In 2009, a deceptively simple block-based sandbox game first began appearing on computers. Now, eight years later, Minecraft is one of the best-selling games of all time. How did this worldwide phenomenon come to be? Readers will learn about the game's creator, programmer Markus "Notch" Persson, the company he founded to help make it a reality named Mojang; and the team of people who've helped it reach its current popularity. Intriguing details, an in-depth timeline, and full-color photographs will enthrall gaming enthusiasts eager to learn about the people that have broken the computer programming mold to create their favorite pastime.

In 2009, a deceptively simple block-based sandbox game first began appearing on computers. Now, eight years later, Minecraft is one of the best-selling games of all time. How did this worldwide phenomenon come to be? Readers will learn about the game's creator, programmer Markus "Notch" Persson, the company he founded to help make it a reality named Mojang; and the team of people who've helped it reach its current popularity. Intriguing details, an in-depth timeline, and full-color photographs will enthrall gaming enthusiasts eager to learn about the people that have broken the computer programming mold to create their favorite pastime.

Minecraft - its a game that everyone knows. Either they play it now, used to play it, or know someone who plays it. It is the kind of game that inspires worlds. Markus Persson was a quiet kid in school. He didn't play sports or go on dates, but instead spent time learning how to write computer code. His talent created one of the most popular games in history. Find out why in this story about a young man who had a brand new idea.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting to engage reluctant readers! Do you play computer games? If you do, you've probably played Minecraft. When Minecraft creator Markus Persson was young, he wasn't very interested in the games themselves. He was more interested in the programing instructions in the computer's manual. By the time Persson was eight years old, he was writing code for his own computer games. When he was eighteen, Persson landed his dream job as a video game programmer. In 2009, he designed Minecraft in a single weekend. In the game, players use blocks to build whatever they choose. Persson wanted to let players use their imaginations, and the idea paid off. Today, Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games in the world. Although Persson doubts he will ever top this success, he continues to develop games, while fans wait for what's next.

Presents a biography of Markus Persson and his journey from quiet game developer to world-famous billionaire, and discusses how he developed Minecraft and eventually sold the game for $2.5 billion.

The incredible tale of a little game that shook the international gaming world--now with new material including a behind-the-scenes look at the sale to Microsoft. For this second edition, the story has been enriched with more Minecraft than ever--a new section describes Minecraft's sale to Microsoft, Notch's less than heartwarming last day in the office, and Mojang's final days of independence. His whole life, all Markus Persson wanted to do was create his own games. Create his own games and get rich. Then in 2009 a strange little project of his quickly grew into a worldwide phenomenon and, in just a few short years, turned its maker into an international icon. Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus "Notch" Persson and the Game that Changed Everything is a Cinderella story for the Internet age—improbable success, fast money, and the power of digital technology to shake up a rock-solid industry. It's a story about being lost and finding your way, of breaking the rules and swimming against the current. It's about how the indie gaming scene rattled the foundations of corporate empires. But, above all, this is the story of how a creative genius chased down a crazy dream: the evolution of a shy amateur programmer into a video game god.