Stone Marshall's Blog, page 138

Minecraft is getting a huge update with new items, achievements, and cross-platform play

Despite being a place of infinite wonder and joy, Minecraft has, for the most part, had a segmented player base. If you’ve been playing on PC, playing alongside those on Xbox One has been impossible. Until now. A new update is allowing players on four different platforms to play together at once.

The Better Together update is one of the largest updates for Minecraft in its history, primarily due to the size of this undertaking. Anyone on Xbox One, PC, mobile, or virtual reality versions of Minecraft will now be able to play together in online servers. Those playing on the Nintendo Switch can expect to receive this update this winter, adding yet another group to the massive pile of Minecraft builders. PS4 isn’t on the books right now, unfortunately, although the Minecraft developers are talking to Sony about it. More on that in the Better Together FAQ.

Also in this update are new features, tweaks, and bugs. Highlights of those features are:

Stained Glass, Fireworks (with Elytra boost!), Parrots, Banners, Armor Stands, Jukebox and music discs, Recipe Book, and Book & Quill items
New world start options: Starting Map; Bonus Chest; Trust Players
New game rules: Show Coordinates; TNT Explodes; Natural Regeneration
Player permissions
Zombie Villager spawn egg
Expanded Xbox Live multiplayer world settings
New loading screens with funny and helpful tips
How to Play screen
New achievements
Realms invite links
Mash-up Packs and Texture Packs will now decorate the main menu and in-game HUD

The full list of features tweaks are on the official announcement, while the bug fixes are just labelled as being “too many to mention.” Apparently, llamas could previously turn their head backwards while you ride them before this update, though, which is a terrifying thought.

For those of you on PC – you’ll have to be playing on the version of Minecraft simply called ‘Minecraft’. With this update, the previously-named Minecraft Bedrock Edition no longer exists, there now simply being Minecraft and Minecraft Java. It’s a little complicated, but: Minecraft is the version that’s the same across most platforms, and the one you have to use to get access to the Better Together update.

Minecraft is getting a huge update with new items, achievements, and cross-platform play

The big ‘Minecraft’ cross-platform update is live, but not on Switch

The Better Together update brings the biggest set of changes to hit Minecraft in years, expanding the Community Marketplace, streamlining access to third-party servers and uniting the game across platforms — and it’s all live today. Well, most of it is.

Better Together is rolling out across Xbox One, Windows 10, virtual-reality and mobile versions of Minecraft right now, but it won’t hit the Switch until later this year. Microsoft’s original plan, which it unveiled at E3 in June, was to launch Better Together on Switch at the same time as the other platforms (hence the title of the update).

PlayStation 4 was never part of the equation for this initial rollout.

“We just flat-out couldn’t get those two completely in sync,” Microsoft Studios Corporate Vice President Matt Booty says.

Microsoft, it should be noted, bought Minecraft in 2014 for $2.5 billion, quickly folding the franchise into its lineup of first-party Xbox studios. Xbox One and Windows platforms are the official home of Minecraft, so it makes sense that today’s update definitely includes those devices.

The Switch version will see the Better Together upgrade this year — in time for the holiday season, according to Booty. It’s just a matter of working out last-minute details, apparently.

“There’s no policy or real technical considerations there,” he says. “Nintendo’s been a fantastic partner to work with on this.”

Booty says the same about Microsoft’s partnership with Sony, though don’t expect the PS4 version of Minecraft to work with Xbox or Switch editions anytime soon. Microsoft and Sony are talking about a partnership, but there are no concrete plans for Better Together to hit PS4, Booty explains.

“I know it might seem simple from the outside looking in, and I can certainly understand that from a game player’s point of view,” he says. “From our point of view, on Minecraft, Sony is working with us on this. We are in conversations with them. I think it’s important for us to be respectful to some of the concerns and challenges that Sony is thinking about as we figure out how this could possibly work.”

This is a common refrain on the issue of cross-platform play — Sony is the lone holdout, reluctant to open the PlayStation ecosystem to other platforms. Meanwhile, Microsoft and Nintendo have shown more interest in this space: Rocket League players on Xbox One and Switch are able to play together, for instance. Technically, Rocket League is also playable among PS4 and Xbox One or Switch, but Sony doesn’t want to enable the ability, Psyonix Vice President Jeremy Dunham told Engadget at E3. He said cross-platform play was a matter of life or death for his game, and the team frequently broached the subject with representatives at Sony.

