Just about the only practical limits to “Minecraft” are the imagination, creativity and persistence of players.
Independent tinkerers and gaming enthusiasts have wielded their creativity to fashion an array of worlds that go well beyond the basic environments through which people can wander and attempt to survive, as well as fresh codes that can introduce new characters and twists to the game.
More than a few of the independently created worlds available to visit and even help to build are straight out of the realm of popular television shows and real life, such as a “Game of Thrones” world and even a rebuilt Disneyland, while software patches can introduce new animals or other in-game treats.
“I like to go to the ‘Game of Thrones’ world,” said Tanner Higgin of Common Sense Media. “I love that server and it’s great to see how far they’ve gotten with that world.”
These “Minecraft” servers and modifications –“mods” in fans’ parlance — are for mainstream enthusiasts, and not merely a digital 1 percent of game creators, experts say.
“The consumer essentially has access to the same tools that game developers have,” said Jeff Haynes of Common Sense Media.
However, these advanced scenarios are likely going to mean parents getting more involved, especially for younger children — visiting public servers increases the chance of a child running into a bad apple, and downloaded mods can be bundled with, or actually be, dangerous and spammy software. And if your child wants to create his own “Minecraft” world for others to visit, you’ll need an advanced setup.
“You will need a certain type of server with plenty of capacity and speed, and you need a certain level of broadband,” said Ben Bajarin, principal executive with San Jose-based Creative Strategies, a tech market research firm.
Getting more involved can be beneficial, though, offering a bonding experience and teaching your child more about computers. Bajarin said he often plays “Minecraft” with his two daughters.
“It’s not mind-numbing, let’s dumb ourselves down with mindless entertainment,” he said. “It’s quite productive.”
Oh no! The actor who played Hagrid in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies was rushed to a hospital after he got off a plane on Thursday, Jan. 29. Is he okay? Here’s what we know.
Robbie Coltrane, 64, was reportedly hospitalized after suffering severe flu-like symptoms, following a flight on Thursday, Jan. 29. The Harry Potter actor’s rep confirmed he fell ill during a British Airways flight from London to Orlando, and since then, he’s been receiving treatment.
Robbie Coltrane Hospitalized: ‘Harry Potter’ Star Had Flu-Like Symptoms On Flight
Paramedic allegedly met Robbie at the gate and raced him to the hospital, a source told TMZ.
Robbie, who is famous for playing the lovable Hagrid, was heading to Orlando, home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, for a “A Celebration of Harry Potter” event. Dumbledore (Michael Gamdon) was on the same flight as him!
It’s not yet clear why Robbie came down with these flu-life symptoms, but according to TMZ, someone on Twitter said the actor was drinking heavily in a London airport lounge before the flight.
To say his alleged drinking led to his illness, without proof, wouldn’t be right. No information has been released at this time.
Robbie Coltrane Expected To Make Full Recovery
Unfortunately, Universal Studios confirmed in a statement to Bay News 9 that Robbie will miss the event in Orlando, but his agent said that he’s expected to recover shortly, according to TIME.
Phew! Well, that’s a relief. We’re sure Harry Potter fans will be sad to not see Robbie, but at least we know he’ll be okay! That’s what really matters.
Mojang, the game development studio behind Minecraft, has made a few massive announcements regarding their indie voxel-building game and another title of their’s within the past week. The studio has revealed Minecraft has achieved over 1.4 million concurrent players last weekend, and the Minecraft Xbox One version helped to contribute to that impressive player count. This shouldn’t be too surprising, as the indie title has been making waves for years now. The recent buy-out by Microsoft has only cemented the game’s status in the games industry.
Minecraft remains one of the most popular games, not just within the indie category, but of any category. With the recent release of Minecraft Xbox One and the PS4 version, the game is doing nothing but growing. Nathan Adams, a game developer at Mojang, spoke on Twitter, revealing last weekend the studio saw over 1.4 million players on at one time.
Saturday tends to be the busiest day for Minecraft across all systems, and Mojang previously almost beat their record for concurrent players earlier this month. However, only this past weekend has managed to surpass their previous player count achievement. This is certainly a milestone for the studio and one that really do need to celebrate.
