GamesBeat weekly roundup: We try Nintendo’s Switch, and game sales are up in 2016
Welcome to another GamesBeat weekly roundup! This time, Nintendo reveals new Fire Emblem games, the PlayStation 4 wins December, and we look at the upcoming strategy game Halo Wars 2.
Enjoy, and have a great weekend!
GamesBeat weekly roundup: We try Nintendo’s Switch, and game sales are up in 2016
Someone ported a Minecraft clone onto the Dreamcast
Somewhere in an alternate universe there’s a Dreamcast 2 and, presumably, a Dreamcast 3. And, in that alternate universe, our doppelgangers are able to play Minecraft on their console of choice. But for us, stuck here in this hellish timeline, we’ll have to settle with a clever clone for the original Dreamcast, now available for free online.
Over at DCEmulation, forum member gameblabla has taken it upon himself to port a Minecraft clone called Crafti designed for a high-end Texas Instruments calculator onto a vintage Dreamcast. And apparently it works like a charm, albeit a charm without enemies or sound of any kind.
Tom Charnock, founder of The Dreamcast Junkyard, has been to this promised land and returned with a first-hand account.
“Controls take a little getting used to,” Tom wrote, “but once sussed, Crafti is about as close to the real Minecraft as you’re likely to get on a Dreamcast. Movement is handled through the D-pad, looking on the analogue and the face buttons allow you to place or erase blocks in the world. You can also jump, and there’s an action button for opening doors and pressing switches.
“After 10 minutes playing with Crafti I had already built myself a nice little house, complete with a fireplace and a bookshelf full of leather-bound books. The smell of rich mahogany also wafted through the structure.”
Thanks to Charnock for the tip. We’ve included a few of his screenshots above.
You too can download and play Crafti right now. It’s available for free as an image for CDs and SD flash memory.
Vampires? Meh. Focus Home Interactive’s next role-playing game turns you into a werewolf
Focus Home Interactive is cornering the market on dark role-playing games from Europe.
Today, the publisher announced a deal with White Wolf Publishing for Werewolf: The Apocalypse for PC and consoles. The Cyanide studio (makers of Styx: Master of Shadows, Blood Bowl, and the upcoming Call of Cthulhu RPG) will develop the adaptation of the pen-and-paper game. Focus Home is known for RPGs and strategy games, and Werewolf is a good fit for its product portfolio.
Werewolf is part of White Wolf’s “World of Darkness” universe, which also consists of Vampire: The Masquerade (its 2004 PC adaptation is a cult-classic) and Mage: Ascension. The setting is a twist on modern times, where the supernatural lurks in a world torn by corruption, the divide between the rich and the poor, and devious men and women. You play as a werewolf (a Garou, which comes from the French Loup-garou), and you fight against civilization and “supernatural corruption.”
“The World of Darkness has always attracted creatives with a strong passion for telling dark and immersive stories. So to work closely with the great talent at Focus Home and Cyanide exploring the savage Werewolves of this universe is an absolutely fantastic experience for us at White Wolf, and we are more than excited to see this great and highly relevant IP realized in a video game”, said Tobias Sjögren, chief executive officer of White Wolf.
Vampires? Meh. Focus Home Interactive’s next role-playing game turns you into a werewolf
Minecraft Realms gets new maps with class-based brawling and a music light show
Minecraft isn’t all building houses and digging holes.
Mojang has announced new content out today for Minecraft Realms, a subscription service for the block-building game on PC that costs $7 a month. It allows players to create their own private servers, but it also gives them access to minigames and maps. It also gives Mojang a new revenue stream for a hit that has already sold more 100 million copies on PC, home gaming consoles, and mobile.
The new maps include the Big Giant Lightshow, a 20 minute musical experience synced up with the game world that Mojang is introducing as the first in a new “experiences” category. These aren’t minigames — they’re more like music shows or roller coasters that you can enjoy inside Minecraft.
If you want something a bit more traditional, you can also play the Battle of the Gods minigame, a new class-based brawler.
“Play as one of many gods, each with their own special powers,” Mojang details. “Blast people into the air, launch a ranged fireball attack, but whatever you do, make sure that you keep your eyes on the prize: grabbing the three relics and returning them to your home biome. Battle of Gods also features a single-player mode, based on the multiplayer, so that you can get to know the terrain and practice with the map’s innovative ability system.”
You can learn about the other new maps, including one that lets you play a board game inside Minecraft, on Mojang’s site.