“There have been slight variations on how it’s been presented to us, but essentially it’s the same answer,” Dunham said. “It’s ‘not right now’ or it’s ‘something we’ll consider.’ That’s paraphrasing, but there hasn’t been any movement.”

And then there’s the curious case of Fortnite. Just this past weekend, PS4 and Xbox One players found themselves in games together, and the entire escapade was caught live on Twitch. A spokesperson for Fortnite said the cross-platform capabilities were due to “a configuration issue” that was quickly fixed, but the brief moment of console compatibility only served to remind players of everything that could be. Everything, like playing Minecraft across consoles.

“I certainly don’t want to speak for them, but it absolutely remains our goal to want to bring PlayStation into the mix with this,” Booty says. “I feel confident we’ll figure out a way to make that work. I also just want to really state that Sony is being a good partner with us. We’re in conversations with them, we’re working on this together.”

So far, just one game, Rocket League, is playable across Xbox One and Switch, and Minecraft is on its way to becoming the second. The cross-console ecosystem is in its infancy. Booty sees Microsoft as a leader in this space, just as the company has been in years (and console generations) past.

“It was a game like Halo that really proved you could bring a first-person shooter over to console,” Booty says. “It was Halo that first really led the way and helped people figure out a lot of how multiplayer was going to work over the internet and not just over LAN. This is a similar situation. I think the Minecraft team is proud to be one of the first games figuring out exactly how this is going to work and kind of leading the way.”

If Minecraft, one of the most popular games in the history of humanity, can work across consoles, any game should be able to — eventually, at least.

“That sets the stage for what could possibly then become a broader approach,” Booty says. “Right now we’re very focused on figuring this out with Minecraft. You gotta start somewhere, right?”

The big ‘Minecraft’ cross-platform update is live, but not on Switch

The Nintendo Switch has slowly turned into a fantastic portable multiplayer machine

Do you remember the video Nintendo used to show off the Switch for the first time? The one where hip 20-somethings would bring their Switch consoles everywhere, breaking them out at parties for some local multiplayer action, or playing Mario Kart in the back of a van en route to a real go-kart course. It seemed more aspirational than practical at the time. Sure, the Switch was a machine designed with flexibility, but who would actually use it like that? Turns out, I would. And one of the reasons is the steady stream of solid multiplayer games Nintendo has been releasing since the console debuted back in March.

Local multiplayer has always been a core part of the pitch for Nintendo’s new platform. It’s meant, at least in part, to be a device that you can carry around and use for impromptu gaming sessions with friends. The included Joy-Con controllers are generally serviceable, if not ideal, for two-player action in most games. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the first major release to make good on this concept, though it was preceded by a pair of launch titles, the quirky (and adorable) puzzle game Snipperclips and mini-game collection 1-2-Switch.

Since then, Nintendo has released a handful of titles that further flesh out the lineup. Chief among them are the colorful fighter Arms, which launched in June, and pokémon battler Pokkén Tournament DX, out today. And while paint shooter Splatoon 2 is largely an online-focused experience, it does offer the ability to link up multiple systems for local play.

Both Mario Kart and Pokkén are updated versions of games that originally appeared on the Wii U, Nintendo’s previous console. This makes them perfect examples of how much the Switch hardware can change the experience. Both games were already pretty solid from a design standpoint, and the Switch ports don’t add all that much in that respect. Mario Kart features a few new characters and some useful accessibility features, while Pokkén includes some additional fighters and a handful of game modes. But fundamentally they’re the same games.

What the Switch versions really offer, though, is the ability to easily play these games with your friends, on your own terms. Pokkén, in particular, is a game that doesn’t stand on its own as something you’d want to play much by yourself. It originated as an arcade game, and is at its best when you’re furiously battling against someone sitting right beside you.

The nature of the Switch means it’s much easier to have that kind of experience — there are simply more ways to play. With a console like the Wii U, playing with a friend meant you both had to be sitting in a specific room at a specific time. The Switch is much more flexible. You can play in the living room, on a train, or basically anywhere. It doesn’t have to be something you plan out in advance. It also doesn’t hurt that games like Arms, Mario Kart, and Pokkén Tournament are designed to be easy to get into.

Rocket League.

