Minecraft Plus!

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Not to be confused with Realms Plus.
This article documents an April Fools' Day joke.
 
This feature was exclusively part of a joke version and is not currently planned for addition to regular Minecraft.
Minecraft Plus!
Minecraft Plus!.jpg: Infobox image for Minecraft Plus! the program in Minecraft
Author(s)

Mojang Studios

Platform(s)

🌐 Windows

Written in
Latest version

1.4.2021

Release date

April 1, 2021

Rating(s)

N/A

Size

16.2 MB

License

Proprietary

Source available

No

Links 

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    "rows": [
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            "field": "(link to File:Mojang Studios logo.svg article, displayed as x20px|link=Mojang Studios) (link to Mojang Studios article, displayed as Mojang Studios)",
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        {
            "field": "\n* (link to wikipedia:JavaScript article, displayed as JavaScript) and (link to wikipedia:Rust (programming language) article, displayed as Rust) <small>(Web)</small>\n* (link to wikipedia:Rust (programming language) article, displayed as Rust) <small>(Windows)</small>",
            "label": "Written in"
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        {
            "field": "No",
            "label": "<span style=\"white-space:normal\">Source available</span>"
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            "field": "\n* [https://plus.minecraft.net Website]",
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    "images": [
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Minecraft Plus! is a screensaver app developed by Mojang Studios for April Fools Day 2021. It features many different Minecraft-themed screensavers, using block and item textures from the game, inspired by screensavers from old computers. The app can either be downloaded for free on a 64-bit Windows PC running Windows 7 or later, or used in a modern web browser.[1][2]

Screen savers[edit | edit source]

Module # Unofficial name Image Description Notes
0 Rotating block A block with random textures on each face rotating randomly. Similar to the loading animation in Minecraft Dungeons.
1 Lagging floating textures A texture floats across the screen, bouncing and changing its texture when it hits the screen border. A trail is left behind the texture.
2 Floating texture Like above, but the texture doesn't leave a trail behind it. A reference to the bouncing DVD animation during idle modes found on many DVD players, and also bear similarities to 3D Flying Objects screensavers from Windows 95 to Windows XP.
3 Thrown items Spinning 3D blocks and items being thrown from the center of the screen onto a rotating platform. Up to 10 items can be visible at a time. Plants appear gray, and all spawn eggs use the default texture.
4 Water tiles A tile grid of water. Evokes tiled wallpaper designs from Windows 3.x to Windows 98, specifically "Red Blocks".
When loaded the blocks are initially displayed in either flat colors of blue or red before water or lava textures respectively fade in.
5 Lava tiles Like above, but with lava.
6 Menu panorama The title screen panorama from 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, or 1.16.
7 Colored footsteps Four tile-like footstep particles, colored red, yellow, green and blue, moving independently from each other.
8 Glow squids Glow squids swimming to the bottom left of the screen. Regular squids may start appearing after some time. A reference to After Dark's "Flying Toasters".
9 Bouncing item Spinning 3D blocks and item bouncing from right to left, leaving a trail. Similar to the winning animation in pre-Windows Vista Solitaire as well as After Dark's "Gravity".
10 Grass spread Grass slowly spreading rightwards over dirt blocks, as the screen gradually scrolls to the right. The spreading grass progressively changes biome color.
11 All textures An overview of a grid with every in-game texture on it, with the camera flying and rotating over it. The texture map features a two-color version of the creeper's face.
12 Creeper faces Creeper faces flying towards the screen. A reference to Windows 3.x-9x's Flying Windows, as well as Starfield Simulation.

Messages[edit | edit source]

Splash text[edit | edit source]

Random splash text is written to the browser console once the screensaver has finished loading. A lot of it is also present in Minecraft.

