Jeb, Dinnerbone, Grum, and EvilSeph have been discussing the upcoming Mod API in detail! This is only a small look at the massive amount of information provided about the Mod API, so let's dive right in!
API Questions:
Will mods have the ability to modify text?
Mods can have config files that, when initialized, will be able to dynamically print text in a variety of ways.
Will mods like Optifine (which modify the engine directly) be supported?
The API will eliminate the need to write to the engine directly, allowing modifications that affect the game (as any mod will), without altering the game code itself. Among other things, this will greatly simplify mod installation.
Can vanilla block behavior be modified?
Yes.
Will there be official community resources (tutorials, forums, etc) for modders?
Yes.
How will mods be distributed by modders, and downloaded by players?
Players will be able to download mods from the game client itself.
Will the API be able to add new mobs to the game through mods?
Yes. Additionally, it will be possible to modify animated blocks (water, lava) as well as custom animated blocks.
Will the API be like Bukkit (an outside resource)?
No, the API will be integrated into the vanilla game, hopefully bypassing the need for exernal APIs.
Will client-only mods be supported by the API?
Not at this time, but as the biggest client-only modifications are already covered (texture packs, splash screen text etc), it didn't seem necessary.
Will the API remove the issue of mods being rendered inoperable when the game updates?
It is a target we want to hit for certain, but it won't really have that capability at launch, we don't believe.
Will mods need to be re-written from the ground up with the API's release?
While mods will need to be changed to accommodate the API, total overhauls shouldn't be necessary. Even if a mod requires an overhaul for the API, it would only be a one-time occurrance.
Will there be any sort of content filter?
By and large, the community will police its own mods as it does now, but we are working to put a system in place to prevent malicious mods from being distributed.
What can be modified in the game using the API?
Everything.
Can the physics be modded?
Yes.
Will the API be on the XBOX or Pocket Edition?
Not by us, but you can ask the developers of each game, respectively.
Minecraft Questions:
Will mods like Optifine be added to vanilla?
Something even better. Overall, the game engine is being simplified, taking most of the load off of the client, and having the server doing the heavy work, greatly improving SMP.
Smoothstone stairs are not planned.
No new mobs are planned.
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Check back for more updates soon, there is a LOT going on today!
umm how to install mods in mod api? is is just put .jar file in mods folder? any guesses?
There are two ways:
You can browse / search the central plugin repository in the game itself. You can select plugins there to be downloaded and installed.
You can manually install plugins. They weren't specific how this would be done. My guess is you'll be able to select a jar file through the game itself.
Lol nope, then I won't update my mod anymore. I mean no one ever donated, so adly was the only way to gain a lil money for your effort.
You don't have to distribute through the central repository. You can have your users continue to download directly from you and install manually. Obviously that has some shortcomings.
I get the impression that Mojang (or their lawyer) is very leery of allowing people to monetize their plugins in a significant way. But I guess we'll see - hopefully they'll reconsider.
I have something of an awkward question to ask, as I haven't seent the same concern risen by anyone.
I greatly prefer vanilla servers, but at the same time run a few simple mods like Inventory Tweaks and fun stuff that chages the player models. I really, really don't want to say good bye to that and have servers dictate which mods I can and can't have.
And what if a server wants to run shaders? Will I have to get the shader mod? There's no way I can run that.
It seems to me that I'm the only one who really dreads the api, and I don't understand why everyone else wants it. :I
An API is just a set of functions that hook into the game engine. Modders NEED an API or they can't make mods at all. That's what Forge and Bukkit are. Those are APIs. They allow people to create mods without having to edit the base classes. However, because Forge is not maintained by Mojang and is not an official part of the engine that means that every time Mojang makes a major update to the game it breaks the way Forge works and Forge's developers have to fix it and update it.
So it's not that people want an API, it's that they want an OFFICIAL API that is already integrated into the engine and won't be broken just because Mojang made changes to Minecraft. It will eliminate delays between game updates and mod updates. (which happens like this: Minecraft update -> Forge API update -> modder update)
I'm still predominantly on 1.2.5 because several of my favorite mods are STILL not updated and some were abandoned because it was a full time job for the modders involved. If we'd had a functional official API way back in 1.2.5 then those mods would STILL probably work in 1.4.x
An API is just a set of functions that hook into the game engine. Modders NEED an API or they can't make mods at all. That's what Forge and Bukkit are. Those are APIs. They allow people to create mods without having to edit the base classes. However, because Forge is not maintained by Mojang and is not an official part of the engine that means that every time Mojang makes a major update to the game it breaks the way Forge works and Forge's developers have to fix it and update it.
So it's not that people want an API, it's that they want an OFFICIAL API that is already integrated into the engine and won't be broken just because Mojang made changes to Minecraft. It will eliminate delays between game updates and mod updates. (which happens like this: Minecraft update -> Forge API update -> modder update)
I'm still predominantly on 1.2.5 because several of my favorite mods are STILL not updated and some were abandoned because it was a full time job for the modders involved. If we'd had a functional official API way back in 1.2.5 then those mods would STILL probably work in 1.4.x
This is probably the best explination I have read about all this API stuff. Thank you for this info.
i realy hope they will stop updating minecraft so often and instead release this mod api with forge support included (i hope it will be like forge just better)
so i dont know whether this question was already asked but doesnt, Something even better. Overall, the game engine is being simplified, taking most of the load off of the client, and having the server doing the heavy work, greatly improving SMP
mean that it is going to be online ALL THE TIME???
No, it does not. If you are running in single-player (even in the current version), it is running a local server. As stated, this performance improvement applies to SMP (multi-player), where the server will be running on a separate computer from the client.
No, it does not. If you are running in single-player (even in the current version), it is running a local server. As stated, this performance improvement applies to SMP (multi-player), where the server will be running on a separate computer from the client.
So that means no improvement for offline single player?
I'm worried about simplifying the game engine too,
Will mods like Optifine be added to vanilla?
Something even better. Overall, the game engine is being simplified, taking most of the load off of the client, and having the server doing the heavy work, greatly improving SMP. Smoothstone stairs are not planned. No new mobs are planned.
Optifine isn't just meant to boost FPS, I use it for more customability with my video settings for a better looking game. For example, I hate the opaque leaves and vingette of fancy graphics, but I love fancy grass, so I can turn that on without the leaves or vingette of fancy graphics
I'm worried about simplifying the game engine too,
[/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=Verdana, Geneva, Tahoma, sans-serif][size=small][background=rgb(232, 239, 244)]Optifine isn't just meant to boost FPS, I use it for more customability with my video settings for a better looking game. For example, I hate the opaque leaves and vingette of fancy graphics, but I love fancy grass, so I can turn that on without the leaves or vingette of fancy graphics[/background][/size][/font][/color]
Lol nope, then I won't update my mod anymore. I mean no one ever donated, so adly was the only way to gain a lil money for your effort.
yes/no
Probably.
There are two ways:
You don't have to distribute through the central repository. You can have your users continue to download directly from you and install manually. Obviously that has some shortcomings.
I get the impression that Mojang (or their lawyer) is very leery of allowing people to monetize their plugins in a significant way. But I guess we'll see - hopefully they'll reconsider.
ModLoader and DimensionAPI will be probably no longer developed. Audiomod - maybe.
I always thought people are making mods for fun, not for money.
It's not happening in January. Read the posts, please.
Thanks!!
Jizzed in my pants
An API is just a set of functions that hook into the game engine. Modders NEED an API or they can't make mods at all. That's what Forge and Bukkit are. Those are APIs. They allow people to create mods without having to edit the base classes. However, because Forge is not maintained by Mojang and is not an official part of the engine that means that every time Mojang makes a major update to the game it breaks the way Forge works and Forge's developers have to fix it and update it.
So it's not that people want an API, it's that they want an OFFICIAL API that is already integrated into the engine and won't be broken just because Mojang made changes to Minecraft. It will eliminate delays between game updates and mod updates. (which happens like this: Minecraft update -> Forge API update -> modder update)
I'm still predominantly on 1.2.5 because several of my favorite mods are STILL not updated and some were abandoned because it was a full time job for the modders involved. If we'd had a functional official API way back in 1.2.5 then those mods would STILL probably work in 1.4.x
This is probably the best explination I have read about all this API stuff. Thank you for this info.
No, it does not. If you are running in single-player (even in the current version), it is running a local server. As stated, this performance improvement applies to SMP (multi-player), where the server will be running on a separate computer from the client.
So that means no improvement for offline single player?
Yay cloud.
Optifine isn't just meant to boost FPS, I use it for more customability with my video settings for a better looking game. For example, I hate the opaque leaves and vingette of fancy graphics, but I love fancy grass, so I can turn that on without the leaves or vingette of fancy graphics
Mojang really is taking a huge dump on OptiFine.