Minecraft Realms gets new maps with class-based brawling and a music light show
Microsoft drops support for ‘Minecraft’ on Windows Phone
Microsoft, which owns Minecraft, will stop supporting the Windows Phone 8.1 version of its own immensely popular world building game, Ars Technica reports. While the game’s development continues apace, Redmond is essentially admitting that even with a massive player base, the venn diagram between Windows Phone users and Minecraft fans has too little overlap to be worth the effort.
On mobile, the Android and iOS versions of Minecraft: Pocket Edition will still be supported, of course, and that same version is also what gets ported to platforms like the Gear VR and Apple TV. Unlike those other systems, which recently hit an official 1.0 version last month, the Windows Phone version never quite made it out of beta.
Microsoft did, however, recently release a new version of Minecraft for Windows 10 as a Universal Windows Platform app that will eventually run on everything from desktops to Surface tablets to the HoloLens. Although the Windows 10 version is based on the same Pocket Edition code, Microsoft has unfortunately decided to go against its own developer guidelines for the Universal Windows Platform and currently only supports a desktop interface. That means you’ll still need a mouse and keyboard to smash those blocks for now.
Report: Internet-breaking DDoS worm traced to chief of Minecraft-focused DDoS guard firm
Respected security analyst Brian Krebs published a report today detailing his research into who authored Mirai, a publicly available piece of malware that can be used to infect devices with online connections (think: printers, routers, etc.) and unite them into botnets capable of executing massive distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Mirai and its ilk garnered headlines around the world last year after it was employed to DDoS the servers of DNS provider Dyn and “break the Internet” by taking down popular websites like Twitter, Reddit, Netflix and more.
Countless game developers rely on these services, and they may be curious to read Krebs’ report that the author of the Mirai malware — and indeed, the business of conducting DDoS attacks in general — is deeply intertwined with Mojang’s mega-popular game Minecraft.
Krebs claims the real identity of Mirai author “Anna-Senpai” is Paras Jha, who at one point described himself as the president of Minecraft-focused DDoS protection firm ProTraf Solutions. It’s unclear if he still works at the company — Krebs claims Jha has not (yet) responded to his request for comment, while a ProTraf Solutions representative reportedly told him that “we [are] in the process of restructuring and refocusing what we are doing.”
Moreover, Krebs reports Jha got interested in the mechanics of DDoS attacks as a Minecraft fan and server operator who complained online when his own popular Minecraft server was attacked. Krebs believes this inspired Jha to take an interest in DDoS protection, and notes that Jha’s LinkedIn page includes stints at multiple high-profile Minecraft servers.
Plus, in a now-deleted (but recovered via the Internet Archive) personal bio, Jha describes himself as an aspiring Minecraft modder and game developer.
“My passion is to utilize my skills in programming and drawing to develop entertaining games and software for the online game Minecraft,” reads the excerpt of his personal bio published by Krebs. “Someday, I plan to start my own enterprise focused on the gaming industry targeted towards game consoles and the mobile platform.”
Krebs’ whole post is fascinating, and well worth reading in full if you’re at all interested in the position Minecraft servers hold in the DDoS attack business.
“The Minecraft industry is so competitive,” Robert Coelho, chief of fellow Minecraft-focused DDoS protection service ProxyPipe, told Krebs. “If you’re a player, and your favorite Minecraft server gets knocked offline, you can switch to another server. But for the server operators, it’s all about maximizing the number of players and running a large, powerful server. The more players you can hold on the server, the more money you make. But if you go down, you start to lose Minecraft players very fast — maybe for good.”
Report: Internet-breaking DDoS worm traced to chief of Minecraft-focused DDoS guard firm
Minecraft link to net’s biggest botnet
Malware that launched the net’s largest ever cyber-attack last year had links to Minecraft servers, according to those investigating it.
Security blogger Brian Krebs has spent months investigating the attack which knocked his blog offline.
He claims that the origins of the Mirai botnet can be traced back to rivalries in the Minecraft community.
His claims are backed up by a security expert who provided net security for Minecraft servers.
Robert Coelho, vice president of security firm ProxyPipe, told the BBC that his suspicions about who was behind the Mirai code have been passed to the FBI, which is “actively investigating” the claims.
The botnet Mirai was made up of more than 500,000 web-connected devices such as webcams and routers.
