I see the same complaint every time Minecraft updates. It's fine and nice and all, and we get some new blocks, but it just doesn't feel like an epic step forward.
And in some ways, I agree with the point. I realize we players and community members can be pretty selfish and near-sighted. Often the reason we don't feel blown away by updates is because we tend to ignore the features.
But can you blame us for ignoring certain features? Realistically, any given feature is going to only see limited use, unless it's forced on everyone, like the hunger system was.
In some ways then, making an update that really feels like an epic change is about optics, the presentation of it all, and just making it look good. That's what made the Halloween update work. That's what they tried to do again with Pretty Scary. Redstone Update was cool and all, but visually it just doesn't do the same things as other updates.
So, the question I have for the community, and which I will also take a stab at answering, is:
How can Mojang go about making an update that's guaranteed to blow the minds of the majority of players?
So here's a couple of possibilities. Not all of them need to be done every update, but I'm saying if you include one or two ideas from each category, you can really make the update stand out:
New dimensions. When you add a new dimension, you make the game feel completely new. However, the model of the Nether and The End can only be taken so far. Because every world has a Nether and an The End, every time you add a new dimension, you're increasing the amount of space that save files take up, and this cannot be continued forever. So new dimensions will probably have to become new "world types" or new options to plug in at world generation. Things like Twilight Forest and The Aether, plus archetypes like the Moon, Mars, and The Purple Planet, could be implemented as alternative world generation options.
New biomes. Because nothing incentivizes players to explore the edges of their maps like the possibility of discovering something new. At least, that's how it works in my experience.
New mobs. In my opinion, this is hard to do right. I didn't like the wither skeleton, because it smells like WoW with its infinite variations on a boar. But I did like the Witch, because it was an iconic piece of the real world's fairy tales. I'm not too happy with boss mobs, because they don't make the actual game feel any different. You fight a boss mob once, and then the experience is over, and I play Minecraft too much to make boss mobs a significant part of gameplay. But it couldn't hurt to add in a single animal-type mob each update.
Some new gameplay element. A few people complained about hunger, but otherwise it seems to have gone over pretty well overall. Why not something like a temperature mechanic? Or poison gas, or smoke. I personally don't love the enchantment system, but I can see something like it being introduced and changing the way we encounter the game of Minecraft.
A new method of travel, or a new way to see the world. Ender pearls accomplished this pretty nicely, and fit well with the overall theme of Minecraft. People have been wanting to build sailable boats out of blocks ever since Minecraft started. I know sailable block boats would be a huge deal code-wise, but that's the sort of thing I expect from an "update".
I feel this is impossible because there's always somebody that just hates the update for no reason or dislikes the update with a legitimate reason. And technically hunger isn't forced since you can go on peaceful mode.
This forum is for updates that are already confirmed or rumored to be added. This is nice, but it's a suggestion, and should go in the suggestions forum.
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When will Minecraft stop updating? When pigs fly over the frozen plains of hell, twice in a blue moon, while Taylor Swift sings a song called, "Maybe I'm the Problem".
This forum is for updates that are already confirmed or rumored to be added. This is nice, but it's a suggestion, and should go in the suggestions forum.
It's more of a discussion than a suggestion, but I see your point. Maybe Discussion?
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I think you are going to love my Survival Let's Play series on YouTube! It's called Spaceboot1's Garden. I make pretty things.
It's more of a discussion than a suggestion, but I see your point. Maybe Discussion?
I guess so.
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When will Minecraft stop updating? When pigs fly over the frozen plains of hell, twice in a blue moon, while Taylor Swift sings a song called, "Maybe I'm the Problem".
I feel this is impossible because there's always somebody that just hates the update for no reason or dislikes the update with a legitimate reason. And technically hunger isn't forced since you can go on peaceful mode.
Haters are gonna hate, and dislikers usually dislike features because they're underwhelming. I think this is Mojang's problem.
And to the point about hunger, you're correct, and when I make a vague reference to something new that works a bit like hunger, I'm thinking it should have about the same level of "forcing". Ie. you can turn your game to Hard and have poison gas (or temperature, or whatever) or you can change it to Peaceful and not have to face that new aspect.
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I think you are going to love my Survival Let's Play series on YouTube! It's called Spaceboot1's Garden. I make pretty things.
Haters are gonna hate, and dislikers usually dislike features because they're underwhelming. I think this is Mojang's problem.
Well to some people, 1.5 was an underwhelming update, but that's because it was focused on map makers. If survival isn't your thing, you could always download a map.
Making a great update that EVERYONE loves? Pretty much impossible, there HAS to be at least one person who will dislike it. Most likely, there will be more.
