Just some musing about Mojang, and its money spending habbits.
So 4,750,740 people bought Minecraft so far.
Minecraft was released on May 17, 2009
Doing some quick math...
4,750,740.00 * 26.95 = 128,032,443
That is a gross ton of money. Now for the sake of mathematical simplicity, let us assume they made a constant amount of money each, since May 17th. They have not, but it should average out.
983 days have passed since Minecraft came out on May 17th, 2009, so about 2.7 years.
Let us assume (falsely) that each programmer makes a six figure salary per year, or about 100,000.00, and that Notch pays himself over and beyond that with the proceeds of Mojang. (He owns it)
To find out what amount of money is left over after the official paychecks are cut, let's see: 8 employees, so 8x100k=800k or 800,000 total dollars. Now, Mojang likely did not start off with 8 employees, but it is also probably that some make more than others, so things should average out.
Now, multiply the yearly salary times the amount of time that Minecraft was out gives us 2,160,000. Let us assume that he pays 25% taxes firstly off of the 128,032,443 so that will leave him with about 96,024,332.
Subtracting the total salaries from that figure gives us 93,864,332
Now, lets be fair and chop off 10 MILLION dollars for parties, Minecon, his Momma's birthday, his fancy house, his cars, etc, still gives us about 83,864,000 dollars.
Now
Some of you, as I have seen in previous threads are all like "OMG Notch can do with his money as he pleases!!111"
True
The problem is
Minecraft could be far more than it is.
Let's analyze that 83 million dollars a bit more.
Let's say for the sake of argument he decides to hire more programmers with it forecasting that Mojang will be successful. 83,864,000 divided by an average 100,000 salary is equal to 838.64, or almost 840 new employees; programmers, mind you; not janitors or sales reps, etc.
While I could not find an exact figure, the amount of people working for Bethsaida is likely considerably lower than this.
My point is this: Notch should not have to hire this many people if he does not want to, but why not? What gives? \
Why are modders coming out with higher quality content at a faster rate than Minecraft gets updated?
This is like the guy on the street-corner in a suit and tie asking for a handout or some food.
Thanks, and if I have jacked in my figures, or if you have something to add, let me know.
Markus Persson (Notch) have said himself that he want the company to be a bit small, and on some of this stuff your'e not even serious, AND out of the whole mojang-team only one (and a half) of them are working on minecraft; Jeb (Jens Bergensten) and just barely Markus at the time.
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I <3 Mechanical Keyboard (Tesoro Durandal G1NL) Just have to love it when someone changes the specs when comparing with and without optifine..
notch has made a **** ton of money and no one argues that. But i'm sure jeb makes way over 100k since he basically started the company with Notch. He also pays quite a chunk for the area mojang headquarters is in, and he pays for all of his employee's to fly and visit cons to promote his work. So while he is richer than any of us can imagine, I think your figure is a little high
But hiring so many more people would make this game into something its not..play wow if minecraft doesnt tickle your special spots
What...huh? That manages to make no sense. You basically said "slow updates and crappy bugfixes and jacked up SMP API=good" I mean if you like that, then fine. Wow is garbage and I will never play it.
Markus Persson (Notch) have said himself that he want the company to be a bit small, and on some of this stuff your'e not even serious, AND out of the whole mojang-team only one (and a half) of them are working on minecraft; Jeb (Jens Bergensten) and just barely Markus at the time.
yeah yeah, I know what Notch's name is, you bring up a good point, but I attack it anyway on the assumption that he does not know what is good for business. I am serious on all this. Either point things out or don't talk trash. I know that. I am exaggerating for a point.
yea, if minecraft is already grossing that much money, there's no need at all to hire new people. is it just me, or is this a dumb and useless post by the OP?
Since a lot of people bought the game at -50% in beta and -75% in alpha, the figure of over 80 million dollars is a huge over estimate.
OP, if I had that much money I wouldn't invest in hiring tons more people if I didn't have any ideas for new games.
Just hiring for the sake of making a big company does not make you a good company.
You don't take into consideration the popularity spread. Granted that is all true, but how many people here played Alpha, or even Beta? I took this into account and assumed the average would overrule.