The attacks it launched – so-called denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that hit web pages with so much data that they fall over – were the biggest the net had ever experienced.
Victims that were knocked offline included Twitter, Spotify and Reddit.
‘Hundreds of hours’
Shortly after the attacks, the individual claiming responsibility – using the codename Anna Senpai – released the source code online, paving the way for copycat attacks.
A modified form of the malware was later used to attack UK internet service providers TalkTalk and the Post Office.
Since being hit by the Mirai botnet in September 2016, Mr Krebs has devoted “hundreds of hours” into uncovering who was behind it.
“If you’ve ever wondered why it seems that so few internet criminals are brought to justice, I can tell you that the sheer amount of persistence and investigative resources required to piece together who’s done what to whom (and why) in the online era is tremendous,” he wrote.
His research led him directly to the community around Minecraft, a computer game now owned by Microsoft, in which users build things from cubic blocks.
It has a huge following, especially among children, and it is estimated that at any one time a million people are playing it.
According to Mr Krebs, a large successful Minecraft web server with more than 1,000 players logging on each day can earn up to $50,000 (£40,600) per month, mainly from players renting space to build their Minecraft worlds.
“The first clues to Anna Senpai’s identity didn’t become clear until I understood that Mirai was just the latest incarnation of an IoT [internet of things] botnet family that has been in development and relatively broad use for nearly three years,” he writes.
The code for these earlier versions was often used to knock over web servers used to host Minecraft, he claims.
ProxyPipe – owned by Mr Coelho – had plenty of Minecraft servers as clients and in mid-2015 was hit by a massive attack, launched from a botnet made up of IoT devices such as web cameras.
Mr Coelho told the BBC that he had his suspicions about who was behind the attack: “Minecraft is a tight knit community. We know who is talking to who.”
He alleged that the attack came from a competing security firm, which also offered DDoS protection to Minecraft clients.
He claimed that the founder of the security firm had previously run a Minecraft web server and was one of his clients.
He also claims that the Mirai author – Anna Senpai – contacted him via Skype at the end of September, partly to explain that the attack on his firm was “not personal” but also to brag that he had been paid by the owners of a large Minecraft server to launch an attack on a rival server.
‘Minecraft’ Is Coming To The Nintendo Switch
Nintendo confirms that the popular indie game “Minecraft” is coming to the Nintendo Switch and is currently in development. This adds to its library of games alongside powerhouse “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Super Mario Odyssey.”
Nintendo’s announcement doesn’t contain much detail about the game, let alone a release date, according to Game Rant. However, Nintendo UK recently tweeted a lineup of games that may indicate that “Minecraft” will come out this year. The said announcement also did not include how many players can join in “Minecraft” at the same time.
This is not the first time the game has been ported to a Nintendo console, as it already exists on the Wii U. In addition, Nintendo released a DLC with a “Super Mario” update that enables players to create environments and levels and also include textures and skins from the series.
Meanwhile, according to Gamespot, “Minecraft: Story Mode”, a TellTale Game Series, has been confirmed also by Nintendo. It has not disclosed a release date so far.
“Minecraft” was developed and published by Mojang and was initially released for the PC. It has been available for almost seven years and, due to its popularity, the game has been ported to various platforms including Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, PS Vita and Xbox one. The Nintendo Switch is the most recent. Upon its release, it received numerous awards and accolades. Most people would agree that this game is one of the most surprising game stories in the industry.
Are you looking forward for the Nintendo Switch’s version of “Minecraft?” Write and share your thoughts on the comments section below.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition Won’t Get More Updates on Windows Phone: Report
Microsoft will no longer provide updates for Minecraft: Pocket Edition for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile, according to a new report.
Windows Central claims that sources familiar to Microsoft’s plans have revealed that the company is stopping development of a game it owns for its own software, owing to the lack of interest from the user base. That has probably got something to do with the fact that Windows Phone is essentially an outlier in the smartphone OS race, dominated by Google’s Android, and Apple’s iOS.
With Microsoft poised to bring Windows 10 on ARM devices in the future, it seems that would be the way to go to salvage what’s left of Windows on mobile devices. The company already makes Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, which despite being a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app, is currently only available for PCs. It does support touch, however.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft for an official statement on the matter, and will update this story once we hear back.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition will still get support on Android, iOS, Amazon’s Fire OS, Samsung Gear VR, and Apple TV. Pocket Edition was in the beta stage until last month, when it hit version 1.0. Unfortunately, that never happened with the Windows Phone version, which remains stuck on version 0.16.2.
