Over the last week, we've seen some pretty interesting updates in the weekly snapshot (as well as the follow-up quickfix snapshot). Now, the Dead Worker's Party has provided us an insightful review on the major features from the most recent snapshot! Covering creeper AI improvements, Villager's tendencies to find housing, and the curious effect of cats on creepers, the Party covers this, and more - click the image above to give it a watch! Back to Top

Minecraft News - Boxart, Snapshot Details & More

This week on Minecraft News, Toby and David cover a number of recent hot topics, such as bringing on new Mojang staff, a quick peek at the 360 version of Minecraft, details on this weeks' Snapshot, with focus on changes to cat behavior, villager AI, and a pleasant surprise change to lava! Additionally, the randomly-generated mineshafts scattered throughout the world appear to have received a visit from safety officials - they now generate with wooden flooring where gaps would have been in prior terrain generation, whether small potholes, or much larger gaps.

Click the image above to check out this week's series!

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Shapeways 3D Printout Contest

Did you read this article about 3D printing models from Minecraft and think to yourself, "I wish I could get one of those"? I know the feeling - it seems like there is an endless stream of possible models to print from my SSP games alone, nevermind any servers I play on. Still, for those of you looking for a 3D printout model of your creations, we have a sweepstakes that might be just what you're looking for - winners can receive, at no cost, a 3D printed model of their Minecraft creations, as well as $50 certificates for Shapeways, perfect for discounting larger projects, or outright buying smaller ones, like character models or small structures. Want to know more? Click the image above for details! Back to Top

Weekly Snapshot Ready For Testing

The Week 5 Snapshot is out for testing! Here's what has been added for this round:

• Many mob-related bug fixes (and some new behaviors)
  
• Ocelots are easier to tame, and cats can be told to sit
  
• Many small bug fixes and tweaks
  
• Villagers will try to detect village houses and live in them
  
• Updated language files (now with 50% less profanities!)
  

UPDATE: Quickfix snapshot is now out, which adds the following fix along with the above changes:

• Shift-click on items in menus is fixed
  
• Cats can be told to sit with an empty hand
  

You can get your snapshot client right here!
Need the server client? Click here!

New Minecraft 360 Box Art Revealed

Daniel Kaplan of Mojang just now tweeted the new cover art for the XBOX 360 version of Minecraft. We've taken a look at the upcoming console port in the past, and it is well on its way to living up to the hype of its computer-based predecessor. In addition, you can view a video released by Hat Films showing off some teasers of the game - as well as highlights of the Mojang team - by downloading it to your 360 console, or by clicking this link.

With the console release fast approaching, steady updates continuously coming out for the PC version, and a rapidly expanding pocket edition, Minecraft seems nearly unstoppable. What do you think some of the best parts of having Minecraft on the 360 will be? Tell us about it!

Stronghold 2 (by Vareide) is Out!

Earlier in the week, we had a chance to show you a video made by Minecraft legend Vareide - and now, the second installment of the series is out! Barring jokes about pigs dropping beef, the player continues his journey of self-discovery, only to run into tell-tale signs of a piece of Minecraft mythos almost as old as the game itself...

Click the image below to watch!

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The game of Spleef has a long and telling history, reaching the height of popularity in Minecraft Classic. Even today, nearly every large server you visit has a Spleef arena somewhere, with regularly scheduled tournaments, special-occasion events and more. The game is simple enough - knock out blocks from underneath your opponent while they try to do the same to you. Whoever falls first, loses. Rules and specifics beyond that tend to vary from server to server, but the core of the game tends to form the foundation regardless of house rules.

This video shows off a Spleef tournament, with one slight variation - it comes with its own sports announcer and overlays! Done in the stylings of a major sporting event, this vid sensationalizes Spleef in a way that's sure to entertain, take a look!

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A Survey for Minecraft Gamers

We take your feedback seriously. Yes, it's true! As a part of our ongoing process to make things here on the forums better for everyone, we have a quick survey which asks about some of your preferences. If you'd like to help us make your experience better, please head over here and fill it out! Back to Top

Weekly Roundup - You're in the Jungle

We've got some exciting news from around the gaming network this week!  This Roundup talks a bit about the recent weekly snapshots - which feature ocelots (and kittens!), dense & lush jungle, smarter skeletons & zombies - as well as LEGO's official announcement of the all new, 100% official Minecraft LEGO sets!  Elsewhere around the network, we talk about the now-absent Blizzcon for this year, some rather significant changes to WoW's system via a new update, and more - take a look!

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3D Printing, Revisited

Awhile back, we talked a bit about printing 3D models from Minecraft constructions, and had a chance to show off a particularly interesting village that was printed using this method.  Today, we're giving you a look at the in-game village that the model came from, giving you a side-by-side perspective of what an in-game wonder becomes, block by block, when printed in real life - take a look! Back to Top

Minecraft Forum Community Spotlight

For a long time, we would put up people's creations here on the front page. As I sought ways to provide players with access to amazing creations by their fellow gamers, a thought occurred to me - Why not make a video series that focuses entirely on the community?" So, it is with no further delay that I am proud to present the Minecraft Forum Community Spotlight series! What is it, you ask? It is nothing less than a show built around player-created mods, texture packs and other amazing creations, to bring you incredible community-generated stuff for your game - even from authors you may not have heard of before!

