Minecraft is a game that released in 2011 and has slowly taken over the gaming world in a very viral and sudden way. It went from being this weird building game your PC centric friend was talking about, to a worldwide phenomenon you had to try for yourself. Minecraft is currently in a position where it releases on almost every new platform that becomes available. Everyone by now is familiar with Tetris and how that game specifically will be ported for years to come. It seems that despite people's beliefs that a game like Tetris would never happen again we have seen it happen once again in the form of Minecraft. The game has millions of users and is now considered the primary entrance for children into the world of gaming and imagination. Through the advancement of technology children have gone from Lincoln Logs to Lego, and now build their dreams in the 3D realm known as Minecraft. After six years you would assume that the game's sales would have slowed down, but there are new kids born every day with a hunger for creation, imagination, and adventure. One of the great things about Minecraft is that its scalability in terms of depth and tools is completely up to the user themselves. On the surface, Minecraft may look like a block building game, but under the surface, it houses tons of little-known facts and easter eggs even the most diehard of fans may not know about. Let's take a look at just 25 of these things, now!
25 They Play Minecraft In School?
via planetminecraft.com[/caption]
As the years have gone on and games have evolved we've seen plenty of schools and universities create beneficial and educational curriculum centered around the use and experience with specific video games. IT should come as no surprise that in 2013 a Swedish school made Minecraft a mandatory part of their school curriculum for their 13-year-old students. Plenty of the teachers had no problem stating why it was such an important part of learning and education in their school system. Minecraft helped students learn city planning, how to plan for the future, and also environmental issues such as deforestation. It's great that we live in a world where these handcrafted virtual experiences are being used in such an effective and meaningful way.
24 Just Die Already!
via kzone.com[/caption]
Minecraft is home to many annoying mobs, pitfalls, and traps that players must learn to navigate and fight against if they plan to be effective miners and adventurers. When a player finally comes across an abandoned mineshaft deep within the underbelly of the world they know they're in for two things, loot and cave spiders. The difference between cave spiders and the eight-legged freaks you come across on the surface is the poison that cave spiders inject players with. Interestingly enough cave spider poison can affect other mobs such as the skeleton but could never technically kill them. This is due to the poison not being able to damage past the point of bringing its subject to a half heart of life. This interaction is often used in mob farms that manipulate in-world spawners.
23 Ghast Screams Haunt My Dreams
via pickywallpapers.com[/caption]
When a player first enters the Nether the first thing that crosses their mind is usually trying to identify what's making that horrible screeching sound. This is usually followed by a Ghast, the one making the previously mentioned sound, enveloping the player with flames and damage at a surprising rate of fire. The audio engineer for Minecraft, known as "C418," managed to find the sound for the ghasts by accident. The screech players hear is the sound of his cat suddenly awoken from his nap. C418 also planned to have this same cat voice all of the ocelots in the game but unfortunately had to settle for real ocelot noises as he couldn't find a suitable sound from his cat. Imagine what ghasts would sound like if he happened to own a dog and not a cat.
22 How The Heck Did That Happen?
via minecraft.wikia.com[/caption]
We've talked about the Nether and how the sound ghasts make came to be, but it's also home to another set of weird creatures known as zombie pigmen. Their name is pretty descriptive of the creatures, and players have grown fond of these gentle souls. Zombie pigmen only exist in the Nether and can be transported through a Nether gate randomly to the overworld with a little random luck and timing. Many players don't know that there is a second way to get these guys to walk around outside of the Nether. A zombie pigman can be created when a normal pig is struck by lightning. So if you've ever been wandering the world and wondered how a zombie pigman was casually walking around, there's your reason. Lightning is known to cause some strange creations in the world of Minecraft.
21 The Minecraft World Has A Limit?
via planetminecraft.com[/caption]
When Minecraft started hitting its peak of popularity there was a common myth that the worlds were limitless and they had no edge. Many people felt that because it only rendered the current chunk you were in that it could continue to create more world through an algorithm and the clever manipulation of memory. Notch eventually came out and disproved this theory stating that each world does have a limit and that reaching this so-called "edge" will start to create issues in rendering. In his blog post he went into a number of specifics on the technical side and explained that even though Minecraft seems to have no limits, there actually seems to be a breaking point if one happens to ever reach it. This theory spawned numerous Youtube channels dedicated to finding the truth.
20 Endermen Speak In Tongues
via minecraftforum.net[/caption]
Language in video games and fictional world is one of the most difficult things to create. If you're going for a sense of accuracy there needs to be a logical implementation of certain rules and parameters. Mojang wasn't trying to do exactly that when it came to giving Endermen a voice. It turns out that the weird and eery language of the alien-like beings running around your homeworld is simply English in reverse as well as pitched down. Audio manipulation is great and allows creative individuals to maximize efficiency by re-purposing already used samples and applying them in various areas. There have been plenty of fan theories and investigations trying to figure out what Endermen are trying to communicate to us. What do they want?