The other piece of news Mojang announced was in regards to their title Scrolls, which is currently available within the most recent Humble Bundle for as little as $1. A portion of the money can go to charity, like most Humble Bundle bundles of games. If you’re feeling charitable and pay more than $12 you can receive the Scrolls Deluxe Pack.
On a cold January night, CUMC’s Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library (HSL) was filled with students, faculty, and guests decked out in festive attire representing the four houses from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.
Currently on display at the HSL is “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine,” which encourages guests to explore the history of science and medicine through the adventures of the famous fictitious boy wizard. The exhibition, curated by Elizabeth J. Bland, is the second to visit CUMC from the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.
Touring the United States since 2009, the exhibition links British author J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series to 15th- and 16th-century science and medicine. At the Jan. 28 opening, Joel A. Klein, PhD, lecturer and postdoctoral researcher in Columbia University’s Department of History and research fellow at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, gave an interactive presentation about the history of alchemy and its connection to medicine. Dr. Klein also kept attendees on their toes by incorporating pertinent Harry Potter trivia questions related to alchemy.
“Delivering dynamic programs like these helps to put the HSL on the map as a future Knowledge Center, a place where our constituents can come to expand upon what they’re learning in the classroom in an innovative way,” says Melissa Mendelson, director of programming at the HSL. “As health and medical education continue to evolve to meet the needs of tomorrow’s patients and clinicians, it’s important to encourage students to have fun and be creative in how they seek out knowledge and information.”
Innovative and engaging programming is one of the many ways in which the HSL reaches the CUMC community. “Whether you’re a student, researcher, faculty member, or clinician, the library fosters a sense of community and unites people through knowledge,” Mendelson says. “The ‘Harry Potter’s World’ event on Jan. 28 was the first of several programs that will be offered by the HSL.”
“Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine” will be on display on the first floor of the Hammer Health Sciences Building until Feb. 28, 2015. It is free and open to members of CUMC and the surrounding community.
For more information about the exhibition, as well as upcoming programming and events at the HSL, visit library.cumc.columbia.edu.
After a U.S. official suggested this week that Anna and Elsa from Frozen could be good ambassadors for fighting climate change, we got to thinking about how some other Disney Princesses could wield their mighty influence on young American minds.
Princess Diana raised awareness about AIDS and land mines after her fairy-tale wedding glow faded, so why shouldn’t Disney Princesses be do-gooders, too? Here are some ways these fictional characters could change the world.
Mulan (from Mulan)
She could fight for increased protections for women in the military, especially when it comes to being sexually assaulted or filmed in the shower. She could also fight to reform the hairstyle rules for military women, so that no female soldier ever has to give herself a terrible haircut with her dad’s sword ever again.
Belle (from Beauty and the Beast)
She could campaign for child literacy programs and for more online education options for people who live in boring towns. She could also be a vocal advocate for increased social security and adult-home-care programs to reduce wolf attacks among the elderly.
Ariel (from The Little Mermaid)
She could be an spokesperson to clean up the oceans and save the diversity of species under the sea. She could also fight for immigration reform, so that evil witches stop taking advantage of anyone who wants to cross a border. And she could do it all in mime.
Pocahontas (from Pocahontas)
Her conflict resolution skills could make her an excellent candidate to be a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, especially in areas with indigenous tensions. She could also fight to eliminate corporal punishment and serve on the board of Save America’s Forests.
Cinderella (from Cinderella)
She could fight for a higher minimum wage in the service industry and advocate for increased protections against child labor. She could also secretly fight to lower estate taxes so that other children of rich parents don’t end up poor like her.
Tiana (from The Princess and the Frog)
The star of the New Orleans fairy tale could demand a larger investment in small businesses and an increased environmental commitment to global warming to reduce the rising waters that threaten her hometown.
Jasmine (from Aladdin)
She could be a vocal advocate for the rights of women in the Middle East, and could fight for an expansion of girls’ education in that region. She could also oppose any laws that forbid women to drive cars or operate magic carpetsRead original article here:
