Minecraft Weekly News

This weeks "Minecraft News" takes a close look at Notch's upcoming new game, "0x10c"; we also touch on the recent release of the official line of Minecraft LEGO products, this week's AMA (more on that in a moment), Minecon 2012 and the secret Snapshot 12w15a update details!

Pocket Edition Update Soon

It is about time for another Pocket Edition Update! The portable Minecraft port can expect more advances in tools, creatures and survival mechanics - one step closer to perfection. Have you built something truly awesome in Minecraft: Pocket Edition? If so, show us here!

Pocket Edition has spent some time slowly becoming more and more like the Survival mode we know and love on the PC version. While it has been said that MCPE will never be exactly like the PC version, the addition of Survival elements and more robust Creative controls is a welcome addition. Keep an eye out as we track the exact changes to the upcoming update - if you just can't get enough portable building action, you won't want to miss out on the new info!

Of note on the PC version, the Mod API will be getting some particular focus very soon. How soon? We won't say, precisely - not just yet.

Ask Jon Anything - Users Ask Much of Mojang's AI Guru

Jon Kågström - the man responsible for many incredible AI changes in Minecraft, among others - had his AMA session today! Jon answered a host of questions about the game; the future of group-based monster intelligence, how the upcoming Mod API might be used with mob interaction in mods, possible trading with villagers, and so much more. If you have never heard about what Jon does for Mojang, now is a great opportunity to see him talk about his work first-hand, and believe me, you don't want to miss out. Check out Jon's AMA by clicking this link!

Mojang Moving Into New Office Soon

Mojang has been pining for a new office for some time now, and they finally have a "ready" date for it - June 1st! Mojang's Carl Manneh spoke briefly on the topic, noting that the ceiling is green.

One has to wonder if it is creeper green. Why would it be anything else?

While the office will be ready for move-in by June 1st, Mojang will likely not relocate to the new building until a week or more after this date. Anyone who has ever tried to relocate an entire office can easily tell you why: all of the excitement of packing up and moving from home, but with tons more stuff. Usually much heavier stuff, too. Nonetheless, the new location looks fancy - we will update you with new pictures as they become available.

Scrolls to Alpha Stage Soon

Have you been anxiously awaiting the upcoming CCGI-alike, "Scrolls"? Itching for some card-combat action? It won't be long before you can see it first-hand: the Scrolls Alpha is coming soon! Mojang has been playtesting Scrolls quite a bit lately, even having in-house tournaments every week. It won't be long before players will be able to do the same, so keep an ear to the ground!

20 More Minecraft Gift Code Winners - Check For Your Name!

We have drawn 20 more lucky winners for today's Free Minecraft Giftcode Giveaway! Is your name on the list below?

• juanber97
  
• rebel
  
• frankiescou
  
• vailofhail
  
• total_aza
  
• newker
  
• computercraftfan1
  
• wolftone1916
  
• tlidnr
  
• skysquid116
  
• youforix
  
• daisukextremez
  
• mucski
  
• itsmrpostman
  
• lordmax155
  
• lubey117
  
• rasmuschrstnsn
  
• valkanyz
  
• agentrev
  
• maxthewolf

Congratulations to today's 20 lucky winners! Entrants who were selected today should have already received a message from us here on the forum, so be sure to check your inbox. Remember, we only have 20 more codes to give away, and there is only one day left to win. Check back often - you could be the next winner of a free Minecraft Gift Code!

Want to get your free Minecraft giftcode? Here's how:

• Head over to our Facebook page
  
• Give the Minecraft Forum group a "Like", and post your Minecraft Forum name right here
  
• Sit back and wait
  

We would like to thank every member of our community for making the Minecraft Forum so awesome - enjoy your free copy of Minecraft, winners! If you haven't won yet, there's still time, so don't delay!

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Rags to Riches - an RPG

User "Flabaliki" begins his Let's Play RPG adventure! Explore a deep, rich RPG system with numerous exciting elements - check it out!

That's right, this week sees the release of the 12w15a Snapshot, ready for testing! What has been added, changed or removed for this version? That's a good question - this Snapshot's changes have been hidden!

Want to test it out anyway? Can you find the hidden features and fixes? If so, click the links below - we will be exploring the update for surprises, so keep an eye out right here for details!

12w15a Client: Download

12w15a Server: Download

Digital Diamond - Cooking with the Iron Golem

Today's Diamond looks at the Iron Golem - he can defend villagers from all aggressors, but can he cook? Watch and find out!

<a href="http://www.facebook.com/minecraftforums" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.minecraftforum.net/content/images/logos/fblike.png" border="0" alt=""></a>

20 More Minecraft Gift Code Winners - Are You Among Them?

We have drawn 20 more lucky winners for today's Free Minecraft Giftcode Giveaway! Is your name on the list below?

