This vs Minecraft, the differences

[Hooch]

Apparently, there are only 2. 100% of all the other features listed under "what makes this different" already exist in Minecraft or its many mods and custom servers.

http://steamcommunity.com/games/280790/announcements/detail/248016034142885909

To my knowledge, the 2 that Minecraft does not have (unless I've missed a mod somehow) are:

1. Gradual unlocking — "leveling up" — of your crafting ability (unlocking high-end recipes, etc.)

2. Rare dropped recipes that allow you to specialize in unique crafting abilities that your friends don't have.

But these are mechanics which can be created through a mod in Minecraft, so I'm not sure where this game really distinguishes itself from other games (such as Minecraft).

Can someone, perhaps a dev, give better examples of how this game is unique or at least different than Minecraft? The FAQ claims the game is different but none of the examples (except seemingly 2) are unique to this game...they already exist in Minecraft.

[VaLiuM]

You can not count mods that add things to a game and call it "that is the game", that is pretty false, since the mod content isn't from Mojang but individuals that have their own copyright on that work they offer for free to be used in the game.

Minecraft without any mods isn't Minecraft with mods, Minecraft without mods is Minecraft without mods. So you should focus on the reality - the game Mojang sells as it is - not what it might or can be with mods.

[Hooch]

Originally posted by VaLiuM:

You can not count mods that add things to a game and call it "that is the game", that is pretty false, since the mod content isn't from Mojang but individuals that have their own copyright on that work they offer for free to be used in the game.

Minecraft without any mods isn't Minecraft with mods, Minecraft without mods is Minecraft without mods. So you should focus on the reality - the game Mojang sells as it is - not what it might or can be with mods.

Well, then what you are saying is that this is just Minecraft with mods, not just Minecraft.

That...doesn't offer much support as to how this game is different. It's just saying "Instead of buying Minecraft where there's plenty of servers and players, then installing free mods, buy this game because it has some of those features (from various mods) already built in."

In reality, there is no difference in functionality. Either you play Minecraft with mods, or you play this. Since Minecraft has significantly more players, features (due to free mods), customization, servers, etc... why buy this?

People need a reson to consider this different in order to justify a purchase. I'm still waiting for one.

[thekrakenisme]

Hi Alonion,

Thanks for the questions! As you can imagine, listing out all the differences would actually take quite a while. We're not developing in that manner necessarily ("how many things can we do diffrently than Minecraft or <game>"), but we're spending a lot of our time identifying the most joyful and interesting elements of these games (like a good, chunky block size, the concepts of removing and placing blocks int he world), layering in increased usability, fun, and beauty, and adding our own unique twist to things.

Involving the community here in Early Access is amazing and is really helping with development. What do you want to see? What are you tired of seeing?

But, I'll try to address your question with some of the coolest parts in my mind (though it is by no means a comprehensive list, even in this early state):

1) Creatures are varied, interesting, and have special attacks that require learning and clever solutions to overcome.

2) A layered world. The concept of biomes exists far below the surface, into cave systems that look and act differently. There are environmental surprises here, and the monsters that inhabit them don't take kindly to strangers :)

3) Connect with your friends fast and without complication. We've done a ton of work behind the scenes to completely remove the concepts of connecting to servers, managing ip addresses, etc. just to play with your friends. You immediately see your steam friends' worlds under 'Friend Worlds", and a single click will take you there. Not Steam friends? Simply search for the world by name and go there with a single click (unless that world is made private).

4) Creativerse will be free after Early Acess. As we roll out to additional platforms, it will be the same game (no disparity between feature sets), and it'll still be free. Play with your friends without the barrier of paying for each version.

And to address your mods point directly: yes, the community is capable of generating amazing things, and that's the whole point behind us involving everyone at the very genesis of this game! We know that together we can make something wonderful!

So, this post isn't to try to convince you to sign up for Early Access, as we feel that this is something that you should pursue only if you want to take an elevated role in shaping how the game is made. Want to wait till it's free? We'll see you then, no sweat! I certainly do hope we see you at some point, though, so we can share what we believe will become a fantastic game with you.

Are we there yet? Absolutely not; that's why we're in Early Access. Will we get there? With the community's help, bet on it! :)

[VaLiuM]

Originally posted by Aionion:

Well, then what you are saying is that this is just Minecraft with mods, not just Minecraft.

