Ender Dragon set to grace Windows 10 beta and Pocket Edition
A major update is incoming for the Windows 10 and Pocket Edition versions of Minecraft, bringing with it the ultimate block-based boss bash – a fight against the Ender Dragon.
The Windows 10 Edition beta and Pocket Edition will reach version 1.0 with this soon-to-be-released update, which will introduce the final dimension of The End, the scary void which plays host to the aforementioned Ender Dragon (as well as Endermen and Shulkers).
As Mojang notes, the boss beast represents a tangible end-game goal (literally) for survival players – although you can of course still keep on playing after you’ve vanquished the foe.
Aside from The End, there’s another big change coming to version 1.0 with the developer increasing the maximum height of the world to 256 blocks. Much taller buildings are coming, then…
And Mojang also revealed it’s introducing the Elytra, an item which is a pair of wings that allow you to glide around the world.
There are a lot more features coming besides, the developer promises, although these are the only ones mentioned at this point.
Mojang also clarified that version 1.0 doesn’t mean it’ll stop cramming features into the Windows 10 incarnation of Minecraft, and we can expect plenty more new stuff down the line.
Oh, it’s also worth noting that this is the version which the Apple TV Edition will ship with upon release.
How long do you have to wait for The End to begin? Windows 10 and Pocket Edition players can expect to see it before the year is out, with v1.0 currently available to beta test on Android if you sign up to partake.
Recently, we saw the Windows 10 Edition beta get bolstered VR capabilities with Oculus Touch support, not to mention add-ons which take customization of the game to a whole new level.
The Anniversary Update is an impressive piece of work that ensures Windows 10 is on track to replace Windows 7. It’s reliable, easy to use and keeps getting better – although there’s still room for more significant improvements.
A creative game developer has worked out a way to incorporate Minecraft builds into his game, turning the blocky builder into a level editor of sorts.
As you can see in this short video, the developer, r00nk, is able to place blocks into a configuration that matches the level size in his game, Back Into Orbit, a cutesy retro-looking isometric shooter, and then very easily import them (in the video it happens instantaneously.)
This is how it works, according to r00nk’s comments in the related reddit thread:
“In order to make the in game buttons do commands, I use a server wrapper which searches for the docmd keyword. It’s important to note that this is somewhat insecure, because anyone who writes “docmd(banana)“ can make the server execute the “banana” command, so don’t try this at home kids, unless you know you’ll be the only person on the server.”
R00nk can only export and use levels made with certain types of blocks, not the full arsenal of what Minecraft has available. It’s still an impressive feat, especially if you take it as a proof of concept. If you could get this working on a large enough scale or with enough ease, it could be one of the smoothest level creation tools since the days of Warcraft III.
Game development, especially at the indie level, is as often about what’s fun and interesting as about what’s efficient, and r00nk has definitely shown some serious chops here.
Minecraft has transformed from a game into something more akin to a cultural phenomenon. The game has graced just about every platform out there, even making its way to the Raspberry Pi and the Windows Store as a UWP app.
The latest news now suggests that this game is finally making its way to the Apple TV. When Tim Cook introduced the new Apple TV last year, we were impressed by its potential as a casual gaming platform.
Polygon reports that Tim Cook made the announcement at a corporate event. Cook added that the game will be compatible with the Minecraft Pocket Edition on iOS devices and that players can take their worlds on Apple TV and share them with other players on iOS.
There haven’t been many noteworthy games on the platform; those killer titles like Super Mario Bros or God of War that transform a platform from an also-ran to a must-have. Maybe Minecraft is that title.
The fourth generation Apple TV was unveiled on 15 September 2015. The SoC is an Apple A8 running at 1.5GHz (that’s a little faster than on the iPhone 6) paired with 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM and up to 64GB of storage. You can control the Apple TV via an iOS device or using the bundled remote with its in-built accelerometer.
In effect, the hardware can be favourably compared to the iPhone 6, making it a competent, casual gaming platform.
Meet Snowbox, Another Minecraft Server You Can Be a Part Of
The title of this post makes it seem like Snowbox just arrived into the Minecraft server scene. That’s quite the contrary as the server has been around for five years and counting. They just celebrated their fifth-year anniversary this past February. As with any other server, you want to know what makes them special enough to want to join in on the fun. Well, here are a few reasons:
They have players from different parts of the world. This helps for a number of reasons. First, you can make a new friend from another country. Second, you can feel more comfortable knowing someone speaks the same language as you.
They are on version 11 as of this writing. The new version of course has new features including a Lobby Spawn World which provides access to the new worlds part of the update. Other new features include a Members Creative World and two SandBox Worlds where one features a natural landscape allowing players to build castles.
Minecraft servers are generally for those who want to play in multiplayer mode. While you can absolutely build worlds by yourself, there’s a certain fun factor when you get to play with others. This way, you can team up in creating a world with features you’re all interested in.
While an online server does allow you to play Minecraft with others, there’s a catch: the version of your game should match the one on the server. So if you want to join in on the fun, make sure your game’s version matches theirs.
Minecraft has come out with a couple of changes recently which surely delighted their dedicated fan base. And while you can always enjoy solo play, why not change things up a bit and give Snowbox a go?
It is undeniable that Minecraft has become a very popular game which prompted millions of gamers to play the game. Minecraft which is developed at every platform will soon be available in Apple TV. The good news was highly appreciated by Mac users as the announcement was made public just last week.
Apple CEO Tim Cook released the statement in the confidence that Apple will be bringing bigger games into its top box. Minecraft will soon join Apple’s 8,000 apps and games on both consoles and mobile, Engadget reports. It is reported that Minecraft will be soon be accessible by the end of this year.
Minecraft was developed by Microsoft’s Mojang, and to incorporate Minecraft into the Apple TV is a great milestone for the company. This will not be another pocket version of the game, but it will be released specifically as Apple TV edition, Techcrunch reports.
Although Apple will incorporate the same code base, Apple users will be excited to know that there will be new features that will be present in the Apple edition, which will be different from other versions. With the entry of Minecraft, Apple is willing to invest on more appealing games for its users.
Although there are no further announcements on what to expect on the Minecraft Apple version, Apple gamers may possibly want to purchase a third party controller to maximize playing experience, Forbes reports.
In the meantime, avid Minecraft players will have to wait for more updates.