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, which is based on the Pocket Edition, recently exited beta as well. You can pick that up at Rs. 642 for now, after which the price will shoot up to Rs. 1,719 next week. Or you can continue playing the Windows Pocket Edition, which remains on the Windows Store for now, priced at Rs. 452.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition Won’t Get More Updates on Windows Phone: Report
Report: Internet-breaking DDoS worm traced to chief of Minecraft-focused DDoS guard firm
Respected security analyst Brian Krebs published a report today detailing his research into who authored Mirai, a publicly available piece of malware that can be used to infect devices with online connections (think: printers, routers, etc.) and unite them into botnets capable of executing massive distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Mirai and its ilk garnered headlines around the world last year after it was employed to DDoS the servers of DNS provider Dyn and “break the Internet” by taking down popular websites like Twitter, Reddit, Netflix and more.
Countless game developers rely on these services, and they may be curious to read Krebs’ report that the author of the Mirai malware — and indeed, the business of conducting DDoS attacks in general — is deeply intertwined with Mojang’s mega-popular game Minecraft.
Krebs claims the real identity of Mirai author “Anna-Senpai” is Paras Jha, who at one point described himself as the president of Minecraft-focused DDoS protection firm ProTraf Solutions. It’s unclear if he still works at the company — Krebs claims Jha has not (yet) responded to his request for comment, while a ProTraf Solutions representative reportedly told him that “we [are] in the process of restructuring and refocusing what we are doing.”
Moreover, Krebs reports Jha got interested in the mechanics of DDoS attacks as a Minecraft fan and server operator who complained online when his own popular Minecraft server was attacked. Krebs believes this inspired Jha to take an interest in DDoS protection, and notes that Jha’s LinkedIn page includes stints at multiple high-profile Minecraft servers.
Plus, in a now-deleted (but recovered via the Internet Archive) personal bio, Jha describes himself as an aspiring Minecraft modder and game developer.
“My passion is to utilize my skills in programming and drawing to develop entertaining games and software for the online game Minecraft,” reads the excerpt of his personal bio published by Krebs. “Someday, I plan to start my own enterprise focused on the gaming industry targeted towards game consoles and the mobile platform.”
Krebs’ whole post is fascinating, and well worth reading in full if you’re at all interested in the position Minecraft servers hold in the DDoS attack business.
“The Minecraft industry is so competitive,” Robert Coelho, chief of fellow Minecraft-focused DDoS protection service ProxyPipe, told Krebs. “If you’re a player, and your favorite Minecraft server gets knocked offline, you can switch to another server. But for the server operators, it’s all about maximizing the number of players and running a large, powerful server. The more players you can hold on the server, the more money you make. But if you go down, you start to lose Minecraft players very fast — maybe for good.”
Report: Internet-breaking DDoS worm traced to chief of Minecraft-focused DDoS guard firm
Microsoft halts Minecraft updates for Windows 10 phones, as W10M consumer apps slowly die
Microsoft has put another nail in the coffin of Windows 10 Mobile, confirming that it has stopped development of its hit game Minecraft for Windows phones.
On Wednesday, Windows Central reported that Microsoft had halted development of Minecraft: Pocket Edition for Windows phones. When asked for comment, a Microsoft representative referred PCWorld to a Minecraft support document that indicates the platform won’t receive future updates.
The official FAQ states: “Is the 1.0 Ender Update coming to Minecraft: Pocket Edition on Windows Phone? Why not?” It goes on to answer: “The 1.0 Ender Update will not be available on Windows Phone 8.1 or Windows Phone 10. Every Minecraft platform has different needs and our priority is to focus on long-awaited features for as many players as possible.”
Microsoft’s decision means that Minecraft development has essentially come to an end for Windows phones. Within Microsoft, Minecraft is essentially three codebases: the original, full-featured “legacy” version based on Java for PCs, a C++ version for consoles; and a C++-based version of the game, including Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition — which receives the bulk of Microsoft’s attention — and Minecraft: Pocket Edition.
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition—which has exited beta, and whose price will rise from $9.99 to $26.99 in five days—only runs on Windows PCs, however, and not Windows phones. The only Minecraft game that runs on Windows phones is the Pocket Edition, and just the existing version. Minecraft: Pocket Edition is still available for iOS and Android, too.