19 Magma Cubes Are Confusing
via pinterest.com[/caption]
Magma cubes were a welcome addition to the Nether and provided another obstacle in the way of brave adventurers. Unlike normal slimes, the smallest versions of magma cubes will actually hurt players. These strange blocks of fire and hate have a couple of other traits that might blow your mind. Even though they are comprised of magma it seems that they cannot survive jumping into the lava baths that surround many different treacherous parts of the Nether. That would be the human equivalent of us not being able to survive jumping into a body of water. Magma cubes also seem to be invulnerable to fall damage. The logical reason for this is probably due to the fact that they're a solid/liquid hybrid and thus are able to better absorb a fall that would normally kill a human being.
18 They Built WHAT In Minecraft?
via geoboxers.com[/caption]
The game may have been created in Sweden, but Denmark loves Minecraft to death. We've already covered how schools in Sweden have implemented Minecraft into their school curriculum. Now let's talk about how Denmark is using the game to drive tourism and help drive interest in geographical data. Two state employees managed to make a scale replica of the entire nation of Denmark. Yes, you certainly read that right. Two men made a scale replica of an entire country inside the world of Minecraft. They were both employees of the Danish Geodata Agency and managed to accomplish this astounding feat in 2014. The internet has showcased other amazing builds including scale replicas of Westeros, Hogwarts, and Middle Earth respectively. What people can accomplish with a healthy addiction and plenty of free time is crazy.
17 The Only Safe Place In Minecraft
via minecraftforum.net[/caption]
When you're first learning how to play Minecraft survival is your main priority. You must rush to mine coal and take down trees in hopes of creating a makeshift shelter to protect you from the horrors of the night. If you knew of a specific area in Minecraft where mobs couldn't actually spawn don't you think that would make your existence all that much easier? It turns out that such a place exists. Mushroom biomes have the special property that prevents hostile mobs from spawning anywhere inside of its parameters. So if you're looking for an ultra safe space to begin a new life you must either learn to love the nasty purple dirt or be willing to terraform your rectangle arms off. Knowing is half the battle, well knowing how to make torches anyway.
16 Creepers Vs. Cobwebs
via wallpapercave.com[/caption]
One of the most frightening and equally stress-inducing moments in Minecraft is when you realize there is a creeper right behind you. The subtle hiss is a warning that more often than not comes a little too late. After you become familiar with the explosion animation you begin to grow comfortable facing these guys in any scenario. The trick really lays in knowing how much damage you're doing and making sure to keep your distance. Did you know that a creeper's fuse lasts longer if it's caught in a cobweb? Those cobwebs can be quite the nuisance but might actually save your life one day. Later in the list, we'll talk about how these strange green dynamite trolls came to be. Some think Notch is just a strange sadistic man, but they may be giving him too much credit.
15 Minecraft Copied Lego, Right?
via lego.com[/caption]
Lego is a property that often seems to be the topic of discussion when it comes to the inspiration of Minecraft. There are actually a couple of games that have nothing to do with the famous bricks that inspired Notch during his development. Markus Persson has stated the biggest influences for him when creating Minecraft happened to be Infiniminer, Dwarf Fortress, RollerCoaster Tycoon, and a game called Dungeon Keeper. It seems that many people see the building with blocks part of Minecraft and assume it is copying the Lego bricks. Funny enough the recent LEGO: Worlds video game was directly inspired by Minecraft and they wanted to create a game where you could do anything you could think of with Lego bricks. It all comes full circle, I guess.
14 That Sand Has Soul!
via minecraftforum.net[/caption]
We've already covered numerous parts of the Nether, but it's time to cover the strange block known as soul sand. The Nether is home to a lot of mysterious things so it should come as no surprise that it manifests a weird type of quicksand. Let's talk about some facts that make soul sand a lot more interesting and slightly less annoying. Soul sand can be used creatively to make a one-way door. If you place soul sand in front of a 1x2 doorway you can only walk through it one way. The only other way to accomplish such a feat is by using those pesky iron doors. Do you really want to waste your iron on a frustrating door? Using soul sand allows you to more easily hide a tricky exit as well as allowing you to not waste precious materials in the early game.
13 What Did You Just Call Me?
via lamag.com[/caption]
If you've ever paid attention to the login screen when starting up Minecraft you may notice that it treats players to a random message in yellow text. It pulls it up at random, so if you want to be greeted by a specific message you'll have to either install a mod or become the luckiest person on the planet. A number of the messages are either puns or inside jokes that are meant to put players in a good mood before they even click play. One of the funnier messages is one that incorrectly displays the name of the game. Players can sometimes be greeted by a message displaying the game title "Mincecraft." This falls into the camp that it may be a joke created for the sole purpose of it not being noticed by a majority of people, or it could have been a mistake they found funny and simply kept in the game.
