by Stone Marshall | Aug 26, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Hey there everyone!
As you may have heard, we’ve been making a few changes to the way redstone works in Pocket / Windows 10 Edition – just part of our ongoing mission to give minecrafters as many cool tools as possible. Most recently, we’ve been trying to simplify the peculiarities of redstone without compromising on the power.
Talking of power, right now a block can:
- give off power (often referred to as a strong signal or directly powered signal)
- be powered (often referred to as giving off a weak, or indirectly powered signal)
- be unpowered
In the image below you can see this in action. The redstone block on the left gives off a strong signal, lighting up the adjacent lamp. But the lamp diagonal to the redstone block and the one next to that remain unpowered. Over on the right, a redstone wire has been placed on the middle lamp, allowing it to carry the strong signal from the redstone block and light the lamp next to it.
Pistons get powered the exact same way!
Of course, Redstone engineers from PC / Mac may note something missing here: something our community calls quasi-connectivity!
What’s quasi-connectivity? In a sense, it’s a bug. But it’s one that’s become so useful to crafters that it’s become a feature! In the PC edition of Minecraft, pistons can receive redstone power from a distance of two blocks when they are placed in a very specific diagonal position, rather than from a block right next to it. But blocks only get updated when something affects adjacent blocks. It means that you can power a piston and then remove the power without the piston detecting it! It puts the piston in this state where it actually needs to be deactivated, but doesn’t know yet. Clever minecrafters exploit that to build elaborate trigger mechanisms known as Block Update Detectors: when something happens to a block next to a piston – like a block being placed or destroyed, gravel falling, fire igniting, rails re-orientating or even cake being eaten – the piston will “wake up”, notice that it isn’t powered any more, retract and trigger something else.
We never really intended this – but the community quickly showed us its potential, using it to build automatic farming contraptions, flying machines and so much more.
When remaking Minecraft for Pocket, we had to rethink how redstone works: we decided it’d make more sense to remove the bug – or, rather, never put it in – but offer an alternative, official way to achieve the same result. And so we’ve introduced the Observer block. It checks for changes in the environment and, if triggered, switches between emitting a strong signal and an unpowered state – but without relying on a bug to do so.
We’ve tested this with lots and lots of different builds, and we can’t wait to see what you lot do with it. We’ve also added some other cool stuff: pistons can now push chests and many other things!
We’re not done yet, either! We’ll continue listening to what you folks have to say and refine redstone accordingly. PC crafters can rest easy, too: we aren’t planning to remove quasi-connectivity from that version. But stay tuned for other exciting developments there, too!
Cheerio!
What’s happening with redstone on Pocket / Win 10?
by Stone Marshall | Aug 25, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Mojang today announced that they are making changes to the way redstone works in Minecraft Pocket and Windows 10 Edition. They are trying to simplify the peculiarities of redstone without compromising on the power. Minecraft community discovered a bug and called it as a feature called quasi-connectivity. Before Mojang team fixed it, the community showed us its potential, using it to build automatic farming contraptions, flying machines and so much more.
What is quasi-connectivity?
In the PC edition of Minecraft, pistons can receive redstone power from a distance of two blocks when they are placed in a very specific diagonal position, rather than from a block right next to it. But blocks only get updated when something affects adjacent blocks. It means that you can power a piston and then remove the power without the piston detecting it! It puts the piston in this state where it actually needs to be deactivated, but doesn’t know yet. Clever minecrafters exploit that to build elaborate trigger mechanisms known as Block Update Detectors: when something happens to a block next to a piston – like a block being placed or destroyed, gravel falling, fire igniting, rails re-orientating or even cake being eaten – the piston will “wake up”, notice that it isn’t powered any more, retract and trigger something else.
Instead of fixing this bug, now Mojang team is bringing this feature to Minecraft Pocket Edition. They are introducing a new feature called the Observer block. It checks for changes in the environment and, if triggered, switches between emitting a strong signal and an unpowered state. Also, pistons can now push chests and many other things.
Mojang is making changes to how redstone works in Minecraft Pocket and Windows 10 Edition
by Stone Marshall | Aug 25, 2016 | Minecraft News |
It’s official, Pocket Minecraft finally has Oculus Rift support; this is great news for Windows 10 PC gamers as the VR headset is now compatible with that version of Minecraft. For mobile gamers, this is not very good news.
The Oculus Rift support is exclusive to PC’s that have Windows 10 and are playing on the new Windows 10 edition of Minecraft. This is a free update for this platform and all users with the Oculus Rift VR headset can now experience the world through that headset.
