7 Days to Die Alpha 3 Update, Project Zomboid Update, Minecraft 1.7.2

Hello fellow survivors! If you are following Watchsurvival on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/Watchsurvival )  you have probably seen this information. I wanted to let everyone know about a couple of recent fun updates.  First on the List 7 Days to Die has just released a new update after only 10 days or releasing the last update.   This game is coming along nicely.  Read about all the additions and changes below.

http://7daystodie.com/alpha-3-is-out-oh-my/


Project Zomboid has recently released their newest Monday blog which talks to us about their most recent updates and all the new wonderful things in store for zomboid, which keeps getting better and better. 

http://projectzomboid.com/blog/2013/11/buildin-it-up/


Probably already old news to quite a few of you but Minecraft also released a new update that was quite awesome 1.7.2 The Update that Changed the World.  I'm making a note of this update because it has been a long time since I've picked up Minecraft and played it and I found this update worth checking the game out again. Others that have not played in a while might find this one worthy of your time.  The new biomes are a great addition to the game in my personal opinion and really help freshen up the seeds  and make the world more fun to explore again.

https://mojang.com/2013/10/minecraft-1-7-the-update-that-changed-the-world/


Keep surviving out there!
Z

New Minecraft snapshot! 13w16a Horses!

Minecraft has been keeping busy with all kinds of new things. I've not made a Minecraft post in a while so I thought I would include this one.  It is pretty awesome.  We get horses! Also Carpets and hay bales and a few other cool things.  All togather I'd say the new update is going to be really fun once it goes official.  Snapshot below. New launcher as well. 

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/789-snapshot-13w16a-ready-for-testing/

--copy and paste--

Suddenly, out of nowhere...SNAPSHOT TIME!  What lies in store for today's amazing snapshot release?  Let's take a look!

FEATURES:

• Added horses, based on the work of John Olarte (DrZhark), of Mo’ Creatures fame
• Added hay bales
• Added leashes
• Added carpets
• The “Respiration” enchantment now also helps seeing underwater

NEW MINECRAFT LAUNCHER?  YES!

Dinnerbone and Grum have been hard at work creating a NEW Minecraft launcher, with some pretty sweet features!  To get the snapshot, use the new launcher available in the link below. To return to 1.5.1, simply start the old launcher and play as normal.  That's all there is to it!

Want to send feedback on the new launcher?  Be sure to tweet @Dinnerbone, @Grum, or @jeb_ with your suggestions, or make a post right here!

GET THE LAUNCHER HERE:

Windows: Click here

Mac/OSX: Click here

Linux/Other: Click here

IMPORTANT NOTES

• You might get an "unsafe" warning when trying to download the launcher. Disregard this, it is safe!
• Don't forget to report bugs you encounter at the links above!  The launcher can be updated nearly instantaneously without additional downloads!

Minecraft 1.5 Redstone Update

Minecraft has released a new official update titled the redstone update. A lot of good redstone features are obviously included.   An update to this update is already rolled out into the form of a snapshot as well to help fix a few things.   Most official information can be found below.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/767-15-redstone-update-released/


--copy and paste--

The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here - the 1.5 Redstone Update is now live!  Now, I know you want to jump into this massively awesome update head-first, so let's see what was added!

1.5 Features:

• Added Redstone Comparator (used in Redstone logic)
• Added Hopper (collects items and moves them to containers)
• Added Dropper (similar to Dispensers, but always drops the item)
• Added Activator Rail (activates TNT Minecarts)
• Added Daylight Sensor
• Added Trapped Chest
• Added Weighed Pressure Plate
• Added Block of Redstone
• Added Nether Brick (item)
• Added Nether Quartz and ore
• Added Block of Quartz, with half blocks and chiseled variants
• New command: /scoreboard
• New command: /effect
• Containers and mobs can have custom names
• Inventory management has been changed, for example you can drag-place items over slots
• Texture packs now have separate images for each block and item, and can have animations
• Nether Quartz Ore now spawns in the Nether
• Smooth lighting now has three settings (none, minimal, maximum)
• More detailed death messages
• Some hostile mobs now are harder in Hard difficulty
• Many, many, bug fixes - more than you can shake a stick at
• Removed Herobrine

Please note: There is a scheduled 1.5.1 update in the very near future, to iron out some of the few remaining issues with 1.5, and it will be coming soon.  Tomorrow's Snapshot will reveal more of what is to come, so keep an eye out!

