by Stone Marshall | Dec 15, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 15’s multiplayer expansion, known as Comrades, will finally get its previously announced standalone release today, December 12th, in the US, and tomorrow in the UK.
Comrades, which originally launched at the tail-end of last year, unfolds six months after the concluding events of the main game. Players take on the role of a Kinsglaive soldier (conjured into being via a flexible character creation tool), and, starting at their base in Lestallum, must collect meteor shards to restore power to the kingdom of Lucis.
Meteor shards (as well as money for upgrading weapons and the like) can be acquired through missions, all playable co-operatively with up to three friends. Missions are predominantly focussed around monster hunting, using a modified version of the core game’s combat system, and turning in meteor shards will unlock new missions and more areas of the map.
When Comrades originally launched, it was available as part of Final Fantasy 15’s season pass on PS4 and Xbox One, or on its own for £15.49. Those that played it seemed to quite enjoy its distinctive take on brisk co-operative questing, despite its fairly unintuitive demands when attempting to gather friends together in order to actually start a multiplayer session.
Although Comrades previously required a copy of Final Fantasy 15’s base game to run, its new, completely standalone version on Xbox One and PS4 won’t. Square previously announced that this separate version will add new creatures, such as the powerful Daemon Melusine, and that all new features will be available as a free update for those that already own Comrades.
Last month, Square Enix announced the departure of Final Fantasy 15 creator Hajime Tabata, resulting in the cancellation of the majority of DLC episodes planned for 2019.
by Stone Marshall | Dec 15, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Microsoft has announced a new initiative to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund through Minecraft, starting with the launch of the new Paws and Claws costume pack.
Paws and Claws’ release follows the recent arrival Minecraft’s latest update, which adds bamboo blocks, scaffolding, and, more importantly, pandas and redesigned cats. The costume pack (or “Cosplay Pack”, as Microsoft would have it) features 17 cat and panda skin, and all net proceeds on every sale – that’s 62.5% – will be donated to the WWF until December 11th, 2021.
Additionally, Microsoft has pledged to donate another $100,000 USD to the World Wildlife Fund once players have managed to place a total of 10 million bamboo blocks in Minecraft. This follows a similar event last year, in which a donation was made to The Nature Conservancy after Minecraft players laid down 10 million coral blocks.
In order to get involved in Microsoft’s charity initiative, either via some dedicated block placing or by purchasing the Paws and Claws pack, players will need to be using Minecraft’s Bedrock Edition, which is available on Windows 10, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, and Android.
by Stone Marshall | Dec 14, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, may be not as busy in the world of video game development as he used to be, but he is quite active on Twitter where he has 3.69 million followers.
As you may know, Persson — also known as “Notch” — has found himself amidst controversy due to some of the content he has tweeted out in the past. For example, in 2017 he had some unpleasant words to say about people who don’t support Heterosexual Pride Day, though he eventually walked back the Tweet.
Later in the same year he once again found himself on the other side of a barrel of criticism for tweeting out “it’s ok to be white.”
Fast-forward to this month, and Persson is once again vocalizing some controversial and political takes. Here’s a drive-by of some of it:
Notch
✔
@notch
There clearly is an agenda against white men.
Jonathan Morales
@JonathanM0ral35
Replying to @notch and 2 others
notch why are you like this please stop acting like there’s an agenda against white people
8,483
4:01 AM – Dec 9, 2018
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2,397 people are talking about this
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Notch
✔
@notch
They are what everything else that isn’t perfectly in line with the hard left is: russian nazi cis scum bots.
It’s literally evil versus the rest of us.
Pedro Paco
@MillionMistake
Replying to @notch
what about the right? where do they stand on the morality scale?
525
6:06 AM – Dec 6, 2018
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89 people are talking about this
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Notch
✔
@notch
If we were allowed to discuss IQ differences between populations, there’d be fewer conspiracy theories.
🇵🇱Scrable🇩🇪
@TherealScrable
@notch Do you love jews?
6,012
4:10 AM – Dec 7, 2018
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2,408 people are talking about this
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Notch
✔
@notch
Reminder that the creator of Atari missed out on a lifetime achievement award because sexist dickfaces made up (proven lies) about him because gaming hadn’t “had it’s metoo moment yet.
If you’re still on the left, PLEASE wake up. You are evil.
