Minecraft

November 25, 2013
Goldberg and Larsson chronicle the rise of Swedish video game developer Markus Persson from a shy kid glued to his legendary status as creator of the immensely popular Minecraft. They trace Persson's career from Midasplayer where he met Jakob Porser, to Jalbum where he worked under CEO Carl Manneh, and later as they join together to form the company Mojang. The authors note the efforts of by all three men to keep Mojang grounded through its success, trying to "become a big company without becoming a big company." Persson is particularly well-known for his attentiveness to player feedback from within the Minecraft community using group forums and Twitter as modes of communication, while subsequently redefining "the traditional concepts of producer and consumer." The authors shed light on Minecraft's allure discussing the game's aesthetics, tactics, and major characters. Images of players submitted creations help to illuminate the appeal and leads way to the discussion of Mincraft fan culture involvingYoutube stars, who upload videos of their Minecraft personas, most notably Lydia Winters, who Majong later hired as "the company's public face." Analysis also touches on the psychology of video gaming and the unique phenomenon and billion dollar industry of Scandinavian tech from Goliaths like DICE to No More Sweden expo, a contest for independent game developers. Finally, the authors discuss Persson's surprising decision to quit Majong and hint at his potential future plans. Persson's story is moving and should prove inspirational for any creative entrepreneurs hoping to do things their own way.

Starred review from November 15, 2013

Freelance Swedish journalists Goldberg and Larsson, here translated by Hawkins, shine a spotlight on Markus Persson (b. 1979), creator of the cult video game smash Minecraft. Among Persson's early obsessions were building things out of LEGO pieces and programming simple games on his family's Commodore 128. As his family struggled--his father and sister battled drug addiction and his parents divorced--Persson grew more engrossed in the world of computers. But it wasn't until he worked as a programmer in a for-profit environment that he felt inspired to combine his childhood passions and create Minecraft. Goldberg and Larsson explain how Persson's online persona, "Notch," encouraged players to contribute to the game before he completed it and made them feel invested in its quality, circumstances enabling its overnight success. The authors also cover the ensuing launch of Persson's video game company, Mojang. The heart of the book, however, is Persson's compelling personal story and his adherence to his personal philosophy before, during, and after his game's phenomenal success (it has sold millions of copies). VERDICT This is a timely, original work that isn't just for Minecraft fans. Aspiring and professional game programmers will love it, too, as will those who enjoy reading success stories.--Paul Stenis, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.