but the video on the above page link looks pretty good.

What people have built:
http://www.cubelands.com/?page=community

 

Looks fine as a game, but I don't like the graphics. If you ask me, you either want to choose 8bit or modern graphics as an art direction. This game dabbles somewhere in the middle with cubes and too much bloom. Minecraft's graphics are consistent, and I admire that.

It does look like a minecraft clone, that said though, minecraft was a clone of infiniminer when it first came out

I also laughed at this,
http://www.cubelands.com/?page=community&show=user&showUser=386&screenshot=683
(Which is a creeper if you've been living under the multiplayer rock)

 

I just want a minecraft clone that works on my Desire, that would be the optimal solution

 

Have you tried it on the desire, as in via the web browser? I might try it on mine.

I know there's an Android minecraft app, but it's a guide, not the game.

 

Yeah I have the andorid app, canary minecraft it's called.

I've tried it via the browser, but failed to realize this is full blown Java not that JavaScript crap that phones use. So it doesn't work, and probably never will until an actual app is made for it.

 

its pretty intensive. I know the desire is 1Ghz, but you would need 3d accel surely.

 

It may very well have a 3D chip (or a 3D function in the CPU). I know my TyTn II had that, although HTC never added the drivers to use it. Many android phones can play Quake 2 at acceptable framerates (although not Desire, the explosions are a problem).

Edit: Here are some 3D games run on a Desire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZcMuetCUtw
It's no gaming desktop 3D, but it should be enough to run minecraft I think.

But a Samsung Galaxy S seems to be a lot better at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpP5QljEqow&feature=player_embedded

 

I can't believe people are making clones of this since Noch says he's going to release the code as open source once he's lost interest in the game.

 

Simply, there is clearly money in it, if you get the formula right.

If you can sell 100,000 units at $10 a pop, that's a heck of a lot of money for an indie dev.

Another game coming out in this genre I guess is the Lego Universe.

 

Except games are a boom and crash market. If something is a hit and you try to clone it to ride that success you'll be trying to sell while it's crashing.

Besides, it's much more fun making your own game rather than remaking something that's already done.

 

Following on from this I just found this thread over at Unity3d.

Unity3d is a game engine for programming games in 3d I'm trying to get into.

Some guys are trying to emulate minecraft but have other ideas where they might take it. They are posting source code and sharing ideas about how to solve performance problems. Interesting thread if you are into programming.

After playing minecraft......


Cheers,
Max