by Stone Marshall | Jul 5, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Microsoft is adding a new marketplace – and a brand new currency – within the video-game Minecraft, opening up the opportunity for businesses to sell their original content and creations to tens of millions of the game’s players for the first time.
Set to go live in the next few months, nine businesses will be selling feature packs within Minecraft – such as new storylines, in-game activities or landscapes to explore – with prices ranging between about $1 and $10 per creation.
Other companies can apply to be allowed into the marketplace over subsequent months. Users wishing to purchase content will need to buy a form of new currency – Minecraft Coins.
“For the first time we are going to enable creators to come in and put content into our store alongside the same content that Minecraft makes,” said John Thornton, the game’s executive producer at Microsoft.
“The real impetus is to let creators connect to players and help them make a living on top of Minecraft.”
A store within the game does already exist but is limited to only items created by the Minecraft development team. The change to allow third-party developers to sell their wares within the same ecosystem opens up an entirely new business model for independent creatives.
The Minecraft Marketplace will not be available on all platforms – a notable exclusion being Microsoft’s own Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation games consoles – but will be available on Windows, iOS, Android, as well as the Apple TV, the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR virtual reality platforms, and even Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
Developers are free to set prices for their creations. “We don’t have a strong price cap,” said Thornton.
“If we have content that shows up that everybody agrees is of significant value that a consumer might want to pay more than that, we’ll have that conversation. Ultimately it’s up to the creator to decide.”
The new coins can be bought via any supported device that features an app store, such as iOS, Android or Windows.
These coins will live in a user’s Microsoft Xbox Live virtual wallet and be accessible for marketplace purchases on any platform. Microsoft would not confirm the exact figure developers would receive from the revenue share after it and app stores took their cut, but Thornton said it would be over half.
“We have a model that allows us to give more than 50 per cent of revenue to the creators,” he said. “They’re all happy with that revenue split and we’re happy with that as well.”
There are restrictions, however, to protect Minecraft’s large numbers of young players.
“Every piece of content in the store is reviewed by Minecraft,” said Thornton, so much like Apple’s app store nothing is likely to hit virtual store shelves without it being vetted first.
By adopting an in-app payment model, Microsoft is moving into a territory well-trodden by so-called freemium mobile apps. Pokemon Go, which is free to download, generated almost a billion dollars of revenue in 2016 through in-app payments, according to data compiled by research group App Annie.
– Bloomberg
Minecraft to get its own currency
by Stone Marshall | Jul 5, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
One of the most popular video games of all time is helping students combine innovation and education.
Opaheke School is one of 400 around the world taking part in the Microsoft Showcase School digital learning initiative.
The project was launched by the technology giant to prepare students for the workplace using up-to-date resources, mobile and online tools.
Students at the school are now using the computer game Minecraft to assist with learning in different subjects as part of the project.
The game, which has sold more than 70 million copies worldwide, requires students to build their own worlds using 3D objects and materials.
The school’s new digital learning hub, which opened last year, was designed through the ideas students came up with through the game.
It’s also being used for literacy and science subjects where students create the worlds they are learning about.
Associate principal and programme leader Nikkie Laing says digital education is helping teachers and students explore new ideas.
Minecraft is helping students “visualise ideas in a more constructive way” and it’s more than just entertainment, she says.
“It’s pretty obvious they are learning and not time wasting… it’s purposeful and productive. It’s another hook for us teachers and the students can work and create together.
“Communication, problem solving and collaboration are the skills the kids need,” she says.
Laing recently travelled to Budapest as part of an educator exchange conference hosted by Microsoft and won an award for best presentation. She spoke about the impact online tools are having in keeping students and teachers connected.
Year eight student Callen Trethowen recently used the game for a school project on Antarctica. It helped him explore the features of the Scott Base research facility while interacting with research scientist Regina Eisert.
Fellow student Hannool Lee says Minecraft is “a fun way of learning”.
“It’s making us want to do school work because we get to use our computers,” he says.
The school has three specialist teachers driving the project and they work closely with Microsoft to share ideas and innovations with other schools.
Minecraft part of students’ learning at Opaheke School
by Stone Marshall | Jul 4, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Minecraft PS4 will continue to get updates from Mojang despite Sony not agreeing to implement its Better Together update, which enables cross-play.
Writing on the official blog, following Minecraft update 1.52, Mojang confirmed it will support the PS4 edition going forward.
Here’s the full quote:
“As you probably know, we’ll soon be bringing you the Better Together Update, which will combine console and mobile editions into one super-lovely version of Minecraft – but that doesn’t mean we’re twiddling our thumbs in the meantime! Console Edition will still be getting updated with new features, and those platforms which won’t support the Better Together Update will continue getting updates even after it lands.”
