Stone Marshall's Blog, page 92

Minecraft: Java Edition vs Windows 10

Which is the best version of Minecraft? That’s not an easy question to answer. For the majority of players the answer is whichever version you’re used to. But what about new players or players looking to jump from a different platform? That’s where things get a little more complicated. Two games, similar features, an ocean of difference.

Is the original Java Edition the definitive version? Can Windows 10 Edition’s updated tech slay an unbridled behemoth birthed five years prior? With the help of cutting edge science (read: research and opinion), let’s compare and contrast to see which version is right for you.

Mods

Both versions of Minecraft support mods. That said, as the Java Edition has been around since 2010, versus the Windows 10 release in 2015, there are a great deal more mods available for the first incarnation. And if I can put my subjective hat on for a second, the quality of the mods for Java are of a higher standard to that of Windows 10. The Windows 10 Edition was, after all, originally designed for mobile, so the modding scene will forever be playing catch up.

Winner: Java Edition

Cost

Java Edition costs a set price of £17.95 in the UK, while Windows 10 Edition sets you back £22.49 on the Windows Store if you’re not familiar with how Google works (both cost about $27 in the US). There is a slight catch, though. Java Edition can be played fully, complete with mods, textures, and everything else you associate with Minecraft, without paying a penny. While you can download variants of all of the above for free in Windows 10, that version also includes optional in-game purchases.

These range from map packs, to textures, skins, as well as new game modes. Most will surely turn their nose up at the idea of paying for add-ons in Minecraft, but for parents, as Windows 10’s third-party content has been vetted by Microsoft, it’s a no-risk way of getting more out of the game without needing to worry about bad things happening.

Winner: Java Edition (Unless you’re a non-PC savvy parent)

Controls

Both versions support mouse and keyboard, but only one supports controllers. Despite releasing in 2010, Mojang hasn’t implemented controller support for Java Edition. This won’t be an issue for most PC-centric players, but should you wish to make the jump from the dark recesses of console gaming to PC, you’ll need to install an additional program, like JoyToKey, to get a controller up and running, whereas on Windows 10 Edition, you plug a controller in and it’ll work. Even if you won’t ever use the controller feature, more features beats fewer features in this case.

Winner: Windows 10 Edition

Crossplay

One of the key selling points Microsoft wouldn’t shut up about was that Minecraft is ‘Better Together’, which is simply not true if you’ve ever played with your kids and watched helplessly as they TNT a structure you’ve spent hours building. So I’m told…

On the Windows 10 version, anyone can team up with players from other devices, including Xbox, Android, iOS, and from June, the Nintendo Switch. When playing with others you’ll need to sign up for a free Xbox LIVE account, but that’s all pretty painless.

As this feature isn’t an option for Java Edition, there’s a pretty clear winner.

Winner: Windows 10

Servers

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This one’s a nice and easy. Both versions have servers.

If you’re new to the world of servers they are, in a nutshell, gargantuan worlds created and hosted online with the intention of supporting masses of players. Think adventure worlds, PvP, puzzle maps, that sort of thing. The only issue here is we’re working with two different versions of the same game, so Java Edition can’t connect to Windows 10 servers and Windows 10 can’t connect to Java Edition servers.

When it comes to picking a version, it all comes down to which has more servers you like the sound of. As Java Edition has been around since the dawn of time, it makes sense that’ll have more variety. Plus The Walking Dead server is ace.

Parental controls

Java Edition doesn’t have much in the way of parental controls. You can essentially boil it down to: turn chat off, only join servers the parent has checked out first, and general stuff like set real-world screen time limits and enforce it. On the flipside, Windows 10 Edition needs an Xbox LIVE account to play online, which means it comes with all the benefits associated, including the ability to customise privacy settings, alter who your kid can interact with, report dickbag players easily, and so on (you can change your child’s settings via the Xbox site here).

Winner: Windows 10

Updates

The Java Edition of Minecraft used to be the go-to version when it comes to flashy new content, but that’s since changed as Mojang aims to release updates across both versions simultaneously. On Java you can access the latest and greatest update via the launcher’s snapshot feature, whereas on Windows 10 there’s an ‘Experimental Gameplay’ option that works in a similar vein. If you want to try out the latest new additions, you can’t go wrong with either version.

