Minecraft on Wii U Won't Feature Inventory Management on the GamePad Screen

Literally what.

Well that's kinda stupid. I mean, it's eliminating one of the biggest points of the GamePad.

Creative communications? Nice euphemism for bs artist. Why bother porting it then ? Only uses nes control pads and virtual boy goggles. Don't tailor your programming to fit the platform guys, sounds like work, there is cash to be had, all 20 bucks of it

Hi I'm mojang, is that 20 bucks nailed to your wallet or can I lift it. Yeah, yeah I'll give you a block making game, no worries. Do you like arse?

What?

@Marlowe1877 You mean $30 right

As for the article, am I disappointed? Not really, wasn't going to buy an over-priced port anyway but at the same time, it does give me even more reason not to buy.

That's really dumb.

Yeah it's pretty dumb, but I honestly don't care. I'm just glad we're getting it.

Just like nintendo, third parties gave up on the gamepad long time ago.

There goes my purchase

I think there's a possibility that this was intentional. It wouldn't make sense for Microsoft to put the definitive version of one of its most popular franchises on a rival console.

wow.... that's really stupid.
hate say it, but i'm looking forward of getting Ucraft and play Cube Life more now.
still getting this next year, ether way (still going support Wii U version because Nintendo has no 3rd party support since 2013, but i might get the xbox one version later as well)
if Cube Life can do it, then why not Minecraft?

So overpriced and not optimised. I'll just stick with my PC version.

Director of creative communications? Does he realise how many sales he just lost his game with that tweet? There is no reason to get this now, for me at least. I'll just play the xbox one version, it has bigger worlds...

If it sound cool then why it isn't in the game? ^^;

Ack.... sounds like the gamepad is not even used for two players local multiplayer... I admit it, I'm not much interested in this game, but it's a shame too see such a popular game coming on Wii U after years and getting only a hasty generic port >_>;

Wow, disappointing!

Phoned in. Game has never been on my radar (yes I'm one of those who has never played it), but this news certainly makes the extra $s seem unnecessary. Sure people will enjoy anyway and good on them.

Are you kidding me? Literally everyone would have expected that this would be a key feature of the Wii U version. Oh man, what a letdown. And I think we don't need to hope for dual screen gameplay either, with one player using the Gamepad and one using the TV while playing with a Pro Controller.

Terraria and Cube Life could benefit from that. Which is a good thing.

What is even the point then...

Well that sucks. Now I'm seriously considering not buying this crappy port. I mean, why this game is overpriced and we have to pay 10 bucks more, when its a copy/paste version of the Xbone version??

"Delayed" for years, and its still just a lame Gamepad clone?

I wont get it on Wii U even if was only 5$ on release as it should have been.

...Well at least he said "not at the moment" lol

I was on the fence. Not anymore. That's my sale lost.

They won't do it because it means the Wii U would be the best console version, not in Microsoft's interest.

Good job, Mojang! You left out the only truly redeeming feature the Wii U version would have over other versions.

..well, if you don't care about aesthetics anyway (referring to the upcoming Nintendo-based packs). Now watch them complain about this game not selling and never supporting Nintendo again. The cycle continues.

@MitchVogel My thoughts exactly.

Why do so many keep calling it an ''overpriced port'' ,it's $29.99 on the Xbox and PS store too.This is a bundle version that was released only 2 weeks ago,not the original version.

As for the news,that is really disappointing,it's the most obvious and simple use of the Gamepad they could add.Like Mitch said above though,that simple addition would make the Wii U have the definitive console edition.Microsoft wouldn't want that.

@Shugo Probably because the Sony version was largely developed prior to Microsoft purchasing Minecraft. They'll port it to other systems but the PC and Xbox versions will be the best going forward if i had to guess.

Welp....so much for that I guess, still will wait for others to get it because it's really only fun at this point with friends I think or wait for a price drop since it costs more here.

Haha, so stupid, well that's a lost sale straight away because I won't be buying now

So wait... so the big announcement was that the WiiU is finally getting Minecraft (A game that everybody with even a passing interest already has by now), and then they note that the one selling point a WiiU-port might have had... isn't there.

Am i the only one thinking "Why bother then?"

So everyone is ignoring that "not at the moment" part, then? Ok. o.o

That's...
...I don't understand.

Well it'll get added eventually. Just surprised they didn't include it from the get go.

You had one job...

I have mixed feelings now. Of course I was hoping for that feature and even more for dual screen gameplay for two players.

But... it's the same old story. If everyone says now that they won't buy it that's a bad signal to third party developers and Mojang especially. If it doesn't sell well everyone over there will think "We should've known it. Why did we put so much work in it?"

To more or less echo other comments. Disappointing and incredible missed potential. Despite having it on other platforms I was going to get this as I naturally assumed the gamepad would be used in some obvious way. Not any more. Stick with Xbox One version....

