by Stone Marshall | Jul 12, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Comics often weave in other aspects of popular culture.
It helps make comic book universes more grounded in reality and gives readers something to relate to. Whether it’s taking selfies or talking memes, comics have always adapted with the times.
Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that Marvel’s superheroes might occasionally play video games when they aren’t too busy saving the world. Fighting supervillains is hard work, and playing games can be a great way to kick back and blow off some steam. That’s exactly the case with Bruce Banner in The Totally Awesome Hulk #8, on stands now. Bruce has seemingly been cured of the Hulk, and now, he finally has some time on his hands to kick back and relax. While fellow superheroes and friends like She-Hulk play cards, Bruce sits in bed and plays the wildly-popular block-based building game Minecraft.
Apparently, Bruce has been spending more than a little time with the Mojang-developed game, though he has yet to slay the Ender Dragon. Minecraft, at first, comes off as an odd video game of choice for the onetime Hulk to play. After all, the game is filled with spiders, exploding creepers and more that would seemingly send the scientist into one of his Hulk-induced rages, whether or not he thinks he’s been cured of the Hulk forever.
It’s then that Bruce reveals he likes to play the game on Peaceful difficulty. On Peaceful mode, no hostile enemies spawn. That means no scrambling to find shelter every night or screaming when a creeper blows up an entire day’s worth of hard work. It’s definitely a calmer and more relaxing experience, and that works perfectly with Bruce’s new Hulk-free persona. According to Bruce, he wants to tame an ocelot. Given his genius-level intellect, there’s no telling what kind of insane creations Bruce could build, given the time.
(Photo : Marvel Comics)
In the grand context of the comic, Bruce playing the game isn’t a major plot point or moment. However, writer Greg Pak manages to turn a fun Minecraft reference into a meaningful reflection on Bruce’s new life. He’s relaxed and stress-free, and playing Minecraft on Peaceful difficulty illustrates that in a way more than a few readers instantly understand.
For more pop culture reference in Marvel Comics, you can read how Spider-Man and Deadpool feel about superhero movies here.
Marvel’s Bruce Banner Is A ‘Minecraft’ Fan In ‘The Totally Awesome Hulk’ #8
by Stone Marshall | Jul 12, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Minecraft has recently released a new title update (TU) for Xbox 360 called Title Update 38. It has also rolled out a new content update (CU) for Xbox One called Content Update 26.
Although they have similar update numbers, they actually bring about the same changes for the Minecraft Battle Mode, which was released on June 21. The mini game proved to be instantly popular among many Minecraft fans, although it was plagued with glitches that thankfully didn’t destroy its gameplay.
TU 38 and CU 26 are designed to fix some these bugs and improve user experience for Minecrafters on Xbox 360 and Xbox One, respectively. Specifically, they fix several areas in the map where many players have found themselves to be stuck. However, most of the changes that the updates bring about are related to adding new weapons and making changes to the default settings.
For one thing, players will notice that the Wooden Shovel has been removed from the Center Chests. They’ll also find that they can no longer kick players during Public Battles, although they can still do this is the Lobby if they are the host.
Weapons have been given better performance. All sticks, for example, now have a Sharpness 1. The Wooden Pickaxe and the Wooden Shovel (both of which are in the Outer Chests) have been given an additional Sharpness 1 and Sharpness 2, respectively, while the Wooden Hoe with Fire Aspect 1 has been given an additional Sharpness 1. All Poison Potions, which were on Level 1 before, are now on Level 2.
Certain items have also been replaced. The Diamond Chest Plate, for instance, has been replaced with an Iron Chest Plate, while the Fire Charge item has been replaced with a Fire Resistance potion.
You can find the complete change log for the Title Update 38 here. Some have complained about the changes, particularly those who are used to using the Diamond Chest Plate and the Fire Charge item, but most players have welcomed the improvements. Have you noticed these changes in Minecraft Battle Mode? Do you think they improve the game as a whole? Tell us your thoughts by commenting below!
Minecraft Releases TU 38 for Xbox 360 and CU 26 for Xbox One
by Stone Marshall | Jul 11, 2016 | Minecraft News |
In March, Microsoft revealed that it was using the open-world game Minecraft to train AI agents to learn how to do things like climbing a hill.
The company also promised to make it available to the public so they could work on their own artificial intelligence projects and research, and it’s finally available today.
