Minecraft

[137th Gebirg]

^^^ Y'know, it wouldn't surprise me if they threw something like that in there.

My only concern is if they junk the world up with too many monsters, it will become nigh impossible to get anything done. They will need to make the player character more powerful, then we get into RPG-style rating upgrades, and it may make for a needlessly complex system. One of the things that initially appealed to me about MC was its elegant simplicity. The more complex it gets, I fear it may lose appeal.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I think it's fine to add more monsters and buff them, but then your own toolbox needs to expand, as well.

We have some primitive options for automated defenses. I would love to see more and better ways to weaponize pistons, automate arrow cannons, deploy fire against enemies, etc. I think Minecraft could become a sort of real-time strategy/tower defense game if they put more thought into those things, and it wouldn't lose anything in terms of the Survival mode.

I could do with things like waypoints/patrol routes for wolves, auto-aimed arrow cannons, etc. It's pretty easy to automate mob grinders but I think it's excessively difficult to defend a large structure. With Notch nerfing the Endermen's block-stealing abilities, I guess that doesn't leave any mobs that can destroy your stuff without you being around--Creepers still have to be set off, after all. But I think when they add a new mob, they should about what countermeasures players have against them, beyond the simple "run up and whack 'em with a sword" technique. And if we're going to have mobs that can grief your structures when you aren't around, provide an effective countermeasure. I don't care if you make it kind of costly (so you can't spam them), just make it be something.

I would point out that this also makes PvP a lot more interesting!

 

[TheGodBen]

1.9 pre 4 is out. I tested it for a couple of minutes by going to the End. It's unfinished, but it seems like it's just going to be a giant arena for fighting dragons as it's comprised of a single giant floating island and there's no way to return to the main world. There's no dragons in the pre-release.

 

[Cutter John]

Thanks for the tip about making stronghold brick Princess.

Well apparently someone has a plug in that'll let you put dragons in your game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtG_7dV1OXs&feature=feedlik

 

[Owain Taggart]

^^^ Y'know, it wouldn't surprise me if they threw something like that in there.

My only concern is if they junk the world up with too many monsters, it will become nigh impossible to get anything done. They will need to make the player character more powerful, then we get into RPG-style rating upgrades, and it may make for a needlessly complex system. One of the things that initially appealed to me about MC was its elegant simplicity. The more complex it gets, I fear it may lose appeal.

They're already going in that direction anyway, with the new additions from 1.8 like the hunger and experience bars. Apparently upgradable skills are coming too. I agree, I feel simplicity is key, and I admit one of the reason I didn't get into 1.8 for awhile was because of the change in game mechanics. They just seemed to bum me out. The increase in complexity took away from some of the charm, in my opinion.

About the sun and the moon, well, that's interesting. In my texture pack, it's hexagonal. So, maybe it will be round in the default texture pack, but nothing will change in terms of texture packs having their own versions. It would be nice having an option to choose a server setting for where the sun sets though. It brings the question to mind though... will the horizon eventually curve slightly? I'd love to be able to pull back from the first person view to viewing the world as a cube and seeing what we've built on it as major landmarks.

 

[Cutter John]

Except most of the upgrades are strictly optional. Like redstone,f you don't feel like brewing potions and going out adventuring, you don't really have to.

Hmmmm, maybe I should look into setting up an Alchemy shop on the server.

For me, its the updates and additions that keep the game interesting. I only start to lose intrest in a game when I feel like I've done and seen everything. I recently stopped playing Torchlight for that very reason.

 

[TheGodBen]

Apparently upgradable skills are coming too.

I think that has been scrapped in favour of item enchantment, which you'll use XP to purchase, while potions allow you to temporarily level up your skills.

As for the sun/moon issue, Notch posted a poll about it and the response has been surprising; 21,592 voted round, 21,602 voted square. There's some sort of evil magic going on here.