The gamepad would have been a perfect fit for Minecraft. Another tough sell it would seem.

@Megumi If sales are terrible you can be sure it'll never happen.

One of many reasons why I'm not taking up Minecraft. At least the other games like Cube Life TRIED. They might not have the Minecraft name, but they're trying to live up to expectations. And doing pretty good too.

Just want to add, as a Wii U owner who doesn't game on PC, I'm not really interested in this game anyway, but if the reviews had come back that the game made especially good use of the gamepad, then I would have to consider buying, or at least not outright eliminate the possibility.

Why not? That seems like such a no-brainer.

GamePad utilization needs to be there, IMO. I know off-TV play matters for some, but crafting and doing other stuff on the GamePad being absent is a HUGELY missed opportunity. An update is always possible, but it makes absolutely no sense why they would leave one the biggest features of Wii U out. They don't even have Smartglass or PS Vita Remote Play running on the other consoles when the feature could be there and matters for people who want that type of experience. This could be said about alot of games, actually, so I guess it's not much to expect anyway, but it still matters in the light that the GamePad is still Wii U's main controller, and there won't be anything interesting on the second screen.

Microsoft is clearly trying to get this game out before Christmas. However it almost seems like they're trying to get Nintendo fans to hate them by putting out a half arsed port that makes no use of the Wii U's defining features. If it doesn't sell well it looks bad for 3rd parties who want to develop for Nintendo, so this gives companies an excuse for why they're not releasing their big multi-platfom IP's on Nintendo consoles.

I hope I'm being pessimistic but I definitely wouldn't put it past Microsoft.

That said, I'm one of the few people who has never played Minecraft so I'm relatively tempted to get this.

They don't even need to put this game on Wii U, probably, because everyone already bought and played the crap out of it on everything else. I'd say it still matters more 3DS, and that goes back to saying that cross-platform multiplayer and cross-buy needs to happen on everything.

@agqwestern Lol. Microsoft doesn't care if Nintendo fan's hate them or love them. You're talking about a corporate monster. "Profit" is all that matters.

You had one job Mojang, one job.

@OorWullie here we go, people with silly conspiracy theories. MS like money, its not down to them on what the developer chooses to do with the gamepad.

What is it with Nintendo fans and there conspiracy theories. Everyone is out to get Nintendo and that's why third parties don't care. You people are crazy!

The reason is plain and simple. The development team don't see the need to use the gamepad. There is no conspiracy here.

Other developers have done the same, hell even Nintendo have been lazy with it on some titles.

Well, there goes the only reason to buy it for the Wii U (well, even that really isn't the best reason). Second screen?

Nope and no thank you. Not if the touch aspect isn't used.

If it eventually does happen with a patch, great. That's when I might consider it.

not worth the update which stopped me from playing monster hunter. The hell? His answer should be: "We wanted to but like we were too lazy and stuff"

i kinda guessed this would be the case well hoping they patch it in at some point in the future but maybe it's a sign the nx wont have a gamepad. odds are this will ported over to nx after all.

Still getting it for my son as a Christmas present. I have no problem with this since I probably won't be playing it anyways. Won't have time with new baby due soon.

Guys, @MitchVogel nailed it. Simple as that.

@MysticX nope, you're not only one that thinks that.

Lol.

@AlexSora89 That was my first thought, but I wonder what the real reason is.
I remember Microsoft saying something about how it would leave Minecraft alone to be its own thing to a certain extent; as in, this isn't considered a Microsoft IP like Halo would be. In that sense, I don't know if the 'powers that be' would meddle with the port in order to try to push gamers to Xbox or Windows, but I'm also failing to see how the dev team could've left out such an obvious feature.

All that money they made and they are still being cheap about that feature!

Either that or they just don't care.. Both are bad by the way..I'll simply ignore your stupid game you greedy people..

So it's like - you wanted Minecraft? Ok! But we will just port it from other console with minimum time spending.

Well don't bother releasing it then.

Let's try to apply some thought to the situation shall we? I don't know how big a company Mojang is, but to make this port this late in the Wii U lifecycle is a pretty big gamble, even for a company as successful as Mojang and even with Microsoft backing them up. Now if you were going to put resources into making such a port and wanted to try to get at least one big holiday sales period before what may well be a successor console appears, would you not make your primary effort a working version of the game as-is, then, depending on sales, add system-specific features down the line?

Did anyone who posted (and apparently have zero interest in the release, but chose to shine their brilliance upon us regardless), bother to consider this? Do any of you have a clue how long it's taking to get parity with the PC version on what is very likely the second largest installed-base for this title: mobile? And yet you complain (again about something YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO BUY) about the lack of inventory management on the gamepad at launch, which is a minor feature at best.

