by Stone Marshall | Nov 15, 2015 | Minecraft News |
Minecraft has conquered almost every gaming platform known to man. The only significant hold-out of the current generation? Nintendo’s Wii U — but that’s changing.
According to a listing on the website for games rating body PEGI, Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been certified for release.
The game has been awarded a “7” rating, like all other console versions of Mojang’s endlessly popular sandbox game. PEGI warns that “it contains non-realistic looking violence towards fantasy characters. Pictures or sounds likely to be scary to young children. Non-realistic looking violence towards characters which although human are not very detailed.”
Although the game has previously released on portable formats, including PlayStation Vita and Minecraft: Pocket Edition for smartphones, there doesn’t appear to be any sign of a 3DS release for Minecraft to complement the Wii U version.
While there’s no information on any version differences, the Wii U’s gamepad and stylus could offer builders some interesting options in creating their worlds. The same tools prove hugely useful in Super Mario Maker, arguably Nintendo’s own approach to Minecraft’s user-generated content appeal.
WIRED contacted Nintendo UK regarding the Wii U release of Minecraft but a spokesperson was unable to comment.
However, the platform holder is hosting its first Nintendo Direct broadcast this evening at 10pm GMT — the first in six months, since president Satoru Iwata passed away.
The broadcast will be hosted by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata, and is set to provide updates on forthcoming Wii U and 3DS titles — a reasonable place to expect more information on Minecraft to be revealed. The broadcast will be streamed on Twitch and the Nintendo Direct site.
Minecraft is finally coming to Nintendo Wii U
by Stone Marshall | Nov 14, 2015 | Minecraft News |
A new Minecraft snapshot is out this week, the second consecutive preview of Minecraft Update 1.9 to go live on a Thursday, and it looks like we really are getting close to the point when Mojang will feel confident releasing Minecraft Update 1.9 to the general public.
If the patch notes for Minecraft snapshot 15w46a are any indication, and we’re not sure how they couldn’t be, the next big update for Minecraft is likely just around the corner. After devoting the bulk of last week’s Minecraft Update 1.9 development to stamping out bugs, discovered during the snapshot process, Mojang have returned with another weekly Minecraft snapshot focused (primarily) on the various bugs still being encountered by the community.
That’s not to say there aren’t any other changes in Minecraft snapshot 15w46a. For starters, the latest Minecraft developmental preview introduces fallen trees. But the reason we’re so honed in on the bug fixes from this week’s Minecraft snapshot is because, typically, when the folks at Mojang puts on their exterminator caps, it signals the final countdown to a major update for the smash-hit sandbox game.
Sadly, we still don’t have a timeline for the debut of Minecraft Update 1.9. But that shouldn’t exactly come as a shock, either. As many Minecraft players have undoubtedly learned, Mojang isn’t a studio that likes to put itself on a deadline. Rather than promising content on a certain date, regardless of its current condition, Mojang seems to prefer waiting until it’s absolutely confident it can deliver new Minecraft builds before making public plans to release them. So we probably won’t get more than a week or two’s notice, as we have with the last several Minecraft updates.