6,861
5:54 AM – Dec 6, 2018
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1,964 people are talking about this
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As you may know, Persson is no longer involved with Minecraft. Back in November 2014 when Mojang — the company behind Minecraft that Persson helped create — was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion, the creative left the company he helped propel to the top of the video game development world.
Since he departed Mojang, Persson has been much more, let’s say, vocal, on Twitter, and in a heightened political climate that has seemingly seeped into every facet of life, he has found himself in a fair share of controversy. Or, at least Internet controversy. Suffice to say, without being tied to Mojang — or more importantly, Microsoft — he has been able to share his takes as freely as he likes, which aren’t always inherently political.
Notch
✔
@notch
· Dec 9, 2018
Replying to @notch
These people are politicians, they’re large corporations.
They’re your crazy ex and your demanding parent.
They’re you, last weekend.
Notch
✔
@notch
Money is paper you think you have to value.
Words are vibrations you think you have to honor.
Relationships, friendships, movement, are all labels you think you can’t change without good reason, so you sacrifice yourself for man made label.
779
4:07 AM – Dec 9, 2018
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132 people are talking about this
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Notch
✔
@notch
Boys and soys: do not fall for this narrative. Women are attracted to stable men who speak their mind and get stuff done. Be assertive in who you are and what your values are, be nerdy and excited about projects.
Your strongest currency is undivided attention.
emily dont care
@emichka7
Replying to @notch
dude u look like the classic fedora neckbeard type, just more put together because of the millions of dollars u have in ur back pocket, no ones gonna WANT to exchange contact info with u, in fact if someone that looked like u flirted w me id be extremely uncomfortable sorry lmfao
Read more online: https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/12/08/minecraft-creator-markus-persson-twitter/
by Stone Marshall | Dec 14, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Today, Apple unveiled the list of the most popular apps and games (free and paid) for iPhone and iPad in 2018 and you’ll find below the top 10 charts for each category.
This year, Battle Royale-style games like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile dominated global gaming culture with exciting, last-player-standing action, while innovative apps like Fabulous, Shine, 10% Happier and Headspace expanded the practice of wellness around the world to make self-care more accessible than ever before, said Apple.
Atherton Research’s Take
In the free app category, Google’s YouTube was the most downloaded app on both iPhone and iPad, while Messenger, the Facebook app, Gmail, Netflix also appeared in the top 10 for both iOS devices.
On the iPhone, the most popular apps are predominantly for communication (Instagram, Snapchat, Messenger, Facebook, Bitmoji and Gmail), whereas apps on the iPad tend to be more video-oriented (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Kids).
On the iPhone paid apps side, selfie-editor FaceTune ($3.99) and drawing iPad app Procreate ($9.99)—which was also awarded best iPhone app of the year by Apple “editors”— took the top spots.
In the free games category, Fortnite is the absolute winner on both iPhone and iPad. Hole.io, Rise Up, Helix Jump, Love Balls, and Rules of Survival were also popular on both iOS platforms.
Froggipedia is an augmented-reality educational app which explores the life cycle and intricate anatomical details of a frog and won Apple’s 2018 iPad App of the Year award.DESIGNMATE
In paid games, Heads Up! ($2.99) won the crown on iPhone—it was also the #5 most popular paid games on iPad—while Microsoft’s Minecraft ($6.99) was the most popular on the iPad and the second most downloaded app on the iPhone. Geometry Dash, Bloons TD 6, and The Game of Life were also popular paid games on both iOS platforms.
On a side note, Apple also named its own favorites apps, selected by “editors” working at the tech giant.
On the iPhone, Apple selected drawing app Procreate Pocket and Donut County (a story-based physics puzzle game where you play as an ever-growing hole in the ground) as its app and game of the year, respectively.
On the iPad, the Silicon Valley company chose Froggipedia (an augmented-reality educational app which explores the life cycle and intricate anatomical details of a frog) and puzzle-game Gorogoa as this year’s app and game, respectively.
Top 10 Free iPhone Apps:
YouTube
Instagram
Snapchat
Messenger
Facebook
Bitmoji
Netflix
Google Maps
Gmail
Spotify Music
Top 10 Paid iPhone Apps:
Facetune ($3.99)
Kirakira+ ($0.99)
Dark Sky Weather ($3.99)
HotSchedules ($2.99)
PlantSnap ($2.99)
AutoSleep Tracker for Watch ($2.99)
Sky Guide ($2.99)
1 Second Everyday: Video Diary ($4.99)
The Wonder Weeks ($2.99)
Afterlight 2 ($2.99)
Top 10 Free iPhone Games:
Fortnite
Helix Jump
Rise Up
PUBG Mobile
Hole.io
Love Balls
Snake VS Block
Rules of Survival
Roblox
Dune!
