Think back to 2012, chances are you had heard of the Minecraft craze that overtook the youth of America. Looking back now, the community that rose up around this extremely simple game is similar to the one that has risen up round Fortnite in the past year or so, full of 12-year-olds and YouTube who think screaming is equal to comedy.
Initially released in 2009, Minecraft is a fairly simple game that revolves the player exploring and building in a randomized world of cubes. Eventually, the game released on Xbox 360 in 2012, which is where many more people found the game. Around this time as well on YouTube Minecraft “Let’s Play” channels began to pop up, thus sparking the explosion of the community.
From song parodies by CaptainSparklez to “Hunger Games” and “Prison Break” gameplays by SkydoesMinecraft to just relaxing playthroughs of the game by ChimneySwift, the community had so much to offer for everyone. You were unable to look at your homepage without seeing at least one Minecraft video. There was an excitement seeing something blow up to this insane magnitude.
Yet as with every community there was an eventual downfall, one that make it so the community and everyone who participated in it would become the laughing stock the internet. While it’s hard to point to one exact moment that began this downfall, I would say that the incident that pushed it to the edge was the creator LionMaker using the game to prey upon minors using his popularity in 2015.
While most people will think back and remember Minecraft for the community it created, there is also the aspect that I most remember playing Minecraft for, and that’s friends. I didn’t play the game because i thought i could eventually become some massive Youtube personality, though i will admit i did make several videos trying to become one, I didn’t play because of all the wacky things there were to do or find in this massive game, I played Minecraft because as a kid, there was nothing better than going over to a friends house and staying up and playing Minecraft on the weekends, I played it because I met some of my best friends to this day while playing, I met my current roommate in 6th grade while playing the Minecraft version of DayZ. When I think of Minecraft I think back to the memories I have of playing this game, and the more I’ve made even just this year, playing in my friends dorm with 6 other people from our hall.
To some Minecraft is a dead game that people stopped playing years ago, to others it’s a monument to our innocence and childhoods, but to me Minecraft is more than both of these, Minecraft is beginning of many friendships and is a game that will always be in my heart.
Logan Carr is a freshman studying political science at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Did you see the movie? Let Logan know by emailing him atlc300918@ohio.edu.
Microsoft-owned Mojang has been hard at work on the next feature update for the multi-part Village and Pillage series of upgrades. The game’s slabs, stairs, and walls are now receiving more options than just the basic wood, cobblestone, and brick offerings than were present before, with the update adding andesite, diorite, granite, mossy stone, and smooth sandstone and quartz as possible construction materials for them. Walls are probably getting the largest sum of new options for crafting, with brick, sandstone, and red nether bricks also becoming options.
Additionally, crafting a sign with the different types of wood will now result in different colors depending on the type used, instead of all of them resulting in the same oak wood sign. This will now allow for more consistency when placing them of different buildings or constructions which might not be made from the same type of wood. Other new features in the update include new Lily of the Valley flowers and Cornflowers, as well as new options for gamerules and new buttons to take the player to the feedback, bug tracker, and support sites.
Also worth mentioning is an interesting new toggle for Experimental Gameplay features. Users can enable Pillagers, the new Panda Jungle Biome, new lanterns, and more enchantments for crossbows. Also for developers, there’s an experimental new scripting API, allowing those to create their own scripts and incorporate them into their worlds to produce different games (for example, Minecraft chess).
If you’re interested in the new features, you can always download the update from one of the links provided below, depending on your system. Mojang says they’re working to add new villagers to the game as well for the next version as part of the Village and Pillage update.
YouTube king Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg was just over 18,000 subscribers away from being overtaken by Bollywood label T-Series when he pulled out all the stops with an emergency Minecraft stream.
PewDiePie went live on February 17, just as T-Series appeared to be winning their race with a mere 18,000 sub gap between the two channels.
PewDiePie engaged in a series of variety games within Minecraft with his fanbase, playing everything from a version of Pictionary to hide and seek and other activities to engage with his viewers.
Following the first hour of his stream, PewDiePie managed to increase the gap between T-Series by around 4,000 subs, reaching a gap of 22,000 subscribers – despite supposedly being on holiday.
This wouldn’t be the first time PewDiePie has broken down to play a popular game in an effort to defeat his Bollywood menace, either.
Roblox later admitted that their ban was a mistake, claiming that they had merely intended to ban the word “Pewdie” across their platform due to an alleged “negative” meme that spread throughout their community in late December of 2018.
