Xbox 360 Edition

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition is the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft developed by 4J Studios in conjunction with Mojang and Microsoft Studios. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition was announced at the 2011 E3 conference by Notch and Microsoft and was later released on May 9th, 2012 on Xbox Live Arcade. It is priced at 1600 Microsoft Points.

The Xbox 360 Edition introduces new features such as a simpler crafting system, in-game tutorials, and split-screen multiplayer as well as online multiplayer for up to eight players over Xbox LIVE. Notch has stated that the Xbox 360 will be the sole console provider of Minecraft. Additionally, updates will be free of charge, much like on PC, and much like all other games for consoles.

About
The objective of the game remains the same as its original computer and Pocket Edition counterparts, where players can build virtual realities in a sandbox-like environment. The goal is to survive and build a house to protect yourself from mobs.

MineCon attendees had a chance to play the Xbox 360 Edition before its release.

The game was showcased as a playable demo at MineCon 2011 and was deemed a 'work in progress'. 4J Studios confirmed that it had all the features of the PC version Beta 1.6.6 when released, and will later be updated. IGN also filmed a video at MineCon showing that the graphics look very similar to the graphics in the PC edition.

Notch later announced the team developing the game would be 4J Studios. Daniel Kaplan tweeted about receiving an early copy of the Xbox 360 Edition on September 7th, 2011.

In October 2011, Microsoft said the release was planned for Spring 2012. On March 22nd, the official release date was posted by Larry Hryb, the Director of Programming for Xbox Live, as May 9th, and a few days before the game release, HatFilms released the official trailer for the Xbox 360 Edition.

The game was officially released on May 9th, 2012, and set a new sales records on the Xbox Live Arcade, selling more copies in the first twenty four hours of launch than previous titles.

Gameplay
For the most part, the Xbox 360 Edition of the game is identical to the PC edition, but was released in an earlier version equivalent to the PC version Beta 1.6.6, than the current PC version at the time of release, 1.2.5.

Version
The Xbox 360 Edition was first released based on an earlier version of the PC edition (Beta 1.6.6), and therefore lacked some items and features, such as sprinting. The latest update occurred on June 15, 2012, fixing minor bugs since its release; it does not have a PC equivalent.


 * The player can optionally make use of Xbox Kinect functionality to assist in their gameplay, although Kinect functionality was not available at launch.


 * The Xbox 360 Edition doesn't make use of the standard crafting interface as in the original version, but still has similarities to the PC's 2x2 and 3x3 crafting grids. The interface doesn't require the Player to place items in the correct place in a crafting menu, but simply shows the blocks required to craft the selected item, and crafts it if the Player has enough blocks.


 * The game features split-screen functionality, however an HDTV with a Component or HDMI cable required for Split-Screen play. Split-screen functionality works with a VGA connection to a PC monitor as well as HDMI-to-DVI cables to a PC monitor. Up to 4 players can play in split screen*, as well as the possibility to play 8-person online multiplayer game modes in split-screen.


 * The Xbox 360 Edition includes a tutorial mode not included in the PC version of the game. This tutorial leads the player through the basics of digging and placing blocks, crafting, as well as building their first house to survive the night (video).


 * You cannot change a world's difficulty while in game. You can however change it when you select the world that you want to play.


 * You always begin a new world with a map.


 * Unlike the PC version, each world in the Xbox 360 Edition is currently limited to 1024 by 1024 blocks. This is approximately the size of an in-game map. It is expected, but unknown if the world size will be increased along with the updates that will bring the Xbox 360 Edition up to date with the PC version.

Skins
There are currently 8 default skin types, all of which appear to have Steve's face, but wearing different outfits and skin colors. The following are available through split screen and online only.


 * P1 - Steve
 * P2 - Tennis player
 * P3 - Tux
 * P4 - Black Steve
 * P5(6) - Scottish Outfit
 * P6(5) - Old Convict


 * P7 - Hoodie
 * P8 - Wrestler

Extra player skins will be available much later.

Xbox 360 controller controls

 * A - to jump/place item
 * B - to drop/toss item.
 * X - to open up the crafting menu and show description of highlighted item.
 * Y - to open up the inventory.
 * LT (Left Trigger) - to place/use block/item.
 * RT (Right Trigger) - to dig/use block/item.
 * LB/RB (Left Bumper/Right Bumper) - to change group of craftable items.
 * Analog Sticks - to look/move/change selected item.
 * Left Analog Stick (pressed down) - to change the viewing angle at another perspective (1st person/3rd person back/3rd person front).
 * Right Analog Stick (pressed down) - to sneak/walk.

Achievements, awards, and unlockables

 * Achievements
 * Taking Inventory - Open your inventory. (10)
 * Getting Wood - Punch a tree until the block of wood pops out. (10)
 * Benchmarking - Craft a workbench with four blocks of wooden planks. (10)
 * Time to Mine! - Use planks and sticks to make a pickaxe. (10)
 * Hot Topic - Construct a furnace out of eight cobblestone blocks. (15)
 * Acquire Hardware - Smelt an iron ingot. (15)
 * Time to Farm! - Use planks and sticks to make a hoe. (10)
 * Bake Bread - Turn wheat into bread. (20)
 * The Lie - Bake a cake using wheat, sugar, milk and eggs! (40)
 * Getting an Upgrade - Construct a better pickaxe. (15)
 * Delicious Fish - Catch and cook a fish! (15)
 * On A Rail - Travel by minecart to a point at least 500m in a single direction from where you started. (40)
 * Time to Strike! - Use planks and sticks to make a sword. (10)
 * Monster Hunter - Attack and destroy a monster. (20)
 * Cow Tipper - Harvest some leather. (15)
 * When Pigs Fly - Use a saddle to ride a pig, then have the pig get hurt from fall damage while riding it. (40)
 * Leader Of The Pack - Befriend five wolves. (30)
 * MOAR Tools - Construct one type of each tool (one pickaxe, one shovel, one axe and one hoe). (15)
 * Dispense With This - Construct a dispenser. (20)
 * Into The Nether - Construct a Nether Portal. (40)


 * Awards/unlockables
 * Steve Gamerpic - Mine Redstone for the first time
 * Creeper Gamerpic - Kill 10 Creepers
 * Minecraft Exclusive (Wood) Theme - Share a picture on Facebook
 * A Minecraft Watch - Play through 100 day to night cycles
 * I Porkchop Minecraft T-Shirt - Make a Cooked Porkchop
 * Creeper Cap - Kill a Creeper with Arrows

Trivia

 * 4J Studios, the company making the Minecraft port to Xbox 360, also made several other video game ports, namely Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, and Perfect Dark for XBLA as well as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the PS3.
 * Minecraft was added to the Xbox Arcade download section in November 2011, and available; although it was only possible to download the "It's here!" trailer. Nonetheless, the entry held very high ratings.
 * There are also Minecraft-themed Xbox Live avatar items available. Among these are Minecraft shirts, pets, items, props, and headwear, dashboard themes, and gamerpics, all of which range from 80 to 240 Microsoft Points in price.