You might be wondering where to start, or what sort of indescribably cool thing to create first.  With so many new items, commands, and blocks, it's almost impossible to know where to start first!  I don't have any good advice for that, except to show you something SethBling made with the 1.5 assets in the pre-release:

Rocket golem, or gassy golem - you decide!

The 1.5 release is a big one, and there is so much to do!  What is your favorite part of the update?  Tell us about it!

Minecraft Snapshot 13w10b / 1.5 pre-release expected soon

Minecraft released a new snapshot for us to play around on.  Snapshot 13w10b.   Containing bug fixes and more bug fixes! This post also tells us to expect the pre-release snapshot of 1.5 sometime today most likely as this snapshot and information was released yesterday, Once pre release 1.5 comes out instead of making a new post I'll just update this one.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/763-snapshots-galore-13w10b-ready-for-testing/

 --copy and paste--

 The 1.5 pre-release is expected tomorrow!  In the meantime, help test out the latest round of Snapshot goodness!

Notable changes:

• Dispensers and droppers will now only fire once when they receive a redstone signal. To fire again, the signal must be turned off and on again. (Previously a dispenser would fire whenever it had a signal and a nearby block changed.)
• Redstone and components stay powered after unloading chunks
• Dispenser and Dropper shooting out when updated
• Server crashes if spaces are input on the console
• Night Vision Potions that are edited to last longer create a potentially seizure-inducing flashing sky background.
• Furnace interface occasionally closes when adding fuel, deleting all items in the furnace
• Named Mobs Don't have Named Babies
• Getting into a minecart with a mob in it crashes minecraft
• 2 Hoppers funneling unstackable items into a 3rd Hopper at the same time cause the 3rd Hopper to not funnel items into a container
• Dispensers continually shoot/use certain items like water buckets and flint&steel
• Comparators still giving off power when hopper inventory is empty
• Animals can breed over distances up to almost 8 blocks when only seperated by fences
• Message "THIS TOO" in console
• Full hoppers feeding into full hoppers causes the forward hopper to stall
• Adding items to brewing stand using dropper does not change state of comparator

Minecraft Snapshot 13w09A and 13w09B

Minecraft has released a couple of new snapshots for us.  While most of it is bug fixes there's still some pretty decent stuff listed.

13w09A
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/756-snapshot-13w09a-ready-for-testing/

Features:

• Mobs can now ride stuff that rides other stuff
• Players riding stuff will keep it when logging off (ie, if you’re on a minecart and log off, you will take that minecart with you)
• Animated blocks and items in texture packs now requires the animation definition (previously it was optional)
  
  Fixes:
• Language files have been updated
• Cannot Connect To Own Server While Not Online (LAN) / Playername being E-Mail address when offline
• Comparators causes block updates while idle
• Hopper's name doesn't change in its GUI after renamed in anvil
• Command Block Arguments Length
• Unnecessary delay of "Done" button in the texturepacks menu
• Hopper don't update comparator when receiving item stack
• Mob Spawners failing to "Saving entity NBT"
• EntityAIAvoidEntity Interference
• Scoreboard accepts arguments for @p but if not found it will use a wrong name

 

13w09B

 http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/757-updated-snapshot-13w09b-available-for-testing/

 
Here is an update to yesterday's Snapshot!  Keep an ear to the ground, as the 1.5 pre-release won't be far off now...

Bugfixes Aplenty:

• crowdin.net: Entry entity.WitherBoss.name is missing – German translation is "Withern"
• Self-Powered Redstone Lamp / Breaking a repeater with a piston pointing at a block won't stop the circuit
• Potatoes are not affected by the Fortune enchantment
• Items with NBT data do not stack correctly due to serialization
• Cannot Drop Items in Creative Mode
• texturepacks no longer work
• Rail Duplication glitch
• World crashes after a few seconds
• blocks keep the redstone state when breaking a comparator that powers that block
• Pistons can't destroy comparators
• Crash with 512x texture pack
• Fortune doesn't affect the drop rate of apples and saplings
• "Pick Block" on certain items then switching to survival creates infinite or ghost items
• When removing "Ghost Items" from the inventory, the number may be negative or zero
• /clear with command blocks not working with armor that has been worn with custom damage values.
• Minecraft crashes when a saddled pig you ride dies or when changing between rideable entities
• Pressing Single or Multiplayer Button crashes the game
• Mining Fatigue broken
• Added an /effect command

Minecraft snapshot 13w07a

Minecraft released a small bugfix snapshot for us. They are currently working on a new lighting system but it is not quite ready yet.  It will be nice when it gets done though.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/749-snapshot-13w07a-ready-for-testing/