Top 10 Paid iPhone Games:
Heads Up! ($2.99)
Minecraft ($6.99)
Plague Inc. ($0.99)
Bloons TD 6 ($4.99)
Pocket Build ($1.99)
Bloons TD 5 ($2.99)
Geometry Dash ($1.99)
The Game of Life ($2.99)
Papa’s Freezeria To Go ($0.99)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ($6.99)
Top 10 Free iPad Apps:
YouTube
Netflix
Messenger
Facebook
Amazon Prime Video
Google Chrome
Gmail
YouTube Kids
The Calculator
Amazon Shopping
Top 10 Paid iPad Apps:
Procreate ($9.99)
Notability ($9.99)
GoodNotes 4 ($7.99)
Toca Life: Pets ($3.99)
Duet Display ($9.99)
Toca Life: After School ($3.99)
XtraMath ($4.99)
Toca Hair Salon 3 ($3.99)
MyScript Nebo ($7.99)
Toca Kitchen 2 ($3.99)
Top 10 Free iPad Games:
Fortnite
Roblox
Kick the Buddy
Love Balls
Helix Jump
Color by Number Coloring Game!
Bowmasters – Multiplayer Game
Hole.io
Rise Up
Rules of Survival
Top 10 Paid iPad Games:
Minecraft ($6.99)
Geometry Dash ($1.99)
The Game of Life ($2.99)
The Room: Old Sins ($4.99)
Heads Up! ($0.99)
Bloons TD 6 ($4.99)
Goat Simulator ($4.99)
Five Nights at Freddy’s ($2.99)
Lego Jurassic World ($4.99)
Terraria ($4.99)
Jean Baptiste “JB” Su is Vice-President and Principal Analyst at Atherton Research, a global technology consulting and intelligence firm advising clients plan, build and deliver successful go-to-market strategies. You can follow him on LinkedIn (https://goo.gl/z5zGlx) or Twi… MORE
Author: Jean Baptiste is a Vice-President and Principal Analyst at Atherton Research, a global technology intelligence firm advising clients deliver successful go-to-market strategies.
Read more online: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2018/12/04/apple-unveils-2018s-most-popular-apps-youtube-fortnite-minecraft-and-more/#d59c1460dcd8
by Stone Marshall | Dec 13, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Minecraft has pretty amazing potential as a teaching tool. In general, it promotes creativity and problem-solving as it boosts engagement. But it also can improve achievement when confident teachers incorporate it into instruction.
It’s easy for students to become absorbed in Minecraft worlds, mainly due to the game’s “sandbox” nature–it’s open-ended and offers unlimited possibilities for math, science, and building challenges.
And the game isn’t just for STEM classes, either. It can help build social and emotional skills, it can illustrate concepts found in literature and history classes, and more.
If you need inspiration, or just a little help getting started, you might find it in one of the following examples.
1. Minecraft has a fascinating link with social and emotional learning (SEL). A report based on interviews, a global survey, and case studies shows that 98 percent of teachers say problem solving is the top SEL skill their students learn from Minecraft. Students also develop creativity (86 percent), critical thinking (93 percent), and collaboration (91 percent). Half of teachers say they think it also helps students build empathy.
2. Gaming, including Minecraft, can be a powerful motivator to students, leading them to greater engagement and achievement. Students frequently walk away from homework when it is too difficult, but difficult games are another matter–kids walk away from games when they’re too easy. Difficult games present a positive challenge for students. A challenging task “stretches” a student’s brain, and the more a person expects his or her brain to do different things, the more pathways that person’s brain will develop.
3. We don’t necessarily think of Minecraft as a literary place, but that’s where many people are wrong. Students can use it to build worlds or landmarks from novels they read in class. Other teachers have students create journals in Minecraft and leave the journals in their class-created Minecraft world so other students can find the journals and react to different prompts or ideas.
4. Students can recreate historical buildings or places as part of a history project, and they also can download them and drop them into a world. With a little bit of creativity, classes can relive historical experiences–they can re-walk the Oregon Trail or land a ship in a new place and figure out how to govern a society. Minecraft characters can die temporarily and need food to survive, making the game a good way to navigate some of these challenges.
