Microsoft has revealed it will launch a beta for its educational Minecraft splinter in May, allowing teachers to use the phenomenally popular sandbox game in the classroom.
Announced on the Minecraft blog, the beta will encompass more than 100 schools in 30 countries around the world, allowing educators to provide feedback on the project and help develop a final version and “fine-tune the experience across a diverse set of learning environments.”
The next phase comes a month later, when the company will release Minecraft: Education Edition as an early access program. This will be available in 11 languages and in 41 countries, and available to download and try for free. Across the summer, Microsoft will “be focused on working with educators on building out lesson plans, sharing learning activity ideas, and creating re-usable projects.”
The freeform nature of Minecraft makes it highly adaptable to lessons in many subjects, from accurate (if blocky) recreations of historical sites, through to molecular science. Developer Mojang’s core version also allows the creation of circuits using certain materials, making it perfect for engineering simulations, and there are countless examples online of users using it for programming and coding tutorials.
Microsoft’s educational version of Minecraft was announced in January, after it aquired the original version of MinecraftEdu. Dating back to 2011, the first iteration was co-developed by TeacherGaming and Mojang.
Once Microsoft launches a final version of Minecraft: Education Edition, schools with an existing license will be able to add the new version to their agreement, and new licenses will be available on both direct and high volume bases. The game will run on Windows 10 and Mac OS X El Capitan, although teachers and students will also need to register a free Office 365 Education account using official school email addresses.
Anyone still using the current TeacherGaming version of MinecraftEdu will receive support through to the end of “this school year” (unspecified, but likely based on American school dates), though teachers will need to opt in to continue receiving information on the switchover to Minecraft: Education Edition.
Minecraft is already a hit at schools. Now Microsoft plans to release a version of its blocky video game tailored for education.
A hundred schools will start testing Minecraft Education Edition in May, but more can get it in June when a free early-access program begins, Microsoft and its Mojang game studio said Thursday.
Microsoft didn’t reveal how much the final version will cost or when it will arrive. But as Microsoft develops the software itself, the company will also create projects to help teachers use it.
“During the summer months, we are also going to be focused on working with educators on building out lesson plans, sharing learning activity ideas and creating reusable projects,” Microsoft said. Majoring in Minecraft
Minecraft players turn trees, animals and minerals resources into tools, weapons and shelter to survive nightly monster onslaughts. It’s a major hit, with more than 70 million copies sold. It’s not just about survival, though. A creative mode lets players build fanciful structures, automate pig farming and even reproduce the complicated internal workings of computer logic circuitry.
This open-endedness has made Minecraft adaptable to everything from computer programming to art history. Especially because kids take the initiative to learn with Minecraft on their own, it’s no wonder schools like it and parents don’t freak out so much when kids get obsessed.
Minecraft Education Edition is part of a big transition for the game. Swedish developer Mojang began the project using the Java programming language. That’s been popular for people who like to write modifications, called mods, that alter how Minecraft works. But newer versions of Minecraft, notably the Pocket Edition that runs on Apple iPhones and iPads and on phones and tablets powered by Google’s Android software, are written in the C++ language instead.
The Education Edition will use this C++ foundation, Microsoft said. That means no mods, at least initially. But Microsoft plans to bring mods and command blocks — another key way to tweak Minecraft — to the next C++ version. Education Edition will require Windows 10 or Apple’s OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Microsoft added.
Minecraft for Facebook’s Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and for Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality headset also use the C++ foundation.
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition was released on July 29, 2015 and runs on the universal Windows 10 platform, being an adaptation of Minecraft Pocket Edition, which means that it has the same features, but it contains a few additions and it can be played on VR headsets such as HoloLens. The game costs $9.99 on the Windows Store, no matter if it’s played on computers or mobile devices. Soon, according to reports, Minecraft for this platform will receive a new update.
Lately, after Microsoft has purchased Minecraft, the game has received new features for Windows 10 (desktop), Xbox and PS4 consoles, and now, the developers will focus on the mobile edition. Minecraft Pocket Edition is available for Android, iOS and Windows 10 Mobile and, according to CNet, the game will allow players to use items called command blocks and “mods”, which will offer “more extensive customization to the game on mobile devices.”
Jens Bergensten, the lead developer of Minecraft, told CNet that “Using command blocks, you can add new Minecraft rules that do things like teleport players to a different part of the virtual world, reward them with a powerful sword, confine them to a jail, summon a flying pig into existence and obliterate all dangerous zombies”. He explained also how the developers will put this plan into practice: “Usually what is the most time consuming is to adapt the user interface for touch and gamepad, especially considering it’s a bit more cumbersome to type text”.