• tamujiisn
  
• blackjack10
  
• formthisway
  
• nitorpg
  
• xgixdeathscythe
  
• minecraftingninja
  
• colbywolf
  
• baronkarl
  
• leymong
  
• fatories
  
• carl177
  
• mazylazy
  
• sanoj00
  
• extend460
  
• saezin
  
• try2bcool69
  
• kepos
  
• twitchfish
  
• utaelilya
  
• e765

Congratulations to today's 20 lucky winners! Entrants who were selected today should have already received a message from us here on the forum, so be sure to check your inbox. Remember, we still have 40 more codes to give away this week, and there is only a couple days left to win. Check back often - you could be the next winner of a free Minecraft Gift Code!

You can still be selected to win! Want to get your free Minecraft giftcode? Here's how:

• Head over to our Facebook page
  
• Give the Minecraft Forum group a "Like", and post your Minecraft Forum name right here
  
• Sit back and wait
  

We would like to thank every member of our community for making the Minecraft Forum so awesome - enjoy your free copy of Minecraft, winners! If you haven't won yet, there's still time, so don't delay!

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Remember, you can also get benefits from being a Premium member here on the forums! We are always adding new exclusive content for subscribers, including deluxe name titles, a private section of the forums, access to special contests and more!

Lydia Winters - more popularly known as "Minecraft Chick" - confirmed that Minecon 2012 would be happening, and that it would be held in Europe! While no specific country or dates were yet named, we expect such details to be revealed in the very near future. Will it be in the UK? Perhaps even Sweden? France? Check in frequently - we'll let you know soon!

Minecon 2011 was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, with an estimated attendance of over five thousand people. There were numerous booths, seminars and Q&A sessions with various Minecraft groups and personalities, including opportunities to meet Mojang in person. The opening ceremony included a history of Minecraft, as well as marking the official launch of Minecraft 1.0, the full release of the blockbuster sandbox title.

It wasn't long ago that Minecraft saw 25 million registered users (they're already up to 26 million since that particular landmark was set), and the number just keeps growing. Along with the runaway success of Minecraft - Pocket Edition and the upcoming Minecraft - XBOX Edition, the epic block-builder continues to take the world by storm. Massive updates are on the horizon for the PC version, including the highly anticipated Mod API, NPC trading and so much more. Just how far can Minecraft go? Only time will tell!

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Everyone loves Minecraft, but just how much? We would like to know! Head over here and take our Minecraft poll, and tell us what you think about all things Minecraft!

<a href="http://media.minecraftforum.net/content/images/2012/04/lego.jpg"><div class="right" style="margin-left:10px;"><img src="http://media.minecraftforum.net/content/images/2012/04/lego_thumb.jpg" /></div></a>Long-Awaited Lego

It wasn't so long ago that LEGO decided to greenlight Minecraft-themed LEGO sets, and we have been eagerly awaiting their arrival ever since. Now, the wait is over - here's LEGO model designer Steen Sig Andersen holding one of the first production copies of LEGO Minecraft Micro World, fresh off the packing line in Denmark! The first model appears to be a small landscape, complete with a tiny Steve. Want to see more images of the landscape? They're all right here, ready for your perusing pleasure - take a look!

Bukkit's "Grum" Answers Inquiries

Erik "Grum" Broes wrapped up his AMA session today, and he covered a wide array of topics! Some teasers include: possible friends lists in the future, more Mod API teasers, his history with Minecraft and more. You can check out the full AMA session by clicking this link. Give it a read!

Tomorrow's AMA session will feature Warren "EvilSeph" Loo. Be sure to head to their AMA page for scheduling and more!

20 More Minecraft Gift Code Winners - Are You Among Them?

Who are today's 20 lucky winners? Take a look below!

• djryudo
  
• areneagle1
  
• calpisbubbletea
  
• muse-ic
  
• nubnoobnewbmc
  
• bartiprog
  
• deadlygamer5
  
• tikqro-th
  
• ja-kane
  
• elite1304
  
• sparrowhawk56
  
• epicch33secake
  
• gosyboy
  
• sirgouki
  
• abucketoflava
  
• madbeing
  
• 2getterau
  
• packy231
  
• ghillie-guy-15
  
• pocketkings719

Congratulations to today's 20 lucky winners! Entrants who were selected today should have already received a message from us here on the forum, so be sure to check your inbox. Remember, we still have 60 more codes to give away this week, and we're doing 20 every day, through Friday. Check back often - you could be the next winner of a free Minecraft Gift Code!

Want to get in on the drawing before it's too late? Here's how:

• Head over to our Facebook page
  
• Give the Minecraft Forum group a "Like", and post your Minecraft Forum name right here
  
• Sit back and wait
  

It's not too late to win!