5. Minecraft’s math applications are endless. For instance, students can complete a Minecraft-inspired math project that is related to volume, area, and perimeter. Or, they can work on a multi-project STEM challenge and rotate around the classroom. If students don’t have access to the game in their classrooms, teachers can create paper-based challenges (check out the resources on Teachers Pay Teachers).
6. Computer science and coding skills are in high demand in today’s workforce, but qualified workers are hard to come by. Students can use their love of Minecraft to learn how to code and build strong programming skills.
7. Minecraft can bring the “A” to STEAM, too. Check out Tate Worlds: Minecraft Reimagined, which takes famous works of art and recreates them in the block-based world. Students can tap into their creative side while also planning and organizing an art project.
These are only a few examples of the many, many ways Minecraft can change teaching and learning. Check out Minecraft’s Education page for even more resources.
by Stone Marshall | Dec 13, 2018 | Awesome Book News, Free, Intro, Minecraft News, Minecraft questions, news, parent-news, State of Stone, Stone Marshall Book News, Stone Marshall Books, Stone Marshall Club, Stone Marshall Minecraft Adventures, Uncategorized |
Actually, 256 blocks is the limit. Anyway, look at this build!
Something tells me I wouldn’t do well in outer space. Travelling makes me nauseous, I never did learn to do the moonwalk, and how am I supposed to resist taking off my spacesuit helmet so I can play with my wonderful hair?
So if you ever do go to space, it’s probably for the best if you leave me on Earth. But while fettered to the same old planet, I can at least stargaze in awe at excellent builds like Futuristic Space Station!
This piece of interstellar ingenuity is the work of Polish builder, Milosz. “I love working on creative things,” Milosz tells me. “I’m always full of amazing ideas that I try to make into reality whenever I can!”
A catering student and aspiring DJ, Milosz was drawn to Minecraft as yet another outlet for his creativity. “I love the freedom of creation [in Minecraft]. I can use a big variety of building materials, which allows me to create whatever I imagine.”
“Also, its blocky appearance creates such a lovely, unique atmosphere.” Well said! We should put that on the back of the box!
Molosz claims that the “sky is the only limit” in Minecraft, but is it really?
Because this space station build seems to ignore all limitations, in both scope and detail. It looks futuristic and sci-fi, but also pleasingly plausible. If someone told me this build was based on an actual design for a real space station, I’d believe them! And not just because I’m an earthbound ignoramus who, as previously established, shouldn’t be let anywhere near a spacecraft.
The space station uses understated colours, making it something of a monochromatic marvel (which is what I would have called this article, if a better Minecraft.net writer hadn’t already used that).
Milosz achieved this stylish look by sticking to a consistent set of “black, grey and white blocks,” he tells me “such as quartz, polished andesite, bedrock, black glass, polished diorite, iron blocks and cyan terracotta.”
Keeping the ship to a strict set of blocks makes other uses of colour stand out more, like the red stripes across the satellite, or the cheeky comet that appears to be heading straight for the space station. Er, this thing does have force field shields, right?
But Milosz didn’t just choose these blocks for their dark palette. He also considered how they would look as part of such a massive construction: “The majority of blocks used to create my build have simple textures,” he explains “which makes everything look good in large scale.” Keep that in mind if you want to try a large-scale build of your own!
“I’ve also added some colour and light using sea lanterns,” Milosz points out, a smart use of some of the more recent blocks we’ve added to the game with the Update Aquatic. Maybe Milosz should fill this space station with Pillagers after our next update? Hmmm, actually, that’s probably astro-not a good idea.
Milosz says that the hardest part of the build was “connecting all the different elements” so they made sense as one coherent structure. At least he can rest assured that the toughest element of the build was also one of the most successful: I love how this feels like a logical construction, the kind of functioning facility you could imagine astronauts/pillagers-who-are-seriously-out-of-their-depth navigating through the cosmos.
So given that he knows how to design a great facility for such an endeavour, how does Milosz feel about going to outer space himself? Is it something he’d like to do someday? (Mojang’s lawyers have asked me to make it clear that we’re not offering to pay for this trip – spoilsports).
“Of course I would love to go to space,” says Milosz, unsurprisingly. “Although, only for a brief period of time. Something like a one-week space journey would be great!”
If any of the millions (billions?) of astronauts who check Minecraft.net every day are reading this, get on that!
Render made by Boxu
Read more online: https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/sky-no-limit