Despite initially refusing to play such games as Fortnite and Roblox, PewDiePie’s livestreams have seen major involvement across the net – as well as helping bolster his sub count in the fight against T-Series.
After so many years of updates and evolution, Minecraft has come really far from its humble beginnings. It started out as a passion project and has turned into one of the biggest gaming franchises in existence. One of the defining games of this modern generation. Such a grand feat means you’re going to have new people constantly joining in on the fun. With how complex Minecraft has become, newcomers may need a little guidance to figure out some of the intricate details of the game.
Fans have spent hours exploring the many secrets and hidden details within Minecraft. There are hundreds of these tricks stored away within the game. However, in this list, we’ve had to narrow it down to 25. It’s not everything there is to find in Minecraft, but some of the more interesting and important ones. Even veteran players may find a few things they didn’t know since the game has been updated quite a bit since the old days. With new mobs and items added every update, there will be a whole bunch of new secrets to uncover. New players will find some great tips and new strategies when building their dream house or looking for the elusive diamond.
Of course, this list won’t even come close to covering everything in Minecraft. The game is so expansive and is limited only by the creativity of the player. There will still be many more things to discover. You should definitely take the time to explore the world of Minecraft and see how many new things you can find on your own.
25Placing Torches On Crafting Tables
This is more for the looks than for any practical reason. But you can actually place a torch on top of a crafting table or furnace. Why you would do this isn’t important. It’s about the fact that you can.
To do this, put a “transparent block” behind the crafting table. This can be something like a block of glass. Now, while facing the crafting table, try to reach out and put a torch on the glass. You should now have a torch on top of the table.
24Placing Blocks Next To A Torch
You may not even consider this due to the impossibility of what we’re doing. But Minecraft is all about breaking the laws of physics. And you can do that by placing a block right next to a torch.
Simply aim next to the torch like you would with any other block. After that, place any block you like. Surprisingly, the block will actually build off the torch. It’s a strange look but you can use it for some creative architecture.
23Stacking Signs
It’s possible to stack signs on top of each other. You can do this to create the illusion of a really big sign that is actually comprised of smaller pieces. It’s perfect if you have a long message to write or something like that.
The best use for this mechanic is when you’re making an adventure map. You can stack signs to create a literal wall of text full of instructions and details about the adventure. Stacking signs is a small detail that could easily be missed.
22Wooden Slabs Are Flame-Resistant
Usually, you don’t want too many wooden items around the house. Especially if you have any structures that use fire. A single spark can cause a huge accident. There’s no worse feeling than watching your hard work be burned to the ground.
Which is why you should use wooden slabs instead.
These pieces don’t actually burn. You can get the benefit of that wooden texture without any of the risks of burning. It’s the safest way to implement wood into your structure
21Lava Buckets Are Great Fuel
If you find lava anywhere, be sure to keep it marked. As soon as you get some buckets, go and collect as much lava as possible. Lava is an excellent fuel to use in the furnace. It lasts a long time so you can smelt as much as you want.
Lava is also one of the ingredients in creating obsidian, a rare block. With a bonus use like that, there’s no reason not to carry lava. Get as many buckets of this as possible and become an efficient adventurer.
20The Best Diamond Level
The best Y-coordinate for diamonds is eleven. You can check your coordinates by pressing F3. The Y-coordinate shows how far down you’ve mined. You can find diamond anywhere after Y-16, but eleven is the best.
You also wouldn’t want to go lower that. If you do, the chances of running into lava will be higher. There’s no point in finding diamond ore if you’re just going to lose it all to lava. This molten liquid can be useful, but not when it’s trying to drown you.
19Use Torches To Farm Sand/Gravel Blocks
Torches are probably some of the most versatile items in all of Minecraft. They do the obvious things like lighting up dark areas and keeping monsters away. However, they have some other useful abilities.
As you may know, Sand and Gravel blocks are affected by gravity. So, if you remove the block underneath, they will fall. At that moment before the block falls, you can place a torch. This will cause all of the blocks to be broken allowing you to collect them.
18Zombie-Proof Your Door
Zombies can break down your door and invade your precious house. Thankfully, there are some ways of preventing the zombies from ruining your day and destroying your property.
One option is to have a door set up one block higher. That way the zombies cannot reach it. Your other choice is to use a fence instead. They can’t break the fences down and it also allows you to fight back without any risk.
