There is a TL;DR at the bottom of this post but if you are genuinely interested in our project I urge you to read this in full.
Humble Beginnings (Early 2022)
Our origins start with a desire for a better PotPvP practice server due to the terrible state the community was in. In early 2022, the project began as a casual project between friends, using existing code (without permission) under the name "StolenCode" as a running gag. However, within six months, we realized we had the potential to make something that was actually good.
Building the Foundation (Late 2022)
The second half of 2022 saw a shift towards a more serious approach. The team, consisting of myself and Vops, embarked on recreating SkylandKits/Lunar's SoupPvP and adding new features. We also decided to do Bunkers, another beloved game mode that he remade and integrated. To gain traction, we reached out to a select few of the remaining notable media in the community and brought on an additional developer. Progress was steady, and the future started to look promising.
Full Commitment and a Name Change (Early 2023)
The new year brought a decision to fully dedicate ourselves to BlockGame. We wanted to provide the community with a server free of malicious intent and built with passion. To reflect this seriousness, "StolenCode" was no longer fitting. A personal connection led to the acquisition of the "BlockGame" name, a server I had enjoyed playing and staffing for in 2019. With the owner's blessing, the torch was passed, and we began working towards an end goal.
Facing Setbacks (Mid 2023)
While initially working with the existing stolen and heavily modified codebase, the ambitious goals we set required a complete overhaul of everything Vops had worked on. To ensure a truly exceptional player experience, we started redoing just about everything, and even picked up a second developer. This period of intense development, handled by just two developers, necessitated a temporary close of BlockGame.
In June 2023, a complication arose. Our secondary developer suggested someone to join as an investor, and things appeared positive so I agreed. However, a month later, he had also brought on two new developers while I was asleep and they were given full access to everything by the time I woke up. He talked it over with me and even showed that Vops was on board with them joining, despite my gut feeling I hesitantly agreed due to the lack of other options.
Progress continued with a four-person team until the investor revealed the potential closure of Soup.gg, another PvP server he was a part of. He proposed a merge with BlockGame because he understood my passion, and I couldn't deny it as it's a no-brainer because the Soup.gg player base most likely would've had nowhere else to play after it shut down.
Creative Difference (Mid-Late 2023)
The Soup.gg merger caused creative friction with the secondary developer shortly after our first playtest in July, leading to his departure. Vops and I agreed to remove the two remaining developers that he brought in due to unfamiliarity and potential security risks. This decision, though necessary, was met with hostility.
The two developers spammed our Discord channels via existing webhooks, attempted to nuke our Discord server, and issued threats via private messages. Despite our assurances that we would cease using their code, the threats continued and eventually resorted to them leaking a limited amount of data and taunting us publicly. Thankfully, the leaked information posed a minimal risk as it was from our website revamp that wasn't publically released yet and was from a small list of closed QA testers and staff, consisting of alt emails, and passwords that were both hashed and salted. Everyone in said leak was privately notified and there were no harsh feelings from anyone.
New Direction (Late 2023 - Present)
By October, things began to stabilize. However, another setback emerged: the investor abruptly stopped funding and became unreachable. After months of trying we were forced to abandon any further attempts at contact. Unfortunately, he was the owner of the previous Discord most of you came from. We didn't feel safe announcing anything with the risk of him being able to delete any of it at any point (hopefully he doesn't notice this post), which is why we made a new Discord server (linked at the bottom of this post!)
In January 2024, Vops and I had a crucial discussion about BlockGame's future. We made the bold decision to completely eliminate the existing code and embark on a fresh start utilizing the latest Minecraft releases!
We believe this move, combined with the exhaustion of possibilities within the 1.7 & 1.8 versions, will allow us to create a truly unique PvP experience – a reimagining of what Minecraft PvP could have been if the combat update had never happened. Alongside this, we are excited to also announce we have been given permission to reuse the ViperMC resource pack converter's code as Vops was the original developer who made it for them, thanks Viper!
Note: At the moment it may have some issues considering we aren't fully released and everything is a WIP, there may be a delay for some more features of the website as well until they're fully polished for release, sorry about any inconveniences in the meantime!
Looking Forward
This announcement aims to regain lost trust. We understand the frustration caused by the silence and appreciate those who have patiently awaited news. BlockGame has faced its share of challenges, but our dedication to creating an exceptional PvP server remains undefeated.
Thank you to everyone who has stuck with us on this journey, we are incredibly grateful. Your patience and understanding mean the world to us. For those who are just joining us, welcome! We're excited to have you on board for this next chapter of BlockGame.
Unfortunately we don't have any specific dates planned at the moment for anything, but we'll be sharing more details about our plans for the server soon, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out, I aim to be extremely transparent about everything I'm able to currently talk about.