According to a Microsoft representative, both the Pocket Edition and the Windows 10 Edition share the same codebase. Because they’re on different operating systems, though, each platform requires its own testing and will generate its own list of bugs. These “take a tremendous amount of resources to identify and fix,” she said.
Why this matters: Within the U.S., Windows phone sales are below 1 percent. Not all of those users actively play Minecraft, so you really can’t blame Microsoft: The relatively low number of players on the Windows Phone platform ultimately forced its hand. And the company is not alone: This week, the popular exercise app Runtastic pulled support as well. Microsoft’s Minecraft decision, the demise of Microsoft’s Lumia lineup, plus the emergence of productivity-oriented phones like the HP Elite x3 all support one conclusion: The days of consumer Windows mobile phone apps are dying.
Microsoft halts Minecraft updates for Windows 10 phones, as W10M consumer apps slowly die
Microsoft Releasing ‘Minecraft’ Xbox One S Bundle In Japanese Market; New Controller Color Schemes Detailed! [VIDEO]
Fans and avid gamers alike are more than familiar with the success that the Xbox One console has garnered over the past years. With the release of the Xbox One S, it seems to tell a slightly different story since there have been reports that the console hasn’t made much of an impact in the Japanese market. As such, it was reported that Microsoft will be taking another chance at cutting through the market by releasing a “Minecraft” Xbox One S bundle in Japan. Moreover, sources have taken time to look at the new color schemes of the Xbox One’s controllers.
It was recently reported that Microsoft will be trying to redeem themselves in the Japanese market by releasing a “Minecraft” Xbox One S bundle, Gamingbolt noted. It was stated therein that the company’s move of tying up the next-gen console with the highly-acclaimed crafting game was a good move on their part.
The source noted that “Minecraft” has been the highest selling game that Microsoft has published for the Wii U. In fact, it was even mentioned that it was the highest selling game of all time in Japan, in terms of Microsoft’s stable of published games released therein. As such, it was suggested that this might have been the reason that prompted the company to release a “Minecraft” Xbox One S bundle in the market.
That being said, fans and avid gamers alike residing in Japan can get a hold on to the “Minecraft” Xbox One S bundle priced at 29,980 Japanese Yen (or around 262 US dollars), which was said to be as much as a PS4 console. The console being bundled will be sporting a 500 GB storage for Japanese gamers to fill-up with other titles of their choosing.
In other news, the new color schemes for the Xbox One controllers were also revealed, Polygon reported. It was stated therein that Microsoft has introduced new color schemes inlcuding the “Red” and “Green/Orange.” The Red Xbox One controller will be sporting a two tone finish with a deeper tone of red.
Minecraft Apple TV Edition review: Block building on the big screen
Minecraft is the biggest (paid) gaming sensation of the last decade, racking up more than 100 million downloads across platforms and still growing in popularity after several years. It’s hugely popular with young kids, has a vibrant fan community, and even is used in classrooms for educational purposes. And now you can play it on the Apple TV.
Released right before Christmas, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition is essentially a big-screen conversion of the Minecraft: Pocket Edition you might know well from iPhone and iPad. It’s not only the biggest game to hit the Apple TV to date, but also simultaneously the highest-profile game on the device to require a gamepad—you won’t be able to play with the Siri Remote. And that’s for the best, because it means that Minecraft isn’t diminished in this new incarnation.
Block by block
Minecraft on Apple TV offers essentially the same experience as Pocket Edition, which itself follows the same core tenets as the original Minecraft on Mac and PC: it’s all about little blocks. Like a modern-day digital take on LEGO, you’ll wield pixelated blocks of all sorts—dirt, sand, iron ore, and much more—in your charmingly jagged world. You can use them to build a house, a city, a detailed re-creation of the Millennium Falcon… or anything else, really.
You’ll also bash them to bits as you dig into the ground and mountains, exploring beneath the surface to mine all sorts of minerals. And then you’ll craft, of course, using the myriad blocks you’ve accumulated to build swords, shovels, pickaxes, fishing rods, and other tools to help you in the lo-fi wilds. As ever, Minecraft is about as loosely structured as a game can be. You’re dropped into a world with no tutorial, a minimal on-screen interface, and no objectives or storyline. It’s up to you to find meaning and fun in each randomly generated world you enter.
