7 ms·

Hilarious how SpaceX gets $2.6 billion to develop human space flight, while Microsoft pays almost the same amount to buy Minecraft. Talk about ridiculous evalua

by zyb09 12y ago

Hilarious how SpaceX gets $2.6 billion to develop human space flight, while Microsoft pays almost the same amount to buy Minecraft. Talk about ridiculous evaluations in the tech industry.

stefan_kendall3 12y ago
Yeah, you're right. People are actually willing to pay for minecraft instead of have it coerced out of them by government.
- sillysaurus3 12y ago
  As far as government coercions go, it's hard to understand how someone could have a problem with forcing people to give up money in order to develop the most important technology in the history of technology. Would you mind explaining your point of view in a little more detail? There won't be a market for space travel until it's a reality, so this would seem to be one of the only ways forward.
  - vonmoltke 12y ago
    > it's hard to understand how someone could have a problem with forcing people to give up money in order to develop the most important technology in the history of technology I'm not trying to defend stefan_kendall3's position, but you made a pretty large personal value judgement in that statement. You think this is "the most important technology in the history of technology"; many people don't.[1] In fact, many people think that human spaceflight, including some of the Earth orbit missions we already run, are a waste of valuable resources that should be diverted elsewhere. [1] For the record, I think human spaceflight is pretty important in the long term, but disagree that it is most important area of technology. I think certain areas of medicine should be placed ahead of it, for example.
    - sillysaurus3 12y ago
      Good point! Thanks for the point of view. I was genuinely hoping someone would provide a defense of stefan's position, but it's looking less like it'll happen. That's too bad, because it was a chance to learn something.
- megablast 12y ago
  Come one, surely you see the value in being "coerced" into improving the space program?
- nemo 12y ago
  Resentment of civilization is unhealthy.
- kaizendc 12y ago
  The space program has been (and will continue to be) directly responsible for many important technologies that lift the tide for ALL of humanity. Yes, even those who live in poverty. If you are interested in learning how, read this short letter: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.html http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.html
lutorm 12y ago
You're saying developing human space flight is the least "tech-y" of those industries?
idlewords 12y ago
Minecraft seems like a more innovative and clever use of technology than sending more primates into low earth orbit. It certainly benefits more people.
- mikeash 12y ago
  If SpaceX can deliver on their long-term plans, they'll benefit more people in more ways than Minecraft ever could. Cheap access to space could be a computer-like revolution. Minecraft is ultimately just a toy, albeit a highly creative and potentially educational one.
  - wastedhours 12y ago
    "If SpaceX can deliver on their long-term plans" Exactly. Minecraft is work $2.5bn now. SpaceX may well be worth a lot more in the future, but neither company is at the same stage of development in their respective fields.
    - mikeash 12y ago
      Excellent point. It's a high-stakes gamble. But the potential payoff is far beyond anything like Minecraft.
  - Rooster61 12y ago
    Hmm.. By this logic, Kerbal Space Program should also be valued around this price. Its a highly creative and potentially educational toy ABOUT sending primates (or whatever kerbals are) into low earth orbit!
    - mikeash 12y ago
      As a huge fan of KSP and mostly uncaring towards Minecraft, I can't really disagree.
alexjeffrey 12y ago
you say that, but minecraft is worth actual money because it sells a product that lots of people want to buy and has a lot of potential for further attached products (servers, DLC, etc). A more apt comparison would be whatsapp/instagram/whatever ridiculous social app facebook is buying this week for $X billion, without any revenue or business model to speak of.

by zyb09 12y ago

Hilarious how SpaceX gets $2.6 billion to develop human space flight, while Microsoft pays almost the same amount to buy Minecraft. Talk about ridiculous evaluations in the tech industry.

stefan_kendall3 12y ago

Yeah, you're right. People are actually willing to pay for minecraft instead of have it coerced out of them by government.

sillysaurus3 12y ago
As far as government coercions go, it's hard to understand how someone could have a problem with forcing people to give up money in order to develop the most important technology in the history of technology. Would you mind explaining your point of view in a little more detail? There won't be a market for space travel until it's a reality, so this would seem to be one of the only ways forward.
- vonmoltke 12y ago
  > it's hard to understand how someone could have a problem with forcing people to give up money in order to develop the most important technology in the history of technology I'm not trying to defend stefan_kendall3's position, but you made a pretty large personal value judgement in that statement. You think this is "the most important technology in the history of technology"; many people don't.[1] In fact, many people think that human spaceflight, including some of the Earth orbit missions we already run, are a waste of valuable resources that should be diverted elsewhere. [1] For the record, I think human spaceflight is pretty important in the long term, but disagree that it is most important area of technology. I think certain areas of medicine should be placed ahead of it, for example.
  - sillysaurus3 12y ago
    Good point! Thanks for the point of view. I was genuinely hoping someone would provide a defense of stefan's position, but it's looking less like it'll happen. That's too bad, because it was a chance to learn something.
megablast 12y ago
Come one, surely you see the value in being "coerced" into improving the space program?
nemo 12y ago
Resentment of civilization is unhealthy.
kaizendc 12y ago
The space program has been (and will continue to be) directly responsible for many important technologies that lift the tide for ALL of humanity. Yes, even those who live in poverty. If you are interested in learning how, read this short letter: http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.html http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.html

lutorm 12y ago

You're saying developing human space flight is the least "tech-y" of those industries?

idlewords 12y ago

Minecraft seems like a more innovative and clever use of technology than sending more primates into low earth orbit. It certainly benefits more people.

mikeash 12y ago
If SpaceX can deliver on their long-term plans, they'll benefit more people in more ways than Minecraft ever could. Cheap access to space could be a computer-like revolution. Minecraft is ultimately just a toy, albeit a highly creative and potentially educational one.
- wastedhours 12y ago
  "If SpaceX can deliver on their long-term plans" Exactly. Minecraft is work $2.5bn now. SpaceX may well be worth a lot more in the future, but neither company is at the same stage of development in their respective fields.
  - mikeash 12y ago
    Excellent point. It's a high-stakes gamble. But the potential payoff is far beyond anything like Minecraft.
- Rooster61 12y ago
  Hmm.. By this logic, Kerbal Space Program should also be valued around this price. Its a highly creative and potentially educational toy ABOUT sending primates (or whatever kerbals are) into low earth orbit!
  - mikeash 12y ago
    As a huge fan of KSP and mostly uncaring towards Minecraft, I can't really disagree.

alexjeffrey 12y ago

you say that, but minecraft is worth actual money because it sells a product that lots of people want to buy and has a lot of potential for further attached products (servers, DLC, etc). A more apt comparison would be whatsapp/instagram/whatever ridiculous social app facebook is buying this week for $X billion, without any revenue or business model to speak of.