I see you don't own the game, like me, so we can't have valid points about how the game differs or not from Minecraft or what makes it unique compared to it - besides talking about things we have no real clue about - because we haven't played it. But i know Minecraft and played it and it can be boring and user-unfriendly quickly in vanilla without mods, that was more what i was saying.

Originally posted by Aionion:

People need a reson to consider this different in order to justify a purchase. I'm still waiting for one.

The problem is that the game is in early development and that more features will be implemented later to really make a difference compared to similar games like Minecraft, i would also say that this might be a reason why not so many might choose this over Minecraft in Early Access but there are other similar games that are really successful in Early Access with unique mechanics added during development, like FortressCraft Evolved!, which had a huge success on XBLA with the original FortressCraft. But the main difference compared to Minecraft already is that you need to pay for Minecraft and while Minecraft is in development for ages, this game has just started to evolve and already seems to offer more than regular vanilla Minecraft or Minecraft with mods, let's go 6 months ahead from now on and imagine what the game can offer and also unique features and content if they have the required resources and developer knowledge.

In short, i could see a lack of uniqueness aswell for the time being but it's hard for a "sandbox game consisting out of blocks" to be that unique compared to other sandbox games consisting out of blocks - for the very nature of consisting out of blocks. No matter how much content or other unique features there might or might not be in now or later - you will always see similarities. Having some kind of development roadmap would maybe clarify much more what the game will be in the future or what to expect when making a purchase.

[thekrakenisme]

VaLiuM, good idea about the roadmap. As we patch the game and provide patchnotes, we'll try to shine some light on the major themes the following development will investigate.

[Hooch]

Thank you thekrakenisme for addressing some of the questions and explaining some of the differences. As a fan of open world, voxel based games, you have me intrigued. I'll look up some gameplay videos and reviews.

As to whether or not I'll buy into the ea, I'm not sure atm. I will definitely check out the end product when it is free. I have no issues with supporting games through reasonable microtransactions which seemingly, will be the case here.

Thanks for the quick response though.

Originally posted by VaLiuM:

I see you don't own the game, like me, so we can't have valid points about how the game differs or not from Minecraft or what makes it unique compared to it

That is not true. There are ways to evaluate something other than owning or playing it. One such way, the way I did for example, was comparing what the devs described the game to be. We can compare descriptions and evaluate using that information (as limited as it is).

For example...if I said that this game was unique because it is voxel based, you would be right to respond that being voxel based does not make it unique, there are plenty of games that are voxel based.

The point of my thread was to illustrate the vagueness of the description in a FAQ that was specifically addressing how it was a unique or distinct game. Its description, as it is, is inadequate and it takes additional information to determine how it differs from similar games. In short, I was asking for that additional information and the dev responded, providing it.

It is fallacious to hold that one cannot make a reasonable evaluation if one does not own the game. There is absolutely no grounds for such a position and there is evidence to the contrary.

In short, i could see a lack of uniqueness aswell for the time being but it's hard for a "sandbox game consisting out of blocks" to be that unique compared to other sandbox games consisting out of blocks - for the very nature of consisting out of blocks. No matter how much content or other unique features there might or might not be in now or later - you will always see similarities.

A couple problems here I think.

1) I did not ask for what differences exist now (despite it being early access). As both a supporter of several ea games as well as the community manager for one (Beasts of Prey), I understand there is a difference between the ea state and end state of the game.

2) You mention that there will be similarities...but this is another non-issue. Of course there will be similarities. The issue is despite the simarilities, how will the game be different? A game can always be similar yet different than others and that is exactly what the FAQ was trying to address (but just couldn't as currently worded).

Having some kind of development roadmap would maybe clarify much more what the game will be in the future or what to expect when making a purchase.

Roadmaps are always helpful, but sometimes they feel binding to developers so I understand them not being used. It all depends on the comfort level of the devs to publicly display their roadmap. For me, I was just wanting the issue of uniqueness to be addressed, nothing more.

I appreciate your time in responding though and hope you don't take my criticism above harshly. As a critical thinking teacher I'm a bit more analytical than most.

[Cik]

A a Minecraft Player, as with most of us, heavily modded minecraft, I still get the sense that the games are essentially the same.

I think Im being intellectually honest.