I'm buying this for my daughter and hopefully there are a lot of other adults out there who will do the same and we'll get engine improvements down the line. I think any delay to implementing second screen features could be tied to waiting for surface/vita dual-screen implementation, but that doesn't mean it isn't going to happen or that some kind of stupid "boycott" is in order.

Hmm, I don't own a Wii U, but even I believe that's kinda disappointing. You'd think they surely wouldn't miss such opportunity, but oh well.

Alright UCraft, you're still in the running.

You do the gamepad inventory and you'll be the better game.

Guessing it's a quick port of the last gen 360 version then, disappointing.

I'm hardly surprised. If the devs actually had any interest in pushing a proper Minecraft version, they would've done so way sooner.
But them not even caring about what the WiiU offers in terms of features goes to show that this is just a lazy cash-grab, and possibly an attempt at downplaying the potential of competitors.

As I said before: and nothing of value was gained.

notice he said "At The Moment" so they were thinking about it, perhaps as a update later on

with a game like Minecraft it better to get the core game on the system and add to it later than miss your window i guess

Minecraft is a boring fad anyway...

What a total fail to not actually make this version work in some very specific ways with the GamePad's touch screen. I mean, the GamePad was made for games like this, and they basically just ignored it. So, when this game isn't quite as well received as some people would like or expect, don't blame the Wii U owners. They're getting the game later than everyone else, on a less powerful system (so it won't be quite as technically accomplished as the other versions), and it's not doing anything special to take advantage of Wii U's unique selling points at all. Nothing about the Wii U version justifies the extra wait for gamers. It's just another lazy port that's coming late to a Nintendo system, and might just end up being too little too late for most gamers to even care. Although, I'm sure it will still sell plenty of copies just because it's Minecraft, and Microsoft will be a happy publisher at the end of the day.

With this I am crossng Minecraft Wii U from my game wishlist. The little interest I had in this game is all but gone. But I'm sure people who only have a Wii U to play on and really want the game will still enjoy the game because it will hopefully still be a solid full port from the other counterparts.

Of course its not in the game. Why would MS outclass its own console version ? It was inevitable that this late port will be overpriced and under utilizing the system.
They want to profit off of it while at the same time dont over-benefit the competition. Its only natural.

At this point, Minecraft fans can be happy that MicroSoft doesnt just hog the IP alltogether. And they very well could.

Shame, this was one of the features that my Daughter and I were looking forward to the most, but hey ho. Now if they can bring some decent Nintendo themed skins & tile sets / maps in the near future then this may be the 5th platform we will have to get Minecraft on ha!

@FullbringIchigo Or, could it just be that if he said a flat 'No' then it would sound worse than 'not at the moment', and so he decided giving false hope would be better for sales.

Definitive version or not, why bother releasing it without 2-player co-op or inventory management? For the Wii U audience, it's just the diehard Nintendo fans and those who want to double dip for more convenient features. Why bother releasing the game on Wii U at all if you aren't going to use the console hardware to the fullest?

No wonder there's such a disconnect between Nintendo and third parties. Try harder with your ports! If your game doesn't sell, don't bring any more games to Nintendo platforms, rather than trying to sell an inferior product compared to other consoles.

@sean_aaron Do you want to put your faith in an industry that loves to release things in an unfinished state, or lacking in features at launch? I don't. I want the full experience from the get go. Yes, they could add these features later, but it detracts from buying it on Wii U day one. You could easily buy the PC version or console versions for cheaper and get the same experience. This will dent their sales at launch. This makes it LESS likely for them to implement the extra features later, and even if the game does sell well, they might not bother anyway.

At the end of the day, I would be getting the PC version, but if the Wii U had these features from the beginning, it would make it a much better console port for the money. Rather than the cash grab that it appears to be.

@gcunit this is also true

i'm just trying to look on the bright side is all, far too much negativity in gaming circles now a days

The entirety of Microsoft and Mojang - can't programme a simple thing like sending the inventory to the purposely built GAMepad - a job it was designed to do with tools in the Wii U Dev kits to enable them to do it. . . Unbelievable - This must have been deliberately done to not upstage the Xbox version. . . :/

@crazycrazydave I have to take a more sanguine view as really there's no reason Minecraft needs to be released on the platform at all. The fact that it's coming so late in the system's lifecycle is more a gift than anything and I have no reason to think they're just pushing it out there to die, because if there was that little faith/interest in the platform, they wouldn't even bother.

I think the fact that the touchscreen isn't being used is actually kind of a positive as it means this is a port of the existing console version rather than the mobile one - wouldn't people rather have something equivalent to what's already on other console platforms than a port of a touch-enabled mobile version that is still playing catch-up?