The Better Together update will allow players of PC, mobile and Xbox to use their saves on any platform.
The Minecraft developer has apparently been trying to persuade Sony to change its mind about implementing the next major Minecraft update, but it appears that Sony isn’t budging.
Still, it’s good news that Minecraft PS4 players can still look forward to future updates of the stupidly popular sandbox adventure.
Minecraft PS4 updates to continue despite Sony’s stance on cross-play
by Stone Marshall | Jul 2, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
While the ‘Better Together Update‘ gets ready to combine console and mobile versions of Minecraft into one mega Minecraft with much prettier graphics, the console versions have been updated. The update is currently making its way onto Xbox and PlayStation platforms, with Switch and Wii U to follow on later tonight, and it’s bringing quite a bit.
Unfortunately, the update is for console versions only (as stated previously), but at least is brings Llamas. Check out all the new features below!
New Features:
- 7 new Achievements/Trophies
- New UI engine (saving significant memory – which should boost performance!)
- Llamas
- Parrots
- Woodland Mansion
- Treasure Maps
- Observer Block
- Totem of Undying
- Illagers! Vindicator, Vex and Evoker!
- ‘Bouncy’ Beds
- Dyeable beds
- Option to change Biomes size to match other platforms (since they are smaller on console by default)
Minecraft PlayStation, Xbox versions updated with new features; Nintendo Switch, Wii U update coming tonight
by Stone Marshall | Jul 1, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
For some perspective, that means it has been watched more than all five Super Bowls over that same time period combined. Way more.
Middleton, better known as Dan TDM, may not be a household name yet, but he’s one of YouTube’s brightest stars and biggest successes. For five years, he’s mixed real-world video footage with gameplay from the video game Minecraft to draw a giant audience of kids and parents.
Now he’s bringing his first-ever live tour to Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall to see if the pug-filled, evil-twin-inhabited digital world he’s created will translate beyond the Internet.
“You’ll see quite a few of the characters from YouTube, like scientist Dr. Trayaurus and my evil twin, Evil Dan,” Middleton said.
And yes, that includes the pugs, which appear in the show, but are also Middleton’s real-life pets.
“We love them because they’re quite lazy so it gives me ample time to make videos,” he said. “I won’t say they don’t bug me, but they’re just really great at chilling out.”
The storyline for the stage show involves Dan TDM being kidnapped by Evil Dan, who gives him a series of gaming challenges. During some of those games, the entire audience participates from their seats. At other points, some audience members are brought on stage.
There’s a giant screen where the gaming happens, which includes a level custom designed for the live show by the online social gaming platform Roblox. It usually goes smoothly, but Middleton concedes that when you’re playing a game live in front of an audience, “unexpected things can happen.”
It’s a busy time for Middleton. Late last year he released his first graphic novel, Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal, and he wants to do another one. He continues to release daily content on YouTube while he’s traveling for the tour, lugging hard drives worth of material around with him, and even filming and editing in planes and hotel rooms along the way.
“I just love what I do I guess. I think you have to, in order to have a crazy schedule like this,” he said. “But I just find it really
YouTube’s Minecraft sensation Dan TDM brings live show to Clearwater
by Stone Marshall | Jul 1, 2017 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Minecraft—the wildly popular video game that lets you build things out of virtual bricks—has emerged as a favorite of architects and enthusiasts eager to make everything from imaginary Brutalist buildings to miniature cities. But Su Yijun, a 22-year-old aspiring architect in Zhuhai, China, has created a true Minecraft marvel: a detailed replica of Beijing’s Forbidden City covering a site of 100 million blocks.
The virtual project had broken ground with the help of volunteers back in 2013, but when Su joined the group in 2014, they decided to start again from scratch. Su eventually became the project’s chief organizer, researching traditional Chinese architecture in order to perfectly replicate the palace’s nearly 1,000 buildings. He researched structure, decor, materials, and architectural history, even visiting the real-life site to learn details he couldn’t find elsewhere.
But this was tricky too: “Many areas are not open to the public,” Su told Sixth Tone. “And because of the exhibits, the interior decorations in the Palace Museum were not the same as how they originally appeared.”
Su worked with fellow Minecraft players to build the replica, but at one point their construction team was down to just him and another player. The effort, though, was worth it: “Through this, I hope to impart some knowledge about architectural aesthetics,” Su said, “and share my thoughts on architectural design.”
Minecraft replica of Forbidden City covers a grid of 100 million blocks