Here are the complete patch notes for Minecraft snapshot 15w46a, via Jens Bergensten:
- Fallen trees
- Changed the redstone dust hitbox
- Sprinting no longer stops after a while
- Mobs no longer spawn on rails
- MCPE rabbits
- Fixed some bugs
- Fixed 3rd person view reverting to 1st person view when your head goes inside a block
- Fixed leaves replacing transparent blocks (bonus chest)
- Fixed flying through a portal in Creative turning off “fly mode” on the other side
- Fixed breaking doors moving the other part of the door sometimes
- Fixed redstone wire using different criteria for connecting visually and logically
- Fixed detector rails not powering adjacent powered rails upward on slope
- Fixed end portal frames acting like solid blocks
- Fixed IPv6 not working
- Fixed sprinting stopping after a certain distance/time
- Fixed comparator side inputs not recognizing all types of redstone power sources – redstone blocks are now accepted
- Fixed clearing the Nausea effect showing the nether portal tint
- Fixed the redstone hitbox not allowing blocks below to be hit
- Fixed large amounts of experience orbs triggering epilepsy – Video
- Fixed the TNT mesh being rotated wrongly regarding placed vs primed TNT
- Fixed being unable to see Horse Health in Creative
- Fixed glass panes not joining up correctly with ice blocks
- Fixed blocks dropping XP with doTileDrops set to false
- Fixed boats appearing to be sunken in water
- Fixed snowmen leaving snow regardless of mobGriefing
- Fixed the default wolf collar color from orange to red
- Fixed the wither attacking while still invincible
- Fixed endermen losing the ability to dodge melee attacks after being hit
- Fixed Untamed horses continue consuming food after reaching 100% tameability (0 temper) :: Tamed horses continue consuming golden food after already in love mode
- Fixed an iron bars model issues
- Fixed some changes to the mob spawning algorithm
- Fixed guardians spawning in random places
- Fixed the banner pole texture being mis-aligned
- Fixed stopping a server after save-off causing unexpected data loss
- Fixed default NBT data for SmallFireballs being incomplete
- Fixed uv mapping being upside down on stairs
- Fixed a crash: java.lang.ClassCastException: ahw cannot be cast to ahn
- Fixed there being a “Realms Notifications” option in options menu
- Fixed a typo in a soundevent name: “enttiy.zombie.infect”
- Fixed a first-person perspective parallax problem: The first person camera was positioned behind the player’s eyes
- Fixed doors having no placement sound
- Fixed mobs inside mob spawners stuttering if no player is in spawn range or spawner is outside worldborder
- Fixed daylight sensor outputting signal when encased
- Fixed the breath icon being moved with the armor bar when under the effect of absorption
- Fixed being unable to place banners or signs on snow layer level 1
- Fixed the glowing aura not working if team color is set to reset
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes.com and follow Scott on Twitter for more Minecraft coverage throughout the rest of 2015 and for as long as Mojang supports Minecraft in the years to come.
Minecraft Update 1.9: Snapshot 15w46a Continues Mojang’s Parade Of Bug Fixes
by Stone Marshall | Nov 10, 2015 | Minecraft News |
With the numerous snapshots released for “Minecraft” PC, the developer has now given a new beta for players on the Android version, the “Minecraft Pocket Edition.” This time, it will introduce a new feature that fans have been clamoring for.
Announced over the official Mojang website, the new feature coming to the beta 0.13.0 update for “Minecraft Pocket Edition” are Redstone Circuits.
The features for the latest updates are slated to debut on both the “Minecraft Pocket Edition” and the “Minecraft Windows 10 Edition beta.” Mojang has yet to announce when these features will come to the mentioned platforms.
The beta will feature the first batch of Redstone blocks. For now, it will not include the Pistons, Repeaters and other blocks, though this may come at a later update. The Redstone circuits will include Redstone Wire, Torch, Lamp, Levers, Buttons, Pressure plates, Trapped Chests, Detector Rails and Tripwires. In addition, there are new wooden doors included.
Some tweaks have also been introduced to some commands in the game. The new Redstone can be used to control features like doors, TNT, rails and trapdoors. Boats can now go faster with different handling. Slimes and Ghasts can now spawn, while Skeletons can run away from Wolves.
For “Minecraft” players who are interested on being beta testers of the new update, there are three requirements to be eligible. “Minecraft Pocket Edition” is not a free app, so players will need to purchase the app via the Google Play Store for $6.99. Also, Mojang has an opt-in agreement to which players will need to agree with. Finally, the Android device of the owner should be able to run “Minecraft Pocket Edition” with the right version of the Android software.
PC players are still waiting for the latest update of “Minecraft.” However, that does not mean that there are no progress with the game’s current version. At Hull University in the UK, a new educational variant of “Minecraft” has been created for the study of molecular structures and chemistry.
BBC reported that the program is geared towards an interactive approach of the subject, taking advantage of the game’s simple but effective gameplay mechanics.
“‘Minecraft’ is a fabulous tool for exploring structures of buildings, landscapes and even anatomy,” Dr. Mark Lorch, one of the developers of the program, told BBC. “It is a really novel way of engaging them and delivering information to them.”
Currently, the unique program makes use of the different features of “Minecraft.” These include treasure chests, goodies and puzzles, as well as the main building feature of “Minecraft.”
