After all of the delays with Bukkit and the new version of Minecraft Server (1.5_02) at long last we are now finally back up to speed, all our key plugins have been updated and a number have been added along with a few key play related changes to the server.
The key changes to the server are as follows, we have removed NPC shop keepers because when the server is busy with many players using the NPC's this caused server crashes, effecting gameplay for all so until further notice NPC's are removed from Minecraft Server, we are currently investigating adding another shop related plugin and will begin testing soon.
All Veteran status players use of Magic Carpet has been removed, this plugin was originally intended as an admin / mod plugin to be used for removal of 1x1 pillars and other sky related grief. In place and more in keeping with the feel of the game, all Veterans can when wearing a gold helmet now breathe underwater.
A long term vision for the server is removal of warps, these are to be replaced with our developing subway system and Stargates both allowing for fast travel, in my personal opinion they offer a more natural way to explore our world however warps will remain during the transition period. Plenty of notice will be given before they are removed.
Finally we have added another core plugin to our setup called Minecart Mania. After much testing on the temporary map after the last Minecraft update it was decided that mine carts and tracks be allowed back into the game, providing we have a server wide ability to remove empty carts, Minecart Mania gives us...
Minecraft 1.5 Beta should be released next week, my guess is 14th April based upon past release schedules. It looks like finally Minecraft will get statistics and achievements with this next release, personally I am unsure of what the stats and achievements will bring to the multiplayer Minecraft experience which is basically the ultimate sandbox experience. However they may add a much needed source of direction for the single player experience.
Quote from Notch "We've been working on finishing up Achievements and Statistics for 1.5, I ran into some issues with JSON, got frustrated, and added weather instead. Developing new features like that is what I enjoy doing the most, so I ended up covering a lot of ground."
iConomy won the vote on the website for the next plugin to be installed on Minecraft server, this installation has now been completed just type /money ? in minecraft to learn more about using the money system we have now added to the server. We have also added NPC traders to Minecraft server, allowing the purchase of Nether blocks amongst other items this is initial testing phase and will be limited but if all goes to plan we will allow players to purchase and use their own NPC traders. We will be adding other iConomy minecraft plugins as we see fit providing we do not cause issues with the overall performance on Minecraft server. Other Minecraft Server updates include:
Bukkit from 617 to 670 to 677
HeroChat to v4.10.0 to v4.10.2
LogBlock to v0.12b
Essentials v2.1.20 to v2.1.25 to v2.1.29
BorderGaurdLite to BorderGuard v3.00 Turbo
NPCTrader v1.1.0 to v1.1.2
MagicCarpet v1.5.3 to v1.5.4
Remember we now need to decide what to call our Minecraft currency, please vote on the website!
Minecraft Beta 1.4_01 has just been released so far it appears the only change is the removal of the April Fool's joke. I will report any other changes here once know if any are present. It appears the Minecraft server has also been updated to 1.4_01.
HeroChat v4.7.6 to v4.8.6 to v4.8.7 to v4.8.9 to v4.8.11
AntiBuild v1.3.1
Magic Carpet v1.4.5 to v1.5.2 to v1.5.3
BorderGuard Lite v2.20 to v2.40
Lockette v1.3.3 to v1.3.4
Vanish v1.5 to v1.5.2
LogBlock v0.10 to v0.11 to v0.11b
HeroicDeath v1.7.2
Essentials build Dev 2.0.867 to 2.1.12 to 2.1.15 to 2.1.17 to 2.1.18 to 2.1.19 to 2.1.20
The other key plugins we are waiting for will be added as the individual plugin developers update, once all our standard plugins have been added we will bring the old map back online, until then please enjoy the temp map and be safe in the knowledge all your hard work is safe and sound! I will update this post as plugins are added back to Minecraft server.
Mojang have released the latest client and server update for Minecraft, wolves and cookies are now included! Sadly statistics and achievement did not make it into the release, see below for full details of the changes.
Minecraft Beta 1.4 Updates:
* New Minecraft logo (no longer 3D blocks).
* Added wolves that the player can tame, or kill for no loot.
* Added Cookies which heal the player for 0.5 hearts.
* Sleeping in a bed now resets your spawn position.
* Sneaking while climbing will hang on to the ladder, thus being a handy cave tool.
* Spiders will no longer trample crops and have walking sounds removed.
* Sheep can now spawn in Pink and Brown.
* Flowers and Mushrooms are much more common in new worlds.
* Cocoa Beans can be found in Dungeon chests.
* Wheat grows more quickly compared to 1.3_01
* The new default hot key for the inventory is 'E'.
* Added new block, Locked Chest, which was an April Fool's gag. It linked to the Minecraft Store.
* SMP servers can now have a new world seeded with an option in the Server.properties file.
* Lots of infrastructure for Statistics lists and Achievements have been implemented.
* Scale of UI may now be changed in options.txt located in the .minecraft folder.
Bug fixes:
* Zombies and Spiders now hurt you in all instances.
Notch has confirmed via Twitter that he will be adding cookies into the next Minecraft version 1.4 release. It is expected will look as our image above, we also know that cocoa beans will be a part of the crafting recipe! The cocoa bean already technically exists in Minecraft but can only be accessed currently by hacking.
