The TU9 for Minecraft on XBLA is live! Please keep in mind that, while the update is now live and should automatically update, it may not be available in your region immediately. If the game has not yet updated, give it a little bit of time, and it should update on its own.

You can see the full list of changes by clicking here.

The list of awesome changes includes the following:

• Added 'The End', with new layout, and new Enderdragon behaviour.
• Added Climbable Vines.
• Added Fire Charge, Wooden Button, Item Frames, Spawn Eggs, Sandstone Stairs, Spruce Stairs, Birch Stairs, Nether Bricks, Spruce Planks, Birch Planks, Nether Brick Slab, Spruce Slab and Birch Slab.
• Added new music for The End and The Nether from C418
• Made buckets and signs stackable.
• Sheep now re-grow their wool after shearing.
• New gravel texture.
• Can now smelt Netherrack into a Nether Brick in a Furnace.
• Blacksmith buildings in Villages now hold chests with loot of the same type as found in Strongholds.
• Crafting recipe change; Sign recipe gives three Signs.
• Crafting recipe change; Half Slab recipes give six Half Slabs.
• Crafting recipe change; Stone Button now requires one block of stone instead of two.
• Added smoother color transitions between biomes.

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It isn't too often that I'm left speechless by a rollercoaster in Minecraft; there are a ton of good ones, to be sure, but rare and few are the ones that just leave my jaw on the floor, making odd little guttural noises in place of words while I point stupidly at the screen.

This is one of those.

Seriously, nothing I can say about this amazing roller-coaster, made by nuropsych, can possibly do it justice.  You just have to see it for yourself.  Watch it twice, if necessary!

Alright, have you watched it?  Now is the point where most people go "Eh, not bad. Bet they used MCEdit/world edit/voxel sniper/etc".  Not this time.  This massive roller-coaster was built over the course of months on MCX360, then recorded in one shot with no cuts, edits, or alterations.

I just...wow.  Be right back, I'm watching it again.

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Courtesy of Daniel Kaplan, a brief look at things to come in the TU9 for MCX360! Back to Top

TU9 is practically around the corner for you XBLA Minecrafters out there!  Curious what lies in store?  Hat Films just released a trailer video showing off the soon-to-be-released update, check it out! Back to Top

A new Skin Pack is on the horizon for everyone's favorite console sandbox game!  Until recently, there were not many details known about the still-highly-elusive pack.  However, in recent days, there have been a number of skins revealed, including (but not limited to) Dragon Age skins, and even skins from Borderlands 2!

These skins are going to be available as part of the larger skin pack that will most likely retail at 160MSP, as all previous skin packs have gone for. Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen Minecraft and Borderlands 2 cross paths - remember the creeper caves?  You can check out more details about the new BL2 skins over at FPS General, and as always, keep an ear to the ground right here as we set out sights on the most awesome skin pack yet!

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That's right, MCX360 is getting updated very soon!  How soon?  December 19th, 2012!  The latest update will bring the XBLA sandbox game nearly up to speed with the 1.0 release of PC Minecraft, including a ton of new features.

• Animal Breeding
  
• Brewing
  
• Experience Points
  
• Enchanting
  
• Mushroom Biome
  
• Nether Fortresses
  
• Skin animations

This is only scratching the surface of all the updates coming on the 19th, and let's not forget about all the awesome new avatars, coming soon!

It seems that every version of Minecraft is going through a series of very exciting changes as we approach the end of 2012.  PC Minecraft is edging ever-closer to the Modding API, Pocket Edition adds more blocks, tools, monsters, and features with every iteration, and MCX360 is rapidly closing the gap between itself and PC Minecraft, while adding some special goodies unique to itself.

Don't forget - when MCX360 updates, it will prompt you to patch the game.  Once it does, you are good to go!  Stay tuned as we bring you more exciting updates!  Check out all the update details by clicking here! Back to Top

The 1.8.2 Update for MCX360 is live!  What changes come with this awesome patch?  Well:

Changes and Additions:

• Added an option to clear the quick select bar in the creative interface.
  
