Stone Marshall's Blog, page 167
February 15, 2017
Everything In Minecraft Becomes Candy With New Pocket Edition/Windows 10 Texture Pack
A new texture pack is available for Minecraft‘s mobile and Windows 10 versions.
The Candy Texture Pack introduces a “dentist-weepingly high amount of sugar into your game.” It does so by replacing all textures with sweet treats. Really. Take a look at the image below to get an idea for what to expect.
Already available for the console versions of Minecraft, the Candy Texture Pack costs $3. Itcomes to the mobile and Windows 10 versions through the 1.03 update; the update is free, but the texture pack is not.
As outlined on Minecraft’s website, this update also adds localization support for Dutch and makes a variety of bug figures. For example, it fixes a crash scenario when a player enters a mutated biome. The patch also makes it so bats spawn more often, because who doesn’t want that to happen?
Minecraft 1.03:
New Features:
Added Candy texture pack
Added Dutch localization
Tweaks:
Fixed some spacing when truncating bolded text.
Tweaked spawn point selection to be “smarter” (e.g. avoid lava).
Tweaked the textures of flower/mushroom blocks.
Assorted texture fixes.
Bug Fixes:
Fixed a crash when a server/Realm would first start.
Fixed an issue causing servers to blink between online and offline status
Fixed a Realms crash when a player exits
Fixed a crash when using some items
Fixed a server crash when a player entered a mutated biome
Fixed an issue that caused pressure plates, buttons, and other Redstone items to become stuck
Fixed an issue with hoppers not ticking the proper order
Fixed an issue when destroying a door
Fixed an issue with item duplication
Fixed an issue allowing a player to incorrectly obtain End Gateway blocks
Observer block’s arrows should now point in the direction of power
Observer blocks will no longer be placed upside-down
Fixed an issue where realms members that were not your friends were not being displayed
Bats should spawn more often!
Fixed an issue with End Gateway textures on mobile devices.
Fixed an issue where buttons & other redstone devices could get locked when a redstone lamp activated.
Fixed some rendering geometry which created weird results
Everything In Minecraft Becomes Candy With New Pocket Edition/Windows 10 Texture Pack
February 13, 2017
Why ‘Minecraft’ is the most popular game in the world
“Minecraft” is this generation's Super Mario. It's an international phenomenon. Unless you've been living on the moon, you probably already know these things.
It's on computers, phones, tablets, and game consoles. It's at your local mall, occupying kiosks with plushies and T-shirts. There's a semiannual convention (“MineCon”) and an education initiative that's got it in schools (MinecraftEDU).
But why is it so popular? We're talking about a game that looks like this:
Microsoft
Keep in mind that there are games coming out on modern video game consoles that look like this:
Quantic Dream
And what do you actually do in “Minecraft?” Build stuff? Perhaps you've seen some of the incredible worlds people have created from within “Minecraft,” like this one of King's Landing from “Game of Thrones”:
[image error]YouTube
Not bad! So how does a world go from a flat, grassy meadow to a pixelated re-creation of Westeros' capital city? The answer to that question is half of the reason people love “Minecraft”: creation. The castles above were built block-by-block.
Think of “Minecraft” as virtual LEGO. LEGO does.
It's a system for fitting pieces together to create something — sometimes amazing somethings — from nothing. “Minecraft” provides endless building blocks and a blank canvas. It's up to you to create something incredible, or silly, or referential, or whatever, using the tools it provides. The tools are blessedly user-friendly, as are the systems for employing those tools.
The most basic unit of measurement is a single block. This is a dirt block:
Microsoft
This is the literal and figurative building block of the game. You start with nothing but fists and a massive, unexplored world, ripe for creation. You walk forward; you punch the ground below you and it begins to crack. Why is it cracking? And suddenly, POP! Where the ground once was is now an empty, square space. It looks like this:
The word “minecraft” is a portmanteau of two verbs: to mine and to craft. Punching a dirt block and retrieving a dirt block to build with is the first verb — the mining. When you start “Minecraft,” it's the first thing you should do.
Once you've retrieved enough blocks, the second thing you'll need to do is craft: combine the resources you've mined to create more complex tools. “Mining” for wood (punching a tree) enables you to create basic tools. Those basic tools enable you to mine more complex resources, which enable you to create more complex items and tools.
It's this highly satisfying cycle of mining resources and creating from those resources that draws in millions of players around the world. And that's the most basic level of “Minecraft.”