Again without knowing Mojang's internal resourcing and priorities it's impossible to make statements about this being a "lazy port" or "cash grab" with any degree of truth behind them. I expect there are people who wouldn't be satisfied unless the entire resources of the company were put into the Wii U project - does anyone actually think that makes any sense?

It would be nice if Nintendo Life could get an interview with Mojang and give people a reality dose, because it's sorely needed!

Excellent news! The Wii U needs more games that can be played completely with the Pro Controller without having the obnoxious GamePad tagging along. If this game forced me to keep the GamePad nearby to use the inventory menu, I would refuse to buy it. The GamePad is the worst controller in modern gaming history and it needs to die, needs to stop being forced into games.

Mojang messed up the only feature that NEEDED to be in the Wii U version.

Now it's just a regular cheap port with higher price tag than other versions.

Was planning to buy it even though I don't even like Minecraft, because I was imagining already years ago how awesome it will be when the inventory management is in the gamepad and tv screen has clean fresh UI without the inventory taking space there.

What an utterly incredibly failure to produce a game that could have easily become the most superior version of the game.

_{(watch the language~undead)}

Obnoxious trash port. Not surprised. You all got what you wanted, a low selling rushed port. Congratulations.

Why spend time and effort creating something useful and fun, when you can simply half-ass a port and rake in the money, eh?

@mjc0961 so good luck playing xenoblade without the gamepad or super mario maker..

I couldn't agree more with what @Sean_Aaron: said!

Sure why would they implement the Gamepad in any meaningful way? It's only like the most unique feature of the Wii U and a selling point for would-be buyers. Too little, too late, too expensive and now we can add, too lazy.

This is stupid. Lazy ass developers nowadays.

@BarryDunne : Thanks. Made it from a wallpaper.

Well hopefully that cubelife update comes soon.

That does seem like a waste. I love the game on PS3, but was planning to double-dip on the Wii U version for Miiverse, Nintendo outfits, and Gamepad controls. The lack of proper gamepad support makes this a tougher decision now. I might take a look at Terraria instead. At least that game is bothering to have touchscreen support.

Even the PS Vita version doesn't have touch screen inventory management, you could only tap on your hotbar to switch between weapons, Mojang were lazy then and still are it seems.

The could have followed Nintendo's lead and done something inspired like ......added a horn to the touch screen!!

Just get the game out there. If people support the game, I'm sure they'll keep adding to it.

There's very little incentive to develop for the Wii-U gamepad. Why waste time and money on a port that won't sell any where close to the volume of PS3/PS4, XBox360/XBoxOne and PC versions? Add the fact that making the Wii-U platform the definitive version (with touch screen inventory) would hurt Microsoft's XBox One version.

Soo, no two-player mode? No inventory management on the gamepad? I really hope NX breaks through the trend of third party Nintendo games always lacking something. It really has been enough now. Why the **** should we pay more for our Wii U Minecraft version than Xbox and PS players do, with less functions? Just...why?!

Can't wait to dust off my Wii U to play this!

Well on the plus side Cubelifes 1.1 update has been submited to Nintendo ready for release this month. They already use the gamepad for touchscreen inventory and tne update uses the second screen as a second player screen. Even for those not interested in Cubelife it still may give Minecraft the push it needs to update their game sooner than later, but for those that enjoy Cubelife its the good news we have been waiting months for.

Im sure once they add amiibo support, all you guys writing the game off will be foaming at the mouth with credit cards in hand!

yeah I expected this and the confirmation of the same multiplayer options as the other versions. If this was coming earlier it'd have gamepad inventory. I suppose if it does well or if the NX has some form of game pad like interaction we could see it.

I would have thought we would have left trolling about this to play station/Xbox websites.

But then it's another article with a negative slant on it! I guess it's cause it 'too little too late'

Why even make this then?

@kobashi100 "gave up"??? this is the clear example that most of them don't even gave it a try!
inventory in the gamepad was a perfect and basic concept for this game!

I can't believe people care about the gamepad not being used for inventory management. Who cares? You hit an extra button to shuffle through your inventory just like in practically every other Wii U game. People wanted other games to do the one person on TV, one on gamepad feature a long time ago, but having to hit extra buttons ruins that? None of this means that it is a bad port. It just means that they didn't use the gamepad like you wanted them to. We have yet to see the game and people are already calling it low quality.

@Jazzer94 - Meh. I think it will probably be the same version Xbox One and PS4 got. Minecraft isn't that demanding of a game and Wii U can do it.

The only reason why they even said it wouldn't run on 3DS, is because they weren't even trying to get it on there and it would even probably run in 3D on New 3DS, at least. So with enough effort, the games will run in full.
This game is on every platform now, which is why cross-play/buy needs to happen for this game, otherwise they're letting the whole fanbase down(everyone with a device that runs it).