Bug Fixes:

• Slight optimizations to lighting
• Map item placed in item frame experiences Z-fighting
• Nametag of certain mobs too low / too high
• Team colors/prefixes/suffixes are not displayed with "@a, @p\, @r"

Minecraft Snapshot 13w06a

Minecraft released a new snapshot recently. This one is mainly bug fixes and a lot of them at that.  The official post can be found below at the link.  Copy and paste of the bug fixes is also listed.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/745-snapshot-13w06a-ready-for-testing/

--copy and paste--

Snapshot Bugfixes:
_______________

The following items were corrected, test them and see!

• Some lighting optimizations, no bug fixes yet sorry :(
• Pigs constantly jumping, when player control them on half slabs and stairs.
• Z-fighting of iron bars / glass panes with the block below / above
• Leaves replace transparent blocks
• Clouds have a transparency when you are above/in them but not when you're underneath them.
• Baby mob collision boxes are too large.
• Village lamp post floating torches
• Corner Fence Has Incorrect Collision Box
• Wither skeletons have wrong hitbox
• Double Trapped chest, makes two sounds when opening and closing.
• No sound from some trapped chests
• Villager trade menu missing name
• Placing a block East of the Hopper makes the inside appear black
• Piston pushing piston bugs / piston duplicating piston
• Comparators do not update their output signal
• Team option "friendlyfire" is not saved to disk; resets upon map reload
• Scoreboard name duplication
• FallingSand support for block IDs > 128

Minecraft snapshot 13w04a released

Minecraft has released their weekly snapshot. This one includes bug fixes from the other snapshots as well as fixing some functionality of the dispensers.  The link to the official post is below or you can check out the copy and paste here.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/733-snapshot-13w04a-available-for-testing/

--copy and paste--

This week's Snapshot is ready for testing!  Are you ready for the goodness?  Check it out:

Snapshot Features:
_________________________________

• Added a fancy new Scoreboard system
• Added some new functionality to dispensers
• Taught dispensers and droppers about the 3rd dimension
• Scared mobs away from the dangerous minecart tracks
• Former bugs listed below, have now been fixed:
  • Achievements lost after update
  • Flowing water still drags the player while flying.
  • Piston extended and retracted at the same time
  • Chest glitch that lets them appear as if they are opened while they are not.
  • Doors texture wrong
  • Particle Effects are messed up again...
  • Breeding cows can consume more than one wheat
  • Variable redstone strength causing strange update behavior
  • Hopper doesn't accept items from second slot when container has different items in first slot
  • Redstone signals shortened by devices that output a shorter signal
  • Iron door stays powered when retrieving the redstone block
  • Changing the Texturepack ingame renders strange
  • Boats and minecarts should not be dropped in Creative
  • Using Pick Block on Minecart with TNT or Hopper gives you just a Minecart
  • Monostable Circuits only work in a North/South Configuration
  • Armor enchantments (besides Thorns) have no effect on mobs
  • If a minecart with hopper falls into the void, the game will crash
  • Hopper minecart behave like they are on powered Activator rail if they never touched one.
  • Wrong death message of renamed mobs spawned by dispensers
  • Minecart with hopper is not placed on rail

Download Links:
_________________________________

Client Download:  Click here

Server Download:  Click here

As always, be sure to report any and all bugs found at the official Minecraft bug tracker!

Minecraft 13w03a snapshot ready for testing

Minecraft released a new snapshot today that's ready for testing.  This snapshot makes zombies and skeletons harder which is cool I think. Also fixed several recent bugs.  The Link to the snapshot can be found below from the link or the copy and paste.  

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/727-13w03a-ready-for-testing/

--copy and paste--

It's time for this week's Snapshot, and we are edging ever closer to the highly anticipated Redstone Update! So, what lies in store for this week's test client?


Changelog

• Made Zombies & Skeletons stronger, scaled to difficulty
• Added a new Dropper block
• Added a Minecart with Hopper item
• Added some new chat options (In multiplayer menu)
• At least 19 bugs squished

________________

Snapshot Client: Download
Snapshot Server: Download

Don't forget, if you come across any bugs, be sure to report them at the official Minecraft bug tracker, so they can be ironed out before release! Also, if you are a texture pack artist, don't forget that blocks and items will no longer load their artwork from one big sheet of sprites. Instead, they’ll have individual files for each image they’re using. The benefit from this is that it will be easier for Mojang to support custom blocks and items in the future. It will also allow Mojang to mix and match block artwork resolutions, and make sure that you get graphics for blocks that your current texture pack isn't updated for.

