Multiplayer



Multiplayer Minecraft was released officially on the 8th of June 2009, after many beta trials. Users can download and run the server package that allows other players to connect to and play on their server. Future versions will have multiple Game Modes, although the current version supports both creative and survival multiplayer modes. It should be noted that game modes can be individually attributed to players, with some in creative and some in survival modes. Individual players can also be promoted by the admin and other op's to op status, which grants them access to server commands such as setting the time of day and teleporting players around.

The wiki sidebar has a link to the Minecraft.net server list. Redstone Wire, Ltd. also hosts a Minecraft server list or alternative lists Minecraft survival server list (Survival) and Minecraft SMP & Classic server list (Classic and Survival). However, players can set up their own on a local network (using the local ip address as opposed to a global ip address presented by the server's router). A local server usually does not require port forwarding.



In multiplayer, players can press 'T' to chat to others, or issue commands if the server has given them op status. Commands are usually identified by the server by a forward slash (/) at the beginning of the text message.

Technical
The server saves the level to the server_level.dat file every minute, or by issuing the /save-all command. Homebrew servers do not strictly require access to minecraft.net, and so can be played on an isolated local network with no internet connection. They use minecraft.net as a repository of player skins and also a database containing a list of accounts, preventing hackers and griefers from using false names while on such a server. This and other settings are modified by editing server.properties.