Bergensten has added that the team will need to create a system that will support modding for other platforms and that the company is researching options. Unfortunately, the lead developer hasn’t mentioned when the upgrade for Minecraft Windows 10 and Pocket Edition will be possible, and the only thing we can do right now is wait for an official announcement.
If mods will be supported, then there will be many interesting features introduced in Minecraft. For example, players will be able to fly on dragons and the game’s graphics will be boosted.
You know you’re addicted to Minecraft if you’ve screamed any of this before.
Minecraft– the video game that has well and truly taken over YouTube. We’ve all playedSlenderandAmnesia; we’ve all been spooked byFive Nights At Freddy’s; we’ve even playedElsa Goes To The Dentistfor a laugh. But we’re STILL coming back toMinecraft! So, for anybody who thinks they’re the biggestMinecraftfan in the entire world, then here’s a way to prove it – if you’ve ever screamed/shouted/screeched any of the thoughts below, then we’re happy to tell you’re than you’re 100% a hardcore Minecraft player.
Let us know how you do in the comments and don’t forget to tag your friends to let them know you’re a Minecraft MLG.
1
Please stop calling it ‘online lego’.
2
Why the hell did I just make eye contact with that Enderman?!
3
Here’s a fun idea: A literal game of ‘The Floor Is Lava’
4
Why can’t I build anything more impressive than a shack of cr*p?
5
Don’t worry, I didn’t want to find any diamonds this month anyway…
6
Oh god.. did I just hear a SHHHHHHHH?!
7
Damn, I went exploring and lost my house… AGAIN.
8
Why did I just spend hours making a cool new trap room when I’m playing single player?!
9
If I can hold the heaviest objects in the world, why can’t I jump over that fence?!
10
Is Minecraft seriously nearly 7 years old?!
11
Yup, I totally meant to just fall in lava and lose all my stuff. It’s cool.
12
*prints out the Minecraft periodic table to figure out WTF I’m doing*
13
Yes, I finally finished building my dream home… OH GOD NO NOT GRIEFERS!!
14
Thanks Creeper, I didn’t like my new, hand-crafted and painstakingly-reimagined Hogwarts castle anyway.
Minecraft community’s latest tool randomly connects players to one of over 3,000 servers
Above: Minecraft is getting a new way to help you discover multiplayer servers.
Image Credit: Mojang
Running into a room full of strangers is not something I would advise in the real world, but that’s what video games are for.
Mineboredis a new community-created tool that enables Minecraft players on PC to randomly join one of over 3,000 live multiplayer servers. It is as simple as entering “play.minebored.com” into the block-building survival game’s “Server Address” field and then hitting “Refresh.” Minebored will then quickly return a joinable game. If you don’t like what you find, just go back and hit Refresh once again. This could enable Minecraft players to start discovering fun (but lesser known) servers populated by other people. It’s also an example of how Minecraft’s fans have kept the game fresh with new features that even developer Mojang and publisher Microsoft are not working on. In a gaming market worth $99.3 billion, that kind of community support is what sets apart a forgettable release from a phenomenon like Minecraft.
“The goal [with Minebored] is to be able to discover new servers — small, medium, and big — without ever leaving your launcher,” Reddit user and Minebored creator Unsquarableswrote in a post. “It’s still in early beta, but works pretty well overall.”
Above: An example of searching for a random server using Minebored.
Minebored will move forward by adding new servers to its lists. The project may also even remove some of the more well-known servers to increase the likelihood that people will come across something smaller and new. But that will require a lot of manual work because the team responsible for Minebored has not built any automation tools.
“We don’t currently have any way of submitting new servers to the database,” wrote Unsquarables. “But you can message me any new ones, and it will be added in the next update.”
Finally, Minebored will also get more options in the future. Instead of just any random server, players will have the option to use something like “pvp.minebored.com” or “factions.minebored.com” to only get player-versus-player and faction servers, respectfully. Again, that will require some extra work by the Minebored creators.
“We will need a lot of help curating those and keeping them clean,”wroteUnsquarables.
Everyone’s heard of the LEGO-like world-building game Minecraft and its creator Notch, but how many other games by the famous billionaire developer do you know?
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s not heard of the block-building procedurally generated open world game Minecraft, originally created by Swedish developer Markus “Notch” Persson.
With a playable build first publicly available in 2009 and a full version released in 2011, it quickly became both one of the best-selling games of all time as well as one of the most influential, turning the independent developer into a billionaire when he sold the company toMicrosoftin 2014.
ButMinecraftisn’t the only game that Notch has developed. Both before, during and after the release of Minecraft, Notch developed smaller, free indie games, usually for various game-making jams and competitions.