 

[Reverend]

^The obvious solution would appear to be adding a toggle option in the settings menu that allows a player two choose which they prefer. With a margin that narrow, it's the only logical answer....well that or make them octagonal.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

I agree with Owain, I kind of miss the simplicity that Minecraft used to have (although I love the new combat mechanics, and more automated defenses are a must). I still rather use the Classic mode on the website rather than the Creative mode that was included with 1.8. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about upgradeable skills/enchantments, because I think then you're going to get to that point where you've acquired all the end-game weapons and there's nothing that challenges you anymore and the game won't be fun.

Also, I see a bit of a problem with not being able to place blocks in Adventure Mode. Often, there's a point where the only safe way down in an abandoned mine, cave, etc. is by placing blocks as a stairway. The random world generation code often creates situations that require the placement of blocks to safely overcome.

 

[Cutter John]

No block placement in Adventure mode? I hadn't hear about that. It seems like an odd decision. I'd like to be able to work on my house, then go out adventuring when I get bored. Or vice versa.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Apparently upgradable skills are coming too.

I think that has been scrapped in favour of item enchantment, which you'll use XP to purchase, while potions allow you to temporarily level up your skills.

As for the sun/moon issue, Notch posted a poll about it and the response has been surprising; 21,592 voted round, 21,602 voted square. There's some sort of evil magic going on here.

Not sure what I think about item enchantment as I prefer skills. I think that if they want to go with making characters unique, giving them skills rather than enchantments seems more flexible, plus you get more direct control.

As for the sun, I quite like the one from Sphax BDCraft:

 

[TheGodBen]

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about upgradeable skills/enchantments, because I think then you're going to get to that point where you've acquired all the end-game weapons and there's nothing that challenges you anymore and the game won't be fun.

But all the upgrades are temporary, potions only last for a minute or two and item enchantments are lost once you've used up the item. You can't stay at the top of your game for long, my understanding is that you're only supposed to reach "max level" long enough to be able to take on the dragon.

Also, I see a bit of a problem with not being able to place blocks in Adventure Mode.

There's a lot of confusion out there as to what the Adventure Mode actually is, but here's what Notch said:

I foresee a future where people can design “challenge maps” in creative or survival mode, then share them with people so that they can try to beat them in Adventure mode.

The way Notch described it, it seems pretty clear that it's for story maps like the ones that the Yogscast are always doing where you're not supposed to be able to break or place blocks. The confusion comes from the fact that people assumed the Adventure Update would contain this Adventure Mode when all the Adventure Update does is add things to Survival Mode.

 

[Owain Taggart]

It sounds a lot like the adventure maps that people are already creating. So, maybe it's a hybrid of survival and creative where you can't place blocks? Considering it's caused lots of confusion, maybe they should have renamed the adventure update.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Yeah, clarity is not one of Notch's strong suits.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Since there's so much confusion surrounding "adventure", maybe they should rename that to Story Mode which is much more direct.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

What I was thinking was that Adventure mode would just be a Survival world with event triggers, quests, and the inability to place blocks or craft items.

 

[Encifer]

What I was thinking was that Adventure mode would just be a Survival world with event triggers, quests, and the inability to place blocks or craft items.

That's what they kind of made it out to be to start out with, but it seems like they're taking it in a different direction now. Then again, I have no idea what they're doing! Them Mojangz can be fairly cryptic.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I was out exploring today, and I think I've come across the best thing the terrain generator has ever done. At first, as I was exploring, I had to traverse a huge ocean that seemed to never end. I thought something was wrong with the terrain generator as I wasn't seeing any land in any direction for quite awhile, until I came upon this:

Yes, that's quite the epic arch in the background, and here it is seen closer:

Kind of feels like a pirate cove.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I noticed today is officially one year since I started playing this game. Oh God, I need help.

 

[Hoser]

Holy cow, I never thought of that....I've been playing on and off since September. That's crazy, only a few games I've owned have resided on my desktop that long.