@Sean_Aaron Inventory is a very important part of the games mechanics! Is where everything is crafted so using the gamepad has your crafting table IS NOT "a minor feature at best".

That was the ONLY thing I wanted! FFS...

@JusticeColde D00D it's MAX!

@Sean_Aaron, friend, my thoughts just about exactly. The real question is, why do we still bother to read comments sections?

The idiocy hurts, soooo bad...

that is big news.

Mabey the reason why many people are expecting an inferior port could be down to Notch slating the wiiu on Twitter last year and Daniel Kaplain basicly saying that due to the wiiu's small install base and the over saturation of the minecraft market it wasnt in their interest to invest the time and money porting it to the wiiU. Mabey it would be good for Nintendolife to get an interview from one of these guys to justify why us naysayers and the ones on the fence should part with cold hard cash.

It seems unbelievably hilarious that a Minecraft clone has more features on Wii U than the real thing.

How can Mojang and Microsoft mess this up so much? And the weirdest part is that they are trying to ask more money for this than on the other platforms!

@beazlen1
For real. I was going to pick it up. Not anymore. That's literally the Wii U's biggest selling point and what makes it stand out from the crowd. I mean, heck, Stone Shire - the worst Minecraft clone I've seen yet - even used the gamepad for more than just screen mirroring.

@Koniec Is the game unplayable or horrible on other platforms that lack a dual screen interface? If not, then yes, it's a feature and I'd say minor. I do think it would be handy indeed to have inventory on the GamePad, but I expect there are reasons for that we're unaware of and I prefer to look at the big picture here.

If Koei said Samurai Warriors IV was coming and had no off-TV play, I wouldn't be ranting about it in a comments section, I'd be saying how happy I was to be able to play the game on my favourite platform. A bird in the hand, etc...

@Mainsaile The same reason most of these posters wasted effort posting: nothing better to do

As long as they add in Nintendo skins, I wouldn't mind the lack of gamepad support.

I'm disappointed. I'll still buy it though if the world isn't the size of one map.

Great job guys, top notch.

A 4-years-late port with no GamePad support? Have these businesses forgotten the fact that they are businesses? The amount of sheer stupidity in this decision just beggars belief.

This is worse than last year's Watch_Dogs fiasco; another concept that would have benefited immensely from creative use of the GamePad.

I understand the "realist" view that @Sean_Aaron has, but it doesn't make it any less disappointing. Even if Mojang just couldn't spare the resources to deliver, the version that we're getting isn't the product that the consumers expect.
I agree with @crazycrazydave on that we shouldn't settle with an industry that doesn't go all the way.

Wow, this news really put a damper on my excitement for the game. I was actually looking forward to this. I just don't understand the logic behind this decision. Perhaps a major overhaul was needed to implement such a feature? I suppose that could be the case. I'm just not sure.

I find it extremely baffling why devs find it so hard to stick an inventory on the gamepad in the first place. Maybe the reaction to this may make them delay the game so they can add it in but at least his statement has left the door open for a future update

I guess my question is why did it take so long to port it then if its a quick and dirty one to one?

To the very few people that think this isn't a big deal, most people already own a (or several) versions of MineCraft. I was willing to buy it for the fourth time if it took advantage of the WiiU gamepad for inventory/offscreen co-op play but right it looks like I already own several versions of this.

LAZY!

@rjejr
Haha. Well, now it should be $20.

No inventory on GamePad is just sad. This also confirms no second screen for a second player (rather than split) and it's just about as disappointing as it could be.

The basic take away here is that the Wii U is less exciting now than it was early on and early on developers couldn't be bothered to work very hard for unique GamePad features. Wii U is on its way out and I still maintain this is great for Nintendo going forward, but... sigh.

Just a side note, whenever I see an interview or video with Mojang developers they seem like they have way too much to do with too few developers. Seems they are trying to keep it personal and small as much as Microsoft is trying to leverage Minecraft and spread it they seem afraid to attack it with more people resources from the outside. Not sure how I feel about it, but this is the first time I really feel that the ball has been dropped.

Which would be worse: no inventory management on Gamepad, or no off-screen play? Ideally, it should have both options available... but this news isn't as horrible as some suggest.

It seems like people are keen to judge the port before it's released or all details are available. Wait for a week or so and see. Maybe there will be some nice surprises, maybe not. Don't get all worked up either way until we actually know for certain.

See, this is why the Wii U is such a dud. Not only are we not getting innovate use of the pad, we're not getting the OBVIOUS use of the game pad.

Ultimately the most important judge is going to be my kid. This will be her first big-screen Minecraft experience and I rather doubt having no inventory on the GamePad will ruin the experience for her; especially since she only tends to play creative mode.

@aaronsullivan "This also confirms no second screen for a second player (rather than split) and it's just about as disappointing as it could be."