Making a great update that the MAJORITY will love? Well, as you've said, you have to do it right. Anything done right should please most people as long as the thing fits in with the game (no, even if tanks were done spectacularly well, people would probably not like it if tanks made it in to MC). Beyond that, it would pretty much boil down to listening to the community and seeing what they like. There's a large amount of people who want a new terrain generator ("YOU DON'T SAY KHOLDSTARE!") which would make a terrain update worthwhile. There's also a lot of people who like combat (look at all the PVP servers...) so improving combat would be good... at the same time, there's a noticeable part of the community who wants it overhauled because PVP/PVE requires no strategy. In that case you'd have to find a middle ground for something most people will like.
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Did something happen to you in your childhood to give you this unreasonable fear of rutabaga?
Making a great update that EVERYONE loves? Pretty much impossible, there HAS to be at least one person who will dislike it. Most likely, there will be more.
Making a great update that the MAJORITY will love? Well, as you've said, you have to do it right. Anything done right should please most people as long as the thing fits in with the game (no, even if tanks were done spectacularly well, people would probably not like it if tanks made it in to MC). Beyond that, it would pretty much boil down to listening to the community and seeing what they like. There's a large amount of people who want a new terrain generator ("YOU DON'T SAY KHOLDSTARE!") which would make a terrain update worthwhile. There's also a lot of people who like combat (look at all the PVP servers...) so improving combat would be good... at the same time, there's a noticeable part of the community who wants it overhauled because PVP/PVE requires no strategy. In that case you'd have to find a middle ground for something most people will like.
PvP combat? In my opinion, the game isn't about fighting and stuff, it is a game of building and exploring, not combat.
OT: There is no way to make an update everyone loves. Everyone has their different opinions.
PvP combat? In my opinion, the game isn't about fighting and stuff, it is a game of building and exploring, not combat.
1) It's hypothetical.
2) Regardless, there are a LOT of PvP servers.
3) If this isn't a game about combat, why is there a combat system in the first place?
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Did something happen to you in your childhood to give you this unreasonable fear of rutabaga?
There is no "done right." Only, "done well." You don't just pull an update out of your butt that everyone loves. You don't pull ANY update and make it so a lot of people LOVE it.
1) It's hypothetical.
2) Regardless, there are a LOT of PvP servers.
3) If this isn't a game about combat, why is there a combat system in the first place?
The combat system is used for fighting off monster during the night. I'm sure it Notch didn't intend on putting a PvP system. As for the combat system, it is a sub-branch of the game, while the main branches of the game are Building, Exploring, Survival and Farming. The sub-branches are usually Redstone, Combat systems and all that mining stuff. I really don't think the sub-branches should be focused on that much.
The combat system is used for fighting off monster during the night. I'm sure it Notch didn't intend on putting a PvP system. As for the combat system, it is a sub-branch of the game, while the main branches of the game are Building, Exploring, Survival and Farming. The sub-branches are usually Redstone, Combat systems and all that mining stuff. I really don't think the sub-branches should be focused on that much.
Then explain to me why the PvE combat system stinks as well. There's no strategy there, either; it's STILL all about gear. The best example is the Wither fight: you don't bring the right gear, you die, no exceptions.
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Did something happen to you in your childhood to give you this unreasonable fear of rutabaga?
" NeW TeRRain lolz" Says most of the veterans on the MCF.
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3DS FC: 0533-4659-6367
Message me yours if you want to trade in Animal Crossing: New Leaf or just need some friends to play with. I can also do Pokemon trades in Pokemon X(or Y), but I don't have any good stuff, and the only good stuff I have is not for trade so...send me requests anyway.
Quote of the Day:"It's Occam's Shuriken: when the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas."
Then explain to me why the PvE combat system stinks as well. There's no strategy there, either; it's STILL all about gear. The best example is the Wither fight: you don't bring the right gear, you die, no exceptions.
The wither doesn't require much gear to fight it, I've killed it before with just a enchanted sword, enchanted bow and arrows. I know it's possible to do it with an unenchanted bow, might also be possible to do it with an unenchanted sword also.
I don't know about you all, but I've been pretty content about updates. Anything Mojang puts out is good for me. Many of you won't share my mindset, but I feel like everything they add fits into the game somewhere for someone. Nonetheless, you bring up good points OP, and I'm sure Mojang is very aware of some of them. It's just a matter of when with putting them out, as I see it.
The combat system is used for fighting off monster during the night. I'm sure it Notch didn't intend on putting a PvP system. As for the combat system, it is a sub-branch of the game, while the main branches of the game are Building, Exploring, Survival and Farming. The sub-branches are usually Redstone, Combat systems and all that mining stuff. I really don't think the sub-branches should be focused on that much.
No support, First off Minecrafr has 2 mane things building and MINING, All the other stuff are the branches to the game.
And what about griefers and raiders? People have to protect them selfs on Vanilla servers,= or they have no coice but to etheir watch there awesome stuff be stolen/griefed or log off. Well there's one more thing people can do, Rage quit. Without protection from the people who grief/raid if they can, Minecraft would fall in sales! Plus, People would need to to fight over unclaimed land! And so I think that also, War is something PvP is good for instead of racing around with pigs to settle a group problem people can fight, Leaving the winner with the other loser's stuff and a good feeling about winning!