• Added an option to enable or disable bedrock fog, and set to off by default.
  
• Added an option to toggle the HUD off/on.
  
• Added an option to turn the player hand off/on.
  
• Added a crafting recipe for Golden Apples.
  
• Added a crafting recipe for Pumpkin Seeds.
  
• Made cakes stackable.
  
• Added a How To Play page for Host and Player options

Fixes:

• Fix for a problem with signs in online games causing crashes.
  
• Fix for save renaming deleting the wrong save due to input received during the confirmation flow.
  
• Fix to the mob generation code to increase the number of animals in the world.
  
• Fix for chests being incorrectly lit, and rotated for maps from previous versions.
  
• Fix for problem with the eating animation being shown for players who weren't eating.
  
• Fix for problem with chest lids not behaving properly.
  
• Fix for animals looking like they were taking damage when they shouldn't.
  
• Fix for some sounds not playing when the player has an empty hand.
  
• Fix for lever sounds.
  
• Fix for fence gate sounds.
  
• Fix for splitscreen players sometimes having their settings zeroed.
  
• Fix for being damaged while flying over lava.
  
• Fix to stop lava, milk and water buckets being empty after use in creative mode.
  
• Fix for Leader of the Pack achievement being awarded incorrectly.
  
• Fix for leaderboard stats issue where value stored was incorrect.
  
• Fix for hitbox problems with glass panes and iron fence.
  
• Fix for small character display changing color to green.
  
• Fix for map rendering incorrectly in some situations with clouds disabled.
  
• Fix for block rendering problem at the edge of the map.
  
• Fix for splitscreen players not being able to mine in the tutorial.
  
• Fix for players not being able to sprint/sprint-fly in creative mode if the player was previously in survival mode with a low food bar.
  
• Fix for arrow damage not being ignored when PvP is turned off.
  
• Fix for activated pressure plates not working correctly.
  
• Fix for the low food bar hint appearing when loading a game in creative mode (usually the tutorial world saves).
  
• Fix to remove the player shadow when the Invisible option in the Host Privileges is used.
  
• Fix for Red Roses not being generated on the terrain.
  
• Fix for paintings being pushed by pistons.
  
• Fix so that players who can't eat, due to the Trust Players option being off, do not get exhausted.
  
• Fix for the interface disappearing after a Share to Facebook action.
  
• Fix to limit the number of Slimes, Ghasts and Silverfish that can be spawned in a world.
  
• Fix for the cursor position in creative mode being able to go offscreen.
  
• Fix for players showing on maps when they should not be, after the player dies and respawns.
  
• Fix for capes displaying wrongly when sprint-flying.
  
• Fix for capes not displaying in the Nether.
  
• Fix for capes not displaying when the player respawns.
  
• Fix for tools taking damage in Creative Mode.
  
• Fix so Bows don't need or use up Arrows in Creative Mode.
  
• Reduced the volume of the chest open/close sound effect

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Are you ready for some updates?  Minecraft - 360 Edition is now updating to 1.8.2, Title Update 5!  What is included?  A better question might be, "What ISN'T included?"

Features:

• Added Creative Mode.
  
• Disabled Achievements and Leaderboard updates if the player is in Creative Mode, or if the world has been previously saved in Creative Mode.
  
• Added a simple tutorial for Creative Mode.
  
• Added sprinting to Survival Mode.
  
• Added flying and sprint-flying to Creative Mode.
  
• Added new mobs-Enderman, Cave Spiders and Silverfish.
  
• Added new items to the game-Melon, Melon Slice, Melon Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Raw/Cooked Beef, Raw/Cooked Chicken, Rotten Flesh, Iron Bars, Fence Gate, Stone Bricks, Stone Brick Slabs, Stone Brick Stairs, Brick Slabs, Brick Stairs, Ender Pearl, Web, Vines, 10 more Music Discs, Sponge and Chain Armor.
  
