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Posted in: News Minecraft Pocket Edition by ,
61 Comments
Interview with Jon Kagstrom

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mojang's resident AI guru, Jon Kagstrom, to ask some questions about the highly anticipated 1.2 update. Here's what he had to say!

Sach: There have been a lot of features added in recent snapshots (more advanced Testificate behavior, smarter mobs etc) that seem to indicate a wide range of potential for the future of hostile and non-hostile NPCs going forward - what are some of your plans for that?

  • Jon: My primary task at the moment is to improve mobs (animals+monsters+npcs) to do that I first move them to a new AI platform. Once a mob has been moved it's really easy to add new behaviors without breaking existing ones. This is when the fun starts. What I find really interesting is emergent behaviors from only a few lines of code. For example the villager children playing tag or the dynamic when zombies break doors and villagers are fleeing in random directions. There is no overhead "invade village behavior" it's all a mixture of smaller reusable behavior modules. Another interesting aspect is the emotional relationship the player builds up with mobs. It's worse to see a villager child being eaten by a zombie than a grown, so you want to protect the little ones. Also I really like small subtle behaviors that doesn't necessarily add something concrete to the game but only atmosphere, like the new Iron Golem giving a rose to the children in a village.

Cats and creepers have an interesting dynamic in regards to how they behave with each other - will there be similar "quirks" or relationships between other NPC/mobs in the future?

  • Yes, in the future we will definitely see more mob interactions, not only between the player and the mob but also between mobs, we want the world to feel alive and dynamic. In Minecraft you can basically build anything and I like the idea of having an adapting dynamic population as well. Next step might be some kind of trading with the villagers now that they are getting some life. So you have a good reason to keep them happy by protecting them from monsters. But Jens and I haven't really planned any details yet.

There are now a wide variety of diverse biomes, with the jungle being the most recent addition - and it has biome-specific life! Will there be any alterations going forward for certain biomes to be preferred homes for pigs, cows...even certain monsters?

  • Yes probably, nothing is planned but as we update mobs this is considered.

More information on the update will be forthcoming - keep an eye out!

Posted Image


Improved half-blocks? Coming soon!





Pocket Edition - The Saga Continues

Daniel Kaplan took a moment to talk about Pocket Edition recently, showing some love for the incredibly active Korean fan-base of the popular portable title. He went on to say that there are a number of bug fixes in the works, such as continuously burning after respawning (if previously on fire), and the stubbornly unmovable cloth blocks being fixed. Finally, he offers this helpful hint on flying in Creative mode:

Daniel Kaplan said:

A lot of people have reported that you can't fly in Creative which is wrong. First double tap the jump button. Then you double tap up and or down to go up or down Posted Image Easy as that.


The hit portable sandbox game continues to make huge strides, currently sitting as the #8 top-grossing (earning/selling) app in the US market! Features for Pocket Edition have been released at a steady pace, and we look forward to the next iteration of advancement.




This week, David & Toby cover the bustling world of Minecraft's numerous goings-on, including a look at the recently concluded Mojam event, yesterday's Snapshot (with particular focus on the new Iron Golem) and more - check it out!



I am Sacheverell, and I am not a robot (I swear!). Check the front page for all the latest Minecraft news, videos and more!
Posted in: News Minecraft Pocket Edition
Promoted from Minecraft News - Weekly Updates, Pocket Edition & More

Comments

#1

coocoodoo

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:03 PM

cool!

#2

DogHadACAt

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:03 PM

sweet!

#3

OriginalPresets

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:03 PM

Ocelots should stare at each other for a while then they fight, that would be a great behaviour to add towards the ocelots.

EDIT : Just imagine cats staring at each other. Also dogs chasing cats / ocelots ? Also on multi-player if you own a cat and someone else does. They have fight but your own cats don't fight each other.
Posted Image

#4

Usbdriver

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:09 PM

upside down slabs?

#5

m1234567
    m1234567

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:14 PM

creeper land??

#6

Megaboy088

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:15 PM

[quote name='Usbdriver' timestamp='1330114194' post='13050399']
upside down slabs?
[/quote]
What difference would it make really?

Edit: Nvm, I did some research.  Regardless, be patient.  You expect too much in just one week.

#7

The_Battousai

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:18 PM

[img]http://i.imgur.com/QVA1C.png[/img]

#8

Thewindmillman

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:23 PM

D: the only thing bothering me is that all the villagers still look like some kind of bertward mix. i dont mind if they're kept, but maybe add some other types of villagers and\or other village types? possibly different "races" in different villages based on for example biomes.

#9

MeincraftManu

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:23 PM

if you look around in the minecraft wiki, you can find out that maybe a volcanic biome will be made (you can see it in the german wiki). And what happens, if you place a half blok under a block under which is one half step (build:
:stone:
:_:)?

#10

MinecraftHerobrine77

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:31 PM

Minecraft decoration just got much more AWESOME!!  :lol: :lol:

#11

Shirokage

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:36 PM

Yaaaaaaaaaay upper halfblocks! Finally :DD just waiting for them to come out now. Hopefully with the next snapshot.

#12

ThatOneGuy5

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:45 PM

Hey Sach!Really cool news, but guess what?
Jeb just proposed to a lady about 40 minutes ago as of now.
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/jeb_https://twitter.com/#!/jeb_"]Source[/url]
Just thought you might not know.
Posted Image

#13

Seatlerz

Posted 24 February 2012 - 08:57 PM

Finaly the half blocks will be fixed.

#14

SIR_halyavshik

Posted 24 February 2012 - 09:08 PM

protecting villagers? sure
[img]http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxjajghyHD1qmtz73.png[/img]

#15

Twintop
    Twintop

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 09:53 PM

I was talking with a friend about the possibility of 'upside down' slabs yesterday when the upside down stairs were announced. I'm now wondering if sideways stairs/slabs will be added to complete the variety of angles/alignments you could use them for in decorations.

#16

blackfire853

Posted 24 February 2012 - 10:07 PM

one thing im wondering is why is the a picture of a mountain side mansion. Perhaps new types of villages?

#17

Githerax
    Githerax

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 10:29 PM

Did someone think to ask when 1.2 is coming out :(

#18

Jeroeny15
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Posted 24 February 2012 - 11:00 PM

[quote]Did someone think to ask when 1.2 is coming out :([/quote]

I want a release date to. It's vacation (since today) they better release it before it's over :|

#19

dognrunn
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Posted 24 February 2012 - 11:03 PM

:-)

#20

jmm98
    jmm98

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Posted 24 February 2012 - 11:32 PM

I cracked up when I placed a skelly in front of a golem. It flung dat bonehead so high in da air.
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