LogFAQs > #938186692

2009 was the Alpha. Minecraft didn't formally release until 2011, which would make it qualify. The concept of playable Alphas/Betas and Early Access and whatnot kind of muddy the waters around which decade a game releases in, especially when they straddle the decade line like that. As long as Minecraft wasn't in the last contest, though, and they handle the issue consistently, I don't see a problem with it.

It is kind of weird to realize that, despite the fact that I've been playing it since 2016 via Early Access, Factorio will only qualify for the next such contest because it's not formally releasing until later this year. Factorio isn't well-known enough to make it into the contest either way, but that was just an odd realization.

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