'Minecraft Pocket Edition' Update Brings 'Prettier, Faster, Less Buggier' Experience

[MacRumors]

Mojang today announced a significant new update for Minecraft Pocket Edition. The update promises numerous graphical enhancements and bug fixes and is the first major update to the game since the Stockholm-based developer was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion back in September.

Today's update to the game focuses mainly on bug fixes, but there are a few notable additions to the popular block-building game as well. The 0.10 update adds gold mines into Mesa biomes, a day and night option for playing in Creative Mode, and more options for fences and gates.

Prettier water, fog, and lighting effects round out the graphical overhaul features of the 0.10 update. Mojang also promises improved performance on many devices the game is available for, a fix for the bug where baby animals could not swim, and the tease of "lots more cool stuff that you can discover for yourself."

0.10 - Prettier, faster, less buggier

We've improved the graphics, increased performance, and killed off heaps of bugs in one massive update. We've also stopped baby animals from sinking when they try to swim because that's just mean. Update and have fun!

- Loads of bug fixes!
- More watery-looking water
- Foggier-looking fog
- Even more particles than before
- Tinted lighting on terrain and mobs
- Improved performance on many devices
- More fences! More fence gates! Everyone loves fences
- Gold mines in Mesa biomes. Get rich quick
- Baby animals can now swim without sinking
- Play Creative Mode during both the day and night
- Lots more cool stuff that you can discover for yourself

Though the initial launch of the iOS version of Minecraft was met with skepticism due to its large lack of parity with desktop versions, numerous updates such as today's have gotten Pocket Edition closer and closer to its PC and console counterparts.

Minecraft Pocket Edition can be downloaded from the App Store for $6.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: 'Minecraft Pocket Edition' Update Brings 'Prettier, Faster, Less Buggier' Experience

 

[kaltsasa]

Still no controller support...........

 

[AlecZ]

I used to play the desktop version with my friends, hosting a private server. Good times. I'm afraid of what Microsoft is going to do to this game in the future when I think of how they killed Rare. Bukkit already got abruptly killed off around the time of the acquisition, and I suspect MS had something to do with it.

 

[macduke]

Still no controller support...........

Came here to say still no controller support, glad the first comment echoed my sentiments. I'd be all over this game if it had controller support. Would make the holidays at the inlaws a much more pleasurable experience.

I hope that someday the mobile and console versions will have an "app store" of sorts which allows mods to be installed using an official API. Hopefully Microsoft can bring something like that forward, especially if they can make some money off the back side using IAP. Usually I hate IAP but I'd love to give back to these devs making mods and I think a lot of people would be willing to pay for high quality mods that aren't buggy because they use an official API. This summer I got hooked on playing modded survival using Resonant Rise and it was incredible. I love building really intricate machines, although mine probably pale in comparison to what is possible. Going back to the console edition, even on the Xbox One just doesn't feel the same now. Especially since mobile and console aren't even caught up with PC vanilla yet. And although the mobile version is a fun distraction, the touch controls just aren't precise enough to power through caves fighting mobs or build something nice in any decent amount of time. But I still play it on the plane.

 

[RebornProphet]

How close is this version to the console game?

 

[Mousse]

I used to play the desktop version with my friends, hosting a private server. Good times. I'm afraid of what Microsoft is going to do to this game in the future when I think of how they killed Rare. Bukkit already got abruptly killed off around the time of the acquisition, and I suspect MS had something to do with it.

I doubt MS will want to mess with this cash cow. If they did, there will be plenty of Modders who make add-ons for 1.8. Besides, the was a game developer whom MS brought out and they flourished, a one time Mac exclusive company called Bungie.

I'd be happy if MS could bring all the different platforms up to the PC 1.8 standard. I love redstone devices and contraptions. Still no boat in PE .10 alpha. I was promised a boat in .10 .

 

[nathreed]

I used to play the desktop version with my friends, hosting a private server. Good times. I'm afraid of what Microsoft is going to do to this game in the future when I think of how they killed Rare. Bukkit already got abruptly killed off around the time of the acquisition, and I suspect MS had something to do with it.

Bukkit closing down had nothing to do with MS. The controversy arose over GPL licensing issues when a former contributor decided to DMCA the project after the manager decided to close it down and Mojang stopped him (Mojang bought Bukkit several years ago).

 

[APlotdevice]

How close is this version to the console game?

In a way it's actually better than the console versions, possesses infinite worlds like its PC counterpart. On the other hand there is currently no redstone support.

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Bukkit closing down had nothing to do with MS. The controversy arose over GPL licensing issues when a former contributor decided to DMCA the project after the manager decided to close it down and Mojang stopped him (Mojang bought Bukkit several years ago).

And other server software like Spigot are pretty close to releasing 1.8 support.

 

[Glassed Silver]

What I'd really want is the ability to export my worlds from within the game via Dropbox, iCloud Drive, etc... and then import them into MC for Mac/Windows/Linux.

This is what keeps me from investing time into the game.
iOS compatibility for old apps is way too fragile.

Glassed Silver:ios

 

[wiz329]

"Less Buggier" ...

Really?

 

[Michael Goff]

Quick, blame every new bug you find on Microsoft!

 

[tevion5]

Bukkit closing down had nothing to do with MS. The controversy arose over GPL licensing issues when a former contributor decided to DMCA the project after the manager decided to close it down and Mojang stopped him (Mojang bought Bukkit several years ago).

What happened to Bukkit? I've been using hosting a bucket server for years. I do not want it to go!

My server was down for the last few months so I hadn't been keeping up to date. Will this mean there will be no more CraftBukkit updates?