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Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Lack of Updates

by Stone Marshall | Sep 14, 2015 | Minecraft News | 0 comments

With over 70 million copies sold worldwide over computer, console and mobile devices, Minecraft is one of the best selling games in history. Despite the rise of the “next gen” consoles XBOX One and PS4, Minecraft on XBOX 360 remains one of the most popular games on the console. As such, there have been two updates in the last 3 months for the XBOX 360 version and another one planned soon.

Update 27, which occurred on July 24, featured the addition of arcadia and dark oak crafting materials and fixed several problems including one that effected gameplay by making it more difficult to deal damage to wolves. Despite these updates, XBOX 360 users are constantly given “second hand” updates that began on the PC. Why is this?

The most obvious answer is that Minecraft began as a PC game and is therefore more important to Mojang than the XBOX 360 version. This may be true to some extent, because 20 million of the 70 million sales have been from PC versions of the game. 13 million sales, however, have come from XBOX 360 versions. This means that the PC and XBOX 360 combine to account for nearly 1/3 of all Minecraft sales, giving Mojang has no excuse for ignoring XBOX 360 customers because of user volume.

Nor can Mojang say that it is more difficult to program for the PC than the XBOX 360. Many newer Windows games are based on the .net coding system, which is the same system XBOX 360 uses. Although Minecraft is programmed in Java, the .net framework is much easier to use and should allow for fast implementation for the XBOX 360 version.

Even though XBOX One sales have been good, the price point of the system is still high, making it difficult to afford an XBOX One with all the accessories; not to mention the fact that if the user wants to play Minecraft on the XBOX One, they need to buy another copy of the game-even if they already own the XBOX 360 version. This means that there are literally millions of people still playing the XBOX 360, so Mojang should still concentrate on serving these customers.

PC ports have always been slow to get to consoles, and often experience fewer updates. That said, Minecraft isn’t just a game; it’s a phenomenon. Minecraft has been out since 2011 on the PC and 2013 on the XBOX 360, which in “gamer years” is positively ancient. The XBOX 360 Minecraft forum is testament to the fact millions are still playing the console versions of this game. However, gamers attentions are somewhat short, and if the XBOX 360 version of Minecraft doesn’t begin to get more and better updates, Mojang risks losing these gamers.

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Lack of Updates

Minecraft PC Updates, Gameplay, News: New Update Released, ‘Story Mode’ Release Date Leaked

by Stone Marshall | Sep 14, 2015 | Minecraft News | 0 comments

According to the game’s developer Mojang, new features and improvements to the PC version of the game have become available. You can check out the full list of the improvements below:

Rebalanced armour.
Changed damage & protection enchantments to match new armor system.
Fixed a few AI bugs across lots of mobs.
Made endermen creepy again.
Vwooop.
More optimisations! Many optimisations!
Added player collision again.
Fishing rods can now catch entities properly again.
Added team-based options for collision.
The world may corrupt slightly less times now! Or slightly more, we’re not sure!
I like hugs!

As you can see, they are focusing on some tweaks to the gameplay such as the armor system. Players can now have enchantments on the armour system.

Earlier in the year, “Minecraft: Story Mode” was announced. Telltale Games, which are the makers of hits such as “The Walking Dead” and “The Wolf Among Us,” will be creating the game. Like the previous games, it will be released in six different episodes. According to reports, only the first episode will be available on the disc version. In the past, Telltale Games released all of its episode on one disc. If you buy the disc version, you will have to buy the rest of the episodes online.

Minecraft PC Updates, Gameplay, News: New Update Released, ‘Story Mode’ Release Date Leaked

Minecraft: Story Mode’ Game 2015: Latest Release Date Updates and Gameplay

by Stone Marshall | Sep 13, 2015 | Minecraft News | 0 comments

Minecraft Pocket Edition Update Builds Toward The Desktop Version

by Stone Marshall | Sep 13, 2015 | Minecraft News | 0 comments

Slowly, the Minecraft: Pocket Edition for smartphones and tablets is becoming similar to the desktop and console versions of the game. This comes after Mojang has released one of the biggest updates for the Minecraft: Pocket Edition.

The new Minecraft: Pocket Edition version 0.12 update bring many new features that have been missing from the mobile version, which include sneaking, hunger, sprinting, the Nether zone and many more.