This flexibility also extends to games not made by Nintendo. In fact, a number of ports of third-party games have added multiplayer functionality specifically with the Switch in mind. Venerable adventure game Cave Story was recently updated with a two-player co-op mode that’s exclusive to the Switch, while the ubiquitous Minecraft has a perfectly suited split-screen mode. Cars-meets-soccer game Rocket League is also making a belated debut on the platform. When it does arrive, it will include a two-player split-screen mode that, on the surface, seems like an ideal fit.

There’s also a lot to look forward to on the multiplayer front. An expanded version of Snipperclips, complete with all-new content is coming on November 10th, while the Switch version of FIFA 18 will include split Joy-Con multiplayer support. Even the tentpole release Super Mario Odyssey will feature rudimentary co-op. Then there are the games launching next year and beyond, like the four-player Kirby Star Allies and the inevitable Switch version of Super Smash Bros.

Most of these games would be just fine on another platform. But what the Switch offers is a level of freedom and spontaneity that’s not possible on a traditional console, or even a portable device like the 3DS. At any point, you can pull a Switch out of your bag and start racing on Rainbow Road — and look like you’re in a Nintendo commercial in the process.

Nintendo is updating Super Mario Run with a new character, mode, and world

Nintendo will issue a new update to its iOS and Android game Super Mario Run on September 29th, which will include a new world, mode, and playable character.

The update will introduce a new mode called Remix 10, which randomly splices together 10 sections from the game’s various levels in quick succession and rewards players with rainbow medals. Completing the various stages will allow players to rescue Princess Daisy and subsequently play as her throughout the rest of the game. Players will also be able to unlock a new world called World Star, which includes nine new levels, enemies and some additional gameplay mechanics.

Polygon notes that there’s some other minor updates: players can get new items to put in their Mushroom Kingdom, and can listen to their own music while they play — when they do so, their runners will wear headphones. Nintendo is also temporarily cutting the price in half starting on September 29th through October 12th.

Nintendo is updating Super Mario Run with a new character, mode, and world

You can now use two-factor authentication to secure your Nintendo account

Nintendo is adding a new layer of security to its online accounts: users can now enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

To enable the authentication method, users are prompted to download Google Authenticator, which will provide them with a code when logging in.

The move is long overdue. Sony implemented two-factor authentication last year after a number of hacks that compromised user details, while other companies such as Steam and Microsoft have utilized the system for years.

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security for online accounts, which verifies a login attempt with a phone or an e-mail. It’s not foolproof, but it does help add some additional protection. Here’s how to add it to your other devices.

You can now use two-factor authentication to secure your Nintendo account

Minecraft’s cross-platform update is now available on Xbox, PC, and mobile

Minecraft has been available on tons of different devices in the past. Now, Microsoft is finally bringing all those platforms together with the “Better Together” update, which is rolling out today for Xbox One, mobile devices, and Windows 10 PCs. The Nintendo Switch is still set to get the Better Together update, too, although that’s been delayed until later in the winter.

The update essentially takes the different versions of Minecraft that have been available on PC, Xbox, iOS, and Android, and consolidates them into one master version, with the same features, functionality, and content no matter where you play. That means that the console versions of Minecraft on Xbox One (and eventually, the Nintendo Switch) will now run the same version of Minecraft as PCs, mobile, and VR, built on what Microsoft calls the Bedrock Engine.

Cross-play will be possible between ‘Minecraft’ games for all the updated platforms

But the biggest advantage to creating a single version of Minecraft across all these platforms is that cross-play will be possible between Minecraft games. This means that you’ll be able to play Minecraft on your PC with a friend playing on an Xbox, while your buddy joins in from their Android phone. Microsoft is calling this the first time a game has offered cross-play across all these platforms, and with the addition of the Nintendo Switch to the mix, Minecraft could be one of the first true platform-agnostic titles, which is an incredible thing.

You may notice that the PlayStation 4 is glaringly absent from that list. That’s because Sony has — once again — decided to sit out on cross-platform play, an unfortunately familiar refrain from the company this console generation. Similar issues have come up with Rocket League, and most recently Fortnight, which accidentally enabled Xbox One and PlayStation 4 cross-play before pulling the feature. Sony has offered numerous explanations for avoiding cross-play in the past, including citing concerns of protecting children online, but given that the console still has a considerable competitive lead when it comes to users and sales, it’s unlikely that it will be budging on that issue anytime soon.

the PlayStation 4 is a glaring absence from that list

In an interview with Engadget, Microsoft Studios CVP Matt Booty commented, “We just flat-out couldn’t get those two completely in sync,” in regard to getting Minecraft cross-play with the PlayStation 4. Although, he noted that Microsoft is continuing to talk with Sony on the issue.

