Here's the Mojang announcement: http://www.mojang.com/2012/11/minecraft-is-coming-to-the-ras...

> for x in range(10): setblock(x,0,0,DIRT)

So how long before they add line drawing turtles to Minecraft ;)

You already can, and you can program them in LUA http://computercraft.info/wiki/index.php?title=Turtle

It's Lua, not LUA. Lua is the Portuguese word for "moon," and it does not stand for anything.

That's a mod, right?

Yeah, ComputerCraft (http://www.computercraft.info/). It's also in Tekkit

I'd recommend the FTB Launcher, which is somewhat easier to use, is much more up-to-date, and actually got permission from all the mod developers. http://feed-the-beast.com/

Currently running a Tekkit server, but I'm watching FTB. I'm waiting for them to add Redpowder/Thaumcraft first. Shame the worlds aren't compatible.

Once redpower is compatible with 1.4.5, they are adding it.

The console syntax seems to be Python. I'm excited how this could enable an easier modification of minecraft, especially for beginners.

Raspberry Pi is not a platform - you can't port something to it. This just means that minecraft has been compiled for ARM Linux.

While that is technically true (although it would be compiled for the JVM which can be run on ARM).

The Pi has fairly limited resources including memory etc (which minecraft uses a lot of) so I imagine they did have to do some actual work in order to make sure it ran properly.

This port is based on the "Pocket Edition" (iOS/Android), which is written in C++[0] and cut down a bit vs. "normal" Minecraft.

[0] https://twitter.com/danfrisk/status/272389328490082305

Great!

I think we've got to the point now where Minecraft is the new Doom, as in: X piece of hardware can now play Doom. The march of progress.

What an excellent comparison, I totally see that. I remember playing Doom on my graphing calculator in college! (http://youtu.be/LVMOdZdKuqI). What's the equivalent? Well, I suppose Minecraft on the exact same model of graphing calculator - one area where progress hasn't been marching... (http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/what-y...)

It's really exciting to see that they're pursuing this from a free standpoint. A lot of people love Minecraft, and anyone looking to learn from an established codebase is going to benefit from this.

The only question I have is whether or not they'll do something with x86 or just let people use the new API instead.

The fact that this version will be free makes me think it'll be limit. It'd be a real shame if it was missing survival, or something like that.

It's only shipping for a platform that isn't quite mainstream, and regardless doesn't exactly have a thriving commercial software market. Fairly low risk; and the publicity should more than make up for any "lost" sales.

It's based on Pocket Edition wich (unless it was added later) is only Creative Mode. Given the limited resources of the Pi I doubt it will have Survival/Adventure.

Pocket is now survival mode and even has crafting. It does have a limited and rather small world map.