May 11, 2010, 11:01 A.M.
It had been three days since Kurt Wagner had purchased Minecraft, and he was already completely captivated by its endless possibilities. The game had become an integral part of his daily routine, and he often found himself dozing off in his computer chair, much to the curiosity of his friends residing in the mansion.
Initially puzzled by Kurt's newfound obsession, their intrigue quickly transformed into excitement when they discovered the enchanting world of Minecraft through him. One by one, they started immersing themselves in the game, drawn in by its unique charm and challenges.
As they gathered for breakfast that morning, Kitty Pride, with her characteristic enthusiasm, shared a thrilling discovery with Kurt. "Kurt, I found that if you pair Blaze Powder with an Ender Pearl, you get an Ender Eye! It shows you the direction of a dragon dungeon!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"What?! A dragon? I thought the most powerful monsters were the Endermen! Where did you get this Blaze Powder?" Kurt responded, His surprise evident in his tone.
"I found it in an abandoned mine chest! Unfortunately, I could only find one, so after using the Ender Eye a few times, it broke…" Kitty replied, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice.
At that moment, Evan Daniels approached them, practically vibrating with excitement. "Guys, Ned found out you can go to hell in Minecraft!" he announced, his voice rising with each word.
"WHAT?!!!!!" Both Kurt & Kitty shouted in unison, their disbelief palpable. The notion that another dimension existed within the game beyond the End was mind-boggling.
"Yes! Remember he made the door to his castle with obsidian he mined with a diamond pickaxe? Then, without meaning to, he set fire to the forest near his castle, and the door to his house turned into a portal to hell!" Evan explained, his enthusiasm infectious as he grabbed his cellphone to show them the live stream.
The commotion drew the attention of the other kids, who gathered around Evan, eager to glimpse the otherworldly scene displayed on his screen. There, they watched as Ned navigated a barren landscape dominated by red rocks and rivers of lava. Suddenly, he spotted a massive castle constructed from crimson blocks, sparking a wave of excitement among the onlookers.
"Damn! I didn't know there was a hell! I thought there was only one dimension!" Exclaimed one young boy.
"Is there more to this hell?! Stronger monsters?!" Another chimed in, Eyes wide with curiosity.
"Look over there! There are black skeletons holding swords! They must be super strong!" A girl pointed out, Her voice laced with thrill as she directed their attention to the ominous castle in the distance.
In the mansion's canteen, The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as all the young people huddled around Evan, captivated by the live stream of Ned's hellish adventure.
As excitement peaked, Ned defeated a yellow, fire-breathing monster, which dropped a peculiar item that left everyone puzzled.
"Is that!!!" Kitty Pride screamed, Her voice cutting through the chatter.
"What?" Kurt inquired, Confusion lining his features.
"That's the Blaze Powder I told you about! Damn it, so we have to go to hell to get that! I have to go to my room to grab some diamonds quickly! I want to fight the dragon!" Kitty declared, darting out of the canteen in a flurry of determination.
However, In her haste, she collided with someone in the hallway, tumbling to the ground.
"Are you okay?" The person asked, Concern evident in their voice. "Don't run inside the mansion; it can be dangerous."
"Miss Munroe, I'm sorry! I won't run anymore," Kitty replied, A hint of embarrassment creeping up her cheeks as she scratched the back of her head.
"Why is everyone so excited?" Ororo Munroe inquired, Her brow furrowed in curiosity as she noted the commotion among the students.
"This… this is a new game we started playing. It's a game that takes you to another dimension & offers amazing adventures! I was running because I wanted to go to hell and kill a fire-breathing monster!" Kitty explained, Her excitement barely contained.
Ororo felt a wave of confusion wash over her. It was unusual for a game to ignite such fervor among the kids. Intrigued, she stepped closer, peering at Evan's cellphone screen. There, she witnessed a small, pixelated man battling black skeletons, interspersed with moments of mining and building.
Kurt, sensing her interest, leaned in to clarify. "Yes, I already told you, you don't need to be afraid of dying. It hurts a little, but you can return to the spot where you died & retrieve your items," He animatedly explained to the younger boys gathered around him.