IDGLuckily, that’s not difficult: the allure of freeform, trial-and-error exploration reveals surprises and secrets along the way, especially as you learn the ropes in the Survival mode, and there’s real joy in forging your own adventure in the face of unexpected challenge. With vicious block monsters appearing every night, you’ll need to utilize the resources around you to build shelter, craft better tools, and ultimately find your way to the final realm, called The End.
Meanwhile, in Creative Mode, you have all of the tools, blocks, and resources ready in your arsenal, and you can even soar through the air—all of which allows you to build massive structures and create your own experiences along the way. And you can also connect to online servers for multiplayer in either mode, and play with fellow fan-made maps and makeshift minigames.
IDGPlaying Minecraft with a proper gamepad is so much better than using virtual buttons on your iPhone or iPad. While that’s adequate enough, there’s nothing quite like the steady, tactile sensation of feeling an analog stick and buttons under your thumbs, not to mention having an unencumbered view of the game on your TV. I’m using the SteelSeries Nimbus ($50), which is still the best of the bunch with Apple TV and iOS MFi gamepads, and Minecraft plays as well here as it does on other consoles and computers. While it’ll take a fairly sizable investment to start playing, it’s the only option that makes sense on the Apple TV: trying to comfortably squeeze all of the controls onto the limited Siri Remote seems an impossible task.
Double up?
Minecraft: Apple TV Edition is almost identical to Pocket Edition in nearly every respect. It has the same content as the recent 1.0 release of Pocket Edition, which also supports gamepads. However, the Apple TV Edition lacks a couple of features right now: support for Realms, the official service for setting up and running private Minecraft servers, as well the ability to sign into Xbox Live and add friends via the service. Both of those features are in development, which is great, but it’s no surprise that the Apple TV Edition’s $20 price tag is throwing some Pocket Edition owners for a loop.
IDGWhile many purchased iOS games are then free to download on Apple TV, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition has its own $20 price tag that is separate from Pocket Edition’s paltry $7 charge. Seven bucks for Minecraft on your iPhone is a steal, while $20 for a home console version feels spot-on. However, given that you’re essentially getting a blown-up version of Pocket Edition, it seems strange that you’re asked to pay again, not to mention at a much higher price.
It’s a matter of Mojang and Microsoft following their usual playbook here, in which console versions of Minecraft cost $20, while Apple’s shared platform could allow for one purchase to cover iOS and Apple TV versions alike. But that’s their choice to make, and now it’s yours too. At least early buyers get a free add-on pack bundle that brings in a Christmas-themed environment, costumes, and other small digital goodies.
IDGThe Mac version is a bit more feature rich than this one (and is $27 by comparison), but playing on a TV with a gamepad is definitely preferable to using an iOS device. If you or your kids are still over the moon about Minecraft—or haven’t played and think it could be up your alley—then this may be $20 very well spent. Minecraft is infinitely replayable and Mojang keeps expanding its feature set, while online servers offer further modes and experiences. On the other hand, if you have Pocket Edition and are either perfectly content with it or don’t play much anymore, then there’s little point in buying the same game again at three times the cost.
Bottom line
Minecraft shines on the Apple TV, as playing on a big screen with a comfortable controller is even more alluring than playing on your iPhone or iPad—and it’s about on par with the Mac version in terms of overall experience. However, the price discrepancy with the Pocket Edition and need to buy this version separately may throw some fans for a loop
Minecraft Apple TV Edition review: Block building on the big screen
Nintendo Switch 3rd Party Titles: Sonic Mania, Minecraft, NBA 2K18 and More
Nintendo Switch’s first party reveals may have been somewhat limited – even if Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild look great – but there’s still plenty to look forward to.
Aside from the next Shin Megami Tensei, Fire Emblem Warriors and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, games like Project Sonic 2017 and Sonic Mania have also been confirmed (as per Sonic Stadium). Other titles like NBA 2K18, Dragon Quest XI, Dragon Quest X, BlazBlue and Minecraft have also been confirmed.
Many of the names in Japanese were translated courtesy of NeoGAF and include Derby Stallion, Taiko no Tatsujin, Arcade Archives, Bandai Namco’s Tales of series and Harvest Moon. Overall, not a bad collection of support though we’re obviously looking forward to more.
The Nintendo Switch is out on March 3rd worldwide and will retail for $299. What are your thoughts on the console and its games thus far? Let us know in the comments below.
