My point was that *all* indies can take that blocky graphics and put them in their games.

Exploration, Grinding or leveling-up, Big-ness, multiplayer, sandobx etc can be okay aspect to steal for some game genres, but not necessary for all.

I was perhaps thinking more about this than the words of the blog post suggest.

Try this:
* Sense of Exploration. You can explore an infinite planet, overworld and underworld. And despite it’s 8-bit-ness, very few other games have made exploration so much fun.
* Satisfying core loop. Pick, pick, pick, crunch. The block dissolves. Do it again. Not only is mining exploration, the subtle variety on sound effects and the satisfying crunch is almost subliminal in it’s ability to keep us clicking. Diablo taught us the same clickety-clickety-click. But Minecraft does it without killin’ rats.
* Just enough threat. Creative mode is just legos; but the core game on Normal mode is survival brilliance. Day / night is meaningful, and you learn to fear, loathe, and hate those stupid blocky monsters.
* A perfect enemy. In a game about building, who’s your real nemesis? The Creeper who not only kills you but blows up the stuff you’ve just put together. Not enough to make you quit. Just enough to make you hate, hate, hate them. It’s rare to find an enemy so well suited for the world.
* Big-ness.Have you seen the sheer scale of what people are doing? Anyone can quickly make a dirt and log cabin. But seeing people craft entire cities, or Hogwarts, or yes…redstone computers…this is a game of grandiose dreams.
* Multiplayer. There are a lot of sandbox games. There are few that let you play with friends and help them build, or burn down their houses.
* Play how I want in my sandbox. How did Minecraft get in the primetime? The same way The Sims became one of (if not THE) best selling franchises of all time. Not only is there a nice compelling game behind the scenes, I can play however I want. I can endlessly explore, I can create simple huts. I can dig big holes, I can hunt monsters, I can sail the oceans, I can farm, I can hunt diamonds, I can build monuments and wonders, I can create interactive machines…so many options, and the right choice is always what you can dream up.

Amazing game. Please learn more from it than “pixel art”. Geesh. Kids these days.

Or maybe Minecraft really is such a unique and enjoyable experience that the product really sold itself. Could anyone shed some light on this?

-Sharon