"But Kurt, last time a zombie ripped my arm off, and I was really scared! It's so weird looking at your arm and not seeing anything," A boy said, His voice tinged with the remnants of fear.
"Don't worry about it! After a while, you get used to it. The first time I entered that world, I felt really uncomfortable not having my tail, but over time, I adapted. I even had a zombie rip my leg off! It hurt a lot at first, but eventually, I didn't feel it anymore.
Just remember to carry food in your backpack, And it will grow back!" Kurt reassured them, His enthusiasm infectious and inspiring awe in his audience.
"Mr. Wagner, what do you mean by pain?" Ororo asked, her curiosity piqued as she listened intently.
Kurt felt a flush of embarrassment wash over him, Realizing he may have overstepped. "Oh, Umm, Don't you know about Minecraft, Mrs. Munroe? It's a game where you're literally teleported to another world! Your body sleeps in real life, but your consciousness goes to another world! It's like magic!" He explained, his voice filled with excitement.
But he noticed Evan's warning expression and the concerned faces of the students surrounding him. A surge of panic coursed through him as he realized he might have opened a can of worms. "This… but it's just a game…" Kurt stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
At that point, It was too late. Ororo, Now visibly worried about the implications of such a game, instructed everyone to refrain from playing Minecraft for the time being. She decided she needed to speak with Professor Xavier about the situation, concerned for the safety and focus of her students.
The kids felt a wave of disappointment wash over them. They were eager to dive into the realm of Minecraft and explore the depths of hell, but they understood the importance of adhering to their teachers' guidance.
Not lingering with the students for long, Ororo made her way directly to Professor Xavier's office. She entered respectfully, Finding him in discussion with Hank McCoy and Logan about strategies to help the students concentrate more on their training and studies, as recently they seemed distracted.
"Yes, Ororo, you arrived at the perfect moment," Xavier said with a warm smile, his demeanor inviting.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but this time I came to discuss something else—an imminent danger the students are facing," Ororo replied, her tone shifting from respectful to urgent as she conveyed her concerns.
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May 11, 2010, 11:21 A.M.
Sterling was in an exuberant mood as he surveyed the impressive sales figures for Minecraft. In just the first week, the game had exceeded his expectations, with an impressive number of units sold and a growing player base that reflected its rising popularity.
[Minecraft]
[512 Games sold - $10,250]
[Average Time Played: 7 hours]
[Peak of Simultaneous Players: 241]
With sales exceeding $10,250—an impressive equivalent of 512 Multiverse Exchange Units—Sterling felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of launching the multiplayer mode. He knew that this new feature would not only attract more players to the game but also enhance the gaming experience for current players, as gaming with friends could elevate the fun exponentially compared to playing alone.
With a satisfied grin plastered on his face, Sterling settled down at his computer, ready to set up the highly anticipated multiplayer mode. He knew that this was a crucial step in engaging the burgeoning community around Minecraft.
Using 5,000 of his precious Multiverse Exchange Units, Sterling purchased a server capable of hosting up to 15,000 players—more than sufficient for the current player base. He envisioned a vibrant online community where players could connect and collaborate in the expansive world of Minecraft.
First, He activated a LAN Servers option, allowing two players to connect over the same internet network for free, Provided they both had the game installed. This feature was perfect for local play and encouraged friends to experience the game together without any additional cost.
Next, Sterling introduced a unique feature where players could rent their own online world for just $2 per month. Each player could invite up to 10 friends to join them in their personal realm. If they wished to invite more players, they could purchase additional slots.
This innovative system stemmed from Sterling's realization that traditional hosting methods would not work on the new platform, So he developed a self-hosting solution that ensured smooth gameplay with no lag—an enticing offer for players.
For those interested in larger servers, Sterling devised a model where they could pay a higher fee for vast slots. Server owners would be trustworthy for generating income throughout the microtransactions, Creating a sustainable ecosystem for both players and hosts.
