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Minecraft 1.5, plug-in downloads API unveiled

Mark Walton
By Mark Walton, Senior Staff Writer - Reviews

Mojang takes the wraps off 1.5 Redstone Update; new plug-in API and download repository to follow.

Minecraft's upcoming 1.5 PC update has been titled the Redstone Update and is set for a January 2013 release. The update focuses on the game's redstone ore, giving it variable signal strength, and introduces a new capacitor block. Players will be able to use the two items together to create objects like weighted pressure plates and pressure-sensitive detector rails.

The Mojang team unveiled version 1.5 at Minecon.

The Mojang team unveiled version 1.5 at Minecon.

Other improvements include better minecarts, a new nether-based ore for creating capacitors, and a daylight detector, which could be used for creating solar-panel-like devices. There will also be a host of bug fixes, such as for the south/east rule. Mojang warned that the tweaks may break compatibility with existing creations, such as those that rely on the block update design.

Mojang also provided details on its upcoming API, which will allow developers to create plug-ins for the game. A central repository on Mojang's site will house the plug-ins, all of which will be free for users to download. Plug-ins will be able to add or remove functionality from Minecraft, but not modify the core game engine.

Other tidbits revealed by Mojang included support for HD texture packs, user prompts for new updates, and a full open-source release.

For more on the 1.5 Redstone Update, check out our extended preview.

Mark Walton
By Mark Walton, Senior Staff Writer - Reviews

Writer, riff maker, purveyor of fine foods. Mark currently spends his days trying to overcome his small (large) obsession with high-top trainers and mobile games. He's known to respond well to Long Island Iced Tea, falafels, and karaoke, but not necessarily in that order.

56 comments
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manjam2
manjam2

 

Minecraft has revolutionized the Indie Game industry. It's not for one age. It's for everybody who likes to sit down after a long day and talk to friends while playing a game where almost anything is possible A home away from home if you will. There is nothing "Childish" or "Retarded" about it. It's a game for people who enjoy gaming. 

manjam2
manjam2

TheEpic makes a good point. It's awesome to hang out and see what people make. There is nothing wrong with that.

TheEpic3
TheEpic3

to anyone hating on Minecraft its fun and very enjoying to play Minecraft with others or alone its a game its meant to be played in a way that other games you get burned out on easy and fast then with Minecraft whats so different from Minecraft and other games well Minecraft has mods texture packs and the people you play multiplayer with is so respectful and building stuff its a joy to play and see what they create how they create it.

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hunteriv4
hunteriv4 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @zheimers My legos don't randomly generate worlds that I can modify and walk around in, nor do they have zombies.

 

This game was made with a tiny budget by a small developer.  Who are they removing creative talent from?  Call of Duty 9? Assassin's Creed 5? Grand Theft Auto 5?

 

What is your definition of an "adult" game that could have possibly lost out because of Minecraft?

 

Would it be a game that is "rediculous and retarted (sic)"?  Dumbing down the industry, indeed.

tgwolf
tgwolf

*looks around*...Umm, is this the article that's NOT about Minecon...Oh, sorry, I guess I got lost in this REALLY LONG hall...

NightsOwl
NightsOwl

Too bad this update is going to be boring.

DeadLight2080
DeadLight2080

snova9308 , ryan0991,stealth6spy Three kids in this threat , emm ... just let them defend this su** in a big shame in video games history , WTF :!??!! they love this she**??!! PXXXKHCHHCHHXX D  

snova9308
snova9308

 @DeadLight2080

yeah, why deffend minecraft, when there are awsome games that innovate on whole new levels like FIFA, and call of duty?

 

minecraft is too complex for our tiny little minds, and we need more brainless FPS because they are just so hipster

 

 

hows that for sarcasm

Jarten
Jarten

I think this will be an awesome update.

DrKill09
DrKill09

EEEEEEK!  A hipster!  Why?!  Why let the damn hipsters write articles, Gamespot?  I'm surprised he didn't write about Schwinn bikes, PBR, and nerd glasses.

DrKill09
DrKill09

Minecraft, along with Angry Birds, are destroying the industry.

RedStrife14
RedStrife14

 @DrKill09 You are just a stupid gamer, and doesn't look at the game as a whole.You need to grow up. 

hombreg1
hombreg1

 @DrKill09 What's wrong with minecraft? it's like a big GTA combined with RPG style creation of stuff combined with survival games + it's got nice blocky graphics which still make my computer lag -.-If you're going to hate on something as innovative, at least add some back up info.

snova9308
snova9308 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @DrKill09

 if your comparing minecraft with angrybirds, your not hating the game because of lack of innovation, your just a hipster who thinks its cool to hate on anything everyone likes just for the sake of it

 

in one word: your a moron

zheimers
zheimers

 @snova9308  @DrKill09

 that's not one word you twit, that's three. why can't you you see that you're the hipster, being a fanatic over a very trendy game for psuedo-creative/psuedo-inteligent nerds

Flint247
Flint247

I am still playing Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition. I might move to PC version, but I want to wait a while.

Destrond
Destrond

 @Flint247 Its so much better on PC. Make the jump, you won't regret it.

jedediahpelland
jedediahpelland

Ahh, so they are finally incorporating the bukkit plugin system into vanilla minecraft, its about time! Now just get Eloram the creator of Red Power working with ya and we will be all set!!