Yeah, hiring people and not having any jobs for them will not help the company at all. It is basically giving away free money.
What the heck? I never said they SHOULD hire that many people, I said they COULD hire that many people. Why can't you read my entire thread before replying?
yea, if minecraft is already grossing that much money, there's no need at all to hire new people. is it just me, or is this a dumb and useless post by the OP?
What? That is an illogical sentence, and the second one is subjective. Way to go.
Don't forget that mojang is also working on several other projects. This slows down the process of updating minecraft when programmers are also working on scrolls and cobalt. Also don't forget that before aboout a year ago, Notch wasnt super duper rich. I wouldnt be surprised if he has no idead what to do with all his money.
If you think you know how to make a successful company, i would expect you to start one. If it becomes successful with the way you are thinking, you are then right, and you will have a lot of money. If not, then do not make a point for something you do not know about.
This is a strawman argument, seeing as I never said I know how to run a successful company. I merely crunched numbers
Don't forget that mojang is also working on several other projects. This slows down the process of updating minecraft when programmers are also working on scrolls and cobalt. Also don't forget that before aboout a year ago, Notch wasnt super duper rich. I wouldnt be surprised if he has no idead what to do with all his money.
I got you!
I got to go to class now. College awaits :tongue.gif:
OP may be pleased with his maths but its got more holes in it than a piece of swiss cheese
Theres 2 sure things in life, and before you die you will work out what the other one is. and at that much income its gonna be a hell of al ot more than 25%.
price fluctions from althpa,beta released, and currency rates change a lot of this
Do a better job than me. Oh you won't, well then...
I dont want minecraft to update that often anyway... I do learn all the stuff that is added my lots of test in my (sandstone) testworld (which dont spawn slimes, U mad) and if they updated often i wouldnt have time to learn and enjoy the endgame content... it would be like terraria where you have tons of stuff you never learn what is and where it should be learned. so im totally fine with the slow updatespeed for minecraft atm. and to your bad multiplayer... well, i think its a part of minecraft that gives minecraft something other than the rest of the games out there .
Let me write a few things, if I am wrong in any of the many points I am going to make, please correct me.
About the calculation of revenue, there are cost such as:
-Electricity / water bills
-Studio rental fees
-Licensing feels for tools and software
-Food
-Payroll of workers
-Initial tax before income tax
-High Swedish Tax rates
-Paypal deductions
-Initially, Minecraft cost 9.95 euros, then 15.95 before reaching the full price
-Funding for equipment such as office furniture's and computers
-Cost of events (That includes: Rental, food, bookings, bills, hotel fees.)
-Many more that'll you should understand if you are setting up a company.
On the subject of Mojang not hiring more:
-Bigger ain't necessarily means better.
-More people means less creativity, uniqueness of game
-Developers won't be able to express themselves
-Longer development time due to more people to discuss and plan
-MOJANG WON"T BE A INDIE COMPANY IF IT IS AS BIG AND STABLE AND PROFITABLE LIKE A TRIPLE AAA COMPANY.
Notch wrote something about this, and gave his reasoning for it. Go look it up.
On Modders giving better, higher quality content:
Really? Developers make a game, modders MODIFY it to suit a select group of people play styles. There's a difference.
How many mods out there is really that good as you say and is used by everyone?
Ok I am done here. PM me if you want to argue with me but make sure you have a valid reason and stay composed at the same time.
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Hello, I don't usually follow threads that I post in. So if you would like to have a civilized chat / reply / argument that is of the utmost importance, just PM me. =)
Actually, can you rephrase your point? I think even you dont know the point you are making. all you said is that they are making a lot of money and they could hire people if they want to... That doesnt mean anything to anyone.
You got to my point. My point was exactly that...to get people asking questions. :wink.gif:
I dont want minecraft to update that often anyway... I do learn all the stuff that is added my lots of test in my (sandstone) testworld (which dont spawn slimes, U mad) and if they updated often i wouldnt have time to learn and enjoy the endgame content... it would be like terraria where you have tons of stuff you never learn what is and where it should be learned. so im totally fine with the slow updatespeed for minecraft atm. and to your bad multiplayer... well, i think its a part of minecraft that gives minecraft something other than the rest of the games out there .
