Minecraft: New Marketplace For Community Creators
Minecraft A new marketplace for community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter
10 April 2017
Minecraft intends to make it easier for players to avail of content made by community creators and fans.
Many users have already designed intricate worlds to explore and adventures to enjoy or modified the game to offer new experiences.
They will be able to sell content via the game in the new Minecraft Marketplace.
Producer John Thornton told Newsbeat that the platform was created to help entrepreneurs begin businesses.
The creators of adventure maps, character skin packages or experiences for the game aren't permitted to sell them to other players.
Official Minecraft content cannot be sold in this manner. However, some players still make a living playing the game.
James Delaney is the founder of Blockworks, a group of Minecraft creators. He's been able to create a business despite all the limitations.
The Marketplace is welcome news for him.
He said to Newsbeat that he hopes that it will be the start of a steady and regular income.
"In the past, we've relied on commissions to be paid but you're not sure when that is."
He's in charge of 62 creators who work in 20 different countries.
Their primary source of income come from creating Minecraft-based content to support educational and marketing campaigns.
James "got very interested in" making Minecraft maps with friends online and realized in the following years that there was a chance to earn a living.
"At at least we know that there's a market for our content," he says.
"If it's successful, we know that we'll be able to continue working on an ongoing and steady basis.
"Also, it's content that we can choose to make rather than being asked to make. Therefore, we have the creative control over it."
The marketplace will be available later this year and will be accessible on Windows 10 and Pocket versions of the game.
It means that the majority of the estimated 120 million users of Minecraft worldwide will have access to the game however, those who play on consoles will not.
"Our vision is to connect players and creators," says John Thornton.
"On Pocket edition, it isn't always easy to download content onto devices. This makes it difficult for users and creators to share content they love with the world.
"By connecting creators and the marketplace it will be easier for players to find something they like, purchase it, and then store it on their devices."
The players will continue to be able to build community experiences outside the market, and players will be able to access them for no cost.
Producers hope that people will be willing to pay more for content that is more easy to find.
John says, "If you want people to share content right now, you should put it somewhere online and let them know where it is."
"You can make use of existing social networks for this, but it's more efficient if you incorporate it into the game."
"Players who are in the midst of playing the game they love, can simply find what they'd like to share with."
He hopes that the game will help James to establish an effective business.
The Minecraft team is launching the new service with nine creators from all over the globe.
The adventure maps, skin packs, and experiences will be scrutinized by the central Minecraft team to ensure they're appropriate for the game's intended audience.
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