It was practically confirmed that there wasn't going to be separate screens for two players on the GamePad and TV when there was a lack of confirmation for the feature in the first place.
And the lack of Wii U specific footage was alarming as well.

@Sean_Aaron
I like your name and capacity for measured reasoning.

I still hold out hope for some cool features and while I'm skeptical Mojang would add the GamePad inventory later (or that I'd still be playing Wii U when that version released) it's not impossible if it sells like crazy.

Minecraft has always been the perfect game to have on Wii U, but Microsoft only bought it a year ago. Mojang had no love for Nintendo. So, this is a year of development (at best) getting ported to a platform that is not congruent with the other platforms. As understandable as it is I can't deny it's a major shame that there is no great use of the GamePad.

Well, that killed any interest I had in this!

Moving on.

@Ventilator
Unfortunately that's the story of every third party Wii U port. Except for Arkham City, which no one bought.

@Moshugan Just about, but I was hopeful anyway. The release of information from Nintendo has been unsteady for months now.

It explains why nothing was shown in the Nintendo Direct, though, doesn't it?

GamePad co op would be better feature anyway...but it doesn't sound like it has that either.

I hope Nintendo didn't pay much for this.

@aaronsullivan For the record, I read all of this this morning but decided not to comment b/c I had nothing nice to say. I know most people think I never have anything nice to say, but I do try. There was just nothing nice to say about this. I didn't even bother telling the 10 year old, he already thought the $30 price was dumb, can't imagine this would be a selling point for him.

Off topic - we've been playing Toybox Takeover - a Hanukkah gift - and while I'm not bothered by the smaller characters on screen like some people are - I've played enough Gauntlet and the like to know how these things work - the game itself feels more like a series of fan made small levels than a professionally made game. I did miss the first 2 hours so may be out of the loop, but it doesn't feel up to any of the playsets. Certainly not Pirates, and that was way back in 1.0. For $20 it doesn't seem worth it. Could have been a $5.99 DLC theme pack like they used to do on Little Big Planet. Glad I only paid $10. Still too much, but at least I have something fun to do w/ my kid.

@aaronsullivan You could be right about them having no love for Nintendo, but they may be treading water there. I suspect they're living on borrowed time before MS weighs in on how they manage their affairs (without knowing the terms of the sale, mind) in which case a rushed release for Wii U may well have been their attempt to get the game ported before that choice was removed from them. If so the possibility of future support is enhanced just by getting it in the eShop. Could be fantasy, but I'm all about hope.

@rjejr
Toybox Takeover let's you play any characters you want though, right? Just what you wanted! My son was playing a limited version of it on his iPad and I noticed the small scale. Too bad it doesn't inspire. I've already picked it up for ~$10 I think as well. Honestly, DI is just not meant to be purchased full price.

Have you tried the PC version? At least on my machine it's really great looking. It even syncs up your account and knows everything you've unlocked and even has the play sets! Editing toy boxes is much better on it (though not as good as it should be on PC), the problem is — and this relates to Minecraft! — no local multiplayer! So we don't play it there even though it is no additional cost and is superior in every other way to the Wii U version.

spits out water

That was the whole point of a Minecraft Wii U version!

@Sean_Aaron Actually looking it up, it's just that Notch was not impressed with Wii U (mocking it on Twitter) and still loves Nintendo but that made him pass it up as a platform to bring it to (too much other work to complete).

Still, I'm guessing very little movement happened until Microsoft got involved or at least until the 360 and PS3 versions were complete.

How many of you complaining about this know anything about writing code? Having the inventory et al on the gamepad would require new subroutines, which take thousands to millions of lines of code each. It would be a nightmare, and not very cost effective to write the whole game again just for that pad.

not surprising to be honest; i couldn't see mojang being allowed to make a nintendo version of a microsoft game better in some unique way.

think about it... microsoft is just not interested in creating excellent games, only games that make excellent profit. if their true interest were in being there for gamers, they would say "to hell with business savvy, let's make this game cool!"

and you can bet they won't have a splatoon control scheme...

I'll stick with the PC version then.

So in other words, one of the potential selling points for the Wii U version will be nonexistent, in addition to being overpriced. And that... Is what happens when a huge competitor/monopolizing company own the product being released on a rival platform. I was wondering if Cube Life and UCraft would be able to survive with the Minecraft announcement... Looks like they'll do just fine, since they actually make use of the Wii U.

You see...the problem here is that if we don't buy this game, then we just continue to purport the stigma that Nintendo gamers don't buy anything non-Nintendo...and Mojang won't care because Minecraft is already on everything else, so optimizing for us isn't a priority.

Now, if we DO buy the game, maybe...just maybe...the game will be optimized for the system, and while it may (and SHOULD) be perfectly functional, this is a massive oversight.