Splash text Explanation
Full of stars! Part of a quote from Dr. David Bowman ("The thing's hollow—it goes on forever—and—oh my God—it's full of stars!") and his last line before being pulled through the monolith, from the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey (while often attributed to the film of the same name, the line does not actually appear on-screen until its sequel, 2010: The Year We Make Contact). However, Minecraft is full of stars. They are square pixels on the screen that appear at nighttime.
Native performance! Unlike Java code, Rust code is compiled to native code.
Start me up! Refers to the Windows 95 commercial that uses the titular song by the Rolling Stones.
Pinball not included! References how Windows Vista did not include 3D Pinball, which was originally included in Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 and later bundled with later versions of the operating system up until Windows Vista.
Machine code! Machine code is the earliest computer language. In reality, Minecraft Plus! was coded in JavaScript and Rust, not in machine code.
Smart pointers! In computer science, a smart pointer is an abstract data type that simulates a pointer while providing added features, such as automatic memory management or bounds checking.
Quite finite! Unlike infinite Minecraft world, most scene of Minecraft Plus! is in a finite space, except Grass spread.
Sending candy via mail! Candy would be sent by mail, but would make it harder to be handled by post officers.
Forgettable!
Very shy!
Fast loading! As a screensaver, Minecraft Plus! can load instantly.
Exits to desktop! As a screensaver, Minecraft Plus! exits to desktop when a key is pressed or mouse is moved.
Stateless!
No configuration required! Minecraft Plus! don't have any actual configuration options.
Batteries included! Can be seen on battery powered gadgets.
Self-contained!
Waste of time! Watching a screensaver is obviously considered time wasting.
Procedural generation! In computing, procedural generation is a method of creating data algorithmically as opposed to manually, typically through a combination of human-generated assets and algorithms coupled with computer-generated randomness and processing power. World generation of Minecraft is an example of Procedural generation.
Idle game! Idle game is incremental game which clicking is unnecessary at some point. Minecraft Plus! can't be interacted at all, hence idle but not game.
Works with any controller! Operations by any controller result same to Minecraft Plus!: exit.
Minecraft, but screensaver Minecraft Plus! is a screensaver.
Saving the World one screen at a time! Wordplay of "screensaver".
Warning: may cause burn-in! Screensavers were originally intended to be used to prevent burn-in of CRT and theoretically also works for PDP and OLED displays, but may cause burn-in of LCD displays.
Web-enabled! Minecraft Plus! has a web version available.
Minecraft, but written in Rust! Minecraft Plus! is written in Rust (and JavaScript).
Single-threaded! A parody of the Bedrock Edition splash "Multi-threaded!"
panic!() panic! is a macro in the Rust standard library that terminates the program.
Lots of cargo! Cargo is a package manager and build tool for Rust.
Is an App! Minecraft Plus! is a screensaver app.
Native! Unlike Java code, Rust code is compiled to native code.
Hours of fun!
Hypnotic! Repeated animations similar to those which appear in the screensavers are used in hypnosis.
Contains traces of seafood! Refers to Glow squids. Seems like a food allergen warning, but actual food allergen warnings always started with "may".
As seen on TV! A common marketing claim that is often lampooned.
Awesome!
100% pure! A reference to some juices that use "100% pure" or a variant thereof as a selling point.[3]
More polygons! Most of today's video games, including Minecraft, are visually based on polygons.
Moderately attractive!
Really limited edition! A parody of release version splash "Limited edition!". Minecraft Plus! is a limited release for April Fools' Day.
It's here!
Best in class! A frequently-used catchphrase in car commercials.
Dragon free! A parody of release version splash "Kind of dragon free!", which in turn may be a possible reference to a quote from Wurm Online, wherein Notch states that "we will never add dragons". Dragons were eventually added, however. The same thing happened in Minecraft with the addition of the ender dragon in Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4. However, the ender dragon is absent in Minecraft Plus!.
Excitement!
One of a kind!
It's NOT a game! A parody of release version splash "It's a game!". Minecraft Plus! is NOT a game, but a screensaver.
Made in Sweden! A parody of the well-known phrase found attached to imported goods: "Made in _" (Country), based on Mojang being centered in Sweden.
