Slashdot Mirror
Minecraft 1.5 "Redstone" Released
First time accepted submitter kdogg73 writes "Jens Bergensten and the Mojang team have released the latest version of Minecraft — version 1.5, dubbed 'Redstone.' Changes and updates include an added redstone comparator, redstone block, hoppers and droppers, light and weight sensors, Herobrine removal, and many bug fixes. Videos detailing the changes and new redstone devices already litter YouTube."
Funny what happen to the MOD API.
And many many bug fixes too, including one I really liked that could be used to make turbo-firing dispensers in a tiny space. I used that for potions and eggs.
There was some interesting ones removed that I hope they actually add in as effects, such as some curious mixture of potion effects that effectively flips your screen on the horizontal. (and controls)
That would make for a fantastic effect. That plus a double reverse potion (cure) would be pretty interesting if also combined with the beacons.
You could create an area effect around your base that flips every other players controls and your team use the de-flip potion.
Would be a great defensive use of Beacons, which are its main use from what I have seen on several huge faction servers.
Another was also one that flipped on the vertical two.
They really should heavily expand the potion system and allow for negation potions to disable potential effects getting applied to you.
I have heard the next update is supposed to be another biomes update.
I sure hope so, SO MANY biomes were removed in a recent update, that was annoying.
To be honest, seed generation should be based around peaks and depths, with biomes placed around them in a normal realistic sense.
It still annoys the hell out of me to see a snowy biome separated by a river, and then a damn desert next to it.
Then temperature can actually be made better use of, instead of just a very simple use that it is now.
And fix weather as well. Weather is still terrible. Weather is still global, it needs to be seed + biome based.
They keep removing him, and yet somehow he keeps coming back. Maybe this time it will stick?
Hey, there's something weird going on over in the other corner of my base. Probably just those damn sheep glitching through the fence again, but i better go check it out. brb...
This Space Intentionally Left Blank
As a server admin, this release continues my frustration of the lack of a mod API which was promised a LONG time ago.
Not only that, Mincraft has terrible memory and performance issues. I'm really surprised they haven't spent some of their vast money mountain to get it a lot more efficient, even if it means replacing some of the calc intensive java stuff with something offering better throughput, like interpreted BASIC on an 8 bit micro.
Maybe you'll want to look at Minetest instead?
Granted it's not as polished as Minecraft yet but; it's open source, the engine is written in C++ and the gameplay logic is written in Lua.
I plan to contribute something to the project once I find some free time on my hands.
Then I remembered it requires Java. So much for that... I'm too lazy to set up a VM just for that.
You imply a VM would help.
Save yourself the overhead, install a 64 bit JRE so there is no browser plugin, and you will be equally as safe as if running it in a VM - only getting 120 FPS instead of 1-2 :P
If you arn't running a 64 bit machine, then
A) wtf?!
and
B) Make double/triple sure you remove the browser plugin, else you'll be in a world of hurt.
There have been hundreds to thousands of exploits for the browser plugin these past few years, but thankfully none for the JRE in at least two years, and all those have long since been patched.
The good news is my 9 year old loves Minecraft, and I like how it encourages his creativity and isn't all about violence.
The bad news? Its a Java app, which is the last thing I want on any of my Macs. Not to mention that adding mods is a total pain in the ass. It's like they built an app specifically to screw with parents and make their computers vulnerable. Thanks...
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a difficult battle. - Plato
Also, if you're a Linux user, you can use the OpenJDK packages as well if you don't want to use anything Oracle related. Minecraft runs fine with OpenJDK on my Slackware 14 setup.
You're complaining about having to learn digital logic on /.?
Disable/remove the Java browser plugins, which is what the majority of vulnerabilities prey on.
Since most generally run MC from a local Java install (not the browser), it should be fairly safe.