I might get it (and I might have to because of what I said), but I think I'll hold off on reviews because I want to spend my money wisely.

Also, it's overpriced, too? What are we paying for? Why would it be $30 on the Wii U and $20 on the other home consoles? If we're getting more stuff, then fine, but if it's just the same base game with the same features as well as no GamePad support...why do we have to pay $10 more?

But again, if I don't buy it, then that'll just give third party devs even more reason to not make Wii U ports.

@Aozz Sure, Cube Life can do it! It fully supports the Gamepad and not only that! It is going to support Wii U Pro Controller + Wii Classic Controller in upcoming Update

It's unfortunate but it's economics.
This is a port of a game that will probably see only a few hundred thousand sold for a system that will (probably) replaced within a year.

Eh. It'll come in a future update.

And lazy ports like this are EXACTLY why third-party games don't sell on Nintendo consoles. :/

Managing inventory on the gamepad is a no brainer. Why do they even bother?

@aaronsullivan Oh well, looks like I've derailed another thread. I figure that's ok though, Minecraft has over 9000 comments so far this week.

Best part about TT is the full range of characters. I suppose for that alone it's worth $20 and I'm just being picky expecting it to also be as good as the 2 year old 1.0 playsets. Got my son Hiro on Monday, we already had Baymax, so we had some tagteam fun. And since there's no BH6 playset, and I don't like playing in the toybox too much, this is as good as it gets. And the Avengers playset is lame so I get to say "Hulk Smash!" a lot with a purpose now.

PC version has it's ups and downs. Old PC coudlnt handle it. Motherboard died - that was fun - got a new MD, decided on a new videocard GT 740 - so now it's playable. But my kid and I have separate Disney accounts and I've been giving him all the codes so my set is limited, I only buy used for myself. But yes, the connection between Wii U, PS3 (DI 2.0) and PC is well done indeed.

But we also don't play PC b/c if in the mood for open world we play Lego Worlds, my kid coughed up the $15 "Early Access" fee. He's a trailblazer that one. That game is the real reason for the new videocard. He's hoping for online multiplayer next year.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/332310/

But you don't need to spend $15 on that, Project Spark is now free on PC. It's just like Disney Infinity, but good. (I swear it's the same guy doing the same voice over about the same sparks and imagination.) My kid likes to create stuff but there are also lots of story driven missions and fan made levels. No PC multiplayer though. But it's free, and he codes some.

http://welcome.projectspark.com/

Minecraft for $30 on Wii U isn't happening.

What? A lazy port on Wii U that ignores the systems best feature? Say it isn't so!

Its disappointing, but not at all surprising.

Ppfffttty

Maybe they're waiting to see what kind of reaction fans will have ,and hopefully by the time of release they'll patch it up. But we all can dream right?

@tysonfury : True. Mass Effect 3 also had nice usage. Besides these, Call of Duty may have best touch usage.

Well enjoy the mass requests you'll be getting on Miiverse and directly.

Maybe add it as an update?

@Greshdon That was more or less my thinking. I would expect Nintendo has an API that allows for easier implementation of Gamepad than that, but I doubt it's non-trivial - especially if you're trying to implement it with a completed game from another platform. And of course testing/QA adds to the time. I doubt a huge budget would be allocated to the kind of testing that would be required to implement this feature. Using the second display to mirror the TV is probably trivial, though.

If it's a big seller on Wii U, it will justify further expense though. We can only support it and see.

Wow i will wait and pick terreria up when it hits retail. No inventory management on gamepad no buy from me.

Gameover no deal for me, just a standard port no effort or imagination gone into it too make unique on the Wii U.

What?

Well, I guess I'll wait until they add it.

Ahhhahahaha! Man! The Wii U is the gift that keeps on giving! Or in this case not giving!

I really wonder what people will be saying about this console 10 years from now? Will people really look back on this console with fondness or scorn?

Um .... Wow....

So can you do it on the iOS version?

In fairness, not having extra features doesn't make it cheap, or of lesser quality. Even without any gamepad features whatsoever, it's still just as much game as you'd get on any other console.

And again, in fairness, the price is the same bundle price offered on rival platforms.

With that said, I think most of us were expecting MORE than what rival platforms have. Given how perfect the gamepad would be in this game, it's almost a travesty they would limit it to off-TV play.

@ColdingLight
Ya know, it could not be coming at all.

Just because it doesn't have extra features, doesn't make it any lesser than. Even the bare bones off-TV play is more than can be said for other versions.

And to answer your question, it depends on the person. If a person looks back and only focuses on everything Wii U DIDN'T have, then sure, people won't remember it fondly. But if a person says the hell with what it didn't have, I enjoyed the console for what it DID have, then I think it will be remembered fondly indeed. For all the stuff you can list that it's missing, there's a heck of a lot you can list that it actually has.