Winner: Draw

Graphics

This all comes down to how powerful your PC is. On low-end machines, Java Edition is a muddy nightmare. Render distance is reduced, loading up massive worlds takes longer, and it’s generally more prone to crashes. If you don’t have a rig decent enough to run Minecraft (some people don’t, okay?), the Windows 10 Edition has been optimised to run on just about anything.

But should you wish to really push Minecraft to the limit with realistic textures, exquisite lighting, or actual water physics, then you’ll need to go Java to get the most out of it. That is, until the Super Duper Graphics Pack reaches Windows 10, which boasts a massive graphical overhaul. After that, Windows 10 Edition may just be able to close to gap.

Hi-Rez’s Realm Royale Now On Steam Early Access

The developers at Hi-Rez Studios have been quite busy with their Paladins multiplayer romp, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have room for another effort, especially one in the Battle Royale arena.

It’s announced that Realm Royale is available in Steam Early Access. It’s free to play with microtransactions, but it never hurts to give it a try and see what it’s like.

Hi-Rez is actually in the middle of a 120-hour livestream to celebrate the game’s launch, which you can watch here.

Here are the features for the game, straight from the Steam listing:

Choose your class. Forge a legend.

Explore a fantasy world in Realm Royale, the new Battle Royale inspired by the hit game Paladins. Are you an Assassin, a Warrior or a Mage? Choose your class, then loot fantastic weapons and magical abilities to create your own Champion. Stay ahead of the deadly fog by mounting up and moving out. Will you be the last Champion standing?

Wield Awesome Abilities

Choose from one of five classes before every match, each with its own game-changing abilities. Become a Warrior, chug a shielding potion, and leap into battle. Soar through the skies as a Mage, slinging fireballs. Take steady aim as a bow-wielding Hunter. Deploy turrets and shields as an Engineer. Or blink onto a rooftop and snipe your enemies as an Assassin.

Forge Legendary Weapons

Go traditional with shotguns and snipers, or embrace the fantasy with ice staffs, swords, and crossbows. If you want to win, you’ll need to craft Legendary Weapons at Forges scattered across the Realm. But be careful: While you’re crafting, your enemies may attack.

Mount Up. Explore the Realm.

Journey through the lush jungle of Jaguar’s Claws and the scorched sands of Goblin Gulch. Visit frigid Everfrost and iridescent Fungal Forest. The best part: you don’t have to walk around this massive Realm. Just summon your mount to outrun the fog and ride into your next glorious battle!

The Ultimate Team Royale

Call your friends: It’s time to squad up. Realm Royale is the first Battle Royale designed to be played in four-person Squads. Help your team by dropping a Healing Totem, or plant a Sensor Drone to reveal incoming enemies. Each class has strengths and weaknesses, but by working together the crown royale could be yours.

Minecraft’s Update Aquatic Pre-Release Available for Java Edition

The pre-release of Update Aquatic is now available for the Java Edition of Minecraft with 1.13-PRE1 being released today.

Java Edition players have been waiting for the latest Minecraft update for some time now, and now that it’s here, it’s bringing quite a few noticeable changes with it. First and foremost, Java Edition players will notice that the update introduces a new title screen that’s modeled after Update Aquatic. Featuring the same options that you’re used to seeing, the new title screen that’s seen below has a blue ocean background that shows some of what’s waiting for players in Update Aquatic.

View image on Twitter

View image on Twitter

Andrew

@ibxtoycat

I love the new 1.13 title screen!

1:01 AM – Jun 5, 2018

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There’s also new music that’s included in the update, music that can be heard when you’re underwater. Minecraft players on Reddit found out that you can play one of the three new music piece by entering a command that’s seen here.

Amid all these changes, one of the issues that players did take with the pre-release is the new bark textures. These new textures let players build some interesting floors or other creations, but they change the existing wood blocks in ways that many players aren’t thrilled with.

