2 ms·

Yes that's how notch was able to distribute it while circumventing publishers. Very smart move at the time.

• diggan 2y ago
  Java Applets weren't some magical "workaround" for distributing without publishers, lots (well, subjective) of indie developers were distributing binaries via websites at the point of the first alphas of Minecraft. Of course, way more popular nowadays as there are dedicated platforms for it.
  • 8note 2y ago
    the initial scope of minecraft was also in line with the java applet games of ~2005, like the ski simulator. minecraft came well after the applet era, almost to the end of the flash. huh. Minecraft is the taylor swift of video games. the last big star before big tech took over discovery and access for an industry.
    • laidoffamazon 2y ago
      Very astute comparison. Yet somehow still both huge!