• Added new items to the crafting menu-Melon, Melon Seeds, Glass Pane, Fence Gate, Iron Bars, Stone Bricks, Stone Brick Slabs, Stone Brick Stairs, Brick Slabs, Brick Stairs.
  
• Added terrain generation features-Strongholds, Villages, Abandoned Mineshafts and Ravines.
  
• Biome code additions, including rivers and oceans.
  
• Changed the bow to have drawing and firing action.
  
• Added a quick move to the dispenser.
  
• Added a quick equip for armor to the inventory interface.
  
• Added a quick move for ingredients and fuel in the furnace interface.
  
• Brought forward the mining speed changes from 1.2.3
  
• Brought forward apples dropping from leaf blocks from 1.1
  
• Brought forward change from 1.2.3 to make pumpkins and melons grow from stems much faster, and not require farmland around the stem to grow on.
  
• Fix to vines brought forward from 1.2.3 to stop them spreading too much.
  
• Added the Food Bar to the HUD.
  
• Added stacking for food items.
  
• Added the eating animation.
  
• Enabled crafting mushroom stew without a crafting table.
  
• Added the blocking move with swords.
  
• Changed all the text descriptions for food to show how much they refill the food bar.
  
• Passive mobs will now flee when hit.
  
• The snout on pigs now protrude from their head.
  
• Skeletons now hold full size bows.
  
• Animals no longer despawn which makes it possible to capture them.
  
• Zombies now drop Rotten Flesh instead of Feathers.
  
• Updated some mob sounds.
  
• Shears can now collect Tall Grass and the new Vine.
  
• Improved sunrise and sunset.
  
• Improved the rain edges (when looking up in rain).
  
• User-placed leaf blocks no longer decay.
  
• Cloud height raised to the top of the map, so clouds can no longer phase through blocks.
  
• Cloud movement syncs with the game's time.
  
• Both Wooden and Stone pressure plates can now be placed on fences.
  
• Improved chest model with a 3D lock, and opening and closing animation.
  
• Added a countdown timer to the autosave to stop it being such a surprise.
  
• Added the ability to rename an existing saved world.
  
• Added map icons to the in-game player list to match their color in the map.
  
• Added a confirmation dialog on the player choosing to exit without saving.
  
• Added a character display when sprinting or flying.
  
• Updated the How To Play HUD with the Food Bar information.
  
• Added descriptions for Creative Mode and Sprinting to the How To Play menus.
  
• Updated the Download Content menu with pictures of the DLC available.
  
• Added death messages.
  
• Removed Herobrine.

This is only scratching the surface of what today's update is offering - you can see the full list right here, or by checking out the official Wiki!

REMINDER: The update might not be immediately available in every part of the world at once, but even if you don't have it, worry not!  It shouldn't take more than 24 hours to fully distribute. Back to Top

The MCX360 Update has been submitted, but is not currently live - it's not time to play it just yet!  Still, the release notes are out, and we know exactly what's going into 1.8.2.  So, let's take a look at the list of goodies in store for XBLA players!

• Added Creative Mode.
  
• Disabled Achievements and Leaderboard updates if the player is in Creative Mode, or if the world has been previously saved in Creative Mode.
  
• Added a simple tutorial for Creative Mode.
  
• Added sprinting to Survival Mode.
  
• Added flying and sprint-flying to Creative Mode.
  
• Added new items to the game – Melon, Melon Slice, Melon Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Raw/Cooked Beef, Raw/Cooked Chicken, Rotten Flesh, Pumpkin Seeds, Iron Bars, Fence Gate, Stone Bricks, Stone Brick Slabs, Stone Brick Stairs, Brick Slabs, Brick Stairs, Ender Pearl, Web,Vines, 10 more Music Discs, and Chain Armor.
  