It could use a TON of updates to existing content, quality over quantity, but I am not going to go there.
I'm not the one who's posting my inaccurate findings on the internet, of course I won't do a better job I am not interested in mojang's profit and loss enough to want to make a thread like you have, and you even asked in your Postso thats what I did :smile.gif:
You said I post inaccurate findings and call my stuff bull without any proof. Whatever ya say mate.
Let me write a few things, if I am wrong in any of the many points I am going to make, please correct me.About the calculation of revenue, there are cost such as:-Electricity / water bills-Studio rental fees-Licensing feels for tools and software-Food-Payroll of workers-Initial tax before income tax -High Swedish Tax rates-Paypal deductions-
Exactly, but all this is trivial. I mean, the company is only 8 people. Financially speaking, many people could run an 8 person company out of a small storefront with negligible costs. I keep getting different amounts of taxes so I am going to wager that taxes can't be that high where he is, or else he would MOVE.
Initially, Minecraft cost 9.95 euros, then 15.95 before reaching the full price-Funding for equipment such as office furniture's and computers-Cost of events (That includes: Rental, food, bookings, bills, hotel fees.)-Many more that'll you should understand if you are setting up a company.
Still small stuff. The biggest ticket item there would have been Minecon and servers, and people had to PAY to go to Minecon, so it was not a complete publicity stunt.
On the subject of Mojang not hiring more:-Bigger ain't necessarily means better.-More people means less creativity, uniqueness of game-Developers won't be able to express themselves-Longer development time due to more people to discuss and plan-
False conclusion; that would be like saying Runescape or World of Worldcraft is uncreative...and I daresay that is not the case. You guys keep assuming that I want him to go out and hire 800 people. I only said he COULD, not that he SHOULD. Minecraft so far has been developed by Notch a several others, and Notch has a gigantic case of ADHD. Look what creativity got us? A glitchy memory draining game with features of trivial content. I think what you mean to say is that Minecraft would no longer be SPONTANEOUS, and I wish for that pretty badly.
MOJANG WON"T BE A INDIE COMPANY IF IT IS AS BIG AND STABLE AND PROFITABLE LIKE A TRIPLE AAA COMPANY.
Whoa, hold the horses. Putting aside the fact that its indie-company title is self imposed because of its small size relative to what it could be, you say that being unSTABLE is a good thing? Since when? Why?
Notch wrote something about this, and gave his reasoning for it. Go look it up.
If you were sitting on millions of dollars and did not want to give it up, I daresay you would come up with a reason for not being able to spend it.
On Modders giving better, higher quality content:Really? Developers make a game, modders MODIFY it to suit a select group of people play styles. There's a difference.How many mods out there is really that good as you say and is used by everyone?
But of course, I never said it did not, but when the quality and frequency of MODS starts to rival the actual GAME THEN you have a problem. Everybody does not use a mod for the same reasons not everybody uses all the same ingame functions. I am not sure where you are going with this.
Ok I am done here. PM me if you want to argue with me but make sure you have a valid reason and stay composed at the same time.
Fire a salvo and disappear into the woodwork? Where is the fun in that? :sad.gif:
So 4,750,740 people bought Minecraft so far.
Minecraft was released on May 17, 2009
Doing some quick math...
4,750,740.00 * 26.95 = 128,032,443
That is a gross ton of money. Now for the sake of mathematical simplicity, let us assume they made a constant amount of money each, since May 17th. They have not, but it should average out.
983 days have passed since Minecraft came out on May 17th, 2009, so about 2.7 years.
Let us assume (falsely) that each programmer makes a six figure salary per year, or about 100,000.00, and that Notch pays himself over and beyond that with the proceeds of Mojang. (He owns it)
To find out what amount of money is left over after the official paychecks are cut, let's see: 8 employees, so 8x100k=800k or 800,000 total dollars. Now, Mojang likely did not start off with 8 employees, but it is also probably that some make more than others, so things should average out.