Project Malmo (formerly known as Project AIX) is a Minecraft mod that works on Windows, Mac and Linux, and supports just about any programming language you might want to use.
So yes, that means you will need to know how to code – but Microsoft says that even novice programmers can get in on the action.
You can learn more about Project Malmo here and grab the mod from this GitHub repository to try it for yourself.
Project Malmo, which lets researchers use Minecraft for AI research, makes public debut on Microsoft Next
Microsoft’s Minecraft mod for training your own AI is ready to go
by Stone Marshall | Jul 11, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Microsoft has published the source code for its Project Malmo. This tool will allow anyone to make artificial intelligence experiments in the Minecraft game based on little programming skills.
We remind you that Microsoft has unveiled its project back in March, but back then, the project was known as AIX. Not many people got their hands of the code, but it seems that this Thursday the company has decided to finally release it for the public in order to allow anyone to test it out.
Two years ago, Microsoft has purchased Minecraft for $2.5 billion and it seems that the company has decided that a good place where you can test artificial intelligence is in this awesome game.
In addition, the Minecraft server is controlling the passage of time, which means that researchers will be able to speed up their simulation. And let’s not forget that this is just a game and nobody will get hurt if something doesn’t go as planned. The server is also able to measure and monitor every detail which means that in case you’ve missed something you can always watch later in replay and analysis.
The Minecraft server underlying code can also be modified using Project Malmo, which means that you will be able to bring new AI elements to the virtual world. Researchers will be able to build AIs, which can learn in time to hold conversations, make decision and complete more complex tasks.
It is good to know that AIs can get quite good at talking and writing human language, but, unfortunately, they mostly don’t have any idea what it actually means. According to Katja Hofmann, one of the developers of Project Malmo, by putting AIs in a game such as Minecraft, where they will be able to associate words and actions, this will give them a good way to learn what those words really mean.
Minecraft Available with Project Malmo Tool
by Stone Marshall | Jul 10, 2016 | Minecraft News |
RNLI creates Minecraft beach survival game to teach water safety to children
This Summer, the RNLI is launching year two of the charity’s Beach Builder Challenge using the interactive video game, Minecraft, which allows children to create and build virtual worlds.
The Beach Builder Challenge, available to play from Monday 1 August, has been created by the RNLI to teach children about beach and water safety.
The RNLI has expanded the virtual world to include a Beach Island Adventure this year, which means as well as being able to create epic beaches, this year creative youngsters are also tasked with completing four levels in the Beach Island Adventure. The four levels are based on the charity’s Stay SAFE acronym: Spot the dangers, Take Advice, Stay close to a Friend or family member, Learn what to do in an Emergency.
Jenny Thompson, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor on the Causeway Coast, said: ‘This is a fun and interactive game for 7–14 year olds to play during the summer holidays. We really hope the challenges will help Minecraft users visiting the beach this summer put their newly acquired beach safety knowledge into reality, and have fun while staying SAFE.’
Last year’s Beach Builder Challenge was a huge success with more than 8,000 children participating from all over the world, including Canada, Australia and the USA. It also proved successful in helping to reach a high number of children living in inland communities across Ireland and the UK.
Feedback from 2015 suggests the game is an excellent education platform particularly as results found that 97% of participants, after playing the game, knew to go to a lifeguarded beach; and there was a 20% increase in the number of children who knew to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if they saw someone in trouble at the beach.
Bridiee Appleby-Gunnill, the RNLI’s Community Safety Product Manager, added: ‘We’ve created a fun, educational experience where a young person can engage and learn about water safety in a self-organised way and where academic ability does not limit learning. Research suggests that children learn and retain more when they can organise their own learning. Last year’s feedback has shown Minecraft to be a fantastic enabler in allowing this to happen.
‘I’m really hopeful the results of this year’s challenge will be just as encouraging. We’ll be looking for participants to take part in research, to help us further develop ways to enable water safety learning in this age group.’
This year, children using different platforms will be able to talk to one another while taking part in the challenge, to register your child’s involvement email gaming@rnli.org.uk.
Read more: http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/news/coleraine-news/rnli-creates-minecraft-beach-survival-game-to-teach-water-safety-to-children-1-7467465#ixzz4Dtakuu9B
RNLI creates Minecraft beach survival game to teach water safety to children
