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Abstract

This research aims to understand the impact of major updates to Minecraft on player experience, including on player-modified versions of the game (mods) and whether these are preferred over the main game (“vanilla” Minecraft). The research also explores how player experience has been affected since Microsoft bought Minecraft from Mojang in 2014, and whether player feedback is taken into account by the developer in making updates. The findings are based on a literature review, primary research involving surveys of players, and secondary research of relevant articles. The findings show that major changes to the game can be both positively and negatively received, and player expectations have to be managed. Updates since Microsoft bought the game have been both more and less popular than Mojang’s updates and the way in which Microsoft interact with players has also changed to be more controlled and less informal than before, however there is no clear evidence that Microsoft take feedback into account less than Mojang. The main recommendations are that it is crucial to take into account player feedback when developing updates, the way in which feedback is taken is key, continuing to allow mods is likely to be beneficial, as well as limiting the effect of updates on mods.

Course: Creative Media Technologies - BSc - C2734S

Date Deposited: 2023-10-19

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14238.html