Today's Mojang AMA featured Nathan "Dinnerbone" Adams, of Bukkit fame! What sort of questions were asked? Did he reveal any big secrets? Let's take a look:

What kind of support will the API offer for very large mods, such as EvilMinecraft or the Aether? Will it be able to meet all of their needs?
Impossible for me to say anything absolutely at this point. Our goal is to provide as much as we can and the API will be open enough for people to suggest new methods and ways of doing things, that if we can't cater to a plugin at the start we hope you can work with us to make it possible later on.

If the API is unable to meet a mod's needs, what options do the creators of that mod have, really?
You still have the option of modding, we're not going to force a diamond sword to your neck and say "use plugins or be slapped with a raw fish!". We just really, really want you to use plugins for everyone's convenience. See my previous point too.

In terms of the actual mod distribution once the API is out, how will that work? Will creators go on minecraft.net and go to a new section in which they upload their mod, or what?
We don't have much details on this to announce yet, but we're looking to set up a new mod distribution platform which will be accessible both online and ingame. Authors will just upload their stuff on a website and we'll take care of the rest with a bit of magic.

Why has Mojang not released the Minecraft source to modders(who sign a NDA) for the time being to make modding easier before the API is released?
Not my call so I can't really say why; but I can tell you that it won't help you as much as you think unless you had the ability to commit back. The obfuscated version is too different from the real version, it's not at all easy to switch between them.

Moving forward, how do you hope for Mojang to connect with the modding community outside of the API?
I'm not really sure. Do you have any suggestions? We'd obviously love to somehow give back to authors of popular plugins, and we really want to work together designing the future of things, but nothing is set in stone right now.

What does the mod API mean for the future of Bukkit?
I've answered this previously in a FAQ but basically we're going to keep Bukkit around as a community thing until it's either too difficult to update, or the community stops using it and has already switched to the new API.

If you could code any mob into the game, what would it be?
Pandas. I already tried playing with them, but I still need to get used to skinning and animating things.


You can check out the entire "Ask Me Anything" session by clicking this link - give it a read, you won't be disappointed!

Digital Diamond - The Revenge of Herobrine

Many players have dog companions - they are useful for hunting monsters, livestock and other players, after all. Of course, we don't always take our dog along when we do something relatively mundane, like harvesting resources. Still, what happens to the poor dog when it is left alone too long? Herobrine is more than happy to answer that question - check out this video, made by TheWaffleGalaxy, to find out!

20 Facebook Giveaway Winners - Could You Be Next?

Today, we reveal the first 20 winners of our "Free Minecraft Gift Code Giveaway"!

• wolfy9247
  
• jtaker
  
• razhang
  
• mansayhi
  
• minecraftminecraftmine
  
• truman
  
• gorebachev
  
• bbq-12
  
• totdigital
  
• sacripphire
  
• pfautzma
  
• pizarro
  
• todotojb
  
• s259
  
• tiantianguo
  
• cloudiroth13
  
• legopieces
  
• luacs1998
  
• tophatelephantdancing
  
• n1cho

Congratulations to the first 20 lucky winners! Entrants who were selected today should have already received a message from us here on the forum, so be sure to check your inbox. Remember, we still have 80 more codes to give away this week, and we're doing 20 every day, through Friday. Check back often - you could be the next winner of a free Minecraft Gift Code!

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Brick Force - What Is It?

We met up with Lydia Winters at PAX-East and she gave us a little heads up of whats going down at Mojang - check it out!

Community Spotlight - The Dark Room, Ep. 3

This week's Dark Room takes a look at DokuCraft - currently maintained by HickeryDickery, originally made by Doku - and we discuss some of the recent goings-on in the world of Minecraft.

Digital Diamond - Hangman

Additionally, we take a look at this amazing Hangman redstone creation, lovingly hand-made by Chillybeef and Adjke! This stunning creation features multi-player support, a fully operational display for the various hangman parts, letters and more; the video also goes behind-the-scenes to show you exactly how this juggernaut of redstone circuitry works. Check it out, you will be amazed!

We are at PAX East, with an eye on the upcoming MCX360 game! Check out exclusive gameplay footage, info and more right here!

MCX Gameplay Footage!

400 Achievement Points; patches will be released on an ongoing basis (not like previous xbox games), but slightly behind pc in development. No modding will be possible, except community features - for example, you can join friends' worlds, which save themselves, and you can return to them later. The tutorial demonstrates the crafting table, creating tools, preparing for mobs at night time.

Exclusive Gameplay, Part 1:

Help tips appear throughout the game, which explain new concepts as the player progresses. Multiplayer and singleplayer are the same; you can switch to multiplayer or singleplayer from the same world, without having to be in an SSP or SMP "mode".

Exclusive Gameplay, Part 2:

Footage of the crafting screen and all the different items. Leaderboards are present, although it's not yet known what they will feature. True to the XBOX, Achievements will be available - it wouldn't be the same without them!