The other side of “Minecraft,” sadly not encompassed in the game's title, is exploration. Every time you start a new world in “Minecraft,” it's unique. That is, levels are randomly generated based on a set of parameters. There are some constants:
The levels always contain the same materials (dirt, trees, water, etc.)
There is a day/night cycle
At night, enemies appear and will attack you
You can only dig so deep below the world's surface before hitting bedrock
The world that spawns always has stuff to discover, whether it's crazy jungles or mountains or underground caves or whatever
Yes, there are enemies. You've almost certainly seen the iconic “Creeper” at your local Hot Topic. This guy (or lady?):
Microsoft
These green, exploding monsters are exclusive to the “Survival” mode of “Minecraft” — if you just want to create ad infinitum, there's a “Creation” mode that enables exactly that. No day/night cycle. No enemies. No mining if you don't want to mine. Just endless creation.
But be warned: If you don't choose “Survival” mode, you'll never experience the joy of discovering a labyrinthine cave network by accident, full of rare resources (diamonds!) and life-threatening lava. You'll never know the thrill of narrowly escaping a mob of spiders, zombies, and Creepers into the ramshackle hut you've composed just in time to hide for the night. You'll never know the heartbreak of a Creeper sneaking up and exploding the side of your carefully constructed homage to John Travolta's face. Up your nose with a rubber hose, Creeper.
So forget all the hype. Forget the billions Microsoft spent buying “Minecraft” from its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson and his team at Mojang.
“Minecraft” is so incredibly successful and popular because it's delightful. It's relaxing. It's joyful. It's goofy. It's an amazing interactive canvas to build anything you want.
Yeah, you're “just punching blocks and placing them in different combinations.” And here's a re-creation of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous “Fallingwater” home:
You can play “Minecraft” online with friends, with strangers, or all by your lonesome. Some of the more complex worlds were created by whole teams of people working for months. Westeros wasn't built in a day, you know!
Personally, I prefer the relaxing experience of playing it alone while listening to podcasts. The game's music is a mix of soft, atmospheric melodies that can be easily kept at low volume, leaving me to concentrate on the project at hand.
Unlike so many other games, “Minecraft” enables an outlet for artistic expression — however shallow — that makes time spent in its worlds feel meaningful.
Minecraft adds textured terracotta blocks Concrete fact.
In its continued quest to add every building material known to mankind, Minecraft has finally found itself at terracotta.
Oh, and coloured concrete, which somewhat surprisingly is not in the game already.
Concrete is made by combining gravel and sand. Terracotta is baked by smelting hardened clay in your furnace. The 16 usual coloured dyes apply.
Minecraft's latest PC snapshot update has added both.
Here's how they look.
8 Feb
Jens Bergensten
Woho! We've published the first Minecraft 1.12 snapshot – 17w06a! https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-17w06a …
Follow
Itachi 14 @Itachi14_Uchiha
@jeb_ @Dinnerbone been playing with the blocks and I already love them! each terracotta block has 4x (2×2) symmetrical patterns! THANK YOU!
February 12, 2017
Everything In Minecraft Becomes Candy With New Pocket Edition/Windows 10 Texture Pack
A new texture pack is available for Minecraft‘s mobile and Windows 10 versions.
The Candy Texture Pack introduces a “dentist-weepingly high amount of sugar into your game.” It does so by replacing all textures with sweet treats. Really. Take a look at the image below to get an idea for what to expect.
Already available for the console versions of Minecraft, the Candy Texture Pack costs $3. Itcomes to the mobile and Windows 10 versions through the 1.03 update; the update is free, but the texture pack is not.
As outlined on Minecraft's website, this update also adds localization support for Dutch and makes a variety of bug figures. For example, it fixes a crash scenario when a player enters a mutated biome. The patch also makes it so bats spawn more often, because who doesn't want that to happen?
Minecraft 1.03:
New Features:
Added Candy texture pack
Added Dutch localization
Tweaks:
Fixed some spacing when truncating bolded text.
Tweaked spawn point selection to be “smarter” (e.g. avoid lava).
Tweaked the textures of flower/mushroom blocks.
Assorted texture fixes.
Bug Fixes:
Fixed a crash when a server/Realm would first start.
Fixed an issue causing servers to blink between online and offline status
Fixed a Realms crash when a player exits
Fixed a crash when using some items
Fixed a server crash when a player entered a mutated biome
Fixed an issue that caused pressure plates, buttons, and other Redstone items to become stuck
Fixed an issue with hoppers not ticking the proper order
Fixed an issue when destroying a door
Fixed an issue with item duplication
Fixed an issue allowing a player to incorrectly obtain End Gateway blocks
Observer block's arrows should now point in the direction of power
Observer blocks will no longer be placed upside-down
Fixed an issue where realms members that were not your friends were not being displayed
Bats should spawn more often!