12 Rainy Day Fishing Secret
via deviantart.com (Kinla)[/caption]
This hidden Minecraft fact shouldn't come as a surprise considering its based on a lot of truth in the real world. Fishing in Minecraft is a skill that becomes easier the more you do it. Using the rod is simple, but learning when to reel in your line for maximum efficiency is a skill that comes after hundreds of casts. That being said, there is an in-game condition that allows you to feel a little bit more confident in your fish catching abilities. Fish are apparently easier to catch when it is raining in the game. In real-life, this is due to the fact that the falling water allows lures and the movement of boats and people to be more easily disguised. In Minecraft, it seems that the spawn/catch rate percentage is probably raised when the game is in a weather state set to rain.
11 Minecraft's Advertising Hack
via forbes.com[/caption]
A huge concern for video games is making sure the publisher allocates enough money into the marketing push for the game before it releases to boost sales. Advertising is an expensive business and publishers are willing to spend a ton of money in hopes of doubling or tripling their profit margins. For an indie game like Minecraft, the only hope it has is for people to simply tell their friends about it and have the popularity grow through what is termed word of mouth marketing. This is a concept that helped elevate Minecraft to astronomical heights and because they spent zero dollars on marketing it allowed them to allocate resources elsewhere. There is nothing more effective and efficient than free marketing done by a diehard and loyal fanbase.
10 Notch Sold Minecraft Through Twitter?
via gamereactor.eu[/caption]
As Minecraft grew in popularity, it seemed that Notch's attachment to his own creation slowly drifted. It seemed to come by way of an amount of success he never imagined as well as a strained relationship with a sometimes toxic and unrelenting internet community that seemed to be in a constant battle with Notch himself. Many people wondered how the sale of Minecraft to Microsoft came to be. It turns out that the bidding war was started by Notch via a single tweet he made. Notch openly stated in the tweet that he wanted 2 billion dollars. This was an open invitation to anyone out there that he was willing to move on. We'll be talking about Microsoft's deal for Minecraft a little bit later in the list, but let's just say they must have seen the tweet.
9 Creeper Invisibility Trick
via pinterest.com[/caption]
We've already talked about how you can manipulate a creeper's detonation with a little bit of cobweb, but now let's talk about an implementation in the game that makes absolutely zero sense. The way a creeper is attracted to a player and begins chasing them is when the mob simply makes audio/visual contact and/or a player is a set amount of blocks away from said creeper. The oddest thing is that a non-aggressive creeper can't see a player through glass. Considering glass is transparent and is used for the sole purpose of being able to see the other side this doesn't really make sense. Unless of course creeper's eyes don't work the way a human's eye does. Maybe glass isn't transparent to them. Either way, add this to the list of dumb video game logic.
8 Minecraft's Infinite Easter Eggs
via pinterest.com[/caption]
When a game like Minecraft exists, it ends up touching the lives of millions of people. Some of these people happen to be game developers who love showing their appreciation of a game or franchise by including subtle easter eggs and hints within their own games. Considering the popularity of Minecraft it came as no surprise that we saw plenty of homages to the game in some of the industry's largest releases. One of the most notable happened to exist within the world of the Elder Scrolls. Bethesda Game Studios managed to include a hidden pickax high atop a mountain that was simply titled as a notched pickax. Notch was the nickname of Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft. This was a fun and subtle way to point a diamond pickax in the direction of a beloved fellow game release.
7 Minecraft Wasn't Its First Name?
via minecraftforum.net[/caption]
Despite popular belief, Minecraft wasn't the first name for what would later become Markus Persson and Mojang's phenomenon. Persson originally called the project "Cave Game" when referring to it during development. He later decided to change the name to Minecraft: The Order of the Stone before ultimately deciding to simply call it Minecraft. Simple is always best it seems. Interestingly enough "Order of the Stone" would later become the title of the first episode in Telltale's Story Mode. No one knows if they asked for permission to use the title but it's great to see them giving a nod to the franchise's origins. Online forums often converse about whether or not the game would have been just as successful with the longer, original title. Inter-dimensional time travel will be the only way to figure that out, sadly.
6 Minecraft Oculus Rift VR Existed?
via digitaltrends.com[/caption]
The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality platform that's been impressing people since its early days. It impressed so much so that Facebook ended up acquiring Oculus Rift in 2013. Funny enough, Markus Persson planned on supporting Oculus Rift with a port of Minecraft until of course, he heard of the acquisition. He surprisingly and very abruptly canceled those plans and stated that Facebook simply creeps him out. We've already seen Microsoft take Minecraft into the world of augmented reality via Microsoft Hololens. Unfortunately, we never were able to witness Notch's vision of what Minecraft would have functioned like in virtual reality. Over the last few years, there have been growing concerns that Facebook shouldn't be trusted with their user's privacy. Maybe Notch was on to something.