17Mushroom Biomes Are Safe
The Mushroom Biome is the only biome where hostile mobs do not spawn at night. This makes it the safest place in Minecraft and the best place to build a home. There are also no mobs in the cave systems, allowing for safer mining.
However, be aware that mob spawners will still work.
So, if you do see any zombies or spiders, then you know there’s a spawner nearby. Overall, the Mushroom Biome is a good place for a base.
16Pumpkin Head
Wearing a pumpkin is more about just making you look awesome. Yet, it has other benefits which can help you fight a powerful foe. If you wear a Pumpkin, then Endermen will not attack you. Even if you attack them.
Endermen only attack those who make eye contact with them. However, the Pumpkin prevents you from making eye contact. So, they stick to their mantra and refuse to fight back. Such honorable foes.
15Get Some Bodyguards
It’s a good idea to get some extra help to protect your house. There are two options. The first is an Iron Golem. You summon it by making the formation shown in the image. They are very powerful and also quite durable.
The other guardian would be a snow golem. Stack two snow blocks and put a pumpkin on top to summon it. However, it needs to be in a suitable biome (like the snow) otherwise it will melt.
14Become A Cat Person
Cats are a cool addition to Minecraft and make for nice pets. However, it’s more than just having a cat as a pet. They also serve an important function.
Creepers are very scared of cats.
If you have enough cats around your house, then Creepers will avoid you at all costs. It’s the best way to ensure that you won’t run into any explosive surprises when doing some farming.
13Take Torches Underwater
Once again, torches have come to the rescue. Whenever you go on a trip underwater, be sure to take a bunch of torches with you. They can help you breathe underwater for a longer period of time.
By placing a torch on a block, it creates an air bubble for a short time. You have to be next to the block for this to work. But it’s enough to ensure that you can get some extra breath in an emergency.
12Another Way To Fight A Blaze
The Blaze is a powerful mob in the Nether. They can be a tough enemy to beat through conventional methods. Their fire blasts can also knock you into the lava, eliminating you instantly.
The Blaze mob is weak to snowballs. So you should take as many of them as possible. Using snowballs from afar is a safer way to defeat the Blaze. It’s not the most efficient, but it will ensure your safety.
11The Infinite Water Source
This is the ideal construction to have near a farm. You won’t have to carry a lot of water buckets or build near a water source to make this work. It’s also extremely simple to build and you don’t need anything special.
You need two buckets of water to start. Make a 2-by-2 square in the ground. It should be one block deep. Then pour one bucket in the top left corner of the square and let the water spill. Finally, pour the other bucket in the bottom right corner and you have your water source.
10Don’t Make Golden Tools
Gold does have its uses, but making tools out of it is not a good idea. They are even less durable than wooden items.
In fact, the tools will only last a few uses before breaking.
You are better off saving those previous golden materials for crafting Golden Apples. They are extremely useful healing items that can save you in a bind. Whatever you decide to do, don’t waste gold on weapons and tools.
9Carry Water Buckets
Water buckets can save your life in many situations, especially in mining. You can use it to counter random bursts of lava. You could also use it to climb down steep inclines and get to lower ground.
You could even use the water to help you get away from some monsters. Use it to create some distance between you and the mobs. Just remember to make sure that you have a few extra buckets of water when going into the mines.
8Remember To Use Bonemeal
Bonemeal is pretty simple to make from skeleton bones. Its main use is to quicken the growth of plants and trees. This is very useful when you’re trying to build a farm or grow some trees for wood.
It’s fairly easy to find because you get them from skeletons. These are common mobs at night time and aren’t hard to fight. Bonemeal is an excellent tool for the farmers at heart.
7Charcoal Can Replace Coal
When you start your new adventure, you may not immediately find some coal. Thankfully, there is an alternative, since coal is a vital resource. That alternative is charcoal. And it’s made from wood.
You can use wood as a fire source in the furnace.
By smelting some more wood, you can make charcoal. This has the same properties as coal and acts as a great replacement early in the game. That way you can focus on building a house before going into the mines.
6Look For Mob Spawners
Enemy spawners can be extremely frustrating. They keep spawning enemies into the vicinity until you get tired or are defeated. Unless of course, you are able to destroy them. But before that, there is another step.
Just place torches all around the spawner. This is a better idea than destroying it. Torches will prevent enemies from spawning. Also, if you need to farm a certain type of enemy, you can just remove the torches to let them spawn.
5Don’t Take Beds To The Nether
Beds are useful in the regular dimension. They create a checkpoint in case you perish during your adventure. It’s a staple of every house and everyone will want to have one. Except if you’re in the Nether.