Fixed an issue with End Gateway textures on mobile devices.
Fixed an issue where buttons & other redstone devices could get locked when a redstone lamp activated.
Fixed some rendering geometry which created weird results
Everything In Minecraft Becomes Candy With New Pocket Edition/Windows 10 Texture Pack
January 24, 2017
Someone ported a Minecraft clone onto the Dreamcast
Somewhere in an alternate universe there’s a Dreamcast 2 and, presumably, a Dreamcast 3. And, in that alternate universe, our doppelgangers are able to play Minecraft on their console of choice. But for us, stuck here in this hellish timeline, we’ll have to settle with a clever clone for the original Dreamcast, now available for free online.
Over at DCEmulation, forum member gameblabla has taken it upon himself to port a Minecraft clone called Crafti designed for a high-end Texas Instruments calculator onto a vintage Dreamcast. And apparently it works like a charm, albeit a charm without enemies or sound of any kind.
Tom Charnock, founder of The Dreamcast Junkyard, has been to this promised land and returned with a first-hand account.
Tom Charnock/Crafti “Controls take a little getting used to,” Tom wrote, “but once sussed, Crafti is about as close to the real Minecraft as you’re likely to get on a Dreamcast. Movement is handled through the D-pad, looking on the analogue and the face buttons allow you to place or erase blocks in the world. You can also jump, and there’s an action button for opening doors and pressing switches.
“After 10 minutes playing with Crafti I had already built myself a nice little house, complete with a fireplace and a bookshelf full of leather-bound books. The smell of rich mahogany also wafted through the structure.”
Thanks to Charnock for the tip. We’ve included a few of his screenshots above.
You too can download and play Crafti right now. It’s available for free as an image for CDs and SD flash memory.
December 28, 2016
Minecraft News, Update: Everything You Need To Know About End Portal Reactivation
Minecraft Full Version is expected to come to the Apple TV. It should be noted that the Windows 10 and Pocket editions of Minecraft reportedly adds endgame content in the beta. Furthermore, the tvOS release of Minecraft reportedly adds seven pieces of downloadable content.
New DLCs Featured In The Apple TV Minecraft
It has further been noted by developer Mojang that the Apple TV Edition of Minecraft may also pack the Holiday 2015. Additionally, City Folk and Town Folk skin packs may also be included as in-game content. Moreover, Plastic, Cartoon, Festive 2016 and Natural mash-up packs is also said to be included.
Note that the Minecraft DLC additions may only be available for a limited number of purchasers. Previously, Apple TV was also noted with the Story Mode in Minecraft with a narrative from Telltale Games. Moreover, Minecraft was also noted to launch on the device in June.
On the contrary, the Apple TV Edition of Minecraft reportedly does not support both the Xbox Live log-ins as well as Minecraft Realms. In the meantime, Mojang further revealed that Minecraft may be updated soon to support both features. Currently, the pocket and Windows 10 editions of Minecraft have been noted running on version 1.0 complete with the aforementioned updates.
Minecraft 1.10 Patch Notes Released
In other news, Minecraft updates have reportedly been released for the home console versions. Apparently, it is believed that the Minecraft 1.10 with new mobs, blocks and items may make the console game more comparable to the PC version. Note that the release notes have also been published.
Minecraft will reportedly pack new End Ships and End Cities to The End. Moreover, players are expected to receive the chestplate slot item Elytra that reportedly gives players wings. Note that this item may equip players the ability to glide from high ledges and control the rate of descent by looking down or up. Learn more about Minecraft 1.10 here:
Minecraft News, Update: Everything You Need To Know About End Portal Reactivation
December 26, 2016
Update 1.10 (and more!) on console today!
Mobs, blocks, items, mash-up packs, skins, maps!
Are you feeling a bit left because of our recent PC/Mac and Pocket / Windows 10 updates, console kids? Aww. There’s no need to be sad. Christmas is just around the corner. And (if you’ve been well-behaved) Santa might bring you a tangerine or something.
Also… we’ve just released a big update for all console editions of Minecraft!1!
This one features a wide range of Minecraft goodness from new mobs to fresh status effects. We’ve also revamped The End – take a visit to that mysterious place after updating and you might find End Cities, End Ships and a complete gamechanger known as Elytra – which will give you a whole new perspective on your world.