[wizaerd]

I played the Feed the Beast modpack for a long time, but eventually it just became way too overwhelming. The problem with modded Minecraft, especially heavily modded, is the incompatible yet duplicated block types. Specific copper ore for this mod pack, but a completely different copper ore for that mod pack. Different energy systems, incompatible piping or tubing systems, it just because a huge PITA to play anymore except for creative mode. Whereas this game will have these type of mechanics (automation, etc...) built in as part of the actual base game, and should make for a more enjoyablke experience. Plus I really like the unlocking progression method. Of course, it's still early development and I hope to see a lot of new things, but for now, I do not feel as if I'm playing Minecraft at all when playing this game.

[Super Mattio]

In all fairness though guys at the core each sandbox game since the 70's (yes THEY ARE that old) are similar. it's a genre andthat in no way shape or form did Minecraft start. Comparing this and any other sandbox game is like comparing apples and oranges while they are both fruit, they totally different, in feel, taste, enjoyment, etc for each person.

In other words the only way to truly see the differences will be to eventually play both games yourself at some point. Which I hope you do give this a chance. The devs are simply amazing at community support (Quite a few have watched my streams, and we have given away A LOT of Stream Keys for it). It's great to see a team that cares so much about their end product, and that takes time to get the know the community on a one-on-one basis.

(ps. forgive grammar, I can't find my glasses and my monitor is a ways way lol.)

[Hooch]

Originally posted by blacknova84:

In all fairness though guys at the core each sandbox game since the 70's (yes THEY ARE that old) are similar. it's a genre andthat in no way shape or form did Minecraft start. Comparing this and any other sandbox game is like comparing apples and oranges while they are both fruit, they totally different, in feel, taste, enjoyment, etc for each person.

Several issues here, starting w/ the most relevant...

1) It is completely justifiable to compare games within the same genre. Without making comparisons then it would be impssible to make distinctions. Without comparisons we cannot know the similarities and dissimilarities between what is being compared. And it is the similarities and dissimarities that interest consumers.

2) No one suggested that any particular game started the genre or did not start the genre. No one suggested that one was necessarily better than another (that would be far too ambigous).

3) This isn't about "open world" or "sandbox" but rather "sandbox crafting," a subgroup of "sandbox." I started gaming in the 70's. I was a part of that gaming revolution and witnessed the evolution of gaming itself. I do not think you are correct in saying that this type of game has been around since the 70's.

The first open world game didn't come along until '81 with Ultima, and it wasn't a crafting game like these (Minecraft and Creativerse) are.

And for the record, Minecraft was inspired primarily by Dwarf Fortress (according to Notch).

In other words the only way to truly see the differences will be to eventually play both games yourself at some point.

No, that isn't the only way. Asking those who have played both to give feedback on their experiences, talking with the developers of the games, watching gameplay videos, etc. are all ways to understand the differences. We do this not only with video games, but almost every product available to the consumer. We have ways to understand something w/o actually trying it. While it is true that one of the best ways to understand something is to experience it, it is not true that we can only know relevant things (such as differences between competing products) through first hand experience. That is patently false.

It is foolish to believe that the only way someone can know something about a game is to buy it and play it. That simply is not true. It is both impractical, ignores the several existing, actual ways we can understand something, and would result only the wealthiest people having full knowledge of something.

[odinsrunes]

there are ways to infer some knowledge from different senses. However, you can't know the actual flavor of wine without tasting it. And many people will differ on whether a particular wine is good or not. it's called 'taste' and not everyone has the same pallet.

I can smell the wine, see the wines color, listen to the pour, feel the temperature, know it's wet, but i can't know 'it's purpose' until i drink it.

It is like chosing between wines and saying they are both red, wet, alcoholic and made of grapes, so they are the same.

There are a lot of people who have played both games and seem to like both.

Watching some videos is a good idea - sl1pg8tr has a good series. he is a serious minecraft youtuber and also seems to like creativerse also.

But as i said, it is a matter of 'taste'.

[Hooch]

Originally posted by ThunderStrikeThee:

Originally posted by Aionion:

Well, then what you are saying is that this is just Minecraft with mods, not just Minecraft.

Wrong.

Not wrong at all. Until you can demonstrate that there was an error somewhere, my position stands. It doesn't become "wrong" by magic or because you post a random word that isn't relevant to the discussion. Logic doesn't work that way, sorry.

