Minecraft (2009) Game Icons and Banners: The timeline of a Game presented above is a visually-enhanced chronological guide through different forms of the Game that has evolved over the years.
Introduction
The programmers of Mojang Studios released Minecraft in 2009, and started as a blocky building game. The visual aspect has been apparent over the years with the help of game icons and banners. They have all been explicitly used to market and promote the brand of the Game and establish a connection with the diverse group that is its fan base, as well as to represent the evolutions of the Game and various editions.
Early Icons and Banners (2009-2011)
When Minecraft was released, it had a logo as simplified as the Game, something as simple as a square. It usually showed a single cube, mostly of dirt with some grass on top, reflecting the Game’s central idea – creation and survival in the blocky environment.
The early banners were equally essential and often contained the Game’s name in a font that resembled 8-bit graphics. Most of these banners were placed on the official website, in forums, and on promotional instruments. These simple designs reflected the Game’s origins and the target audience that embraced indie games, which are not necessarily the best graphics but the most unique ones.
The Rise of Iconic Symbols (2011-2014)
With the help of the Game, they were becoming masters of the internet. So, the icons and banners of Minecraft and its commercials also became more precise and easily identifiable to fans. Slowly, this changed, and the dirt block icon was replaced with the now infamous Creeper face icon, which has become a mascot for Minecraft. Early in the Game, a character called the Creeper was created as a mascot for the brand, highlighting the Game’s creativity and desecration.
At the same time, the decoration of banners also gained more complex images and ideas, and patterns reflected in them. Ender Dragon, a new boss mob included in the Game through the update in 2011, also appeared on many banners. These banners were used to market new updates and editions of the Game, including the highly successful Minecraft: There are two versions of its Game, namely Minecraft: Pocket Edition and Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition.
Modern Icons and Banners (2015-Present)
Since Minecraft is constantly developing and is already present on various platforms, its visual design has been updated several times in the past few years. The primary icon of the Game would very often reflect the Game’s logo in block font. More frequently than not, it includes an addition such as a pickaxe, diamond, or even the Creeper face. These icons are created to be easily distinguishable on a mobile device, on consoles, and a PC.
Modern banners are more detailed and complex, featuring artwork depicting features featured in the most recent updates and biomes or mobs included in the Game. For example, the banner used while advertising one of the updates in 2020, called Nether Update, shows the new biomes of the Nether and the Piglin, a new type of mob added with the update. These banners are placed on the website dedicated to Minecraft, social networks, social Hub, and those aimed at the Microsoft Store.
Custom Banners used in the Game
Minecraft has one more feature: the players create banners directly within the Game. Since these banners can be made with a poem and an array of dyes in the Game, players can set the atmosphere to their preference with these specific additions. This has extended another aspect of the game facade as players regularly share their banners on various platforms, supporting the Game’s creative aspect.
Conclusion
The icons and banners of Minecraft have gone through many changes since the computer game was first released in 2009, and they varied in the Game’s development and people’s imagination. It is possible to speak about small square logos that evolved during the Game’s development, from the simple icons of the dirt blocks to the modern and polished logos that became a part of the Game’s identity. They not only represent the characteristics of the Game and such updates but also link millions of people worldwide united by a passion for Minecraft who still contribute to the Game’s development with their ideas and creations.