• Added new items to the crafting menu – Melon, Melon Seeds, Glass Pane, Fence Gate, Iron Bars, Stone Bricks, Stone Brick Slabs, Stone Brick Stairs, Brick Slabs, Brick Stairs.
  
• Added terrain generation features – Strongholds, Villages, Abandoned Mineshafts and Ravines.
  
• Biome code additions, including rivers and oceans.
  
• Changed the bow to have drawing and firing action.
  
• Added a quick move to the dispenser.
  
• Added a quick equip for armor to the inventory interface.
  
• Added a quick move for ingredients and fuel in the furnace interface.
  
• Brought forward the mining speed changes from 1.2.3
  
• Brought forward apples dropping from leaf blocks from 1.1
  
• Brought forward change from 1.2.3 to make pumpkins and melons grow from stems much faster, and not require farmland around the stem to grow on.
  
• Fix to vines brought forward from 1.2.3 to stop them spreading too much.
  
• Added the Food Bar to the HUD.
  
• Added stacking for food items.
  
• Added the eating animation.
  
• Enabled crafting mushroom stew without a crafting table.
  
• Added the blocking move with swords.
  
• Changed all the text descriptions for food to show how much they refill the food bar.
  
• Passive mobs will now flee when hit.
  
• The snout on pigs now protrude from their head.
  
• Skeletons now hold full size bows.
  
• Animals no longer despawn which makes it possible to capture them.
  
• Zombies now drop Rotten Flesh instead of Feathers.
  
• Updated some mob sounds.
  
• Shears can now collect Tall Grass and the new Vine.
  
• Improved sunrise and sunset.
  
• Improved the rain edges (when looking up in rain).
  
• User-placed leaf blocks no longer decay.
  
• Cloud height raised to the top of the map, so clouds can no longer phase through blocks.
  
• Cloud movement syncs with the game’s time.
  
• Both Wooden and Stone pressure plates can now be placed on fences.
  
• Improved chest model with a 3D lock, and opening and closing animation.
  
• Added a countdown timer to the autosave to stop it being such a surprise.
  
• Added the ability to rename an existing saved world.
  
• Added map icons to the in-game player list to match their color in the map.
  
• Added a confirmation dialog on the player choosing to exit without saving.
  
• Added a character display when sprinting or flying.
  
• Updated the How To Play HUD with the Food Bar information.
  
• Added descriptions for Creative Mode and Sprinting to the How To Play menus.
  
• Updated the Download Content menu with pictures of the DLC available.
  
• Removed Herobrine.

Note, this is not the complete list of changes.  You can see the full list right here, so click this link!

It is not currently known when the 1.8.2 update will go live, but we are watching the Live Arcade like hawks - expect updates soon.

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We have an episode of MineTV every single day, at 5:00 pm EST - drop on by, hang out with us, and help us solve adventure maps, interview Minecraft celebrities, win some prizes, and more, every single day - click here, and subscribe! Back to Top

No Snapshot for You - On the Other Hand...

This week, Mojang developer Jens "Jeb" Bergensten is on vacation!  Unfortunately, this means that there will be no Snapshot this week.  However, there is a silver lining: Programmer and man-about-town Nathan "Dinnerbone" Adams revealed that the 1.4 update would likely be out before Halloween (October 31st)!  Witches, Withers, and bats - all in time for the spooky season.

I personally plan on wandering around with a skeleton head.  Whether in-game or out, I won't say.


MCX360 Updates - Goodies, Future Patches

MCX360 is seeing a medley of goodies on the horizon.  The future 1.8.2 update in particular has a lot in store - new monsters, ravines, Strongholds, and so much more - perhaps most poignant is the addition of Creative mode!  While the release date has not yet been established, it is expected to be reviewed - and ultimately released - in the very near future, with CERT submission happening some time in the next week or so.  Want to see some of these exciting changes in action?  Mojang has a massive list of preview videos for your viewing pleasure - check them out by clicking here!