Minecraft Snapshot 13w02b

Minecraft released another snapshot for us. This one is mainly bug fixes for the last snapshot they released.  So if your playing on the snapshot your definitely  going to want this one as well.  The Link to the official post can be found below or you can read the copy and paste notes.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/722-13w02b-snapshot-ready-for-testing/


---copy and paste---

Yesterday's Snapshot has a host of patches and fixes, so if you're helping to test out the newest Snapshots, be sure to get this latest version right away!

Changelog

• The stitcher should now make sure to create textures that have sizes in powers of two (fixes all-white textures)
• Trapped Chests can now transmit signal downward through one block. This does not apply horizontally (through walls)
• When powered, the hopper can't receive items
• Fixed Trapped chests only transmit redstone signal via redstone dust
• Fixed Crash at 13w02a Startup [Failed to start game]
• Fixed Hopper item looks odd when dropped
• Fixed Texture of the furnace and the dispenser in the inventory are not showing the blocks "face"
• Fixed Biome's grass color does not get applied to the sides of the grass block in 13w02a
• Fixed Looking at certain items crashes the game
• Fixed the tnt minecart is missing the ssss sound once triggered
• Fixed Minecart with TNT fails to return correct items when removed by player
• Fixed Ghast fireball / Fireball texture
• Fixed White textures everywhere!
• Fixed stitched_terrain.png and stitched_items.png on desktop
• Fixed Cauldrons have no bottom texture inside
• Fixed TNT Minecarts cannot be dispense from a dispenser onto rails
• Fixed TNT Minecarts Disappear on Reload
• Fixed [Regression] Brewing Stand does not show water bottles/potions in world.
• Fixed Dupe planks
• Fixed Hopper still duplicating items

Downloads

Client Download:  Click here

Server Download:  Click here

Minecraft Snapshot 13w01b Update Released

Minecraft released a follow up snapshot of the before mentioned update. This is mainly for the bugs that popped up during the 13w01a release. The details can be found at the link below or you can see the copy and paste here.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/715-snapshot-13w01b-update-released/

--copy and paste---

An update to yesterday's Snapshot was released to address bugs that players found!  Fixes include:

Updates

• TNT explosion delayed until exiting and re-entering world
• Infinite rail duplication glitch
• Tile entity crashing bug
• Removing a block with a Redstone Torch on it will not remove the Redstone Torch
• Crash when using new inventory features
• Infinite loop caused by a comparator (on subtractor mode) feedback loop.
• Only one block dissappears when an Iron Golem or Snow Golem or Wither is created
• You can place anything in a container or Minecart or Furnace Minecart with the Hopper
• New inventory mechanics can break crafting
• TNT explosions that destroy the chest being viewed causes a crash.
• You can't smelt the Nether Quartz Ore
• Yellow text object counter (displaying a 0)
• hopper does not pick up all items dropped into it
• Cactus can grow next to blocks
• Duplications - ingots/diamonds etc.
• Comparator looks activated but has no output.
• redstone comparator fixes

All the Snapshot details can be seen by clicking the picture above!

________________________________

Updated Client:  Download

Updated Server:  Download

Minecraft Snapshot 13w01a is out

Minecraft puts out their first snapshot of the year! Dang was it a big one.  Tons of good stuff in this one most of it redstone related.  Should give us a ton more gadgets and gizmo's to make and play with.  Read the Official news below or read my copy and paste version here.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/714-snapshot-13w01a-available-for-testing/


---copy and paste---

Yes, it's time for the first Snapshot of the year, 13w01a!  What sort of awesome redstony goodness lies inside?

• Redstones circuits are more consistent, and pistons should be more stable
• Added the Redstone Comparator
• Added the Daylight Sensor block
• Added a Hopper block (still work in progress)
  
  • Places and takes out items in Hoppers, Chests, Furnaces, Chest Minecart, Dispencers, and Brewing Stands. Still W.I.P.
• Added a Trapped Chest that activates redstone
  
  • Gives out a signal depending on the amount of players looking inside. 1 person = 1 signal, 2 people = 2, etc.
  • Crafted with a Chest and a Tripwire Hook.
  • Large Trapped Chests can be staggered with Large Chests to allow more compact storage.
  • Texture is slightly different than a normal chest.
• Added Weighted Pressure Plates that detects item stacks
• Added Block of Redstone (works as a pushable redstone torch)
• Added a new Nether Quartz Ore to the Nether
  
