Creeper

Lore & Background

The character model that later became the creeper was created as a result of a coding error when creating the pig mob in the early pre-alpha stages of *Minecraft*'s development. The game's creator, Markus Persson, accidentally mixed up the dimensions of the model, swapping the length and height. Instead of deleting the result, Persson stated 'I'll keep it for a creepy creature', and later added a green texture based on the in-game leaves texture to the model, gave it an aggressive AI, and turned it into a hostile mob. The creeper was added to the game in the Halloween Update (Alpha 1.2.0) on October 30, 2010. In later updates, the *Minecraft* developers decided that creepers 'weren't quite unpredictable enough', and added the ability for creepers to become 'charged creepers' when struck by lightning. Charged creepers have amplified explosion power and can cause other specific mobs killed in the blast to drop their heads (creepers, zombies, skeletons, and piglins). Lead designer Jens Bergensten stated that creepers would be unlikely to have been added to modern *Minecraft*, as he thinks it would be 'controversial' to have player-made structures potentially damaged or destroyed, though reassuring that the mob will not be removed due to its iconic status.

In Their Own Story

The torch flickered against the stone wall as rain drummed on the roof above. You had spent three nights building this shelter, but you forgot to light the corner near the door. A soft shuffle echoed from the grass outside, too quiet for a zombie or skeleton. Then came the sound that chilled every player's blood: a wet hiss. The green silhouette stood just beyond the torchlight, its face pressed against the air gap in your wall. You reached for your sword, but it was already too late.

Reader's Guide

In *Minecraft*, the player exists in a large world made up of blocks. The world contains a number of enemies (hostile mobs), of which creepers are commonly encountered. A creeper is nearly silent until it comes near the player, at which point it emits a hiss and explodes after a short delay. The explosion destroys the creeper, can kill or injure the player, and also typically destroys surrounding blocks. The destructiveness and unpredictability of creepers was coined very early in development, during the *Minecraft Classic* stage. Over time, Mojang Studios have changed their game design approach, with the guiding principle that all events that negatively affect the player should be a direct consequence of the player's own actions or lack of countermeasures against clearly foreseeable events. Creepers spawn in dark places. Their defining ability is self-destruction. Upon locking onto a target, the creeper emits a hissing sound while its body flashes, signaling an imminent detonation. This explosion creates craters and destroys blocks, making them a significant threat to base building. For every new adventurer, the first encounter with this green stalker is a rite of passage. It teaches the value of torches and walls.

Did You Know?

• The creeper's model was created due to a coding error when creating the pig mob—Markus Persson accidentally swapped the length and height dimensions. The exact date of this creation is not officially documented.
• Creepers were added to *Minecraft* in the Halloween Update (Alpha 1.2.0) on October 30, 2010.
• Charged creepers, created when a creeper is struck by lightning, have amplified explosion power and can cause specific mobs to drop their heads.
• Lead designer Jens Bergensten said creepers would be unlikely to be added to modern *Minecraft* because damaging player structures would be 'controversial', but they will not be removed due to their iconic status.
• The creeper appears in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* (2018) as a Mii Brawler costume and is set to appear as a playable character in *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds*.