Minecraft-makers Cancel Film Inspired By Game
Minecraft-makers cancel film inspired by game
Mojang, Minecraft's creator, has intervened in order to stop the making a film set within the game's block-built environment.
Birth of a Man's creators had launched a Kickstarter appeal for $600,000. (PS366,000) in order to finance production.
It was cancelled just one day after the project was launched.
Markuss Persson, the founder of Mojang posted a message on Twitter explaining why it was shut off.
"We don't allow [half-a-million-dollar Kickstarter projects] based on our [intellectual property] without any deals in place," wrote Mr Persson, also known as Notch, in a tweet.
The message may refer to the fact there was no licensing agreement between Mojang, the film-makers, to allow them to use blocks and other elements similar to those in the game. The film was due to be released on YouTube later this year.
A teaser video was posted on the Kickstarter project page. It showed concept footage that combines live action with landscapes, creatures, and weapons.
Brandon Laatsch, director of the short film said that he had been working on the idea to make a Minecraft film since more than twelve months.
Because he and the others involved in the project were avid gamers, he hoped that his film would be more enjoyable than other films based upon well-known games.
In the teaser video, he said that Minecraft was the best video game to adapt into a movie.
"It doesn’t have a character, and it doesn’t tell a story. That to me is a huge benefit. We can create our own story.
Mr Laatsch is yet to comment on the reason for the project being cancelled or whether it is likely that it will be revived following negotiations with Mojang regarding licensing its intellectual properties.
Markus Persson on Twitter
Kickstarter: Birth of Man
Kickstarter