Microsoft digs deep for Minecraft

[Simon]

Microsoft has bought Mojang, the Swedish firm behind the popular video game Minecraft, for $2.5bn (£1.5bn).

The title, which has sold over 54 million copies, allows players to build structures with retro Lego-style blocks, as well as explore a large map and battle others.

The deal was announced by Xbox chief Phil Spencer.

Mojang, whose three founders of will leave the company, assured fans that "everything is going to be OK".

Some analysts have speculated the deal is designed to attract more users to Microsoft's Windows Phone devices.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29204518

[Technical Ben]

I use to have a lot of respect for the guy. It's all gone now really.

You can sell things. You can open them up (give them away for free).

But selling out, that is, selling to people who think and do the opposite to you, means you don't care about your standards.

No problems with him selling it, it's just he presented himself as being a totally different person to the one that we see today. :/

[pctech]

Are you really telling me you'd down a billion for a business you started?

If I was selling an app I don't think I would but if I was running a service provider such as an ISP I would be concerned for my customers so I probably wouldn't sell up.

[Technical Ben]

Never said I'd turn it down. But saying one thing "facebook creeps me out" when Facebook bought out another company for £2billion, but not being creeped out when MS offers the same is strange.

Saying "I sold it to escape the fame", when giving it away escapes fame, and selling gains more... is again playing with opposites.

Even if IDNet got offered the money and sold out, I'd understand why they would do it. I'd just feel double crossed if they sold out to BT. 

[zappaDPJ]

Hmmm, £1.5 billion... retain my credibility... £1.5 billion... retain my creditability... you know what?... 

[Technical Ben]

Well, the sad thing is, many people do worse for less. 

It's retaining your SANITY for half a billion (as after taxes ) that's the hard part! 

[pctech]

Here's a poser for you then.

What would you do if IDNet was sold to Google?

[Technical Ben]

Google I can live with. I know they have all my data (and I've never been worried about them). I'd probably swap though, as Google cannot offer the service IDNet can (though could offer a subsidised price I guess).

I do though complain how BT and other companies treat their customers. So I'd feel let down if IDNet sold to BT. Then if I'm going to be stuck with having to have a large company managing my net, I would choose the cheapest.

While IDNet are separate, I know I'm getting a better service.

It's not that Notch sold, it's that everything he talked about before suggested he would not sell, and if it was about the money, we all expected him to make it himself too keep hold of the empire. I guess the stress really did get to him first. I just hope the stress of having the cash is less than the stress of having the business. 

[pctech]

If I'd been an IDNet customer on one of their O2/Telefonica LLU DSL services I'd have been a bit miffed to be told I was being moved to BT Wholesale when Sky shuttered that service is if I'd had a better connection on LLU.

[Technical Ben]

No idea what the prices are. But would be interesting if Sky did open up their network to resellers.

[pctech]

Not likely Ben, at least not at the moment.

Think they might have to rethink that at some point in the future to diversify away from TV.