Been seeing a lot of errors and crashes in the support forum. I've been doing what I can to help out but I'm starting to notice a trend.
While I acknowledge the strange cases of new gaming computers having an issue with running Minecraft, it seems a lot of people are trying to run it on rather outdated hardware. Seemingly, since Minecraft doesn't look like a modern game, some folks mistakenly think it'll run on anything made in the last decade. In truth, MC is a modern game that is deceptively hardware intensive. It certainly isn't like a game you'd find on Facebook like this meathead on Yahoo claims.
The other day, I found a post from a guy receiving crashes and errors while playing Minecraft on a 7 year old laptop with 6 year old video drivers. I was surprised MC ran at all. The 6 year old drivers were the last release for that graphics chipset.
The truth is, there is no set hardware requirements. The only thing related on minecraft.net is suggest the latest video drivers and java be installed. While that's good advice, it leaves a lot out.
While having no set hardware requirements may get more people to try the game. It also compounds the workload of Mojang and the folks responsible for bug squashing, having to sort through the bug reports caused by grossly outdated hardware. Not to mention the headaches involved with refunds and complaints from customers who cannot play because their own hardware is longing to be recycled.
As the game evolves, the hardware load will most likely increase and the technology needed may change. Unfortunately, this will throw some users into the "cannot play" troop. Unavoidable to a certain extent since this is a beta but it's, again, further compounded by the numbers of folks who already barely run the game because there is no set hardware requirements.
I'm asking for a target hardware requirement Mojang hopes to meet or be under when they're done developing and reiterating content. A line in the sand they really don't want to cross, so to speak.
I know it's a little late in the development stage for someone to ask for this, and why it wasn't done from the onset is beyond me, especially when selling the game while it's still in beta. But it would be good for Mojang and good for consumers, less headaches for both. Mojang doesn't have to deal with irate consumers and bug reports from digital dinosaurs. Consumers don't end up buying something they won't be able to use a couple months down the road.
I would consider not having an official system requirement to be a mistake or an oversight on Mojang's part. Chalk it up to being a fledgling indie developer with an absolutely awesome game. Sh*t happens.
I understand the complaint and comment as the requirements are deceptive.
It works in a way of marketing, however. Many players of minecraft do so because it is easily accessible from school. Most school and government computers do not carry exceptionally powerful video cards unless they are in specific tech fields.
Enforcing a floor raises a great deal of end-user concerns as not everyone is proficient with computers, cuts out potential new customers, and locks out existing customers.
The current system in play may not be the most honest I've seen, but I fear for the marketing concerns of Mojang should they enforce a hardware floor.
If there is an error in my logic, please let me know.
I understand the complaint and comment as the requirements are deceptive.
It works in a way of marketing, however. Many players of minecraft do so because it is easily accessible from school. Most school and government computers do not carry exceptionally powerful video cards unless they are in specific tech fields.
Enforcing a floor raises a great deal of end-user concerns as not everyone is proficient with computers, cuts out potential new customers, and locks out existing customers.
The current system in play may not be the most honest I've seen, but I fear for the marketing concerns of Mojang should they enforce a hardware floor.
If there is an error in my logic, please let me know.
The logic is sound for the most part, at least to me.
One variable is how often schools and government offices replace their computers. Most of which have integrated graphics chipsets for multimedia and low tech educational games. Every so many years, they all get replaced with more up to date hardware for the most part.
Another variable is if Mojang ever considered MC to be an educational game. I'm sure it was a bit of a surprise and an honor when they found out MC was being used in such a way. Although, MC I believe was initially designed by gamers for gamers.
Ok, how about this. If Mojang is serious about supporting the educational niche with Minecraft, they create a version specifically for that niche that supports the technology gap between at-school-student and gamer. A Minecraft Light. Stripped down to the core gameplay without the fancy lighting, graphical flourishes and openGL. Pretty much like when we set things to fast/tiny but more cooked down. It would most likely be playable on anything made in the last decade and nearly rock solid stable.
Meanwhile the current MC continues to be developed and progressively improved technologically, designed to run on computers meeting or exceeding a certain point of technology. The floor could also be more of a guide than a concrete limitation as well, it doesn't have to be hard coded to flat out reject outdated technology. Instead of a minimum requirement, just have recommended.