To further entice gamers into the multiplayer experience, Sterling planned to create a few servers of his own, featuring engaging minigames to attract players and keep them coming back. He decided to name the server after one of his favorite gaming platforms from his previous world: [Hypixel].
However, given the limitations of the current features available to him, he opted to include only two straightforward yet entertaining minigames: [Build-Battle] & [Hunger Games].
These games had proven to be crowd favorites and offered a blend of creativity & competition that he believed would resonate with players.
Fortunately, Sterling didn't have to construct the lobby manually; the system allowed him to visualize the desired design, or rather, recall the layout of Hypixel's lobby from his previous gaming experiences and instruct the system to create it for him.
With each setting in place, Sterling felt a sense of accomplishment. After several hours of meticulous setup, he finally pressed the [Test] button.
As the familiar dizziness washed over him with the transition, he had grown accustomed to the sensation, and it faded with time. One blink later, he found himself immersed in the vibrant world of Minecraft once again.
This time, however, he appeared in a picturesque medieval town, With a striking purple portal standing before him. Surrounding him were various stalls manned by Villagers, each offering useful items for players.
With renewed excitement, Sterling approached one of the programmed Villagers. The Villager greeted him with its characteristic sound, and a floating screen materialized in front of him.
After adjusting a few settings in the interface, Sterling confirmed his choices and felt a warm light envelop him.
As he rushed towards the nearest mirror, he eagerly anticipated his new appearance. Instead of the standard "Steve" skin he had previously worn, Sterling now sported a customized outfit: a light brown shirt, light gray pants, and black shoes.
He had designed this skin to align with the name he had chosen for himself, [Notch]—A name that served as both homage and admiration for the true creator of Minecraft. The skin he crafted was inspired by the original Notch character, but Sterling had made subtle changes: a clean-shaven look paired with medium-length white hair, a simple yet satisfying design.
Understanding the importance of individuality in the gaming community, he decided that skin changes would be free once a week on the Hypixel server. If players wished to change their appearance sooner, they would have to pay $1 for each additional change, resetting the cooldown timer.
Sterling believed this feature would resonate well with players who valued uniqueness. Moreover, any skin changes made on Hypixel would apply across all Minecraft servers, Including Single Player modes. This ensured that even players who preferred solitary play would find a reason to return to Hypixel, potentially drawing them into one of the engaging minigames.
To enhance the player experience further, he implemented a VIP system that allowed players to pay for unlimited skin swaps, colorful capes to adorn their characters, and the ability to customize the color of the name displayed above their heads. These perks would not provide any competitive advantage but would foster a sense of community and support for the game's development.
After thoroughly testing the minigames, Sterling felt a deep sense of satisfaction with his work. He decided it was time to log out of Minecraft, but not before noticing a bustling player base: 298 players online at that moment. He recognized this as an opportune moment to announce the launch of the new update, eager to share the exciting developments with the community.
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May 11, 2010, 12:06 P.M.
Location: On Earth, Universe: Earth-MCU-195
POV: Ned Leeds
Ned Leeds was experiencing a wave of happiness that had been building over the past few days, largely due to his newfound passion for Minecraft. The game had not only provided him with hours of entertainment but had also dramatically altered his life trajectory.
He had transformed from an ordinary high school student into a budding streamer, captivating an audience of over 500 viewers who tuned in daily to watch him navigate the pixelated landscapes of Minecraft.
As a result of his engaging streams, Many viewers were introduced to the game through his channel, eagerly tuning in to witness his adventures and learn the ins and outs of the game alongside him.
The financial rewards of this newfound popularity were substantial; in just one week of streaming Minecraft, Ned had earned over $1,000. For a kid still in school, that was an astonishing amount of money, especially for simply playing video games from the comfort of his home.
That day, while meticulously crafting his castle using Nether stones to create a more imposing fortress, a notification abruptly appeared before him on the screen, interrupting his focused gameplay.
[A new update is available. Do you want to restart the game to update?]
Ned's excitement surged at the prospect of new features and content. Without hesitation, he pressed the button.
[Yes!]
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