While this is not the first VR headset to be compatible with Minecraft, the Oculus Rift does offer more services such as external camera tracking which gives Minecraft Pocked Edition players a different experience.
Gamers also have the option of using a Samsung Gear VR which was made compatible with Minecraft earlier this year; both headsets use a Xbox One controller and there is no Touch Motion Controller support for either headset just yet.
The next big update for Minecraft Pocket Edition is Update 0.16.0 which will be released this Fall; the developers have been releasing various hints and have teased a variety of screenshots. Several upcoming features and adjustments have been confirmed by the developers however, there are also various potential features that could be in this update.
It was revealed on Twitter that Minecraft Pocket Edition will be receiving Deep Oceans and also the Ocean Monuments which should also contain Guardians; players also expect that Polar Bears will be added to the game in this update. The Polar Bear mod has been hinted at for several months but has yet to be added to the game, it would make sense for the team to release this mob for the Fall/Winter period.
Some new hints from the developers have suggested that an in-game Crafting Guide Book will be added with this update; in addition to this, players can look forwards to Loot Tables which will impact item drops in the world.
New information shows that Minecraft Pocket Edition will be receiving a version exclusive where the maps use a variety of colors to represent the different biomes in the world. As a bonus, players can expect to see new Resource Packs and potentially even Custom Resource Packs.
The latest Pocket Minecraft update news
by Stone Marshall | Aug 24, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Microsoft first announced that Minecraft would eventually be playable with the Oculus Rift last year. Since then, Minecraft has launched for Samsung’s Gear VR, giving a taste of what a full-fledged VR experience would be like for the game. Gamers that have waited for a full Minecraft VR experience can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the Windows 10 version of the game has received an important update.
Microsoft made the announcement today that Minecraft Windows 10 Edition Beta now supports the Oculus Rift. The team supporting Minecraft detailed some of the new features and thought processes going on in the Windows 10 variant of the game. Some of those new features include:
- Stutter view: Fast and smooth view changes made by moving a player’s head proved to be disorienting, so the VR version of the game will use a “stutter view” that, when a player wants to rotate their horizontal orientation beyond a standard anchored aspect, a 22.5 degree turn can be made using their controller of choice.
- Controller choice: Minecraft Windows 10 Edition with an Oculus Rift will support either an Xbox One controller or the keyboard & mouse input when playing the game.
- Visual upgrades: In the updated Windows 10 version of Minecraft, players can sharpen details in view by enabling MSAA as well as increase view distances. Note that you’ll need a competent video card within your PC or enabling these video settings will likely result in reduce frame rate performance.
- DirectX 11 optimization that allows the inclusion of both the new visual features with Oculus Rift as well as those that were introduced in the Minecraft Gear VR Edition.
- Custom tuning for performance and comfort while playing using the Oculus Rift.
Lots of thought went in to making the VR version of Minecraft. With all of the new features and capabilities, the Minecraft team wanted to make sure that no competitive advantages were given to people that played using the Oculus Rift while providing a richer experience when building and playing through the worlds created by players.
If you want to experience Minecraft in all its VR glory, you’ll need the Oculus Rift headset and an updated Minecraft Windows 10 Edition game to enable VR features. If you have an older video card you will run the risk of not being able to play the game as intended. The team over at Oculus recommends graphics cards that are equivalent or more powerful than a NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD 290 for smooth gameplay. The VR update is free to anyone that already owns the Windows version of the game.
Microsoft updates Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition to support the Oculus Rift
by Stone Marshall | Aug 23, 2016 | Minecraft News |
Minecraft is the second-most popular game in the world, second only to Tetris; on average, 53,000 copies of Minecraft get sold per day.
As with most things that capture the minds of our children, educators tried to find the game’s educational value early on-and succeeded.
In 2011, before Microsoft likely even seriously considered purchasing the best-selling game, teachers created MinecraftEdu, a school-ready version that featured classroom management tools, moderation tools, and access to teacher-created lessons and activities. h
When Microsoft purchased Minecraft from its creator, Mojang, Microsoft realized the massive potential of the game as a learning tool and decided to revamp the education version and re-release it with new features. Currently in its beta version, Minecraft: Education Edition is being tested by schools and educators all over the world.
Here’s why we’re anxious to find out how this testing is going:
To Learn More About the Potential of Game-Based Learning in Teacher Training.