Also missing are the Mac and Linux versions of Minecraft, which will continue to exist alongside the original PC version as the renamed Java Edition for now. It’s supposed to continue to receive updates and get them along a similar time frame as the Bedrock Engine version.

That said, the unified Bedrock Engine version will be the canonical Minecraft title moving forward, with the original PC title and older console-specific versions getting appended “Edition” names like Minecraft: Wii U Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition to tell them apart from the core Minecraft title.

Minecraft’s cross-platform update is now available on Xbox, PC, and mobile

Minecraft Marketplace community partners have earned over $1m since June

Creators using Mojang’s Minecraft Marketplace have made more than $1 million since the service launched in June, the company has announced.

The program, which allows Minecraft community members to make money from their user-generated in-game content, runs alongside the Minecraft Store, and has seen users create everything from their own adventures, worlds, texture packs and characters skins over the last few months.

Microsoft, who now owns Mojang, also released a statement saying it is continuing to expand the Minecraft Marketplace team. Since the service launched in June, the number of partners has risen from nine to 12, with plans to keep adding more as the months go on.

Highlights from the Minecraft Marketplace so far include Dinosaur Island, which lets players confront wild raptors, tame triceratops and raid ruins while they explore the island’s mysterious ruins, and Infinity Dungeon EX, a randomly generated dungeon adventure. July also saw the release of the colour-coded Cyber Space Team Pack and a pet-themed skin pack, as well as a variety of mini-games and extra kingdoms.

Microsoft recently announced a limited edition Minecraft Xbox One S bundle, which is due to hit shelves on September 12th. The console, which features a unique voxel-based design, also comes with a special Creeper-themed controller.

Minecraft Marketplace community partners have earned over $1m since June

Minecraft’s Better Together Update Delayed to Fall 2017

There were plenty of people who thought the purchase of developer Mojang by mega-publisher Microsoft was signaling the end of Minecraft’s appeal of universality. Speculation within the gaming community was rife with claims that Microsoft may entirely stop developing for anything outside of the Microsoft family of systems — or worse.

With all of those fears trumped up at the time, it seems like a day-and-night difference with how Microsoft is truly handling the property — principally with the Better Together Update, coming free to Windows 10, mobile, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Announced at Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference, the news took the gaming community and Minecraft fanbase by storm; as the name implies, gamers would have the option to cross-platform play with friends (as long as they weren’t on the PlayStation family of systems).

While the Better Together Update with the original plan to launch before the end of the summer — it seems that estimation has been pushed back. According to the Minecraft Better Together Update FAQ, the update is planning on coming to Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile and Windows 10 around Fall 2017.

There is no indication why the update has been delayed, but perhaps it has to do with possibly incorporating the PlayStation 4 version into the initial roll out. There is no indication that progress has moved forward, however the FAQ had this to say about their talks with Sony:

we are still in discussions with Sony about PlayStation and have nothing to confirm. We would love to work with Sony to bring players on PlayStation 4 into this ecosystem as well.

Either way, everyone who owns the Windows 10, mobile, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch version of the game can expect to receive the update for free. However, those purchasing Minecraft after the release will have to purchase the new Better Together Edition — the original Minecraft: Console Edition will be removed from the respective marketplaces.

Minecraft’s Better Together Update Delayed to Fall 2017

Pfizer puts hemophilia spin on ultrapopular Minecraft to educate young patients

Minecraft is popular—really popular. So it’s no surprise that Pfizer is looking to capitalize on that success.

The pharma giant has launched Hemocraft, a take on the ultrasuccessful video game that’s just for hemophilia patients. Developed in partnership with the Entrepreneurial Game Studio at Drexel University and representatives from the hemophilia community, the game is meant to help younger patients—between the ages of eight and 16—learn “the importance of integrating treatment into their routine,” Pfizer said.

