Minecraft on Mac OS X with 64-bit Java
So you're a slave to warning messages and you want Minecraft to use 64-bit Java. Here's how to do it on the command line. These instructions were crafted on MacOS Lion, which should prefer 64-bit Java when possible (Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences). These instructions assume the default Minecraft.app location, in the main /Applications folder. I had a few tabs open, while I was sussing this out, including an excellent forum post, a post on JavaApplicationStub bits, and the official reference for CF keys.
Here we go.
Swap out Minecraft's JavaApplicationStub for the current OS' version:
gzip /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub # save a backup
cp /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/MacOS/
Then, add 64-bit architecture to Minecraft's possibilities:
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :Java:JVMArchs:0 string 'x86_64'" /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/Info.plist
Launch. That should do it. Watch out for creepers. Have a nice day.
If everything goes wrong, here's how to roll back from here to your original configuration:
rm /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub
gunzip /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub.gz
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :Java:JVMArchs:0" /Applications/Minecraft.app/Contents/Info.plist
I did not write this! Source
Yes - the version bundled with Minecraft installation.
This is the version the game was tested with, and any other may have some incompatibilities or unoptimal ways of doing things, versus what Mojang found to be working and debugged against. The launcher automatically sets up the game to work with it - don't change it unless you have a valid reason and know what you're doing.
Best Answer
That error generally means that your computer doesn't provide the 3D graphics support that Minecraft needs to run. If you're pretty sure you have the necessary 3D graphics hardware, you may need to update your video card's drivers.