So not like I'm mad or anything but that just what I think.
And in some ways, I agree with the point. I realize we players and community members can be pretty selfish and near-sighted. Often the reason we don't feel blown away by updates is because we tend to ignore the features.
But can you blame us for ignoring certain features? Realistically, any given feature is going to only see limited use, unless it's forced on everyone, like the hunger system was.
In some ways then, making an update that really feels like an epic change is about optics, the presentation of it all, and just making it look good. That's what made the Halloween update work. That's what they tried to do again with Pretty Scary. Redstone Update was cool and all, but visually it just doesn't do the same things as other updates.
So, the question I have for the community, and which I will also take a stab at answering, is:
How can Mojang go about making an update that's guaranteed to blow the minds of the majority of players?
So here's a couple of possibilities. Not all of them need to be done every update, but I'm saying if you include one or two ideas from each category, you can really make the update stand out:
Want to play Minecraft SSP like Spaceboot1? Try my modpack, all mods made by me, Spaceboot1!
When will Minecraft stop updating? When pigs fly over the frozen plains of hell, twice in a blue moon, while Taylor Swift sings a song called, "Maybe I'm the Problem".
It's more of a discussion than a suggestion, but I see your point. Maybe Discussion?
Want to play Minecraft SSP like Spaceboot1? Try my modpack, all mods made by me, Spaceboot1!
When will Minecraft stop updating? When pigs fly over the frozen plains of hell, twice in a blue moon, while Taylor Swift sings a song called, "Maybe I'm the Problem".
Haters are gonna hate, and dislikers usually dislike features because they're underwhelming. I think this is Mojang's problem.
And to the point about hunger, you're correct, and when I make a vague reference to something new that works a bit like hunger, I'm thinking it should have about the same level of "forcing". Ie. you can turn your game to Hard and have poison gas (or temperature, or whatever) or you can change it to Peaceful and not have to face that new aspect.
Want to play Minecraft SSP like Spaceboot1? Try my modpack, all mods made by me, Spaceboot1!
Well to some people, 1.5 was an underwhelming update, but that's because it was focused on map makers. If survival isn't your thing, you could always download a map.
Making a great update that the MAJORITY will love? Well, as you've said, you have to do it right. Anything done right should please most people as long as the thing fits in with the game (no, even if tanks were done spectacularly well, people would probably not like it if tanks made it in to MC). Beyond that, it would pretty much boil down to listening to the community and seeing what they like. There's a large amount of people who want a new terrain generator ("YOU DON'T SAY KHOLDSTARE!") which would make a terrain update worthwhile. There's also a lot of people who like combat (look at all the PVP servers...) so improving combat would be good... at the same time, there's a noticeable part of the community who wants it overhauled because PVP/PVE requires no strategy. In that case you'd have to find a middle ground for something most people will like.
PvP combat? In my opinion, the game isn't about fighting and stuff, it is a game of building and exploring, not combat.
OT: There is no way to make an update everyone loves. Everyone has their different opinions.
1) It's hypothetical.
2) Regardless, there are a LOT of PvP servers.
3) If this isn't a game about combat, why is there a combat system in the first place?
The combat system is used for fighting off monster during the night. I'm sure it Notch didn't intend on putting a PvP system. As for the combat system, it is a sub-branch of the game, while the main branches of the game are Building, Exploring, Survival and Farming. The sub-branches are usually Redstone, Combat systems and all that mining stuff. I really don't think the sub-branches should be focused on that much.
Not that either, it is a discussion of what mojang could do to make a update that people like.
Then explain to me why the PvE combat system stinks as well. There's no strategy there, either; it's STILL all about gear. The best example is the Wither fight: you don't bring the right gear, you die, no exceptions.
3DS FC: 0533-4659-6367
Message me yours if you want to trade in Animal Crossing: New Leaf or just need some friends to play with. I can also do Pokemon trades in Pokemon X(or Y), but I don't have any good stuff, and the only good stuff I have is not for trade so...send me requests anyway.
Quote of the Day:"It's Occam's Shuriken: when the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas."
The wither doesn't require much gear to fight it, I've killed it before with just a enchanted sword, enchanted bow and arrows. I know it's possible to do it with an unenchanted bow, might also be possible to do it with an unenchanted sword also.
No support, First off Minecrafr has 2 mane things building and MINING, All the other stuff are the branches to the game.
And what about griefers and raiders? People have to protect them selfs on Vanilla servers,= or they have no coice but to etheir watch there awesome stuff be stolen/griefed or log off. Well there's one more thing people can do, Rage quit. Without protection from the people who grief/raid if they can, Minecraft would fall in sales! Plus, People would need to to fight over unclaimed land! And so I think that also, War is something PvP is good for instead of racing around with pigs to settle a group problem people can fight, Leaving the winner with the other loser's stuff and a good feeling about winning!
So not like I'm mad or anything but that just what I think.
EDIT: Yay! I'm a stone miner!