‘Minecraft’ Dev Introduces New Pocket Edition Beta 0.13.0 Update, Game Goes Up A Notch In Schools For Chemistry Class
by Stone Marshall | Nov 10, 2015 | Minecraft News |
We know that redstone, the powerful element from the desktop version of Minecraft, is coming to Minecraft: Pocket Edition [$6.99] very soon, as it has arrived in the beta version of 0.13 on Android. But what exactly can you do with the element on the mobile version of the game? Well, let a couple of Mojang developers show you the power of redstone in this video, which is made in the Windows 10 Beta version of Minecraft, but should function the same in the iOS and Android version of the game.
Redstone promises to bring huge changes to Minecraft Pocket Edition, as many of the more complex creations in the desktop Java version of the game are powered by redstone. And players have been able to make things like machines, and even playable guitars:
Now you put that big mobile playerbase to work on making redstone creations on the go, and who knows what they’ll be doing once update 0.13 is out…
See What Redstone Can Create in the Upcoming “Minecraft: Pocket Edition” 0.13 Update
by Stone Marshall | Nov 9, 2015 | Minecraft News |
For those who have developed a love for Mojang’s mega-blockbuster sandbox game Minecraft, there is some good news for those who are on the Pocket Edition. A 0.13.0 Beta update allows players to use Redstone, but only if you are Android and follow a certain set of procedures. In the meantime, there hasn’t really been any news on the Update 1.9 or Combat Update that fans of the game are really wanting, but here is news about a possible release date.
According to the International Business Times, there is a new feature coming to the beta 0.13.0 update for the Minecraft Pocket Edition with Redstone Circuits. If you are not familiar with that term from Minecraft, it is a structure that can be built to activate or control mechanisms.
This beta features the first batch of Redstone blocks, but it does not include Pistons, Repeaters, and other blocks but this could come at another time. For now, players of the Minecraft Pocket Edition can enjoy Redstone Wire, Torch, Lamp, Levers, buttons, Pressure Plates, Trapped Chests, Detector Rails, and Tripwires. There have also been some interesting modifications as the Redstone can control doors, TNT, rails, and trapdoors. There are other applications that have been put on Touch Arcade like a Playable Guitar, for example.
There are also some modifications that are not related to the Redstone like some new wooden doors, boats that go faster with different handling, Slimes and Ghasts can now spawn, and Skeletons can run away from Wolves.
Those who are interested in trying out the new beta update should purchase the application on the Google Play Store for the $6.99 price. Mojang has an opt-in agreement that players have to agree to, and the Android device should be able to run this beta. Tech Times suggests that before applying to be a beta tester for this update, you should backup your existing worlds. Once you have joined, the Android device should download and install the Minecraft: Pocket Edition beta version 0.13.0, but it might take a few days to arrive.
In addition to the beta update for the Pocket Edition, fans are eagerly looking forward to update 1.9, which is also known as the Combat Update. According to Minecraft’s own Gamepedia, This Combat update is expected to “overhaul the combat system, among other additions and changes”. It was expected that this update would arrive in mid-October, but this doesn’t seem to happen.
iDgitialTimes reports that the features of Minecraft Update 1.9 were discussed during a MineCon Panel. One of the features discussed at this presentation was plans to overhaul the game-ending Ender Dragon encounter. Most players have found that this foe isn’t too difficult for this game’s equivalent of a final boss, and the game doesn’t really give much incentive to even try to slay this dragon. Mojang wants to motivate players by tying in new things with the dragon, and explore the new islands coming in the end.
Version 1.9 also plans to introduce a new dimension that includes a new zone complete with new blocks, new food source, new mobs and other changes that could take a while to implement, hence the increased wait. Other new updates to Version 1.9 include new items like enchanted arrows and spell effects. These arrows include spectral arrows, invisibility arrows, and poison arrows. There is also talk of dual-wielding, as the player can toggle the primary hand of the character.
There is still no word on the release date of the long-awaited Version 1.9, but if Mojang is smart, they will have it out before the holiday season. One shouldn’t be surprised if it becomes available by Thanksgiving for fans to play on the four-day weekend.