Minecraft! The name of the game which Minecraft Plus! is based on.
Yaaay!
Zeroplayer! A parody of release version splash "Singleplayer!". Minecraft Plus! is a screensaver, hence having no player.
Keyboard compatible! Minecraft is playable with a keyboard. Pressing any key has the same result in Minecraft Plus!: exit.
l33t! Leet is a type of symbolic spelling in which letters are replaced by lookalike numbers, punctuation, other symbols, and even characters from other languages. For example, "hello" written as "|-|3110".
Exclusive!
Closed source! Minecraft Plus! is currently closed-source proprietary software, meaning the source code has not been publicly released.
Wow!
Not on steam! Steam is an online service used to distribute many indie games, as well as Valve games. Minecraft Plus!, like Minecraft, is not distributed via Steam.
Oh man!
Pixels! Everything in Minecraft Plus! is made out of pixels.
90% bug free!
Pretty!
Fat free! Often an advertising point on food, directed at people attempting to lose or keep from gaining weight.
Free dental! Free dental is often a talking point about a job advertisement, and is similar to "As seen on TV".
Ask your doctor! Similar to "As seen on TV", said at some point in almost every pharmaceutical advertisement.
Legal in Finland (not checked with actual lawyer)! A parody of release version splash "Legal in Finland!", which in turn may be a reference to the urban legend that Donald Duck was illegal in Finland. May also be a reference to the fact that the sale of snus (Swedish tobacco) is illegal in Finland. The "not checked with actual lawyer" part is added as a disclamer.
Technically good!
Euclidian! [sic] Minecraft worlds are mostly made up of one of the simplest forms of Euclidean geometry, the cube. The splash contains a typo.[4]
Now in 3D! Minecraft had a 3D Anaglyph mode until 17w43a. Even though 3D Anaglyph was removed in 17w43a, the splash still exists. Additionally, Minecraft takes place in a 3D world.
Inspirational!
Now on OpenGL 3.2 core profile! OpenGLis used by Minecraft, and also by x86 screensavers. Minecraft Plus! appears to use OpenGL 3.2 Core Profile.
Thousands of colors! Alias for highcolor (16-bit), which can represent up to 65,536 colors, on a Macintosh. Minecraft Plus! uses 32-bit colors (24 bits for color and 8 bits for opacity), which can represent around 16.7 million colors (16,777,216) with each color having 256 opacity values.
Try it!
Sensational!
Guaranteed! A common marketing term.
Random splash! Different splash texts are printed randomly, just like this one.
Call your mother!
Ultimate edition! A common marketing term.
Water proof! A common marketing term.
Uninflammable! A joke on the fact that "inflammable" is often mistaken to mean "not flammable" due to the "in-" prefix.
Whoa, dude!
All inclusive!
Tell your friends!
Scientific!
Nice to meet you!
150% hyperbole! A hyperbole is an exaggeration used to generate emphasis or humor. 150% is, naturally, an exaggeration.
Cogito ergo sum! Latin for "I think, therefore I am." A quote from René Descartes.
The sum of its parts! Reference to the Living systems theory.
Finger-licking! "Finger-lickin' good" is a slogan of KFC.
Thematic!
Pneumatic! A word meaning "air-powered".
Sublime! A term that flourished in the Romance period, used to describe a feeling of simultaneous wonder and terror at natural phenomena- quite apt for many a player's experience of the game. (Additionally, the German Romance painter Caspar David Friedrich's "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog", frequently cited as a prototypical example of the sublime in art, is the source for an in-game painting.)
Octagonal!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! The famous song from Disney's Mary Poppins.
Hotter than the sun!
Autonomous!
Very fun! Minecraft can be seen as very fun.
a 12345 is an easily guessable password.
This text is not hard to read since this is in console! A parody of release version splash "This text is hard to read if you play the game at the default resolution, but at 1080p it's fine!" Text in Browser console is in fixed size, so it won't be hard to read.
So fresh, so clean! "So Fresh, So Clean" is a song by American hip-hop duo Outkast.
Parrot sketch not included! Reference to the "Dead Parrot sketch" from Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Information wants to be free! A slogan referring to the fact that keeping information contained tends to be more difficult than allowing it to disseminate.
Jeb has amazing hair! Referring to Mojang employee Jens Bergensten having long, red hair.
Casual gaming!
Leveraging synergy! A common example of business speak.
This message will never appear on the splash screen, isn't that weird? (think about this) A parody of release version splash "This message will never appear on the splash screen, isn't that weird?", which is never displayed in Java Edition (but displays in other editions). This one is displayed in Minecraft Plus! too.