“Mojang, the new bark block textures are a massive mistake,” Redditor Muriako commented. “They could be good for really niche building situations, but they are also kind of ruining the main reason people wanted those bark blocks in the first place.

The full notes for everything that’s included in the 1.13 pre-release can be found below, and if you’re unsure of how to download the pre-release or just need a refresher, you can check out the instructions on Minecraft’s site.

New Update Aquatic title screen

Three brand new pieces of music by C418

You can now tab-complete in command blocks again

Fixed bugs!

FIXED BUGS IN 1.13-PRE1

MC-122134 – Tab-completion in command blocks no longer works

MC-122940 – After executing the /reload command, clicking on recipe book recipes does not work

MC-124123 – Crash upon loading world: Non [a-z0-9/._-] character in path of location: minecraft:Zombie

MC-124972 – Game crashes during the loading world, when creating a superflat world with oceanmonument tag

MC-127142 – Failed to create block entity DUMMY (path of location: minecraft:DUMMY)

MC-129625 – Sea grass changes to air pockets when upgrading from 18w16a to 18w20a+

MC-130463 – Sponges do not absorb bubble columns

MC-130521 – Leaves placed by hand disappear if not touching log or bark after a reload

Minecraft for the Switch is getting cross-play with PC, Xbox One, and smartphones on June 21st

Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch is about to get a lot bigger with a new update that brings the universal Minecraft Bedrock Engine to Nintendo’s portable console on June 21st, enabling cross-play between the Switch and the PC, Xbox One, and mobile versions of the game.

The cross-platform update is actually pretty late in coming to the Switch — it was announced back at E3 last year, and hit the other platforms last September. The Switch release was then promised for later in the winter, which, based on the June release date, it obviously didn’t quite hit. The updated Minecraft will also support Nintendo’s new online service for the Switch when it launches later this year.

Along with the new update, a physical version of Minecraft for the Switch is getting released for $29.99, should you prefer to own hard copies of your games instead of digital downloads

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch E3 LEAK: Minecraft confirmed for Nintendo’s new brawler?

Nintendo’s most-loved mash-up franchise, Super Smash Bros., is finally coming to Switch soon, and ahead of the formal reveal of the game’s content, players are getting increasingly hungry for more information.

It’s just as well then that so many leaks are popping up around the internet, suggesting what we might be seeing in the title.

The newest spate of rumours suggests that Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch might be seeing some sort of Minecraft content.

This is information is circulating thanks to DasVergeben (a known source of information in the industry with a track record when it comes to leaks). The user revealed on the GameFAQs forum that Minecraft “may have a presence” in the upcoming fighting game.

We’ve seen Nintendo include links to characters before via trophies and similar rewards, so the inclusion of Minecraft could be fairly innocuous.

Though it could also come in the form of something more substantial, too: we could see a blocky, Minecraft-inspired stage or something similar, too.

It’s doubtful then that we’ll perhaps see iconic Minecraft main character Steve as a playable fighter.

As ever with E3-period rumours, take this with a grain of salt… you never really know what’s cracking off untuil it’s announced.

Nintendo Switch 2018: Rumoured and confirmed games coming to the console

Nintendo Switch had a great first year, full of exclusives and third party games. Here’s a few more rumoured games supposedly coming to the console in 2018 and beyond. PLUS, some games we know are coming in the months ahead.

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The only thing we know for sure about the Nintendo Switch version of Super Smash Bros 4 so far is that it’ll be adding the Inklings – the playable characters from Splatoon.

But what we don’t yet know is how these characters will handle in the game itself – will they be tricky to play, will they be easy for a beginner to pick up, will they be God-tier? It remains unclear.

Luckily, Red Bull eSports asked some Super Smash Bros. pro players to weigh in with what they thought the newest additions will bring to the game.

Smash 4 Rosalina player Samuel ‘Dabuz’ Buzby states: “They’d have a good amount of mobility moves, things like super jump, dodge rolls, ink, and squid form – stuff from the game that would make them a mobile zoner.”