Now I don't expect you to support anything of course...you are using a troll account and are just wanting to troll the thread and trolls absolutely detest reason, productivity, and positive discourse. But I thought it important to expose the backwards thinking nonetheless.

[Minxell]

Aionion, I like you also want all the information I can find on a game before I buy it. I check video's, I read reviews, I visit the forums for a particular game i'm interested in.

Some of the differences I see in this game versus Minecraft are the main thing for me was the crafting.. Minecraft I had to have a Wiki to do crafting. Or add a Mod to make it easier.
In Creativerse you don't have to look anything up, it's already in-game..Just collect the materials to unlock your recipes, which are found through out the world above and below in the caves. There are also recipes that you only get by finding them in chests that are scattered around the world, above and below in the caves.

The monsters in Minecraft are square and boring..
In Creativerse they are cute and very ugly, with there own attacks. When you first start out the mobs can be quite difficult..when you get better armor and weapons there more manageable..

Minecraft has no storyline.
Creativerse does, you collect data chips, and torn journal pages in chests above and below in the caves. Giving us hints as to why we are on this world.. And also a peek into who PIXI is.

Minecraft is beautiful only if you add mods.
Creativerse is already beautiful without adding mods. The graphics are amazing, the textures in the world and with building materials are also beautiful..

Minecraft multiplayer? Not really.
Creativerse has multiplayer that is easy to play with friends..When you first start a world you play solo, you can either have friends come to your world or you can go to there's..or start a world for you and friends to play on from the start. It's so easy to connect to other's worlds just look for the name of the other players world and hit join..it's that easy.. I play with 5 friends, we build together, help each other when someone needs a different opinion on something they are building, or something i am building.. we collect materials together, above ground or we all go mining in the caves together.. we experiment with different game mechanics in the game to see what else is there that we can uncover..
The 5 of us also skype together..while in game, adds a whole different element to the game's interaction.

Minecraft collecting materials you need different tools.
In Creativerse you use your glove, the different mining cells determine what materials you can collect. The more materials you collect the more recipes you unlock to increase the mining cells. This is true with the armor and weapons also..the more materials you find the more recipes you unlock.. The higher the mining cells, armor, weapons, the deeper in the caves you will have to go to find those more upper tier materials. You also have Extractors in the game to be able to mine certain ores in the game. Coal, Obsidian, Diamonds ect.

Building in Minecraft is pretty good, you also have the redstone.
In Creativerse the building is fun, because this is still early access there are still lots of new things yet to be added in this area..But what is already in the game is amazing..there are some issues with the steps and roofs can sometimes launch you in the air, and the roofs and fences don't interlock yet.. But this is something the devs are working on a fix for. The textures are beautiful..and the devs have been saying they are interesed in adding something similar to the redstone.

Minecraft when you have an issue in the game, do you get to talk to a dev? Do they they visit your world to get a better idea of the issue or problem your having so they can recreate the issue themselves to get a fix for the problem.?
In Creativerse the Developers are the best i have seen in any game I have played. They want all the bugs we can find, they want to hear about our concerns about the game, our suggestions for the game. There love for there game is very evident.. With the community's help with there suggestions, bugs we find, updates every 2 - 3 weeks, and the Developers hard work.. this will become the best voxel sandbox game out there..

[Kayla88]

My favorite aspect of the game is the layered caves. Each layer looks different, has different creatures, and has different ores. Yes, in minecraft, you're more -likely-to find certain ores at certain depths, but those depths do not have any other differences.

For example:
The lava level has warmworms, those jumping noodle things (ow), and is also where you find your iron. The lakes are lava, of which there are a lot. Blocks are hardened lava and igneous rock, which can be a trip to try and see clearly!

Corruption level is my personal favorite, same with many other players. The entire layer has a purple hue to it. The monsters take their inspiration from other layers....they have things liked corrupted pigsies, corrupted miru, etc. The drops are pretty amazing down here. It's also where lumite is found, though it can take a lot of searching. Not to mention the upside down trees. ;)

[Hooch]

Thanks guys, now those are some well thought out posts about the differences and is what I was looking for.

However, does Creativerse have survival mode like MC does? I know many people like MC because of the crafting, but when I play it, I tend to play more on survival mode, starting with nothing and building up while in a hostile world.