Fnord! Fnord is the typographic representation of disinformation or irrelevant information.
Don't bother with the clones! Relates to the numerous "clones" of Minecraft, such as Total Miner: Forge, and perhaps an ironic reference to the fact that Minecraft conceptually is itself a "clone" of Infiniminer, and therefore "clones" might not be negative remakes of other games.
Endless! A reference to Minecraft's infinite terrain. However, most scene of Minecraft Plus! could be happened in finite space, only Grass spread is infinite.
Garbage-free! Unlike Java, Rust does not have garbage collection.
Woah.
You probably will read this line on wiki! Minecraft Wiki is often read when checking Easter egg info.
Now with additional stuff! Since the release of Minecraft, there have been many updates through subsequent updates that have added new features to the game. May also a reference of which "Microsoft Plus!" provides additional contents for Windows.
Extra things!
GNU Terry Pratchett Refers to the internet tribute for Terry Pratchett, where the text "X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett" is added to the headers of websites.[5]
Tested in Windows XP (didn't work!) Minecraft Plus! only runs on 64-bit Windows 7+ PCs.
Plant a tree! Saplings become trees after a certain amount of time.
Go to the dentist! It is recommended that people visit the dentist at least twice a year.
Home-officed! Work at home is recommended during quarantine. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wash your hands! Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the most effective ways to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Soap and water! Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the most effective ways to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support local businesses! Continued patronage is essential in order for most small businesses to remain open during challenging times. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay home and play games! Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay safe! Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay strong! Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow! Coughing or sneezing into your elbow helps to mitigate the spread of germs. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Don’t touch your face! Avoiding contact with your face can help mitigate the spread of germs. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support elderly relatives and friends! Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prepare, but don’t hoard! It is recommended to purchase necessities before and during a crisis, but as a courtesy, leaving enough for others is strongly encouraged. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gamers unite – separately in your own homes! Playing multiplayer games separately helps maintain social distancing. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Save the world – stay inside! Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shop for your elders! Shopping in place of those with compromised or weak immune systems, especially relatives over 60, helps to keep them safe from disease. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hang out with your friends online! Spending time with friends online rather than in person helps promote social distancing. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Completely silent! Minecraft Plus! have no sounds, as well as most screensavers do.
Fabulous graphics! Refers to the "Fabulous!" graphics setting.
Also try Minecraft! A parody of release version splashes which begin with "Also try". Minecraft is the game which Minecraft Plus! is based on.
Vanilla! If the game is unmodded, then it is called "vanilla".
Black lives matter! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Be anti-racist! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Learn about allyship! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement (& extensible to other equality movements, e.g. trans rights).
Speak OUT against injustice and UP for equality! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement (& extensible to other equality movements, e.g. trans rights).
Amplify and listen to BIPOC voices! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Educate your friends on anti-racism! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Support the BIPOC community and creators! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Stand up for equality in your community! Statement in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement (& extensible to other equality movements, e.g. trans rights).
Splashes not included In reality, splashes are included in Minecraft Plus!.


