by Stone Marshall | Jan 15, 2017 | Minecraft News, Minecraft questions |
Following the releases of 1.38 and 1.39 late last month, Minecraft update 1.40 is now available to download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in North America and Europe, developer 4J Studios announced today.
As the patch notes show, this is just a small bug fix update:
- Fix for Mob Spawners not spawning anymore, and showing a Pig inside them.
- Fix for previously created signs being censored for players with restrictive Privacy settings.
- Fix for being able to escape the boundaries of the world by exiting a Boat at the edge.
The update is also available on Xbox One and Xbox 360.
4J Studios adds, “We are continuing to work on bug fixes for all Minecraft console editions. Please report any bugs you’ve found here.”
During the Nintendo event last night, Minecraft was announced for Nintendo Switch.
In 2016, Minecraft was the #3 best-selling PS4 game in North America through the PlayStation Store. It also took home #1 on PS3 and #2 on PS Vita in North America.
Minecraft Update 1.40 Today on PS4 & PS3 Fixes Some Bugs
by Stone Marshall | Jan 14, 2017 | Minecraft News, Minecraft questions |
It just hit Wii U
Minecraft just hit the Wii U fairly recently (in the grand scheme of Minecraft‘s lengthy lifespan, that is), but like most things that went to die on the Wii U, it’s also coming to the Switch so you can buy it again like it didn’t just happen.
Buried within the announcement for the Switch lineup was a pretty uneventful confirmation that one of the most popular games of all time is heading to their new console. All of the features are basic stuff and nothing extra is known so far in regards to how Switchy this port might be, but it exists if you want it.
My guess is all of the Wii U DLC, including the Mario Mash-Up pack, is fair game.
Hold your blocks: Minecraft is also coming to the Switch
by Stone Marshall | Jan 14, 2017 | Minecraft News, Minecraft questions |
SKANEATELES — Nova Smith, 9 punched a zombie in the face.
Smith and the other young members of the “Minecraft” Club in the Skaneateles Library were adventuring as their own custom-made characters in the wildly popular video game on Jan. 4.
The weekly club, which has been going on since November, lets children play the game together on their respective handheld devices, as the game has a function that allows them to play in each other’s digitized worlds of their own creation.
“You can play on your own and that’s fun, but they can play together,” said Nickie Marquis, the library’s director.
“Minecraft” gives players an open, cubic environment they can modify and build upon with a set of tools that allows them to realize almost whatever they want. The creative mode involves players designing their own environments, including meticulously made structures if the player decides to put time into them, while the adventure mode involves fighting and exploration.
The Microsoft-owned game has amassed a devoted following and carved out a large portion of the cultural landscape since it debuted in 2011. Fans often interact on social media, and there are numerous channels on YouTube and other websites dedicated to the game. Spin-offs, adaptations, merchandise and more have spawned from it as well. A feature film is currently set for 2019.
At Skaneateles Library, the children talk to each other while simultaneously dealing with whatever they are doing in the game. The player’s digital avatar can be mining for iron and stone one moment, then storming a dungeon-type area with friends the next.
Nova Smith, wearing a Captain America shirt in the real world while exploring his virtual surroundings as a character he created that bears an uncanny resemblance to Spongebob Squarepants, said he enjoys the freedom the game gives, from finding different items to exploring numerous areas to the aforementioned zombie-punching.
“Right now I’m trying to get out of the water,” Nova explained as he attempted to get his character out of a large body of water.
Nova’s mother, Melissa Smith, who created the club, was watching her son play in the library. She said she likes the social and educational aspect of “Minecraft,” since major portions of the game involve building things with various resources and figuring out problems.
Tom Franks, who was there with his son Alex Franks, 8, also appreciates the design-based elements.
“Typical game, you’re tearing stuff, shooting people,” he said. “In ‘Minecraft’ you’re making things, making buildings.”
Building blocks: Kids learn, explore at ‘Minecraft’ Club at Skaneateles Library
by Stone Marshall | Jan 13, 2017 | Minecraft News, Minecraft questions |
“Minecraft,” the iconic sandbox game by Mojang, is one of the most popular games in the world and is most distinguishable by the boxy texture of its in-game world. With Microsoft’s acquisition of the developer back in 2014, the game has since become a phenomenon worldwide and is now available to most gaming platforms.
With its popularity, it is no surprise that the game is bestseller. In fact, “Minecraft” has already reached another milestone recently, with Mojang having already sold over 25 million copies of the title.
The latest figure came from the Minecraft sales statistics page, MS Power User reported. The PC and Mac versions of the game combined have now sold 25,079,997 at the time this article is written. In fact, the title is selling like hotcakes, having sold 8,418 copies within the last 24 hours alone.
The sales figure is still incomplete though. The figure only comprises the sales for its PC and Mac version which are considered to be the original and main version of the game contributing to a huge chunk of its revenues.
But the figure is bound to get bigger if sales from other platforms are taken into account. Sales for the “Minecraft” Windows 10 and Pocket Editions are expected to pick up with the recently introduced version 1.0 to the Windows 10 and Pocket Editions versions of the game.
Mojang is slowly bridging the gap between the mobile, console and the PC / Mac versions of the game. Previously, each platform plays a different version of the game resulting in a drastically different gaming experience one may get depending on which platform one plays the game.
On the console side, Mojang is likewise upgrading “Minecraft” for the platform. The developer introduced last December 2016 the version 1.10 for consoles, adding a host of improvements like mods, blocks, and even wings, Game Spot reported.
The most exciting addition introduced by the version 1.10 for consoles is the Elytra described to be a chestplate-slot item allowing players to gain wings. Players can jump from high ledges and glide gracefully to the ground, the rate of fall can be controlled by looking up to gain altitude or looking down to glide to the ground.
With the updates in place, “Minecraft” players will definitely appreciate the more uniform gameplay experience across all platforms. Meanwhile, check out the video below released by Team Mojang showcasing The Ender Update.
‘Minecraft’ PC and Mac versions breach 25 million copies sold
by Stone Marshall | Jan 13, 2017 | Minecraft News, Minecraft questions |
Microsoft Japan is pushing the sales of Xbox One in the country with the Xbox One S bundled with “Minecraft.” The reason behind the bundle is to boost the otherwise lackluster sales the console has been suffering from during recent times.
The release of the Xbox One S bundle will be on Jan. 26, according to Dual Shockers. The bundle will contain a 500GB variant of the Xbox One S, which will cost around 29,980 yen ($261.4) in addition to taxes.
The price of the console coincides with the local price of the PS4. However, the difference is that the Xbox One version of “Minecraft” will be included in the box, as well as a download voucher for the Windows 10 version of the game as well.
Additionally, the bundle will also contain the “Favorites Pack” and the “Builder’s Pack,” which is included in the western release bundle for the Xbox One S. The packs will include seven and six DLCs respectively, and it certainly helps get players started with the game.
The move is surprisingly smart and relevant, as “Minecraft” enjoys a relatively good amount of popularity in Japan, according to Gaming Bolt. It is the best-selling Vita game of all time in the country, selling more than a million copies ever since its release. Meanwhile, its Wii U version still thrives ever since its launch, selling about a quarter million copies.
With this, “Minecraft” still remains to be the highest selling Microsoft-published game of all time in the country. It could be the primary reason why the tech giant made the move in the first place.
In any case, it will be interesting to see how it will augment the Xbox One sales in Japan, as the deal certainly offers good value. However, it is still worth noting that the console platform only has a few games the Japanese audience care about, and it will certainly present a challenge.
‘Minecraft’ update: Japanese Xbox One S bundle features game for $261.4