If Minecraft’s education edition is as successful as we predict it will be, that could completely change how the education community views game-based learning.
For instance, even though the product is still in its beta version, one professor is nonetheless using it to teach his education technology students techniques.
According to The Toledo Blade, Mark Stevens, professor at Bowling Green State University, is using the still-in-development version of Minecraft to teach students why gameplay has a place in the classroom. Stevens is committed to using Minecraft to show current students the impact of emerging technologies on learning, whether it’s the beta version of not.
If all goes well, Minecraft could soon become a staple in how teachers’ learn to teach.
To See What Kinds of Lessons and Activities Teachers Have Developed.
Part of the reason Microsoft released the beta version of the education edition this summer is so teachers could have time to test out the new features, but also so teachers could have time to develop lesson plans and activities for the fall.
What teachers have come up with could very well be indicative of a break-through in how learning happens in the classroom. Everyone- not just us- is excited to find out how teachers are able to experience success using game-based learning to teach a variety of subjects.
To Find Out If Minecraft’s Education Community Can Be a Valuable Tool for PLN Development
Because developing creative and useful lesson plans for Minecraft can be a lengthy task, Microsoft has created a portal of resources that is designed to help educators begin their journey.
Microsoft has even created Minecraft Mentors, a program that connects beginners with seasoned users of Minecraft’s educational features to guide use.
This can represent a valuable opportunity for educators to connect with individuals who can become staples in their Professional Learning Network (PLN), which will help them continue to grow as they receive support and feedback throughout their career.
And, Of Course, to Hear About How Students React.
We know that students love Minecraft outside of the classroom, but how are they reacting to Minecraft as an educational tool? What kinds of student responses have come up since testing has begun, and what do these responses mean for future involvement? We can’t wait to find out more.
The wait is almost over. Beginning in September, Microsoft: Education Edition will be available for schools to purchase at a price point of $5 per user.
Why We’re Anxious for the Results of Educator-Testing of Minecraft: Education Edition
by Stone Marshall | Aug 23, 2016 | Minecraft News |
No Man’s Sky has been out for a week now, and the Internet has devoured the game to a degree the developers never predicted. It’s a huge hit—although, as expected, the game has been divisive because the real game we can play now is quite different than the super-hyped version of No Man’s Sky we imagined. For one thing, a lot of earnest and eager fans expected the game to be some kind of a Minecraft killer. It was probably never to be in the first place, but one thing’s for sure—No Man’s Sky isn’t a Minecraft killer. And that’s for a pretty obvious reason. The games just aren’t that much alike.
Why No Man’s Sky Isn’t A Minecraft Killer
‘No Man’s Sky’ is a space exploration game unlike any other, for better and worse. Hello Games
O, the halcyon days of 2015, when the hype about No Man’s Sky reached its maximum levels compared to the amount of actual information we had. Absent much detail about the gameplay in No Man’s Sky, players and lazy journalists projected every little thing onto the game, from imagining it was a massive multiplayer game of space alliance building like EvE Online to dreaming up a game where we all could build massive planetside installations of our own design, a sort of Minecraft set on infinite earths.
Of course, it turns out No Man’s Sky isn’t anything like that. For one thing, it doesn’t have base-building, one of the core components of Minecraft (although the feature is coming in a future patch). For another, while you can tear down many of the environments in No Man’s Sky, you can’t put them back together like you can in Minecraft. NMS has loads of destructible environments, but not only is there no base-building… there isn’t much building at all.
After all, No Man’s Sky is a game about moving continuously… not about standing in one place and slowly building up a world. And while No Man’s Sky does have a developed crafting system, what you create is about helping you move forward faster and more safely—not about helping you build a cooler and better base.
When it comes down to it, No Man’s Sky isn’t a Minecraft killer because it doesn’t really compete with Minecraft. The games set out to do very different things. Tons of indie games do pursue similar angles as Minecraft, and are far more in its purview: Don’t Starve, Terraria, Starbound, Stardew Valley and even Super Mario Maker and Fallout 4 are closer to Minecraft’s wheelhouse. No Man’s Sky, on the other hand, does a great job at what Sean Murray and Hello Games always said it would do. It has its problems—some of them big ones—but it’s a stunning science fiction visual epic sandbox. Minecraft is an open world base-building adventure sandbox. They just aren’t even in the same realm.
‘No Man’s Sky’ Vs ‘Minecraft’: So NMS Isn’t A ‘Minecraft’ Killer