The MC Light and regular retail MC could also potentially be compatible with eachother, allowing for saves to be swapped between the two without any negative effects.
The available demo version helps alleviate the issue of people buying minecraft just to find out they can't run it to some degree, as long as it stays current with the retail version.
In any case, it's a bit of a convoluted issue. People with obsolete hardware will eventually have to replace them for one reason or another.
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While I acknowledge the strange cases of new gaming computers having an issue with running Minecraft, it seems a lot of people are trying to run it on rather outdated hardware. Seemingly, since Minecraft doesn't look like a modern game, some folks mistakenly think it'll run on anything made in the last decade. In truth, MC is a modern game that is deceptively hardware intensive. It certainly isn't like a game you'd find on Facebook like this meathead on Yahoo claims.
The other day, I found a post from a guy receiving crashes and errors while playing Minecraft on a 7 year old laptop with 6 year old video drivers. I was surprised MC ran at all. The 6 year old drivers were the last release for that graphics chipset.
The truth is, there is no set hardware requirements. The only thing related on minecraft.net is suggest the latest video drivers and java be installed. While that's good advice, it leaves a lot out.
While having no set hardware requirements may get more people to try the game. It also compounds the workload of Mojang and the folks responsible for bug squashing, having to sort through the bug reports caused by grossly outdated hardware. Not to mention the headaches involved with refunds and complaints from customers who cannot play because their own hardware is longing to be recycled.
As the game evolves, the hardware load will most likely increase and the technology needed may change. Unfortunately, this will throw some users into the "cannot play" troop. Unavoidable to a certain extent since this is a beta but it's, again, further compounded by the numbers of folks who already barely run the game because there is no set hardware requirements.
I'm asking for a target hardware requirement Mojang hopes to meet or be under when they're done developing and reiterating content. A line in the sand they really don't want to cross, so to speak.
I know it's a little late in the development stage for someone to ask for this, and why it wasn't done from the onset is beyond me, especially when selling the game while it's still in beta. But it would be good for Mojang and good for consumers, less headaches for both. Mojang doesn't have to deal with irate consumers and bug reports from digital dinosaurs. Consumers don't end up buying something they won't be able to use a couple months down the road.
I would consider not having an official system requirement to be a mistake or an oversight on Mojang's part. Chalk it up to being a fledgling indie developer with an absolutely awesome game. Sh*t happens.
It works in a way of marketing, however. Many players of minecraft do so because it is easily accessible from school. Most school and government computers do not carry exceptionally powerful video cards unless they are in specific tech fields.
Enforcing a floor raises a great deal of end-user concerns as not everyone is proficient with computers, cuts out potential new customers, and locks out existing customers.
The current system in play may not be the most honest I've seen, but I fear for the marketing concerns of Mojang should they enforce a hardware floor.
If there is an error in my logic, please let me know.
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The logic is sound for the most part, at least to me.
One variable is how often schools and government offices replace their computers. Most of which have integrated graphics chipsets for multimedia and low tech educational games. Every so many years, they all get replaced with more up to date hardware for the most part.
Another variable is if Mojang ever considered MC to be an educational game. I'm sure it was a bit of a surprise and an honor when they found out MC was being used in such a way. Although, MC I believe was initially designed by gamers for gamers.
Ok, how about this. If Mojang is serious about supporting the educational niche with Minecraft, they create a version specifically for that niche that supports the technology gap between at-school-student and gamer. A Minecraft Light. Stripped down to the core gameplay without the fancy lighting, graphical flourishes and openGL. Pretty much like when we set things to fast/tiny but more cooked down. It would most likely be playable on anything made in the last decade and nearly rock solid stable.
Meanwhile the current MC continues to be developed and progressively improved technologically, designed to run on computers meeting or exceeding a certain point of technology. The floor could also be more of a guide than a concrete limitation as well, it doesn't have to be hard coded to flat out reject outdated technology. Instead of a minimum requirement, just have recommended.
The MC Light and regular retail MC could also potentially be compatible with eachother, allowing for saves to be swapped between the two without any negative effects.
The available demo version helps alleviate the issue of people buying minecraft just to find out they can't run it to some degree, as long as it stays current with the retail version.
In any case, it's a bit of a convoluted issue. People with obsolete hardware will eventually have to replace them for one reason or another.