Here’s the full changelog:
New mobs: Shulker, Stray Skeleton, Husk Zombie, Skeleton Trap Horses
New Blocks: Chorus Flower, Chorus Plant, Dragon Head, End Gateway, End Rod, Purpur Block,
Purpur Pillar, Purpur Stairs, Purpur Slab
New Items: Chorus Fruit, Chorus Fruit, Dragons’s Breath, Elytra, End Crystal, Lingering Potion, Water Splash Potion, Popped Chorus Fruit, Potion of Luck, Tipped Arrow; Spruce, Birch, Jungle, Acacia, and Dark Oak boats
New Status Effects: Levitation, Luck
The End: significant changes to The End dimension – End Cities, End Ship
Crafting: UI updated to allow crafting fireworks, similarly to how Banners are crafted
Brewing: changed to include a slot for Blaze Powder
Tutorial: new Tutorial world, including tutorials for Banners and Elytra
Alongside all of that excitement, we’ve also released a bunch of new mash-up packs, maps, and skins for each console edition. Click through the illustrative images below for all the info!
Minecraft Update Brings New Mobs, Blocks, and Wings to Consoles
The latest update to hit Minecraft for consoles is now available, bringing the console version to near feature parity with the PC version.
Minecraft 1.10 for consoles is now available, making significant changes to endgame content, and adding a brace of new mobs, blocks, and items.
According to the release notes, new End Cities and End Ships have been added to The End, adding more life and character to the otherwise bland final area of one of the most popular games on the planet.
Players can also now get Elytra, a chestplate-slot item that gives the player wings. While equipped, players can glide from high ledges until they reach the ground, controlling their rate of descent by looking up or down. While a small amount of altitude can be gained by looking up, players will stall if they do so for too long. Elytra cannot be crafted, only found in The End.
Update 1.10 also adds brewing, new tutorials for banners and elytra, and status effects such as levitation and luck.
Minecraft was also recently updated to add new skins and environments from the Fallout franchise, and got a new soundtrack from composer Gareth Coker.
Minecraft Update Brings New Mobs, Blocks, and Wings to Consoles
December 21, 2016
Microsoft Monday: Minecraft For Apple TV Arrives, Xbox One Download Speed Increases, Cortana For IoT
“Microsoft Monday” takes a look back at the past week of news related to Microsoft. This week, “Microsoft Monday” includes details about Minecraft arriving on Apple TV, Dolby Atmos support coming to the Xbox One and Windows 10, the download speed increasing on the Xbox One, a roadmap for Cortana on IoT devices, the OneDrive for iOS update and much more!
Minecraft Arrives On Apple TV For $19.99
Minecraft / Image Credit: Microsoft
Back in October, Mojang announced that Minecraft will be coming to the Apple TV. And today Minecraft has officially arrived for the fourth-generation Apple TV at a price of $19.99.
“We’ve just released Minecraft for the slim black boxes. And, for a limited time, it comes with seven pieces of lovely DLC, giving you the chance to customize the fun to your liking. Minecraft: Apple TV Edition currently includes the Holiday 2015, Town Folk, and City Folk skin packs, along with the Plastic, Natural, Cartoon, and Festive 2016 mash-ups,” said Mojang’s director of creative communications Owen Jones in a blog post.
Minecraft for the Apple TV will also support the Ender Update. Unfortunately, it does not support Minecraft Realms or Xbox Live yet. But Mojang plans to add support for those platforms “in the near future.”
Dolby Atmos Sound Is Coming To Xbox One And Windows 10
Microsoft has announced that the Dolby Atmos surround sound technology will be coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs and tablets. What makes this announcement exciting is that Dolby Atmos is known for making gaming and video content sound extremely sharp and realistic.
“Xbox will be the first game console to feature Dolby Atmos and game developers are excited about using the new capabilities to make their games richer and more engaging. Atmos support for the Blu-ray app on Xbox is already available in Preview and will be released to GA soon – and we’re very excited now to offer Atmos support to games on Xbox One and Windows 10,” said Spencer Hooks, the Director of Gaming at Dolby Laboratories. “You’ll be able to experience Dolby Atmos in your home theater, assuming you have a Dolby Atmos enabled speaker system or soundbar. But you don’t need to have that kind of equipment – it will be possible to enable virtually any pair of headphones with the Dolby Atmos experience.”