Nintendo Switch 3rd Party Titles: Sonic Mania, Minecraft, NBA 2K18 and More
Build Segedunum using Minecraft – historic Roman fort to host Time Craft event
It’s a famous North East landmark but have you ever wondered what Segedunum Roman fort would like in Minecraft form? The answer is probably not but now you can see for yourself.
The Wallsend attraction is inviting fans of the famous computer build and design programme to get a tour of the fort and then take on the roles of digital archaeologist and architect to build their own version using Minecraft.
The Time Craft event will take place during half term week on Monday, February 20 and Tuesday, February 21 with four sessions each day at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm with tickets price at £6 per person.
It’s aimed at youngsters aged 7 – 14 of for each paying child, one adult can accompany them for free.
Within each workshop, participants will be working together in pairs using a PC version of Minecraft and organisers will try to pair siblings and friends together.
While no prior knowledge of Minecraft or Roman history is needed, if your child has no experience of Minecraft its recommended they have a play before the event.
PCs and Minecraft will be provided as part of the workshop.
With the event likely to prove very popular, advance booking is definitely advised to avoid disappointment. You can book your tickets online via Eventbrite .
Build Segedunum using Minecraft – historic Roman fort to host Time Craft event
Oh Hey, These Were Made In Minecraft
Reminder: Minecraft isn’t just for digging and building stuff. It’s also a platform for people who just want to make art.
This is the work of Marceau Nakayama, aka Udvio, who has been using Minecraft (and various plugins, and some rendering help) as “a way to express my ideas”.
Holy shit these are incredible. Some are inspired by famous games and movies, some are recreations of actual places, some are just incredibly cool on their own.
You can see way more of his Minecraft work at his Planet Minecraft page.
Minecraft Apple TV Edition review: Block building on the big screen
Minecraft is the biggest (paid) gaming sensation of the last decade, racking up more than 100 million downloads across platforms and still growing in popularity after several years. It’s hugely popular with young kids, has a vibrant fan community, and even is used in classrooms for educational purposes. And now you can play it on the Apple TV.
Released right before Christmas, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition is essentially a big-screen conversion of the Minecraft: Pocket Edition you might know well from iPhone and iPad. It’s not only the biggest game to hit the Apple TV to date, but also simultaneously the highest-profile game on the device to require a gamepad—you won’t be able to play with the Siri Remote. And that’s for the best, because it means that Minecraft isn’t diminished in this new incarnation.
Block by block
Minecraft on Apple TV offers essentially the same experience as Pocket Edition, which itself follows the same core tenets as the original Minecraft on Mac and PC: it’s all about little blocks. Like a modern-day digital take on LEGO, you’ll wield pixelated blocks of all sorts—dirt, sand, iron ore, and much more—in your charmingly jagged world. You can use them to build a house, a city, a detailed re-creation of the Millennium Falcon… or anything else, really.
You’ll also bash them to bits as you dig into the ground and mountains, exploring beneath the surface to mine all sorts of minerals. And then you’ll craft, of course, using the myriad blocks you’ve accumulated to build swords, shovels, pickaxes, fishing rods, and other tools to help you in the lo-fi wilds. As ever, Minecraft is about as loosely structured as a game can be. You’re dropped into a world with no tutorial, a minimal on-screen interface, and no objectives or storyline. It’s up to you to find meaning and fun in each randomly generated world you enter.
IDGLuckily, that’s not difficult: the allure of freeform, trial-and-error exploration reveals surprises and secrets along the way, especially as you learn the ropes in the Survival mode, and there’s real joy in forging your own adventure in the face of unexpected challenge. With vicious block monsters appearing every night, you’ll need to utilize the resources around you to build shelter, craft better tools, and ultimately find your way to the final realm, called The End.
Meanwhile, in Creative Mode, you have all of the tools, blocks, and resources ready in your arsenal, and you can even soar through the air—all of which allows you to build massive structures and create your own experiences along the way. And you can also connect to online servers for multiplayer in either mode, and play with fellow fan-made maps and makeshift minigames.
IDGPlaying Minecraft with a proper gamepad is so much better than using virtual buttons on your iPhone or iPad. While that’s adequate enough, there’s nothing quite like the steady, tactile sensation of feeling an analog stick and buttons under your thumbs, not to mention having an unencumbered view of the game on your TV. I’m using the SteelSeries Nimbus ($50), which is still the best of the bunch with Apple TV and iOS MFi gamepads, and Minecraft plays as well here as it does on other consoles and computers. While it’ll take a fairly sizable investment to start playing, it’s the only option that makes sense on the Apple TV: trying to comfortably squeeze all of the controls onto the limited Siri Remote seems an impossible task.
