As announced on our forums earlier this week we now how a Minecraft Server up and running! 64 slot, multiworld, online 24/7 apart from maintenance. Tasty!

Since the default Minecraft client is a browser-based Java applet you can check out our amazing creations by clicking here:

SpecialAttack.net Freebuild

For those of you not in the know, Minecraft is a strange little game based around cooperative building... stuff... Although more competitive aspects are in the works (i.e. survival, in which you fight monsters and craft items), freebuild is the only available mode to the players but boy, is it fun, once you get into it. You can build literally anything you want using 1m^3 Lego-like cubes - left click destroys a cube, right click places one and B opens up the palette.

I don't know exactly what's so appealing about Minecraft since the graphics are absolutely pxel-tastic retro but some people are so damn creative that you can just not stop but feel joy when you see their creations. Also, scuplting something on your own gives you a sense of accomplishment and wakes the show-off in you a bit, since anybody can see and explore your masterpieces.

Here's a sample of some of the stuff SpA community members and random Internet visitors made:

<

It's really hard to capture the whole majesty of things since maps are in constant flux with stuff being built, added to or even removed all the time.

We run a custom server called MCSharp, which allows us to load multiple worlds (maps) with different permissions. Main is the map you end up on immediately after connecting and is free for all - builder and caverns are only for users promoted to higher ranks to prevent random people from destroying all the epic creations. Guests are still allowed to view the maps though via the /goto command (/goto builder and /goto caverns).

Also, here are some nice isometric overviews of our maps (not caverns, since it's in-door =).

I'll be writing up some guides on server commands, rules, ranks and such soon. For now, just have fun exploring and/or building! :-D

SpecialAttack.net Freebuild

Temporary server guide:
http://minecraft.codclan.org/

P.S. You might also want to download the custom World of Minecraft client, since it allows you to fly and run really fast.
http://minecraft.codclan.org/world_of_minecraft.zip