Kind of disappointed as Gamepad is perfect for it. But I'd imagine Minecraft U hasn't been in development for very long - Miyamoto was very jealous of it and refused to acknowledge it, standing in the way of Minecraft coming to Nintendo consoles like a relic of the bygone era. Thank God he has been shifted off to theme park development.

Judging by the comment it sounds like the feature will be added in a future update! Still it's good to here it will feature two player with two full screens.

It took this long for a port and it has a higher price no extra functionality over other versions? I have to wonder why anyone would buy this edition when the original PC version has better customizability for the same price. It is by no means a taxing game, most PCs can run the game decently. Never was really interested in this to be honest, but now this can be used as an example of "Nintendo fans only buy 1st party" if this underperforms. I think I'll save my cash for Fast Racing Neo and XCX.

@liveswired multiplayer is split screen like other consoles, not on two different screens that is what the Cubelife update is all about. Minecraft displays on the gamepad what is on the main screen as far as I know so that is great for off TV play but not two separate screens for different players. It has online multiplayer so it has that going for it.

It's just lazy. They'd rather tap into the market of children who have a Wii U and are likely to want this regardless of new features, rather than redesign the game to make use of the hardware for a more pleasing experience.

They have 6 billion dollars to recoup. Of course dey ain't messin' wid yo gamepad fo sho. (or something.)

@SageWaterDragon yeah IKR I'm like ... what the heck... right now

Eh, I'm getting it for the multiplayer and hoping I can use my classic controller pros o. This.

Looks like they don't want Nintendo to succeed. They don't want to help Nintendo become the standard once again.

This is the future of gaming. Stuff will be added to the basic download IF enough copies are sold. Early buyers take the risk.

LMAO! I mean that sucks not for me. But damn the Wiiu is getting more impressive by the minute. Makes me want to buy one right now!
@ColdingLight The Wiiu. It will be remembered as the only console that it couldn't even get COD to stay with them. COD for gods sake or anybody!

I was going to get the game, but then I heard this. Clearly Mojang just made this a sloppy port for a quick buck.

Whatever, there are plenty of other games for me to spend my money on. It's no big deal.

My top features would be:
1. GamePad co op
2. Drawing textures
3. Amibo support
.
.
.
.
45. Inventory

... WHAT?

Seriously... what the heck are they thinking? Look, we have heard enough devs say at this point that 'off screen play is easy' to know that it basically built in to the WiiU SDK. So the fact you support that is no great shake. What I and I'd guess everyone else ASSUMED is that you'd be bringing something unique and improved to this experience. Namely display of the inventory and maybe a map. ARE YOU IDIOTS?

WTF?? That is all.

Well well, interesting right,could mojang have an "Something" in Wii U console.... just a news anyway don't take seriously....

Well, he DID day that would be kinda cool...😕

Well, there goes the best selling point for Minecraft on the Wii U. Meh, I stopped playing it anyway ages ago on the Xbox, no loss for me.

A game nobody cares anymore (opposite to two or three years ago) cutting features everyone expected to see.

That's a perfect formula for success eh?

No wonder why the whole Wii U Gamepad idea was a mistake. It's cool, but it takes double the effort to make something useful for it. Most developers tend to just ignore it and make a port just like they did on PS4 and One.

@ColdingLight 10 years from now, I will be saying that Rayman Legends is the best early Wii U game that got screwed over. And it snowballed from there. Awesome system and games, awful support and DRM.

It's funny that I thought about this earlier today, and I assumed it wouldn't work like many hoped it would. Looks like I was right (unfortunately).

Not only is it a cut-down port of a PC game, but it has no extra features and is $3 more expensive than the infinitely better PC version that no one's cared about for years now.

@Greshdon Don't they have to reprogram the game from the ground up to get it working on the Wii U, anyway?

Are they next telling us that Minecraft on Wii U doesn't even enable the touch screen in any way?

I heard that on PS4 the controller touchpad is enabled to some kind of use so this will be a really extremely disappointing crap job from Mojang if they just have done a basic crappy port with no console specific enhancements at all, and a 10 dollars/euros higher ripoff price also.

Hahaha calling this Minecraft Wii U Edition when it's just a rushed port.

@CrazyRiverOtter It depends on the language used. PC Minecraft is written in JAVA, so new coding had to be written for the consoles, as XBOX 360/ONE use a C variant, idk what PS3/4 use, likely also C variant. If Wii U uses something else it could require a new re-write or a simple change of modifier syntax.

um im sorry but what do you mean by inventory managment?Do you mean like pc where you can move your stuff in your inventory,and not the hotbar?

Im still honestly hyped for this and I'm ignoring the let down and people should be grateful it's coming to the wii u

He did say "not at the moment" so that could mean it might be coming in the future