Sleeping in the Nether causes you to explode.
Probably not a good idea if you’re looking to get stuff done in the Nether. Just remember this one little detail before you set out to fight Blazes and Zombie Pigmen.
4Walking On The Edge
Crouching is a useful way to expand your movement options. By crouching, you can actually walk a little bit off the edge of a block. This is ideal when you’re building a bridge-like structure.
Be careful you don’t let go of the crouch button. If you do, then your character will fall. So, if you plan to try this trick high in the air, then make sure you hold onto that crouch button.
3Milking A Mooshroom
Mooshrooms are a special type of cow that are exclusive to the Mushroom Biome. They are similar to regular cows and you can even milk them. Except you won’t get what you expected.
Instead of milk, you get mushroom stew.
This is actually very useful as the stew can restore some of your hunger bar. If you find yourself in a Mushroom Biome, then you should definitely gather as many Mooshrooms as possible.
2Personalize Dog Collars
It’s a good idea to tame a group (read: army) of dogs to hunt with. They are great in combat and can help turn the tide in your favor. But you may want to give them all different names and differentiate them further.
You can easily do that by changing the color of their collar. Simply get a dye for the color you want and right click on the dog. That’s it. You now have a customized dog collar in Minecraft.
1Curing Zombie Villagers
Zombie Villagers are a recent addition to Minecraft. Essentially, the villagers get hit with a disease that turns them into zombies. However, you can cure them and activate their trading post.
First, you have to inflict the Weakness status on the Zombie which you can do with a potion. After that, you give it a Golden Apple. After around 2-5 minutes of waiting, the Zombie Villager should now be cured.
Minecraft is still the biggest force in gaming today with 2018 being its best year on mobile yet.
Odds are pretty good that no matter who you are, you’ve probably played Minecraft at some point in your life. After releasing way back in the heady days of 2011, Minecraft quickly expanded from a purely PC project to both mobile and console game markets. Now there’s not a single digital device that can’t play Minecraft if you really try hard enough.
Minecraft’s mobile version was released shortly after the main game in 2011 and it has been a growing source of revenue as more and more games are being purchased on mobile devices. In fact, 2018 was Minecraft’s biggest year in terms of sales, with Sensor Tower estimating 2018 annual income at $110 million.
That’s a 7% increase over the year before, which brought in $103 million.
The first quarter of 2018 sort of set the stage for Minecraft’s digital hegemony with a best-ever first quarter sales of $30 million. That’s $10 million per month just from people buying cutesie Moana skins for their polygonal avatars.
Sensor Tower goes on to describe Minecraft’s user base, which is still mostly American at 48% of all sales. The United Kingdom slides in at second place with 6% of total sales, while Japan comes in third at just 5%.
Minecraft’s mobile version alone has grossed half a billion dollars since 2014 when Mojang got bought out by Microsoft for $2.5 billion and creator Markus Persson was catapulted into the Forbes list of world’s billionaires.
Total sales have climbed to 144 million, with an astounding 74 million active monthly users. There’s no telling how many billions of dollars Microsoft has made off the game since buying it in 2014, but it has most definitely been more than the $2.5 billion they paid for it.
Minecraft remains the second best-selling game of all time, just behind Tetriswhich continues to make gains thanks to reboots like Tetris 99.
While Microsoft’s Windows Phones may be a dying breed, that hasn’t stopped the company from staying loyal to the mobile platform.
Ever since Windows Phone died a slow and not-very-subtle death, Microsoft has put a considerable amount of effort into supporting Android and IOS. While app versions of Office software are great, it’s their continuing support of mobile gaming which is surprising.
Despite other platforms losing updates for Microsoft’s Minecraft, the company is still making sure that mobile gamers are kept up to date. Seven years on from its original release, Minecraft Pocket Edition is a strong iteration of the now iconic survival game. In 2018, it also saw its largest yearly revenue yet.
With the recent introduction of the game’s Bedrock Edition, an update that introduced crossplay across a wide range of platforms, Minecraft Pocket Edition is more popular than ever. With more crossplay allegedly in the works, this may be a new tactic for Microsoft.
In 2018, Microsoft brought in over $110 million in revenue from just mobile alone. With a base cost of $6.99 and additional DLC texture packs and skins, Minecraft Pocket Edition is going just as strong as it always has.
With consistent updates, new features and a focus on crossplay, Minecraft is arguably better than ever.