In the meantime, a whole pile of Minecraft goodies is available for your XBLA avatars!  If you haven't had a chance to check them out, now is a great time - click the picture below for some screenshots!

She might be terrified of zombies, but you need not be - click for MCX360 awesomeness!

MineTV - "Railcraft" creator, CovertJaguar

This week's MineTV has a very exciting guest: the creator of the popular Railcraft mod, CovertJaguar!  As with last week's episode, spaces in the stands will be on a first-come-first-serve basis - details are below!

• When: Today (Wednesday, September 26th) at 7:00 (19:00) EST
  You can check time conversions by clicking here
  
  
• Where:  We will be streaming at the official MineTV channel, which is right here
  We will let people know how to gain entry to the studio audience a bit before we go live, so be sure to arrive early if you want entry!
  
  
• Who:  Railcraft creator, CovertJaguar!

Not familiar with the sheer awesome of Railcraft?  Wondering exactly what it adds to the game?  It could easily be summarized by saying it has a massive list of rail types, crafting options, tools, blocks, and more, but the description alone really doesn't do this incredible mod justice.  So, check out the Railcraft thread, try the mod out for yourself, and see why thousands of gamers are hooked on Railcraft!

Just a word of caution - make sure you understand high-speed rails before attempting to use them! Back to Top

MCX360 - Past, Present, Future

4J Studios revealed a great deal about the forthcoming Minecraft: Xbox Edition update.  1.8.2 is set to close the gap between the current PC build, adding Creative Mode, new mobs and new foods, and...then what?

One of the bigger challenges facing the console port is the difference between the XBox itself, and the myriad options available to PC users, both good and not so great.  Things like infinite worlds aren't practical on a system with limited storage space, and modding the game is, at present, not possible.  So, where does the game go after 1.8.2?

As it turns out, modding will - after a fashion - be considered strongly for future releases.  While mods as we know them may never be a reasonable option, there are alternatives; 4J has been thoroughly examining what it is about mods that draws people, the ins and outs of what makes them fun.  It is here that they have a bit of an advantage in development that the PC version didn't, the power of hindsight.  What do people enjoy most?  Why do they enjoy certain game modes, decorative options, or map types?  Knowing this, they can easily develop the game in its own distinct direction.  While it has not been explicitly stated that they plan to diverge wildly - if at all - from the current PC builds, current trends strongly suggest that they would like to.

What this means for the future of the console sandbox is potentially very exciting, certainly.  The ability to tailor the game to console players, and to draw from the huge pool of experience available to the game, gives them the ability to fine-tune the console experience to match players' expectations.  We hope to hear what specifics this may entail in the coming days.

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MineTV - Mystcraft!

This week's MineTV has a very exciting guest: the creator of the popular Mystcraft mod, XCompWiz!  As with last week's episode, spaces in the stands will be on a first-come-first-serve basis - details are below!

• When: Today (Wednesday, September 19th) at 6:00 (18:00) EST
  You can check time conversions by clicking here
  
  
• Where:  We will be streaming right here, and a personal "Sach Cam" at my own Twitch channel
  We will let people know how to gain entry to the studio audience a bit before we go live, so be sure to arrive early if you want entry!
  
  
• Who:  Mystcraft creator, XCompWiz!

Not familiar with the dimension-warping power of Mystcraft?  Ever wanted to create your own custom realm, tailored exactly with what you want in it?  How about many such realms?  Maybe you want to create an endless, alien desert with red skies, yellow clouds and green sunsets?  How about a sky dimension with mycelium, grass and snowy islands under an endless sunrise?  An empty void, with naught but the island you spawned on for comfort?  The ability to travel effortlessly between all of them?  You can do all of this - and so much more - check it out by clicking here, you won't be disappointed! Back to Top