  • Drops Nether Quartz
• Added a Nether Brick (item) for crafting Nether Brick blocks
  
  • Obtained by smelting Netherrack
  • Crafting recipe is 2x2 Nether Bricks.
• Inventory changes
  
  • Holding down the left and right mouse buttons and dragging when holding an item now splits the items across the boxes you dragged over. Left button splits them equally across the boxes and leaves the remainder in your hand. Right mouse button drops them one by one as you drag.
  • Double-clicking an item stacks as much of that item in your inventory as possible (up to a full stack) and picks it up without stacking any other loose stacks together.
  • Double-shift-clicking an item in a chest moves all of that item into your inventory neatly stacked into as few stacks as possible. The opposite is also true, moving all the items to the chest in as few stacks as possible.

Wow, and that's just one Snapshot!  Are you ready to try this stuff out yourself?  Let's get to the download links!

________________________________

Snapshot Client:  Download

Snapshot Server:  Download

Minecraft Update 1.4.6 is Released!

Minecraft has released the 1.4.6 Update! This Update has a lot of good stuff included and now we can setup our own firework shows.  This should be a lot of fun to play around with. The update included a ton of other things as well as a lot of bug fixes which I will paste below the official forums link.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/704-146-update-is-released/


---copy and paste----

The 1.4.6 update is now live!  There is a massive list of goodies in 1.4.6, so without further delay, let's jump head-first into all it has to offer!

Gameplay

• Added Thorns enchant
  
• Armor enchant
• 3 tiers
• Deals damage to attackers depending on tier
• Wears armor out quicker
  
• Improved some enchants
  
• Fire Protection now extinguishes fire more quickly
• Blast Protection now reduces explosion recoil
• Protection no longer is as good as all specific Protection enchants combined
  
• Added Touchscreen Mode setting
  
• Mainly for inventories
• You can drag and drop items
• Press long to halve the stack before dragging
  
• Added & changed many minor things
  
• Made item drops and framed items render in 3D when using fancy graphics
• Screenshot
• Added tool highlight when switching items in the hotbar
• After switching, its name shortly appears above the hotbar
• options.txt:heldItemTooltips
• Screenshot
• Right-clicking while sneaking now uses the held item instead of the selected block
• Dropping items while holding ctrl now drops the whole stack
• Added a default resolution setting
• options.txt: overrideWidth:0 & overrideHeight:0
• Added a warning for users playing Minecraft on soon unsupported systems (PowerPCs and Java 5)
• Death messages now appear in server log files
• Fixed many bugs
• Fixed passive mob spawn eggs not depleting when used on a mob
• Fixed minecarts and falling entities flickering
• Fixed using number keys on smelted items in furnaces not giving experience
• Fixed boats always getting placed in the same orientation
• Fixed switching between dimensions resetting the selected hotbar slot
• Fixed leaves obtained using Silk Touch having the wrong tooltip and data value
• 
  
• Fixed /enchant not accepting Protection enchant id
• Fixed the level up sound not playing
• Fixed F3+B displaying invisible entities' hitboxes
• Fixed the Wither's projectiles sometimes destroying the Nether Star
• Fixed mobs being able to trample farmland when the mobGriefing gamerule is set to false
• Fixed endermen not teleporting away when set on fire
• Fixed endermen still being set on fire when hit with a flaming arrow
• Fixed endermen not opening their mouth when attacked by other mobs
• Fixed arrows shot at endermen disappearing
• Fixed animals on fire not running away
• Fixed staying under water in Creative still causing the drowning effects
• Fixed animals appearing to walk through fences in SP
• Fixed some items with multi-layer textures rendering both layers separately when on the ground
• Fixed tools differing only in damage not being swappable in the inventory
• Fixed some Z-Fighting with the beacon
• Fixed a graphical issue in the trading GUI
• Fixed /say not showing the text in the original purple color
• Fixed Pick Block giving double slabs
• Fixed minecarts not travelling through Nether portals
• Fixed lightning not flashing
• Fixed FallingSand spawners failing to save properly and causing crashes
• Fixed the blocks in lowest layer of the map not being recognized by beacons
• Fixed enchants not showing in item frames and on the ground
• Fixed mobs walking slowly for a short while after being hit
• Fixed chests becoming out of sync when a user right-clicks it twice quickly
• Fixed flaming arrows not catching on fire immediately
• Fixed zombies sometimes stopping their attack
• Fixed /xp -1L not working to remove partial xp bars when between level 0 and 1
• Fixed the cursor being positioned wrongly in fullscreen mode
  
