Minecraft new Marketplace For Community Creators
Minecraft: New marketplace for community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter
10 April 2017
Minecraft is determined to make it easier to access content made by community members and fans.
Many players have already created complex worlds to explore, adventures to play or even modify the game itself to offer new experiences within it.
They'll now be able to officially sell that content via the game itself, in the brand new Minecraft Marketplace.
Producer John Thornton told Newsbeat that the platform is designed to help entrepreneurs start businesses.
The people who make adventure maps skin packs for characters or other experiences to play the game aren't allowed to sell directly to other players.
Official Minecraft content cannot be sold in this way. However, some people still earn a living from the game.
James Delaney, is founder of the group of Minecraft creators dubbed Blockworks and has created a successful business despite the limitations.
He is delighted to welcome the Marketplace.
He told Newsbeat that he hopes it will be the beginning of a regular and steady income.
"In the past we relied on commissions to come into our businesses, and you never know when it will happen."
He is the responsible person for 62 creators working in 20 countries.
Their main source income comes from creating Minecraft-based content for educational purposes and marketing campaigns.
James "got quite into" creating Minecraft maps with his online buddies, and realised some time later that it was feasible to earn money from it.
He adds, "At least now we know there is an audience for our content."
"If it is successful, we know that we can continue to work on a steady and stable basis."
"Also it's content that we can make rather than be requested to create, so we've got creative control over it in that regards."
The marketplace will be available on both Pocket and Windows 10 versions of the game.
This means that the majority of the estimated 120 million players of Minecraft around the world will be able to access it but those who play on consoles won't.
John Thornton states, "Our goal is to connect creators and players."
"On Pocket edition, it isn't always easy to download content onto devices. This makes it difficult for creators and users to share content they love with the world.
"By connecting creators to the marketplace it'll make it easier for players to discover something they'd like to play with, then purchase it, and then download it to their devices."
People will be able to build community experiences outside of the marketplace, and users will be being able to access them no cost.
Producers hope that people will choose to purchase content that is easier to find.
"If you want to share content, at present you have to put it online and let people know where to look for it," says John.
"You can utilize existing social networks for this, but it's much more effective if you bring this into the game." cubpack88
"Players who are in the midst of playing the game they love, can just find what they'd like to do."
He hopes that the game will enable people like James to build successful businesses by playing the game.
The Minecraft team is launching a new service that features nine creators around the globe.
The central Minecraft team will monitor the adventure maps, skin packs, and other experiences to ensure that they are suitable for the audience of the game.
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