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When 1.2.3 gets released, we should be getting the new anvil world file, which means that worlds are twice as tall. In the PC version, the only benefit to the world height is being able to build taller buildings.


Now, I have an idea that, in my opinion, would give the world height more of a purpose. I think that 4j should add a new world generation option, which means it would not be forced upon players but optional, called "Deep Caves". This would would have the same surface as worlds in 1.2.3 are normally, but would have many more layers that a player could mine in. This could potentially allow for better cave systems that can go a lot deeper and/or have much larger rooms. If done well, it could also make strongholds, ravines, and mineshafts feel much less cramped.

Benefits:
*Makes up for a lack of surface area a player could explore
*Gives the player the choice of playing on a world with a taller skylimit (builders) or deeper world (Exploreres/Miners)

An idea like this looks really good on paper but when it's put into action it doesn't really work... There's at least 2 mods for the PC that do this, and when you change the height of the map generation, it really really cuts the performance down. It might make for a really really laggy frame rate if they do that.

I like this, because superflat is the surface lowered, why not have the surface raised? and id like a very wide, shallow world for adventure maps

It won't happen. The Xbox can barely handle Minecraft as it is. Increasing the amount of blocks it has to render in a world at once would make the game slow down horrendously.

Quote from Mustache_Guy

It won't happen. The Xbox can barely handle Minecraft as it is. Increasing the amount of blocks it has to render in a world at once would make the game slow down horrendously.

What if there was a "Render Distance" option? kinda like the fog in PC

Quote from TornGauntlet

What if there was a "Render Distance" option? kinda like the fog in PC

there IS a render distance, if there wasn't we'd be able to see the entire map at any given time assuming you're high enough. And this is would be no different than expanding the world normally. Anvil stores files differently, more efficiently than the other generation format, partly by doing something with chunks of air that saves space (i couldnt begin to try to explain it but i got the jist of it from the changelogs), which is why they could add the extra 128 blocks of air without raping everyones computers.

edit: my bad, i missed the word option in your quote. i thought you were saying, "what if they put in a render distance"

that seems a little unnecessary because there is already when the next comes out for the xbox is going t skip five different updates that the p.c got so why would there need to be another added option added when there is going t be a ton of content added to the xbox

Maybe an option to disable shadows since they are pretty much useless. but i don't think there would be any significant boost to performance or i could be wrong. 512Mb 700MHz of ram is really bad nowadays. Who knows maybe they will think of something to increase map size/height if they chose only one option i would go map size over map height.

Quote from DrAtomic1

I wish they would just skip ahead to 1.4.5 or whichever the really good one with the 100+ bug/annoyance fixes in it. That said the idea the OP posted is a great one assuming anvil will indeed means increases in worldsize/height for the xbox which I doubt as I see how unstable it currently is (dissappearing animals, paintings, extreme lag when using complex redstone, huge start up lag from signs being checked, endermen destroying landscapes gardens and buildings etc etc).

bugs between PC and 360 are their own, for the most part. there are things like glass panes returning glass panes upon breaking that were in both, but those aren't really bugs even though some would undoubtedly argue are bugs. they release a bug update after every title update, which covers most of the known bugs. redstone does need to be fixed, but not necessarily regarding lag and OP's idea won't happen.

Quote from Mustache_Guy

It won't happen. The Xbox can barely handle Minecraft as it is. Increasing the amount of blocks it has to render in a world at once would make the game slow down horrendously.

Just so people know, this wouldn't affect the frame rate at all. Just as there would be more stone blocks if the ground level was raised, there would be more air blocks if the sky was raised. The type of block doesn't affect frame rate as much as you think. If it can handle a higher ceiling, a lower floor has the same consequences.