The likely and unfortunate sale of Minecraft

       There are currently rumors that Microsoft is in talks to buy Mojang/Minecraft.  These sources (Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg) also state that Notch is the one who initiated the talks.  I would say that these rumors are likely true.  This is not based on the reputations of the reporting companies, (Although they are right an alarming percent of the time), but on recent events.

       Allow me to explain.  Notch and the rest of the team have expressed, in recent months, their displeasure at being harassed and second-guessed bu certain types of server owners.  These are the ones who sell items on their servers that are free in the game.  Not original content, game features.  This meant they were not only completely unethical (Selling someone else's content without licence), but also violating the End User Licence Agreement. (EULA).

       There was a big to-do over this "sudden" enforcement, with many of these server-owners, which represent a truly small minority of server operators, making a big stink over being told they can't sell someone else's work.  It was at this point some despairing tweets came out of the development team.

       Then we have the takedown of Bukkit.  If they were to sell the game, a site that allowed the downloading of nearly identical content would obviously need to be eliminated.   This all adds up to a picture that either a sale of the game or company is about to happen, or some other, very major announcement is coming.  Also likely not good.

       The writing is on the walls.  As of my writing 16,646,675 copies had been sold.  If each major update (1.1, 1.2 etc.) sold for 15 dollars (and a few cent) they would make back the 2 Billion dollar price.  This is assuming no other content is sold in game, (it would be) and no money from merchandise, (which there would be).  This would also give Microsoft (or any purchaser) access to the player base.

       I believe this will happen, and it saddens me that the greed of a small few, will wreck things for the vast majority.

      Fingers crossed anyway.  I have never wanted to be wrong so badly.