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Draft:Eaglercraft

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  • Comment: Fails WP:GNG, requires significant coverage in multiple independent secondary sources. Eaglercraft Gitea is a primary source and therefore not independent. YouTube, Reddit and GitHub are not acceptable or reliable sources. Dan arndt (talk) 05:15, 29 November 2024 (UTC)
Eaglercraft
Original author(s)LAX1DUDE, ayunami2000
Stable release
EaglercraftX u45 / December 14, 2024
Repositorygit.eaglercraft.rip/eaglercraft/eaglercraft-1.8
Written inJava
PlatformWeb Browser
TypeSandbox, Survival

Eaglercraft is a series of browser-based ports of Minecraft: Java Edition that are compiled into JavaScript using TeaVM,[1] along with an OpenGL emulator developed by LAX1DUDE to enable gameplay within web browsers.[2] Eaglercraft introduces several unique features not available in the original game, such as the ability to join LAN worlds remotely from any location, and integrated voice chat functionality through WebRTC.[3]

Gameplay

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The initial release of Eaglercraft was based on Minecraft version 1.5.2 and was launched with only multiplayer functionality.[4][5] Soon after, developer Lax1dude ported Minecraft Beta 1.3, introducing single-player mode.[6]

The latest version of the project, known as EaglercraftX, is a port of Minecraft version 1.8.8.[7] Efforts to backport further features are ongoing. Eaglercraft also includes skins from Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Legacy console Edition, expanding customization options. Furthermore, player models from the game Five Nights at Winston's have been incorporated, providing additional unique elements to the platform.

Development

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The development of Eaglercraft began in early 2020. As Minecraft is programmed in Java, a significant challenge emerged when web browsers discontinued support for running Java applications in 2016. However, JavaScript remained a fully supported language in web environments, making it the logical choice for a browser-based port. To accomplish this, the development team employed TeaVM, a tool that compiles Java code into JavaScript.[8]

One of the major hurdles was Minecraft's reliance on the Lightweight Java Game Library (LWJGL), which is incompatible with TeaVM. This led Lax1dude to undertake the extensive task of manually rewriting the entire LWJGL dependency, a process that took about a month. Several additional months were spent resolving various technical issues and adapting different parts of the game to function properly in a JavaScript environment. By late 2020, the initial version of Eaglercraft was completed.[9]

In May 2022, development began on EaglercraftX, a port of Minecraft version 1.8.8. This version required even more complex modifications and additional dependencies. To manage these challenges, Ayunami2000 joined Lax1dude, offering technical support and introducing features like integrated voice chat. The development of EaglercraftX was kept secret and took approximately seven months to complete.[10]

Other developers including PeytonPlayz959 have ported other version of Minecraft to the web. PeytonPlayz959 has done Indev, Infdev, Alpha 1.2.5, Beta 1.7.3, and Release 1.2.5

Controversy

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According to Minecraft's End-User License Agreement (EULA), redistributing copies of the game is strictly prohibited.[11] To adhere to this, EaglercraftX is distributed in the form of patch files, following a method similar to that used for distributing Minecraft mods. However, some websites hosting Eaglercraft have violated these terms by distributing compiled versions of the game, leading to legal scrutiny.

The first known Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown occurred in November 2022, targeting a Chinese Eaglercraft server. This action was initiated by Tracer AI, a company specializing in digital copyright enforcement. In response to these legal challenges, Lax1dude, the primary developer of Eaglercraft, chose to delete his GitHub repositories, fearing legal repercussions. Prior to doing so, he publicly announced the removal, which allowed over 2,000 users to fork the project.[12]

In the days following, Mojang issued several DMCA take down requests, targeting any remaining Eaglercraft-related content. One such request removed Eaglercraft Beta 1.3 files that Lax1dude had inadvertently left on his GitHub account. These takedown actions extended to websites hosting Eaglercraft content, including Google Drive links, as well as contacting his Internet Service Provider (ISP). Mojang also reached out to Discord, resulting in the termination of both Lax1dude's Discord server and his personal account.[13]

Following these actions, Lax1dude briefly migrated the Eaglercraft repositories to GitLab, but Mojang soon terminated that account as well. The project subsequently moved to a self-hosted Gitea platform, where it continues to operate to date.

Popularity

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Eaglercraft quickly gained popularity due to its free and open source nature, as well as its exceptional accessibility.[14] Lax1dude intentionally designed Eaglercraft to operate from a single HTML file,[15] allowing it to be played without the need to visit a website.[16] This feature significantly contributes to its popularity among school students, as it can run on any device equipped with a modern web browser.[17]

References

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  1. ^ https://teavm.org/
  2. ^ "Tech's Role in Virtual World Building: A Look at Minecraft's Eaglercraft – Understanding Operating System Kernels". Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  3. ^ Hays, Edward (2023-04-28). "3 best Minecraft Eaglercraft servers". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  4. ^ tea, Gitea-Git with a cup of. "Eaglercraft Gitea". Eaglercraft Gitea. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  5. ^ Whitworth, Spencer (2022-08-26). "Eaglercraft: All you need to know about the free-to-play Minecraft game". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  6. ^ Farough, Amanda (2023-01-15). "Minecraft Eaglercraft: What It Is and Why Kids are Using It". Best Family-Friendly Video & Board Games | Safe Fun for All Ages. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  7. ^ "Minecraft Eaglercraft Review". www.minecraft-hosting.pro. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  8. ^ "TeaVM Issue #521". GitHub. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  9. ^ SalC1 (2024-05-08). "The Story of Eaglercraft". YouTube (Video). Event occurs at 13:56. Retrieved 2024-09-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ primitt (2022-12-03). "EaglerX 1.8 Release and a Quick FAQ". Reddit. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. ^ "Minecraft EULA stating that you cannot redistribute their game". Minecraft EULA. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20.
  12. ^ "Repository deletion announcement". Eaglercraft Gitea. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  13. ^ "DMCA takedown notice for Eaglercraft". GitHub DMCA Repository. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  14. ^ "Discover EaglerCraft Minecraft: A Unique Gaming Haven". HackMD. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  15. ^ "EaglerCraft and Education: Learning through Gaming". Medium.
  16. ^ Google Admin Bootcamp (2023-04-03). Blocking Eaglercraft from school Chromebooks with the Google Admin Console. Retrieved 2024-09-18 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Young, Nathan (2023-01-22). "Minecraft Eaglercraft - What Is It?". Apex Hosting. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
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