‘Minecraft is the best game to ever be created, plus, it’s one of the best-selling video games of all-time.’

That seems to be what was going through Microsoft’s collective head when it bought Mojang, the company that owns Minecraft, for $2.5 billion.

According to an online survey, 82% of RHS students are simply thinking, “who cares?”

However, there are many fans of minecraft who are affected by the acquisition. The ones who Mojang, and specifically Markus Persson, a.k.a. Notch (the creator of Minecraft), did not bother to question before the acquisition.

Among these (18% of our school), 10% felt that the acquisition would be a negative thing for Minecraft, the community, and the game they’ve invested hundreds of hours in.

The worries of the acquisition are mainly changes to a game by a company that doesn’t understand it. Like the possibility of Microsoft cutting off server income, or the possibility of a downright egregious ‘Minecraft 2.’

All of these worries are warranted. Microsoft doesn’t exactly have a good history of understanding its own demographics. For example, Microsoft tends to give its PC gaming division (the same division that should be handling Minecraft) the short end of the stick. With Minecraft, development from Mojang came first to PC, where is has been more successful.

Still, others (that 8% of students surveyed) are optimistic of the future of minecraft. Brian Bugna, a member of the Minecraft Club here on campus, states that “The acquisition with Microsoft should be fine, as long as Minecraft remembers who their demographics are”.

And Microsoft does have a history of using acquisitions to its advantage. Back in 2000, Microsoft acquired Bungie, a small development studio working on a new game, exclusive to Mac, called Halo. Halo went on to become the best selling game on Xbox, and one of the best selling shooters on PC.

In an interview with cnet.com Notch said  “Minecraft is, to a large degree, about having unique experiences that nobody else has had.” If Microsoft can put those experiences first, then it might just have a chance to continue the game’s success.