  World Generation
• Added enchanted books to village and dungeon chests
  
  Blocks and Items
• Mob spawners
  
• Can now spawn differently configured mobs with different spawn chances
  
• Nether Brick Slabs
• Enchanted books
  
• Enchant books to receive a single enchant on them
• Can be applied to items using anvils, consuming the book
• Enchants can be applied to any item in Creative
• Sold by villagers and found in dungeon and village chests
• Can now be found in loot chests and by trading with villagers
• Unbreaking can be applied to anything with durability
• Efficiency and Silk Touch can be applied to shears, allowing the harvesting of cobwebs
• Sharpness, Smite and Bane of Arthropods can be applied to axes
  
• Firework Star
  
• Used to create Firework Rockets
• Combine gunpowder with dyes to get a Firework Star with those colors used for the sparkles
• Also add glowstone, a fire charge, a diamond, a gold nugget, feather or a mob head to make the firework twinkling, big, trailing, star-shaped, bursting or creeper-shaped
• Craft a Firework Star with dye to change the color the sparkles fade to
  Firework Rocket
• Non-destructive, rise up in the air and create colorful patterns when shot by dispensers or placed by players
• Combine paper with gunpowder to get a Firework Rocket
• Also add a Firework Star to add effects or gunpowder to increase the flight duration
  Bow
• A sound indicates when you hit a player with an arrow
• Arrows now render from farther away
  
  Mobs
• Skeletons, Zombies & Zombie Pigmen
  
• The armor and enchants they spawn with now are even harder on harder difficulties

Minecraft 12w50a and 12w50b snapshots

Minecraft has released a couple of new snapshots a couple days ago. Seems to mainly consist of bug fixes and tweaks more then new content, except maybe the new thorns enchantment that acts as a damage shield You can click on the links below for the official information or you can read the copy and paste here from my site.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/696-12w50a-snapshot-ready-for-testing/
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/697-mists-of-pandaria-build-contest-results/  (end of post for 50b snapshot)


---copy and paste from wiki---
12w50b

		Thorns damage is now customizable.[2] Fire Protection now extinguishes players more quickly. Blast Protection now reduces explosion recoil. Bug fixes[3]: Fixed mobs walking slow when you hit them Fixed server/client desync of chests Fixed flame effect on arrows when fired into a pressure plate and player immediately engages flight mode Fixed Tool highlight shows when itemstack changes Fixed NullPointerException when pressing Ctrl+Q with nothing in your hand Fixed zombies which sometimes stop attacking Fixed the Unbreaking enchantment not working on armor Fixed opening a GUI and showing the item name in the hotbar again Fixed an enchanted item bug in 3D Fixed the inability to remove partial XP bars from the "xp -1L" command when you're between level 0 and 1 12w50A
		Tweaked Fireworks effect and sounds Item entities are rendered as 3d objects in the world when in Fancy graphics mode This includes items placed in Item Frames Items now show their enchantments when dropped on the ground Added Enchanted Book to Villagers and Chests Can be found in dungeons with special enchantments normally not obtainable Overall Protection enchantment is no longer as effective as all the other Protection enchantments combined[5] Silk Touch can now be applied to shears by using the anvil Cobweb can be harvested utilizing this feature Unbreaking enchantment can be applied to anything with durability using Enchanted Books Added “Thorns” enchantment for armor When hit by a mob, the mob will receive damage Added tool highlight when switching items in the hotbar Renamed items will display the changed name To disable it, open options.txt and change heldItemTooltips to false. Added a notice/warning for users still playing on PowerPCs or Java 5 (Java 1.5) Mojang plans to drop support for Java 5 by Minecraft 1.6.[6] This is due to the most recent versions of LWJGL no longer supporting Java 5, with PowerPC also no longer supported by Apple to be made compatible with Java 6 or newer.[7] When pressing CTRL+Q By defult (Or your "Drop" button if changed in controlls), you drop a full stack instead of one item Removed Firework Rocket in Creative inventory Added xmaschest.png, largexmaschest.png, and skis.png textures[8] Chest will use these textures on December 25 Bug Fixes: Fixed the Firework Star crafting recipe consuming unneeded items Fixed arrows shot at Endermen disappearing Fixed a bug with custom mob spawners not spawning different types of entities correctly Fixed animals appearing to walk through fences in SP Fixed some items with multi-layer textures rendering both layers separately when on the ground Fixed tools differing only in damage not being able to be swapped in the inventory Fixed some Z-Fighting with the beacon Fixed some graphical issues in the trading GUI Fixed /say not showing the text in the original purple color Fixed placing double slabs ignoring damage value Fixed minecarts being unable to travel through Nether portals Fixed lightning not flashing Fixed Firework Star duplication crafting recipe Fixed the Nether and the End generating random client-side blocks in MP Fixed FallingSand spawners failing to save properly and causing crashes Fixed the blocks in lowest layer of the map not being recognized by beacons Fixed enchantments not showing in Item Frames