Diddy Kong player Jestise ‘MVD’ Negron adds: “I can see [them having] some sort of a bomb move, maybe a land mine or a grenade. I imagine them being able to combine that with a special ability to shoot and swim in ink.”

The duo goes on to explain that perhaps the Inklings will be primarily projectile-based, or that perhaps they’ll be able to incorporate multiple weapons in their movesets, giving them better versatility.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch – Overview

Release date: 2018

Format: Nintendo Switch

Genre: Brawler

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch – What is it?

Super Smash Bros is Nintendo’s flagship series. It combines characters from all of the publisher’s biggest games and throws them into one world, pitted against each other in order to reign supreme.

You have the likes of Mario and Luigi battling it out with Link from The Legend of Zelda series, you have Pokemon defending themselves from Kirby, Donkey Kong trying desperately to blow Animal Crossing’s villagers off the edge of the world.

Even the Wii Fit instructor turns up to school Nintendo’s most famous mascots. It’s bizarre.

Gameplay involves up to four characters using special moves to get one over on their opponents, making the most of dynamic 2.5D levels to get the upper hand on their enemies.

This game will be the first Smash Bros. title on the Nintendo Switch.

You can read everything we know about the game so far here.

Minecraft on New Nintendo 3DS is finally worth buying

Now with Mushroom Kingdom magic

Despite the fact it won’t be seeing any new content from the Better Together update, Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition is still trucking along with new content and updates. It’s most recent update, version 1.5 brings with it new skins (for purchase), new texture packs (for purchase), and Super Mario Mash-Up content (for free).

One of the big selling points of Minecraft on Switch and Wii U is the inclusion of Super Mario skins and textures. While this 3DS content isn’t as extensive as it is on either of those two consoles, it’s still some much needed Nintendo charm that was missing at the game’s launch. It joins support for two players over local play, a feature added in version 1.4. The Super Mario Mash-Up isn’t just added textures to the regular map. It’s its own mode, accessed by starting up a new map with the Minecraft Super Mario Edition option.

View image on Twitter

View image on Twitter

Minecraft



@Minecraft

We’ve patched Minecraft on New 3DS! In-game store, bug fixes, DLC support, and the Super Mario Mash Up Pack. Wahoo!

10:00 AM – Jun 6, 2018

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I haven’t played the New Nintendo 3DS version of Minecraft since last year, but clearly, this version has made some strides. The draw distance still isn’t anything to write home about with plenty of pop-in, but the experience is smoother with fewer framerate issues, crisper graphics, and of course all this new Mario content.

At launch, I didn’t think Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition was worth the asking price. Without question, I’d wager it is now.

Minecraft [Twitter]

Hi-Rez’s Realm Royale Now On Steam Early Access

The developers at Hi-Rez Studios have been quite busy with their Paladins multiplayer romp, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have room for another effort, especially one in the Battle Royale arena.

It’s announced that Realm Royale is available in Steam Early Access. It’s free to play with microtransactions, but it never hurts to give it a try and see what it’s like.

Hi-Rez is actually in the middle of a 120-hour livestream to celebrate the game’s launch, which you can watch here.

Here are the features for the game, straight from the Steam listing:

Choose your class. Forge a legend.

Explore a fantasy world in Realm Royale, the new Battle Royale inspired by the hit game Paladins. Are you an Assassin, a Warrior or a Mage? Choose your class, then loot fantastic weapons and magical abilities to create your own Champion. Stay ahead of the deadly fog by mounting up and moving out. Will you be the last Champion standing?

Wield Awesome Abilities

Choose from one of five classes before every match, each with its own game-changing abilities. Become a Warrior, chug a shielding potion, and leap into battle. Soar through the skies as a Mage, slinging fireballs. Take steady aim as a bow-wielding Hunter. Deploy turrets and shields as an Engineer. Or blink onto a rooftop and snipe your enemies as an Assassin.

Forge Legendary Weapons

Go traditional with shotguns and snipers, or embrace the fantasy with ice staffs, swords, and crossbows. If you want to win, you’ll need to craft Legendary Weapons at Forges scattered across the Realm. But be careful: While you’re crafting, your enemies may attack.