SolidTy
SolidTy

This game is quite the success story.

DarthLod
DarthLod

Will NEVER understand the appeal of this "game". Of course, people take it too far and obsess over it and use it for social garbage. Population Control!!!!

LandauTST
LandauTST like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

 @DarthLod Then why bother coming on here to complain about it? Too much spare time in your no life?

senseless_dj
senseless_dj

GS is flooded with minecraft news.

Mega_Loser
Mega_Loser

senseless_dj, thanks for letting us know. i came straight to this article while skipping the main page entirely.

Sw1tched
Sw1tched

How about instead of little updates, you make a PS3 version!!!! to reach even more users ... i don't play games on my PC because of a disability of using mouse and keyboard for too long. I need a game pad and none of my friends are on PC

mrklorox
mrklorox like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Sw1tched Yeah, it's kinda surprising they haven't added native controller support to the PC version yet. I'd definitely play Minecraft more if I could just turn on a wireless controller and play from my bed instead of getting up and sitting at the mouse and keyboard. I suppose the game would work well enough using Joy2Key or Xpadder or other similar programs since the PC version doesn't have analog movement.

Sw1tched
Sw1tched

 @mrklorox Funny you say that because i am using my ps3 dualshock via "Motionshoy" & with xpadder for key mapping works perfectly. i can play for hours. But on PC i have no friends :(:(. Need PS3 version.

Sw1tched
Sw1tched

 @RedStrife14  @mrklorox no, thats what i am saying. I have to play it on the PC with my PS3 controller because they won't make it

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Mariner32
Mariner32 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @DeadLight2080 Wait, you expect a website devoted to games journalism to *not* report on a convention that revolves around one of the most popular PC games to date?

hunteriv4
hunteriv4

 @DeadLight2080 I was once asked to prove that someone can hate literally anything, no matter how benign that thing is.

 

It seems I finally found the proof.  Thank you.

Landsharkk
Landsharkk

I'm glad to see continued progress on this game!  However, are these updates for the PC AND Xbox versions or just the PC?  Seems that's kind of important information.

Sakirenn
Sakirenn

 @Landsharkk It's for the PC version, I doubt this kind of stuff would even be possible on the Xbox. 

Salt_AU
Salt_AU like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Sakirenn  @Landsharkk

 LOL yeah, I mean the xbox 360 runs low quality games like Forza, Halo 4, Assassins Creed 3 and Skyrim.  It could never handle a state of the art game like Minecraft!

pelvist
pelvist like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Landsharkk  Well then maybe when you start developing and releasing major titles of your own you can tell me im wrong, and that im making stuff up. Untill then ill just assume you are a console gamer who thinks he knows what hes talking about because he just started gaming on the 360 his parents got him for Christmas. ( sorry, its how I picture you as I type this, with acne and a poster of Justin Bieber above the CRT TV that you play XBOX games on in your bedroom :D )

 

The question was merely placed there to make you think for a second, and then realise that what you said about the XBOX being able to do Forza etc, is reason why it can do Minecraft like the PC can, is really quite daft. The huge scale of Minecraft on the PC needs far more memory than the 360 has, thats a fact. You could have either not done anything or after a bit of thought admit you where wrong. However you chose to do what most bigoted gamers on here do. Yep you replied with your extreme years of experience in fanboy knowledge to tell me I am wrong.

 

For the record Iv been programming since the early 80s, started with and progressed from Amsoft Basic, ( you probably wont even know what that is ) I often delve into Java, ( LWJGL - any guesses for what other game might use this? ) XML and even do a bit of 3D level design.

 

...anyway, I assume your ego is too big to admit that you are wrong, therefor I wont bother replying to your comeback, ( im sure you will have something amazing brewing right now ) as I have better things to do...

Landsharkk
Landsharkk

 @pelvist  @Salt_AU  @Sakirenn 

Pelvist, when you start developing and releasing major game titles then maybe you can answer your own questions.  Until then you are just making stuff up.

 

The Xbox 360 (and PS3 for the matter) are VERY capable gaming devices.  

 

The most likely case the new changes are PC only are because the amount of time/money needed to get it working on the Xbox would not be worth the payout.  

pelvist
pelvist

 @Salt_AU  @Sakirenn  @Landsharkk 

 

It wouldnt be possible on 360 due to memory limitations. The same reason the 360 version of Minecraft is limited to 862 by 862 blocks and the PC version is pretty much unlimited. ( Notch said once that the max world size on the PC version would be like eight times the size of Earth, so some couple of hundred bazillion blocks )

 

If the building space on the 360 version is already putting the 360 memory to the limits then how would it run a but load of new redstone features, hundreds of new items and recipes, new NPCs and mods that add things like dynamic lighting/shadows and realistic flowing water that can flood entire cave systems?

 

You should try the PC version, there is a free trial on the Minecraft website and it runs on pretty much any old POS computer.

hunteriv4
hunteriv4 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Salt_AU  @Sakirenn  @Landsharkk He's referring to the API, textures, and plugin repository I assume, not the blocks and carts.  I doubt Microsoft would ever allow them to have "unapproved" plugins available for Minecraft on the 360 version.  Not to mention open source, lol.

 

By the way, Minecraft has sold more copies on XBox than the state of the art game Forza =).  

 

But yeah, this update is for the PC version, the XBox version has its own updates (they are developed separately).

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