Here we’ve gathered a selection of some of the Minecraft creator’s lesser-known work, and where you can go to play them (if you can still do so).
1. The ‘4k’ Series’
The 4k series of games was Notch s attempts at creating a series of games taking up less than 4kb of space
Starting from 2005 and ending in 2010, Notch created at least one game for theJava 4kgame-making competition almost every year. With an outcome of nine games, most of these games were clones of other games (including Mega Man, Left 4 Dead, Lemmings and Sonic) with the aim of creating a game that took up less than 4kb of space on a hard drive.
Blast Passage was Notch’s fan-game mix of Bomberman and Gauntlet
Originally created in 2008, Blast Passage is an interesting mix of two video game classics – Bomberman and Gauntlet.
Featuring four-player local multiplayer, you must navigate monster-filled dungeons by collecting keys and dropping bombs to exterminate your enemies.
Basically, if you’ve ever played Gauntlet or Bomberman, you know what you’re in for here. You canplay the game in your browser hereif you want to give it a go!
3. Bunny Press
Bunny Press has you running away from advancing walls of doom – and also there’s bunnies
Released in 2009 for the Ludum Dare 14 game jam,Bunny Presswas created within 48 hours by Notch, with the game having to adhere to an ‘advancing wall of death’ theme. As such, this game is a violent puzzle game where you try to get to the end of the level whilst avoiding obstacles. Oh, and of course there’s bunnies.
Unfortunately, this is another case of a game being lost to time, thanks to Mojang’s site wiping all of Notch’s smaller games when the company was sold to Microsoft.
4. The Europa Arcology Incident
The Europa Arcology Incident was Notch s attempt at a sci-fi rogue-like game
The Europa Arcology Incident,was created by Notch for the Ludum Dare 16 competition in 2009 in just 48 hours. The game was a sci-fi rogue-like game and was well received.
Metagun is Notch’s meta game where you shoot guys who try to shoot you
Created for the Ludum Dare 18 competition in 2010,Metagunwas another game created in under 48 hours. You play as a man who fires a gun that fires men who fire guns at you, and you’ll need their bullets to destroy obstacles and enemies in your way.
With a great concept fairly-well executed – especially given the time constraints – this is a good example to prove how skilled of a game developer Notch really is (if Minecraft isn’t enough for you).
Although the original Ludum Dare upload no longer exists, a Reddit user has postedthe game’s source code here.
6. Prelude of the Chambered
Notch’s game ‘Prelude of the Chambered’ is a first-person dungeon crawler game
Created for the Ludum Dare 21 competition in 2011 (the same year that Minecraft saw its initial full release),Prelude of the Chamberedis another game developed by Notch in less than 48 hours.
The game is a short first-person dungeon crawler, where you explore a dungeon for power-ups and keys to navigate further and collect treasure. Also, you can punch bats, which is always a bonus in video games.
Minicraftmay look and sound familiar, and for good reason – this surprisingly complete game was developed for the Ludum Dare 22 competition and borrows several elements from Minecraft.
You roam around a world greatly resembling the original Legend of Zelda game, chopping down tress, mining rocks, fighting zombies and building shelters as you aim to ‘kill the only other sentient being in the world, making sure you’ll be alone forever.
Notch’s game ‘Last Minute Christmas Chopping’ is his Christmas-themed arcade game
Created for the Ludum Dare 28 competition in December 2013, Notch decided to go with a particularly festive themed game for his entryLast Minute Christmas Chopping.
Playing as Santa, you must run through the forest and gather as much wood for your elves as you can within one minute. The game is still playable via your browserhere if you’d like to have a go!
9. Drowning in Problems
Drowning in Problemsis perhaps the weirdest pick of the bunch here, but interesting in its own right. A minimalistic game, you’re first presented with a sentence reading ‘there is nothing’.
A deep game cleverly using the competition’s theme of ‘beneath the surface’, the game sees you growing in age with your list of problems and needs growing larger as the game continues.
Drowning in Problems is more difficult to explain than it is to play, but it’s certainly worthgiving a go in your browser here, if not just to see the diversity of Notch’s games.
10. Shambles
Notch’s game ‘Shambles’ is a first-person shooter with zombies
One of the more recent smaller projects from Notch was Shambles, a short first-person shooter game released in 2013.
In Shambles, you roam through zombie-ridden streets, firing away at the undead intruders whilst attempting to avoid police and spare innocent civillians.
Created for the 7DFPS game jam, this game’s graphics are fairly reminiscent of Duke Nukem 3D – though the game is fairly less complete than that, as your aim here is simply to survive for as long as possible.