Now, multiply the yearly salary times the amount of time that Minecraft was out gives us 2,160,000. Let us assume that he pays 25% taxes firstly off of the 128,032,443 so that will leave him with about 96,024,332.
Subtracting the total salaries from that figure gives us 93,864,332
Now, lets be fair and chop off 10 MILLION dollars for parties, Minecon, his Momma's birthday, his fancy house, his cars, etc, still gives us about 83,864,000 dollars.
Now
Some of you, as I have seen in previous threads are all like "OMG Notch can do with his money as he pleases!!111"
True
The problem is
Minecraft could be far more than it is.
Let's analyze that 83 million dollars a bit more.
Let's say for the sake of argument he decides to hire more programmers with it forecasting that Mojang will be successful. 83,864,000 divided by an average 100,000 salary is equal to 838.64, or almost 840 new employees; programmers, mind you; not janitors or sales reps, etc.
While I could not find an exact figure, the amount of people working for Bethsaida is likely considerably lower than this.
My point is this: Notch should not have to hire this many people if he does not want to, but why not? What gives? \
Why are modders coming out with higher quality content at a faster rate than Minecraft gets updated?
This is like the guy on the street-corner in a suit and tie asking for a handout or some food.
Thanks, and if I have jacked in my figures, or if you have something to add, let me know.
Just have to love it when someone changes the specs when comparing with and without optifine..
Eeexcuse me? Server fees? For what?
Venit, quessit, induravit.
true
What...huh? That manages to make no sense. You basically said "slow updates and crappy bugfixes and jacked up SMP API=good" I mean if you like that, then fine. Wow is garbage and I will never play it.
yeah yeah, I know what Notch's name is, you bring up a good point, but I attack it anyway on the assumption that he does not know what is good for business. I am serious on all this. Either point things out or don't talk trash. I know that. I am exaggerating for a point.
Good idea! Thanks for the first constructive response! It still is an enormous amount of money, though.
You don't take into consideration the popularity spread. Granted that is all true, but how many people here played Alpha, or even Beta? I took this into account and assumed the average would overrule.
Not to be picky but that would be server costs. :wink.gif:
Venit, quessit, induravit.
What the heck? I never said they SHOULD hire that many people, I said they COULD hire that many people. Why can't you read my entire thread before replying?
What? That is an illogical sentence, and the second one is subjective. Way to go.
This is a strawman argument, seeing as I never said I know how to run a successful company. I merely crunched numbers
ajkfhdjkalfjal. Then you agree with me...? I know this and even included the new guy in my calculations.
I got you!
I got to go to class now. College awaits :tongue.gif:
Do a better job than me. Oh you won't, well then...
About the calculation of revenue, there are cost such as:
-Electricity / water bills
-Studio rental fees
-Licensing feels for tools and software
-Food
-Payroll of workers
-Initial tax before income tax
-High Swedish Tax rates
-Paypal deductions
-Initially, Minecraft cost 9.95 euros, then 15.95 before reaching the full price
-Funding for equipment such as office furniture's and computers
-Cost of events (That includes: Rental, food, bookings, bills, hotel fees.)
-Many more that'll you should understand if you are setting up a company.
On the subject of Mojang not hiring more:
-Bigger ain't necessarily means better.
-More people means less creativity, uniqueness of game
-Developers won't be able to express themselves
-Longer development time due to more people to discuss and plan
-MOJANG WON"T BE A INDIE COMPANY IF IT IS AS BIG AND STABLE AND PROFITABLE LIKE A TRIPLE AAA COMPANY.
Notch wrote something about this, and gave his reasoning for it. Go look it up.
On Modders giving better, higher quality content:
Really? Developers make a game, modders MODIFY it to suit a select group of people play styles. There's a difference.
How many mods out there is really that good as you say and is used by everyone?
Ok I am done here. PM me if you want to argue with me but make sure you have a valid reason and stay composed at the same time.
You got to my point. My point was exactly that...to get people asking questions. :wink.gif:
It could use a TON of updates to existing content, quality over quantity, but I am not going to go there.
You said I post inaccurate findings and call my stuff bull without any proof. Whatever ya say mate.