Config messages[edit | edit source]

Attempting to configure the screensaver app produces one of the following messages, followed by closing the app after clicking on OK:

Window title Window text
Tired config window Ugh, why does everything need to be configurable
Busy config window Sorry, I don't have time to handle this right now
Optimistic config window Nothing here, but I'm sure something will eventually show up
Deep config window Ask yourself why do you need to change anything?
Motivational config window Important things in life can't be configured by just clicking
Fortune cookie config window Your lucky number is fish
Banana config window Banana
Minecraft config window Removed dirt
Enlightened config window Everything is already perfectly configured
??? config window Help, I'm trapped in a config window factory
Goat config window Toggled Goat
Config window 3D Maze: disabled[note 1]
Stubborn config window ...!
Mentor config window The real config was inside you all along
Config window Listen, you have so many config windows to choose from, why did you pick me?
Printer config window Low cyan!
Operation successful Reversed config window
Error config window No error!
Three config window Three is now set to seven
Tpyo confg  windiw Mispelings, actiivated?
Treacherous config window This is not a config window
Assertive config window NO!
Educational config window Config windows may contain useful settings!
Assistant config window It looks like you are trying to config screensaver![note 2]
Important config window The thing is done!
Lonely config window Seems I'm the only one here

Note: There is a programming error within the executable where the strings for config windows are stored for this text: "Lonely config windowSeems I'm the only one here" All other strings are correct and are separated by | to differentiate between the title and the window text. This specific config window will never appear.

  1. ↑ 3D Maze is one of classic Windows screensavers.
  2. ↑ Is a reference to an infamous quote by Microsoft Office assistant Clippy, who would say "It looks like you're writing a letter. Would you like help?" if the user started a document with "Dear".

Included entity sprites[edit | edit source]

Included blocks/states[edit | edit source]

Included items[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • The Glow Squid animation.

    The Glow Squid animation.

  • The normal squid animation that appears sometimes.

    The normal squid animation that appears sometimes.

  • The squids animation spritesheet.

    The squids animation spritesheet.

  • The blocks image.

    The blocks image.

  • The footprints sprite.

    The footprints sprite.

Video[edit | edit source]

The video from the Minecraft YouTube channel.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • The box art is styled after the box of Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP, an enhancement package for the Windows XP operating system that included features such as desktop themes and screensavers. Since "Microsoft Plus!" and "Minecraft" are Microsoft branded IPs, Mojang Studios was able to use both the name and the style.
  • While the MinecraftPlus.scr file can be run on UNIX based operating systems with Wine,[6] the bulk of the app does not work, as Wine's functionality as a compatibility layer does not allow it to change the OS screen saver.
  • The icon for Minecraft Plus! is a Glow Squid, which also appears as an animation before starting the browser version and in one of the screen savers. Since the screen saver featuring Glow Squids parodies "Flying Toasters", this may be a reference to how the Flying Toaster was After Dark's mascot.
  • The download for Windows contains a zip file with a .scr file inside. If the .scr file refuses to run, its extension can be changed from .scr to .exe to run it.[7] Note that this method can also work on other screensavers as well (including the default Windows screensavers). Renaming the .scr file to .exe then running the app will open in windowed mode rather than fullscreen mode.
  • The app's file description, as shown on program lists, is "Minecraft Minus Players!".
  • The screensaver contains models and textures for many blocks and items in the game up to Java Edition 21w13a, as well as original and two-color creeper face textures.
  • The web page supports two query strings:
    • autorun, which automatically runs the screensaver if the window value is specified. If another value is specified then it just skips to the "run in fullscreen or windowed" page.
    • module, which, when given a positive integer, forces a specific screensaver once the screensaver is run. Each screensaver's corresponding number is listed above. It uses modulo, so numbers too high cycle back. Integers decreasing from zero follow the same order in reverse, beginning with "Glow squids" at -1, "Colored footsteps" at -2, etc. Numbers after a decimal point are ignored (truncated), and non-numbers default to 0.
  • In the HTML code of plus.minecraft.net, there are three comments that read "I definitely wasn’t hired for my webdev skills haha", "What is this? Where are all the libraries? This is never going to work in IE" and "Is that written by hand? Puzzling!". The text "This is never going to work in IE" means that screensaver in browser does not work at all on Internet Explorer.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ https://plus.minecraft.net
  2. ↑ "Introducing Minecraft Plus!" – Minecraft.net, April 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ "@Ebeeto No, it's a reference to some juices." – @notch (Markus Persson) on X (formerly Twitter), March 19, 2011
  4. ↑ MC-232792
  5. ↑ "Web servers enrolled in Pratchett tribute", BBC, March 16, 2015
  6. ↑ Minecraft Plus: WINE Compatibility Test [Minecraft April Fools 2021] by Toshnika on YouTube.
  7. ↑ Screensaver, Wikipedia
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