Xbox Preview members can now access Dolby Atmos support on the Xbox One and Xbox One S through Blu-ray Bitstream pass-through. If you are an Xbox Preview member, you can set up the feature by making sure you have the latest Blu-ray player update under the “Updates” tab within the “My Games & Apps” section and then enabling “Let my receiver decode audio (beta)” under the “Disc & Blu-ray” settings page.
Xbox One Update Increases Download Speeds Up To 80%
In a recent Xbox One update, Microsoft substantially optimized the download speeds supported by the console. If you are on an Internet connection that is faster than 100Mbps, then you should see an increase of about 80%. On slower connections, game and app downloads should still see a boost of around 40%. The changes in the download speed depend on your ISP and connection configuration. But the download speeds won’t have as much of a boost if you are playing a game since the bandwidth is prioritized for that experience. The Xbox One update also includes optimizations to make downloads “more resilient to intermittent connectivity issues.” And the update contains performance improvements for wireless controllers and background music.
The Xbox One update includes optimizations to make downloads “more resilient to intermittent connectivity issues.” And the update includes performance improvements for wireless controllers and background music.
Microsoft Is Reportedly Expanding Cortana To Internet Of Things Devices
ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley noticed that Cortana will be coming to Windows 10 Internet of Things Core devices with displays, according to a slide presented at the WinHEC 2016 event in Shenzhen. The slide showed Cortana built into a refrigerator, a thermostat and a toaster.
“With upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update, Cortana will be available on Windows 10 IoT Core devices with displays,” says the slide. Windows 10 Creators Update is expected to arrive in March 2017. In the Windows 10 Creators Update, Microsoft is also adding “wake on voice from modern standby” and “far-field voice” with Cortana. This will enable hardware companies to build devices that can wake up Cortana with voice queries and it will be able to listen to people from different rooms.
Foley said that the Cortana on Windows 10 IoT Core will launch in English for the U.S. and U.K. markets first. And there are plans to roll it out in additional languages after that.
OneDrive For iOS Has Been Updated With Office Lens Feature And Instant Previews
OneDrive for iOS / Photo Credit: Microsoft
Last week, Microsoft released a OneDrive for iOS update with a few new features. Microsoft OneDrive for iOS now has the ability to preview Word, Excel and PowerPoint files within the app via the new instant previewers. Another new feature is the ability to digitize whiteboards, documents and business cards because the app now has Office Lens integration.
Microsoft Monday: Minecraft For Apple TV Arrives, Xbox One Download Speed Increases, Cortana For IoT
December 9, 2016
How To Change Your Minecraft Name
Mojang will give Minecraft players the ability to change their name on February 4th. While it’s a pretty simple process, there are some important rules to be aware of.
“The only thing you need is a Mojang account. If you currently sign in to Minecraft with an email address, you’re all good!” said Mojang .
To change your name, do the following:
1. Go to your Mojang account page.
2. Click the “change” link next to your Minecraft name.
3. Choose your new name.
Older Minecraft accounts will need to be migrated over to Mojang before they can perform this change. You can migrate your account for free here.
Both the spelling and capitalization of your user name can be changed. Put some thought into your choice. While it’s free to change your name, you’ll have to wait 30 days until you can do it again.
Minecraft names are still unique so you can’t choose one already in use by someone else. Even if you convince them to change their name, you can’t switch to their old one right away. Their old name will become available 37 days after they switch to another.
Back in the early years of Minecraft, it was possible for players to register a username before they actually bought the game. These usernames will soon be deleted from Mojang’s system, though, so paying customers can snatch them up. If you have one of those unpaid user names, here are the steps :
1. Be sure that you have access to your old, unpaid Minecraft account. You will need access to its registered email address. If you cannot access that username, you can contact customer support, provide your registered email address or physical registration location, and we will set it to a new email address.
2. If you haven’t already, register a Mojang account at account.mojang.com/register. You cannot have more than one Minecraft username per Mojang account.
3. Purchase Minecraft with a gift code from minecraft.net/store or through a Minecraft prepaid card from a retail store. Old usernames can only be upgraded with gift codes or prepaid cards.
4. When redeeming your gift code or prepaid card at account.mojang.com/redeem, an option to import an old username will be available.
If you can’t complete this process before these unpaid accounts are purged, you could still register the name normally. However, you run the risk of someone else grabbing your preferred name before you manage to do so.
Name changes won’t wipe other parts of your account. If you’re banned from a server, you’ll stay banned. You’ll also retain whitelist and op status on servers along with your inventory, pets and stats.
Mojang adds that name changes should work fine with the game’s many mods. However, they add that they’re not responsible for any issues that arise.