How does Hemocraft do that? As part of their quest, game players interact with the so-called “village doctor”—a fictional healthcare professional—to learn how to adhere to their treatment plans and understand how their therapies work. They put that knowledge to use throughout the game, as they’re challenged to monitor factor levels and self-infuse to control bleeding.

If Hemocraft turns out to be a hit even a fraction of the size of Minecraft, Pfizer will be in good shape. The building game has sold more than 1 million copies around the world and ranks high among the most popular games ever created.

But Pfizer isn’t stopping there. It’s also rolled out a new piece of wearable tech: a wristband dubbed HemMobile Striiv. The wearable—the first made for hemophilia patients, Pfizer says—tracks activity levels and heart rate, and the company is offering it free of charge to all U.S. hemophilia patients, no matter what therapy they’re on. To use it, though, patients will likely want to download the HemMobile app—used to log bleeds and infusions, monitor factor supply and set appointment reminders–that Pfizer already offers.

“These new digital innovations can be integrated into everyday routines to help empower people with hemophilia to learn about and track different aspects relevant to their disease so that they can have informed conversations with their health care providers,” Kevin Williams, chief medical officer of Pfizer’s rare-disease unit, said in a statement.

Pfizer, which markets recombinant factor IX treatment BeneFix, is currently battling a host of companies in the hemophilia field, including Bioverativ, Novo Nordisk, Shire and Bayer. And things are only set to get more intense once gene therapies hit the scene.

At that point, though, the New York drugmaker is hoping to be in the thick of things; in late 2014, it struck a gene therapy collaboration with Spark Therapeutics over hemophilia B candidate SPK-FIX.

Pfizer puts hemophilia spin on ultrapopular Minecraft to educate young patients

Mini Minecraft Building Sets Are Just Darling

Outside of painted cardboard boxes and foam, toys are the best way to play with Minecraft in the real world. Jinx’s second series of Minecraft Craftables vinyl toys feature nine collectible kits that combine together into three iconic Minecraft locales.

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The first wave of Craftables, currently sold out at Jinx but possibly available elsewhere, were singular builds. The nine kits in the series each featured a character, creature or combination of the two. Opening one of the blind boxes revealed a set of small vinyl bits that combined into a larger vinyl bit, and the constructing was done.

Series two does things a little differently. Each of the nine kits available still function as a solo piece, but this time around the pieces combine into a larger scene. For example, here is the Ender Dragon, freshly removed from its box.

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Once assembled we’ve got a nifty little figure of the dragon perched on a tower, blowing a lovely translucent gout of purple pixel flame.

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Here’s another kit. This one is Alex and Steve, outfitted in diamond armor. It’s kind of a weird pose, with the two facing one another. Are they quarreling among themselves?

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And what of the mysterious Enderman, which refuses to be photographed without blur no matter how I tried?

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He’s so spooky.

Once the three sets are combined, it all makes sense. Alex is defending against the dragon’s flames, while Steve prepares to loose an arrow in the Enderman’s direction, like that will help. These two heroes are so dead.

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Meanwhile, in the Nether, Steve stands poised to battle . . . something.

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Or maybe he’s running away from the zombie pigman, whose base connects to Steve’s set, adding a stream of molten lava to the mix?

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Or maybe, just maybe, the two of them are teaming up to fight against the creepy Ghast, floating above a bed of translucent orange?

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My favorite of the three combined sets begins with a pig peeking out of a window. Had I received no other sets but the pig peeking out of the window, I would have been perfectly happy.

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I would have also accepted the horse with its head stretched over a fence, chewing on some grass. You can’t go wrong with a blocky horse.

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Especially a blocky horse with a duck attached to its tail.

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I probably wouldn’t have been as happy had I just received the village priest. With his high forehead and what looks like Burt from Sesame Street’s nose, the dude creeps me out.

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Put them all together, however, and suddenly he’s not so bad. We now see that the pig feels the same way I do, and the cow couldn’t care less. He’s got a mouthful of grass and a tail duck.

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All in all, Minecraft Craftables series two is pretty sweet, definitely a big improvement over the original. The only problem is the delivery method. Since these come in blind boxes, fans will either have to pray they get the right nine or purchase a full case of 27, selling off the extra two sets. Considering how well these all come together, that shouldn’t be too hard a task.

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Minecraft Craftables series two goes on sale on September 15 at Jinx.

Mini Minecraft Building Sets Are Just Darling