Minecraft 12w49a snapshot

Another Minecraft Snapshot was recently released. We now have fireworks for minecraft! Thats really cool. They also added some enchanting books and netherbrick slabs apparently. They claim they are getting fireworks ready for New Years.  They don't have sound effects yet but those will be added soon.  You can read all about it on the forums below or you can read the copy and paste here.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/691-12w49a-snapshot-ready-for-testing/

----copy and paste----

It's that time again - Snapshot time!  What goodies lie in this week's test client?  Mojang had this to say about the 12w49a Snapshot:

Quote

“What’s this? This doesn’t sound like a redstone update at all!”, you say. “Indeed,” we say. Thing is, we* suddenly decided we wanted to make sure that you have fireworks for New Year’s Eve, so we’re working in several parallel branches of the code now. One is for the 1.5 “Redstone Update,” and one is now for a 1.4.6 patch update. This update will be out before Christmas, and 1.5 will wait until January (or possibly February).

*Send complaints to jeb_

Changelog:

• Added fireworks (sound effects will come soon)
• Added enchanted books for enchanting items
• Netherbrick slabs?!
• Plenty of bugs addressed!

Wait a minute - enchanting books?!  What the heck are those?  As it turns out, Dinnerbone had some pretty awesome plans for the anvil when it first came out, and they included, among other things, the inclusion of sweet enchantment books!

Pictured: sweet enchantment books

Minecraft Modding API updates and Minecon

Just seen this bit of news released today pertaining to Minecraft and the modding api. Once all of this is said and done it will be a ton easier to install mods for Minecraft. This is great news because the modding community for the game is really something and can expand the game by leaps and bounds. The api interview can be found below or you can read the copy and paste.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/680-breaking-news-modding-api-updates/

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API Questions:

• When will the Mod API be released?

The API will be going live with the 1.5, which has a tenative release date of January, 2013.

• Will mods have the ability to modify text?

Mods can have config files that, when initialized, will be able to dynamically print text in a variety of ways.

• Will mods like Optifine (which modify the engine directly) be supported?

The API will eliminate the need to write to the engine directly, allowing modifications that affect the game (as any mod will), without altering the game code itself.  Among other things, this will greatly simplify mod installation.

• Can vanilla block behavior be modified?

Yes.

• Will there be official community resources (tutorials, forums, etc) for modders?

Yes.

• How will mods be distributed by modders, and downloaded by players?

Players will be able to download mods from the game client itself.

• Will the API be able to add new mobs to the game through mods?

Yes.  Additionally, it will be possible to modify animated blocks (water, lava) as well as custom animated blocks.

• Will the API be like Bukkit (an outside resource)?

No, the API will be integrated into the vanilla game, hopefully bypassing the need for exernal APIs.

• Will client-only mods be supported by the API?

Not at this time, but as the biggest client-only modifications are already covered (texture packs, splash screen text etc), it didn't seem necessary.

• Will the API remove the issue of mods being rendered inoperable when the game updates?

It is a target we want to hit for certain, but it won't really have that capability at launch, we don't believe.

• Will mods need to be re-written from the ground up with the API's release?

While mods will need to be changed to accommodate the API, total overhauls shouldn't be necessary.  Even if a mod requires an overhaul for the API, it would only be a one-time occurrance.

• Will there be any sort of content filter?

By and large, the community will police its own mods as it does now, but we are working to put a system in place to prevent malicious mods from being distributed.

• What can be modified in the game using the API?

Everything.

• Can the phsyics be modded?

Yes.

• Will the API be on the XBOX or Pocket Edition?

Not by us, but you can ask the developers of each game, respectively.

Minecraft Questions:

• Will mods like Optfine be added to vanilla?

Something even better.  Overall, the game engine is being simplified, taking most of the load off of the client, and having the server doing the heavy work, greatly improving SMP.
Smoothstone stairs are not planned.
No new mobs are planned.

