In This Minecraft, You Only Live Once
In the wonderful world of Minecraft, there isn’t a set number of lives. If you die, you respawn at the same place where you started in the world, and if you want any of your items back you must go retrieve them. With a new, unique version of the game, you don’t even get the luxury of respawning.
The new version of the game is called Chain World, created by indie developer Jason Rohrer. It’s essentially Minecraft, on a flash drive, but the code has been modified so that when you inevitably die, your save file is wiped, but the changes to the world stay in-tact. You then pass the flash drive on to a friend, and they start up the game, living in a world that has been molded by previous gamers.
Chain World even comes with its own set of instructions:
1. Run Chain World via one of the included “run_ChainWorld” launchers.
2. Start a single-player game and pick “Chain World”.
3. Play until you die exactly once.
3a. Erecting wooden signs with text is forbidden
3b. Suicide is permissible.
4. Immediately after dying and respawning, quit to the menu.
5. Allow the world to save.
6. Exit the game and wait for your launcher to automatically copy Chain World back to the USB stick.
7. Pass the USB stick to someone else who expresses interest.
8. Never discuss what you saw or did in Chain World with anyone.
9. Never play again.
There are tons of intrigue surrounding this version of the game, and it’s justly deserved. Right now there are two people who have had a hand in this Chain World, and the game is looking for player three. You can bid for the flash drive on eBay, but I warn you – the bidding is up to $510 already. All proceeds go to charity, though, so it’s for a great cause.