Double up?
Minecraft: Apple TV Edition is almost identical to Pocket Edition in nearly every respect. It has the same content as the recent 1.0 release of Pocket Edition, which also supports gamepads. However, the Apple TV Edition lacks a couple of features right now: support for Realms, the official service for setting up and running private Minecraft servers, as well the ability to sign into Xbox Live and add friends via the service. Both of those features are in development, which is great, but it’s no surprise that the Apple TV Edition’s $20 price tag is throwing some Pocket Edition owners for a loop.
IDGWhile many purchased iOS games are then free to download on Apple TV, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition has its own $20 price tag that is separate from Pocket Edition’s paltry $7 charge. Seven bucks for Minecraft on your iPhone is a steal, while $20 for a home console version feels spot-on. However, given that you’re essentially getting a blown-up version of Pocket Edition, it seems strange that you’re asked to pay again, not to mention at a much higher price.
It’s a matter of Mojang and Microsoft following their usual playbook here, in which console versions of Minecraft cost $20, while Apple’s shared platform could allow for one purchase to cover iOS and Apple TV versions alike. But that’s their choice to make, and now it’s yours too. At least early buyers get a free add-on pack bundle that brings in a Christmas-themed environment, costumes, and other small digital goodies.
IDGThe Mac version is a bit more feature rich than this one (and is $27 by comparison), but playing on a TV with a gamepad is definitely preferable to using an iOS device. If you or your kids are still over the moon about Minecraft—or haven’t played and think it could be up your alley—then this may be $20 very well spent. Minecraft is infinitely replayable and Mojang keeps expanding its feature set, while online servers offer further modes and experiences. On the other hand, if you have Pocket Edition and are either perfectly content with it or don’t play much anymore, then there’s little point in buying the same game again at three times the cost.
Bottom line
Minecraft shines on the Apple TV, as playing on a big screen with a comfortable controller is even more alluring than playing on your iPhone or iPad—and it’s about on par with the Mac version in terms of overall experience. However, the price discrepancy with the Pocket Edition and need to buy this version separately may throw some fans for a loop.
Minecraft Apple TV Edition review: Block building on the big screen
Microsoft launches Xbox One S Minecraft Bundle in Japan
The Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites Bundle includes the Xbox One S 500GB console, an Xbox Wireless Controller, Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Favorites Pack, Minecraft Builder’s Pack, Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta, and a 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial.
Microsoft is now launching this Minecraft bundle in Japan. Minecraft is a popular game in Japan and in fact it is the highest selling game of all time in Japan for Microsoft. Microsoft is now taking advantage of Minecraft’s popularity in Japan to sell Xbox One S console. Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites Bundle costs 29,980 Japanese Yen(approx $260).
Minecraft Update 1.40 Today on PS4 & PS3 Fixes Some Bugs
Following the releases of 1.38 and 1.39 late last month, Minecraft update 1.40 is now available to download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in North America and Europe, developer 4J Studios announced today.
As the patch notes show, this is just a small bug fix update:
- Fix for Mob Spawners not spawning anymore, and showing a Pig inside them.
- Fix for previously created signs being censored for players with restrictive Privacy settings.
- Fix for being able to escape the boundaries of the world by exiting a Boat at the edge.
The update is also available on Xbox One and Xbox 360.
4J Studios adds, “We are continuing to work on bug fixes for all Minecraft console editions. Please report any bugs you’ve found here.”
During the Nintendo event last night, Minecraft was announced for Nintendo Switch.
In 2016, Minecraft was the #3 best-selling PS4 game in North America through the PlayStation Store. It also took home #1 on PS3 and #2 on PS Vita in North America.
Hold your blocks: Minecraft is also coming to the Switch
It just hit Wii U
Minecraft just hit the Wii U fairly recently (in the grand scheme of Minecraft‘s lengthy lifespan, that is), but like most things that went to die on the Wii U, it’s also coming to the Switch so you can buy it again like it didn’t just happen.
Buried within the announcement for the Switch lineup was a pretty uneventful confirmation that one of the most popular games of all time is heading to their new console. All of the features are basic stuff and nothing extra is known so far in regards to how Switchy this port might be, but it exists if you want it.
My guess is all of the Wii U DLC, including the Mario Mash-Up pack, is fair game.
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