Minecraft Pocket Edition Gets 0.13.0 Beta Update; Release Date For Minecraft Update 1.9
by StoneMarshall | Nov 8, 2015 | Awesome Book News, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News |
Starting an email with “Dear Reader” feels lame. I’d rather say, Hello Andrew and Rachel and Ryan and Ava and, well, I think I’m making the point to myself. With each new book, I can’t exactly write an email to every one on the team, but I can reply to each email I receive. I don’t always reply and I’m sorry for that. But I’ll keep trying!
So, as I write this email, I’ll write to my son, Nabru Marshall.
Hi son,
Nice job at the Pokémon tournament on Saturday! No, I can’t play Pokémon now. Why? Because I’m writing you a letter. Let’s play tonight, 8pm, but you’ve got to give me a couple of Megas or else I have no chance. Ok, sure, we’ll build on our Studio Minecraft server for a bit and then play Pokémon.
Should we open the Stone Marshall Studio MC server to our readers? I think it makes sense to do that. They’ll get it. We’ve built the Legends & Heroes world they know from the books. Right, Jesse built most of it, but you’ve got your secret area that only you and your buddies know how to get to. Doh, it’s not a secret area now that I told everybody, but the entrance is still a secret.
How should we open it? We’ve got to keep the world intact. We can’t have Greifers destroying the Kingdom or parts of the Beyond. We can change the game mode to protect it. I think it would be cool to have a certain time each week where we login and create groups (Heroes vs. Legends) and have battles. I’m not sure how to set that up. I wonder if one of our readers knows how to admin an MC server?
You know what else I’d love? To have a reader-created world that we can write stories about. Make it part of our Legends & Heroes series.
Your buddies want me to finish Flynn’s Log 5. Yea, I know. I get email every day from readers, our friends, who want the same thing. I’m working on it. I distracted myself early in the year. We started the Stone Marshall Studio and the Legends & Heroes series to give me more time to write Flynn’s Log and keep up with our friends’ demands for more books, but it backfired. We spent tons of time working out the Legends & Heroes story arc and creating characters and illustrations and the world. And the whole time we left Flynn in limbo.
I need to tell you about Flynn.
What’s taking so long? Yikes, that’s a tough question. I love Flynn, but his mind is a bit mixed up right now. He doesn’t realize what’s really happening. So I’m trying to help him, but he’s not listening to me. He’s only listening to Zana.
Why don’t I tell Zana what to do, you ask? Right, have you tried talking to Zana? She’s way too logical. I can’t get anything past her. I try to explain “life” to her and she destroys my logic. I use the definition of life and she tells me how her version of life is more accurate. I can’t convince Zana to tell Flynn anything that I want him to hear.
Whose cap did Elle grab in Flynn’s Log 4? Wait just a minute, I’m not giving spoilers here, but I think you know what happened, if you look deep within.
When will the next book be out? If Flynn and Zana cooperate, then we’ll have a Christmas release. Elle is being helpful, but right now I need to listen in on Flynn’s mind. I also need to intercept Zana’s transmissions (her encryption is becoming more difficult to break).
I’ve not yet told you anything about Flynn. That’s because you keep asking questions. Flynn is, well, he’s where we left him. What’s he been doing? We’ll find out soon enough. But, I need to warn you. His emotional state might be unstable. He’s facing some questions that we all face, questions about his very existence and what it all means.
Does he find the answers? No more questions!
Until then, our friends can read the latest Legends & Heroes issue. Yes, our friends can get free codes for iBooks. I can’t get codes for the other ebook stores, it’s like Apple “gets it” with codes and the others don’t. But I can still get the issue to our friends who read on Kindle, Android, etc., if they know how to load an ebook onto their device.
So, if your friends want the latest issue for free, ask them to email me. If they read iBooks (Apple devices), I’ll send a promo code. If they use another device, I’ll send a link to the file for side loading.
But I need the right information, so be sure they send this to me:
Subject Line of Email: Legends & Heroes Issue 8
Type of eReader: iBooks, Kindle, Google Play, NOOK, Kobo, online, other
Or, if they don’t want the hassle of side loading and don’t mind paying a buck, they can get it here: https://www.stonemarshall.com/l&h0008. Be sure they ask their parents if it’s OK to buy the book and download the file!
With Love,
Dad (Stone Marshall)