Mount Up. Explore the Realm.

Journey through the lush jungle of Jaguar’s Claws and the scorched sands of Goblin Gulch. Visit frigid Everfrost and iridescent Fungal Forest. The best part: you don’t have to walk around this massive Realm. Just summon your mount to outrun the fog and ride into your next glorious battle!

The Ultimate Team Royale

Call your friends: It’s time to squad up. Realm Royale is the first Battle Royale designed to be played in four-person Squads. Help your team by dropping a Healing Totem, or plant a Sensor Drone to reveal incoming enemies. Each class has strengths and weaknesses, but by working together the crown royale could be yours.

You can check out the game here!

Minecraft Costume Contest Offers Free Trip to Minecon Earth

Minecraft players who have ideas for some innovative cosplay creations can win themselves prizes that include a free trip to Minecon Earth by submitting the idea in a costume contest.

If you tuned in for last year’s Minecon Earth event, you’ll already have an idea of what this contest is all about. Like any other cosplay contest, all you have to do is come up with your best costume idea, but it has to be centered around Minecraft. The game’s site has a page set up for Minecon Earth’s details and gives an overview of the contest.

“Do you have an idea for an amazing cosplay costume, and the passion to create it? We would love to see it!” the Minecon Earth site says. “Start prepping your masterpiece and submit it before August 3rd for a chance to win awesome prizes! The best contributions will get a free trip to MINECON to participate at the live streamed award ceremony!”

The video above comes from last year’s Minecon Earth event and shows some of the best cosplay competitors that took that stage for the 2017 contest. You don’t have to be at Minecon to participate in the first part of this contest though with the Minecon Earth Costume Contest taking place online as players submit their best creations and hope for a shot at being flown out to Minecon Earth in Boston.

“As a crafty Minecraft-er, we know that building is one thing you do best, and we want to see your creative costume-building skills IRL! Enter now to upload photo(s) of your MINECON costume and earn a chance to win a trip to MINECON Earth in Boston, Massachusetts. We can’t wait to see it!”

To submit your Minecraft cosplay to the contest for consideration, all you have to do is head to this page and fill out some personal info. After registering on the Minecon Earth Costume Contest site, you’ll have to submit images of your cosplay creation so that the judges can compare your ideas to other costumes. You’ve got until August 3 to submit an idea which should leave plenty of time to gather enough cardboard and other resources that you need for the creation, but after that date, the contest will be closed to more applicants.

Minecon Earth 2018 takes place on September 29.

Minecraft Costume Contest Offers Free Trip to Minecon Earth

Echogear’s 3-monitor mount is a breeze to set up and adjust

Echogear is a display-mounting company that’s attempting to increase its presence in the gaming market. PC gaming hobbyists tend to put a significant amount of money into getting the most from their rigs, and that has led to a spike in the number of gaming keyboards, USB microphones, webcams, and other peripheral products. That has also led to innovation in these spaces, and I think that Echogear could spark something similar for PC monitor mounts.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks with the Echogear Triple Monitor Desk Mount, which is shipping now for $150. It features a sturdy, clamp-style design that can support up to three displays between 10 inches and 24 inches in size. Once I was able to track down three monitors for testing, I was surprised at how easy the Echogear mount was to set up. The contraption makes it simple to line up each monitor for that wrap-around sensation.

And of course, the mount has saved some of my desk space, which might make it worth $150 alone.

What you’ll like

Easy to assemble and to secure

As a three-monitor mount, the Echogear is necessarily large and heavy when it arrives. That’s because of the aluminum parts that make up the vertical stand and the mounting spine. Getting these pieces into place is a simple process. You just need to put the clamp on the back of your desk, insert and secure the stand, and then slide the spine into place.

Echogear ships the mount with everything you need except for a standard screwdriver, and I was shocked when I finished building 10 minutes after I started. I was also happy with heavy-duty look and feel of the final product. The mount never wobbles thanks to the high-quality clamp, and between that and the aluminum, I never worried that the Echogear device drop my monitors.

Painless to adjust with great cable management.

