Normally, Minecraft logic requires some time in-game to execute, but last year (IIRC) someone was able to invent "instant" logic gates and transmission wires, by exploiting some unusual interaction between pistons and the block-update rules. They're quite bulky, but they do get the job done of achieving FTL communication and supertask computation ;).
With an optimizing compiler to take advantage of these, it might not be unrealistic to implement Minecraft in Minecraft. The real-time speed would only be limited by the real hardware, not by the Minecraft hardware.
With an optimizing compiler to take advantage of these, it might not be unrealistic to implement Minecraft in Minecraft. The real-time speed would only be limited by the real hardware, not by the Minecraft hardware.