'Minecraft' notches 12 million sales

The original version of "Minecraft" has surpassed 12 million copies sold on Windows PC, Linux and Mac, nearly two years on from its full release in 2011.

The original version of 'Minecraft' has surpassed 12 million copies sold on Windows PC, Linux and Mac, nearly two years on from its full release in 2011.

An extensive public beta test, first initiated in 2009, helped build up a critical mass of excitement around Marcus Persson's game of randomly generated landscapes, exploration, and home building.

By 2013, the series had accumulated over 20 million sales across home computers, mobile phones, and the Xbox 360.

Reaching 12 million on computers puts 'Minecraft' roughly on a par with the Nintendo DS's 'Pokémon HeartGold' and 'SoulSilver' (12.6m), the PlayStation 2's 'Gran Turismo 4' (11.7m), the 2012 Mac and PC release 'Diablo III' (12m), and the original 'Angry Birds' 2010 tally (also 12m).

There's still some way to go to reach the eight-month multi-platform total of 'FIFA 13' (14.5m) or the Game Boy's 'Super Mario Land' (18m), while the 'Minecraft' series as a whole can set its sights on catching up to 'Tetris' (35m+) or the 'Angry Birds' series' total of 50m -- upcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of 'Minecraft' should give it a boost in the right direction.