You’ll need monitors with VESA-compliant mounting brackets on the back. If you have that, getting them installed onto the Echogear is a breeze. Once they are all hooked up, you can start the fun process of setting the height, and adjusting the angle and positioning to best fit your setup.

And this is where the Echogear shines. On the unit where the monitors meet the mount, you will find two large dials. One locks and/or loosens the cone-like device that enables you to shift the angle and positioning of the monitor. Tighten this dial 100 percent, and you will lock the monitor’s angle in place. Loosen it a little bit, and you can shift it slowly, turn it on its side for a vertical orientation, and then adjust it back later when you’re ready to hop into your flight simulator. The Echogear does everything to make things simple without losing that sense of wobble-free security.

The second dial, which is just behind the front dial, enables you to slide the monitor on the spine. What you’ll like want to do here is loosen each dial just a touch, and then try to get everything arranged side-by-side at the correct angle. This mount makes that process easy, and you can tinker with it throughout your day without having to break out any tools or feel like it’s too much work to get back to your default position.

What you won’t like

You won’t have a lot of options about where it fits

The only issue I see is that you probably have to work backward from the Echogear mount when setting up your desk. This is a large mount, and it’s even larger when it has all of the monitors in place, and it’s going to fit where it fits. If you had your previous displays set in a corner, well, the Triple Monitor Desk Mount probably won’t fit in that spot.

For me, I put the mount in the one spot on my desk where it made the most sense. That just meant I had to rearrange everything else. This isn’t exactly a problem with the mount itself, but it’s important to remember that you are making more space on your desk by taking up more space in the air above your work area. That means you must think a bit more three-dimensionally when it comes to how you put together your office.

Conclusion

If you are running two or more monitors on a desk, a mount like this can help you reclaim a lot of your desk space and prevent clutter. What the Echogear does in particular is keep the mounting process from introducing new headaches. It’s so easy in both the set up and in everyday use that it’s easy to recommend.

The triple-monitor desk mount is available now for $150. Echogear provided a sample unit for the purpose of this review.

April 2018’s top 10 Minecraft Marketplace creations: back to the city

Minecraft fans downloaded fewer pieces of content from the game’s marketplace last month, but the top-10 lists for most downloaded and top grossing are both still excellent reminders of the variety and fun that players can find in that store. The Minecraft Marketplace had 285,816 downloads in April, which is down from 321,317 in March and 372,509 in February.

Welcome! You’ve once again found yourself reading GamesBeat’s monthly analysis of the Minecraft Marketplace, which is the block-building phenomenon’s platform for extra content from the Minecraft team as well as external developers. If this is your first time here, you can see the results from past months right here. We do have some new names on the charts, but once again, developers like PixelHeads are dominating.

But we can also see that teams that specialize in roleplay content like InPvP are also thriving with the No. 2 and No. 3 spot on the most-downloaded top 10. Maybe we’ll see developers chasing that trend, or maybe we’ll see some new fad break through in May.

Let’s do the charts.

Here are the top-10 most downloaded pieces of content from the Minecraft Marketplace in April 2018:

 
9. Chroma Hills HD by Syclone Studios

Here’s the top 10 in list form:

City Life
BrightStart Daycare
Prison Escape
Dinosaur Island
K-Pop: Teenage Rebellion
Wildlife: Savanna
Oropia
Summer Mini Games Festival
Chroma Hills HD
Steampunk Castle

And here’s the top-grossing list for April 2018:

 
6. Prison Escape by InPvP




City Life
Dinosaur Island
Wildlife: Savanna
BrightStart Daycare
Chroma Hills HD
Prison Escape
Relics of the Privateers
Lapis Lagoon
K-Pop: Teenage Rebellion
PureBDcraft

The Marketplace is already growing, and we can see that new content always causes download numbers to pop from month to month. But as the Marketplace hits new platforms as Bedrock launches on devices (like Nintendo Switch on June 21), content creators will have a chance to hit entirely new audiences. That’s a big opportunity for a group of Marketplace devs that are already making a living doing what they are doing.

April 2018’s top 10 Minecraft Marketplace creations: back to the city