Our Mission; What This Can Do For You

It is my hope to give mod authors, artists, map-makers and other innovators from the community the chance to shine right here on the front page, to help them get the most out of their hard work. How can you get your (or your favorite) work spotlighted here? It's easy!

• Create something awesome
  
• Send an email to this address, specifying what your creation is, and/or including a link to your thread
  
• Our content team reviews your work, and if it's amazing enough to be highlighted, we'll contact you about it - if you get a confirmation email, you're headed to the Community Spotlight!
  

That's all there is to it! Now, without further delay, some information about today's spotlighted mod:

Author: w3(r4ft
Thread (includes download links, building information & more): Click here!
Notes: This mod adds lasers, sensors, refractors and more to your game. What can it do? More than can be easily described here - check out the video and the creator's thread, above!

This mod requires other mods to function - ModLoader, ModLoaderMP and Forge. Be sure to read the installation instructions carefully! Don't forget - if you like w3(r4ft's mod, show him some love by dropping a post in his thread telling him!

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The Minecraft Forum Community Spotlight series is on-going, so there is no final deadline to submit your creations for review. If you think your work (or another mod/map/texture pack you like), is good enough, send it to us - you could be next on the front page! To see the first episode, just click the banner above, and check out the Laser Mod! Back to Top

If you have ever played Bastion, one thing that immediately stands out is the game's narration.  Thanks to none other than Vareide, we now have the answer, in the form of this short film!  With solid cinematography, clever script-writing and a killer delivery, Vareide gives us an entirely new way to experience Minecraft, narrating everyday occurances in the game world, lending them an air of distinction and power previously unheard of in the game - check it out! Back to Top

This week, we have some exciting news!  David and Toby touch briefly on the recent acceptance by LEGO for a fully-fledged Minecraft-themed line of toys, Mojang's comments on their recent SOPA blackout, the possibility of altering slimes' spawning places in future updates, and more.  Additionally, they mention Notch's recent poll, revamps to the Skeleton AI, news on the recently revealed ocelot mob, and the ability for players to shoot ghast-like fireballs at will.  Give it a look! Back to Top

This week's snapshot is available for testing!  Below is the list of changes, as per Jeb's notes on the Mojang site:

• New jungle-specific mob that can be tamed
  
• Skeletons have new AI and a few new behaviors
  
• Various minor bug fixes and changes
  
• Added an experience item to creative mode
  
• Added a flame item…
  
• Updated language files

Additionally, some players have been trying to track changes not otherwise noted, and here's what Reddit writer  keozen has compiled so far:

• A strange "well-type-thing" (technical term) people are finding in the desert
  
• Jungle Tree Saplings (thanks Minecraftman1)
  
• The textures for dispensers and saplings have been changed. (thanks Minecraftman1)
  
• If a 2x2 square of Jungle Tree Saplings is made and one is fertilized with bone meal, a huge tree is made (Thank you, Wolfrose88 via Minecraftman1)
  
• When Ocelots are bred, they will give birth to...KITTENS! They come in black, red or siamese. (thanks Minecraftman1)

Feel free to add any findings you may come across in this thread, and check out our comprehensive coverage of update discoveries right here!

Client: Get the client here!
Server: Get the server here!

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Our resident weekly news guys - David & Toby - take a fun-filled tour on the TradeChat server, to see a colorful medley of video-game tribute constructions, roller coasters and more, hosted by video game enthusiast PinkPanser - take a look!

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Minecraft Poll - How Do You Play Minecraft?

Mojang is curious how you're playing Minecraft! They would like to collect data on gamemodes, time played and myriad other details (but nothing personally identifying!) about how players are using the game, and they need your help! Notch has put forth the suggestion that the game be able to collect anonymous information during gameplay, so they can get a better idea of how people play Minecraft, and adjust the game to cater better to players going forward. This feature is not currently implemented, but Mojang would like to, and are asking for your input on the matter. You can help them out by voting right here!

Welcome (Back) to the Jungle - Sneak Peek at the New Mob

Jeb released a teaser image for a new jungle mob! If you look in the image below - on the far right side of the picture - you can see the new little guy peeking out from behind some undergrowth, as a chicken stands guard. What could it be? A monkey? A lemur? A new type of creeper? We're not sure yet, but speculations run wild. What do you think it could be? Take a look at the picture below and tell us!

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Click on the image for a larger version!

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Minecraft - A Tale in Three Acts

We recently came across this silent film about a down-on-his-luck miner trying to make a new life for himself. Give it a watch, and let us know what you think!

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