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Minecon 2012 is currently also going down and giving us a lot of cool stuff to check out about Minecraft. This post is long enough so I'm not going to post all the content but I'll give you the links to some various Minecon parts that seem interesting.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/674-a-walk-through-minecon/
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/675-notch-interview/
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/676-minecon-day-1-recap/
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/678-minecon-day-two-begins/
http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/679-a-day-at-minecon/

Minecraft Pretty Scary Update 1.4

Minecraft has officially released their pretty scary update!  Lots of good things added in this patch. I'm currently browsing for a new seed to start a new world now to test out all these new things.  Wow there was a lot of "new" in that last sentence.  Anyways, the patch notes can be found at the link below and they are very very long so I'm not going to do a copy and paste here for sake of space saving.

http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Version_history#1.4.2

Minecraft 1.4 Pre-Release is up

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Minecraft 1.4 pre-release is up for grabs. It is basically the same as the final version of 1.4 before it goes official.  They have added some pretty interesting things in the recent updates and I'm looking forward to enjoying them.  More information and the download for 1.4 can be found at the link below.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/636-14-pre-release-available-right-now/

Minecraft Snapshot 12w42a Ready for Testing

Minecraft released the new snapshot a tad early so they can get as many testing as they possibly can before the official release of the 1.4 patch.  Information can be found below. Glad they changed anvil creation cause it was a huge iron hog, still is but at least it is a little better. 

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/634-snapshot-12w42a-available-for-testing-early/


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Mojang is offering a special treat today - an early Snapshot!  1.4 is due to release next week, and the early Snapshot release allows Mojang more time to get the update as playable and awesome as possible before launch.

Today's Snapshot includes a helping of:

• Anvil block has been tweaked (it’s cheaper to create, minor visual changes, and you can repair tools using wood/ingots/diamonds)
• Bats no longer trample crops or trigger pressure plates
• Redstone repeaters can be “locked” (fixed output) by having a powered repeater connected to its left or right side
• Updated language files
• More bugfixes & tweaks!

Grab the Snapshot today, and see 1.4 early - it doesn't include all that 1.4 has to offer, but it comes pretty darn close!

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New Minecraft Snapshot ready for testing!

They released the newest snapshot for minecraft and it's ready to go.  It's looking really good and added some much needed features and a quite a few good fixes as well.  You can see all the information at the link below or read the copy and paste.

http://www.minecraftforum.net/news/625-12w40a-snapshot-ready-for-testing/

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It's Thursday, and you know what that means - Snapshot time!  Let's not waste a moment, and jump right into this week's offering!

• Added huts for the witch in swamps
• Added superflat preset "Redstone Ready" with a 52 layers of sandstone, 3 layers of stone, and 1 layer of bedrock
• Flatworld configuration now allows you to generate trees, strongholds etc
• Now pumpkins, tall grass, flowers, trees, mineshafts, dungeons, strongholds, lakes, desert wells, ravines and ores will spawn on superflat maps
• A number of new NBT tags for items (intended for custom map makers)
• Better inventory management
• The pick block action now works on items
• Pressing the 1-9 hotkeys while hovering over an item will put that item into the inventory bar
• In creative mode, you can now shift-click items from the hotbar to the survival inventory screen
• The left-click action will no longer open doors, pull levers, push buttons or open trapdoors. Use the right mouse button!
• Firespread has been slightly nerfed again to prevent infinitely spreading fires
• Beacon Texture altered, as well as the beam.
• Slimes now spawn in Swamps at night.
  
  Bug fixes:
  
• Fixed the wither's starting explosion not being disabled by the mobGriefing gamerule
• Fixed a few crash bugs related to world generation, map item expansion, and other things
• Reverted previous lighting changes, which corrected such bugs as:
  The Nether being extremely CPU intensive.
  Map generation taking extremely long.
  
• Fixed mob AI considering cobblestone walls as blocks of normal height
• Fixed a few texture oddities with the witch
• Fixed entities in water producing glitchy water sound
• Gaining multiple levels at a time will no longer play the leveling up sound over itself as many times as leveled.
• Fixed the "A 64 bit Java installation is recommended for 'Far' render distance (you have 32 bit)" message being covered by the bottom 2 buttons
• Fixed pets teleporting around randomly
• Fixed being unable to place paintings larger than 1x2 and them popping off if they have been placed before
• Fixed destroying blocks under you with Efficiency-enchanted gear
• Fixed potion spawners crashing the game