Digging into Learning with Minecraft

• Originally released in 2009 by Swedish programmer Markus “Notch” Persson.

• Open World/Sandbox (Game?)• By April 2011, sales topped $33 million.• 60 million copies across all platforms.• Best-selling PC game of all time.• Acquired by Microsoft in November of 2014 for

$2.5 billion.

• Spurred a generation of content creators via YouTube and Twitch!

• Minecraft videos account for 47 billion views on YouTube!

• 99.4% are fan-made! (tutorials, “let’s play,” music parodies)

• PewDiePie is earning roughly $4 million annually.

This is more than a game. It’s a cultural phenomenon!

Eric Walker - World of HumanitiesStephen ElfordMathematics,

Science, Geography

Joel LevinComputer Programming Sara Toothman

ArtSteve IsaacsGame Design

Jokay WollongongStudent-led Learning

• Modified PC-based version available to schools.• $41 for server software. $14 per license (25 or

more).• No recurring subscription.• Licenses are for concurrent users.• Easy server setup. Runs locally.• No account management/authentication required.