Thanks for reading!
I also want to add, we haven't forgotten about anyone who donated on Soup.gg! Everyone who had purchased ANYTHING will be given compensation on BlockGame! We will be matching ranks of similar value and also be giving you early access to the server while we iron things out.
TL;DR: Started as a joke named StolenCode using (you guessed it) stolen code to have a server to mess around on, realized we had potential so we renamed the project and started taking it semi-serious. Faced internal drama, threats, and delays. Now restarting with fresh code based on the latest Minecraft version releases (don't worry, still 1.7-1.8 combat!) for a unique PvP experience. Alongside this, we are excited to also announce we have been given permission to reuse the ViperMC resource pack converter's code as Vops was the original developer who made it for them, thanks Viper!
Please move over to our new Discord as our old one is essentially locked, and I have explained why in the post above. Click me to join!
BlockGame is a network designed to provide a home for the most competitive and skilled players in the community, while also creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all players.
We have a mission and we don’t intend to fail no matter how long it takes us to succeed. Many gamemodes have faced the threat of slow decline and eventual extinction. This is especially true of older style gamemodes such as Practice, HCF, Bunkers, Soup, etc. These were all once popular gamemodes but in the past few years, they have been losing players at an insanely rapid rate.
We refuse to stand by and watch as these beloved gamemodes slowly fade away. To us it is downright unacceptable that these gamemodes go without being appreciated. So we have made it our goal to revitalize these gamemodes and give them a second life. We have encountered many obstacles in our efforts and more often than not people don’t believe in our mission, many say it is a waste of time trying to breathe life into something that has already passed. However no matter how much discouragement we receive, we will continue along our path.
That is why we focus on one task: to give these gamemodes a new life. We have been taking proper steps to accomplish this such as plans to provide community events, cash prize tournaments, and recruiting experienced players to help us. We want to bring new players, bring back old players, rebuild the community, and create a better and brighter future for the Competitive PvP community as a whole. That is our ultimate goal. If we come together and work collaboratively, then we believe nothing can stop us from reaching our goal. We don't see why these great gamemodes should be allowed to die out completely. We are always open to suggestions and having others on board, no matter who you are, to help us on this mission will be greatly appreciated. We refuse to allow legacy game modes to slowly vanish into obscurity. That’s why we have dedicated ourselves to reviving them and bringing them back to their former glory.
If you play BlockGame for more than 1-day playtime before release, you'll receive the exclusive rank "Beater" along with a special badge on the website. We don't want this to be just another money-making business endeavor so that's why there is only going to be two purchasable ranks, "Supporter" and "Donator" which can either be bought on a monthly or lifetime basis. We know it seems like an atypical business plan, and our core aim has been and always will be to create a truly passionate platform and community-oriented experience unlike any other seen before. That’s why BlockGame isn’t and won’t ever be considered a proper business instead, BlockGame is a Minecraft server for the players who want to have a fun and competitive environment, as it offers one last final stand before it’s all over in which I want to deem "The Community's Server".
I understand if anyone has a skeptical reaction when they hear the term "the community's server" especially considering it's been used by some bad actors in the past. I want to make it clear that BlockGame is genuinely committed to making this idea of "The Community's Server" a reality. We take this goal seriously and believe deeply in it having a positive impact on our community.
Cheating in our community has been a widespread issue as far back as 2015, so that's why we want to make sure that everyone plays on BlockGame in a safe, fair environment. Cheating will **never** be tolerated no matter who it is or what rank they have, which includes staff positions as well. We won't sell unbans or accept bribes for the removal of punishments. **Punishments will be swift and harsh**, think twice about trying to ignore/disprove this warning, your ego will be shattered rather fast when you're sitting with regret on the ban screen while your friends continue to play. Try to have some integrity before it's too late. Honesty and integrity go a long way!
We know that the costs of hosting and development can be high, so I want to be completely open about what any donated funds are being used for. We're hoping to keep these expenses manageable through contributions from community members, purchased ranks, and our own money. All revenue generated goes directly back into operating the server. If there is any way you can contribute, it would mean a lot to us. We are asking for your support as we are currently in an OPEN TESTING phase for BlockGame. (Though there may be times where it is closed for maintenance) Although things may change a lot before release, we'd appreciate it if you can log on and have some fun! If you encounter any glitches/bugs though, please let us know how you produced them, this feedback is invaluable to our team as we work towards making sure everything's ready for an official launch. BlockGame is so special to not only me but our team as well,
and I'm glad that others will get the chance to experience it too. We intend to remind everyone of the fun and connection we can feel when playing together as a community.
For further updates regarding BlockGame feel free to join our Discord, follow us on our Twitter, or just simply pay attention to these blog posts.
Thank you.