In addition, the mobile gamers will be able to play against those who play the Minecraft: Windows 10 BETA version and even use physical controllers with their iOS devices. The new update was also released for Windows Phone and Android will probably receive it soon enough.

Minecraft: Pocket Edition reached the milestone of 30m sales back in January 2015, but for some reason, this version was always behind with the features, in comparison with the versions that have been released for both consoles and computers. As the mobile edition of Minecraft became so popular, the developers had to do something about that and they’ve started improving this game version very fast.

Mojang announced their plans for the Minecraft: Pocket Edition 0.12 update during the Minecon event, which was held in July 2015. As we’ve told you above, the new update brings “The Nether”, which made a lot of players happy.

Mojang also promised that the Minecraft: Pocket Edition will receive new major improvements by the end of 2015 and it will bring virtual redstone material which will allow them to create circuits that transmit power.

We remind you that Mojang was bought by Microsoft for 2.5 billion dollars back in 2014 and the new owner is planning to launch its own realms service, where the players will need to pay a monthly subscription to have their own private Minecraft servers to play with their friends.

Mojang is currently working with the Telltale Games developers on a “narrative-drive adventure” that’s called “Minecraft: Story Mode”, which is expected to be released by the end of 2015.

Minecraft Pocket Edition Update Builds Toward The Desktop Version

Minecraft: Pocket Edition updated, closer to console and desktop versions

by Stone Marshall | Sep 12, 2015 | Minecraft News | 1 comment

Minecraft: Pocket Edition just got its 0.12 update recently, which adds some features and elements that were formerly seen only in the desktop and console versions. Mojang, developer of Minecraft, put out one of its biggest updates to date, and Minecraft PE is the biggest beneficiary of the update, adding features like hunger, sneaking and sprinting, the Nether zone, and tame-able ocelots (if you really need one, that is).

Minecraft is a building game, if you did not already know that. So Minecraft PE for your mobile Android device will be getting these new elements – support for controllers, the aforementioned hunger system, weather, brewing, anvils, brewing stands, flower pots, Nether blocks, and many new items such as potions, golden apples, blaze powder, and spider eyes. Your creative inventory will also have additions like gunpowder, sugar, slimeball, coal and charcoal, emerald, diamond, steak, bread, string, and all kinds of armors.

But the bigger thing for this Minecraft PE update is the addition of multiple ways to play with another Minecraft player. A “Local Server Multiplayer” mode is now available so you can jump on to any game playing on your local network. Mojang also says that playing cross platform over the Internet is now possible, although one would have to be “extra clever” in dealing with p[ort forwarding and IP addresses.

The update should show up on your notifications – or you can go ahead and jump on to the download link below (via the Google Play Store) to update your installation. Be sure you’re on a strong WiFi connection if you want to do this update.

Minecraft: Pocket Edition updated, closer to console and desktop versions

Minecraft Mobile Update Adds Cross-Platform Multiplayer

by Stone Marshall | Sep 12, 2015 | Minecraft News | 0 comments

Microsoft and Mojang have detailed the latest update for the various mobile editions of Minecraft.

Highlighting the changes in the 0.12.1 update is the ability for “up to five friends to play cross-platform multiplayer on a local network.” These players can be spread across Minecraft: Pocket Edition for iOS and Android, as well as Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta.

Furthermore, the Windows 10 Edition Beta versionalso now allows up to five people to play together over Xbox Live.

The update has been described as the “biggest” to date, also introducing revamped touch controls, controller support, and the controller mapping screen.

“You’ll also be treated to the same enhanced weather effects that Windows 10 Edition Beta players have received, including snow accumulation and directional rain,” Microsoft explained.

“In addition to plenty of new goodies to build and potions to brew, you’ll now be able to encounter golems and ocelots, and even explore the Nether. Finally, this update brings the ability to sneak and sprint in Pocket Edition.”

Anyone who’s purchased the PC/Mac version version of Minecraft–which is around 20-plus million people–can get the Windows 10 version for free. To do this they need to log into their account on Mojang’s website, click the Redeem button, and sign into a Microsoft account to claim the free copy.

Microsoft purchased Minecraft developer Mojang in 2014. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said he has no immediate plans to push out a sequel. Mojang later also spoke out to stress Minecraft 2 isn’t happening anytime soon.

Minecraft Mobile Update Adds Cross-Platform Multiplayer