Minecraft gets crossbows, lanterns, and more with latest update

Minecraft gets crossbows, lanterns, and more with latest update

Minecraft is an incredibly popular sandbox game which is played by around 91 million gamers every month. It has no only revolutionized the genre, but continues to thrill users with constant updates. A few months ago, Minecraft recieved an overhaul of underwater exploration which gives players even more reasons to explore the depths. Now, the team has set its sights on adding other highly-requested features.

Have you ever wanted to use a lantern instead of a torch? A crossbow instead of a traditional weapon? Well, you’re in luck because this update does just that. On Twitter, the official Minecraft Twitter account said, “Lanterns, shields, crossbows, and an already-famous feline named Jellie. Today’s Minecraft update is packed with content and will be rolling out on Xbox One, Windows 10… iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch today!” Unfortunately, it seems like the PlayStation 4 won’t be receiving these benefits due to lack of cross-play.

Today, Minecraft is much more than just mining for resources and building structures. The in-game store allows you to not only purchase skins and texture packs, but also adventures developed by community members. The fact that it features cross-play across a variety of platforms from consoles to mobile means that you can play with everyone, whenever you are.

Hopefully Minecraft will continue to grow in the coming years. It has not only benefits gamers, but also teachers in schools. There are a lot of academic institutions out there that rely on Minecraft to teach students about topics like geography. The game is coming to Xbox Game Pass in April, too.

Zero Escape director’s next game, AI: The Somnium Files, is out July

Zero Escape director’s next game, AI: The Somnium Files, is out July

The director of the Zero Escape series, which are some of the best visual novelsyou can play, has a new game in the works called AI: The Somnium Files, and it’ll arrive on PC on July 25, developer Spike Chunsoft has announced.

Director Kotaro Uchikoshi told Gematsu this week that the game will have less cutscenes than what we’re used to from Zero Escape, and is made “mainly for adventure game fans”, suggesting a focus on puzzles. You play detective Kaname Date, who is on the hunt for a serial killer in Tokyo after a women is found dead on a merry-go-round, her eye gouged out. You’ll have a prime suspect straightaway: a girl found nearby with a bloody ice pick in her hand, but all is not as it seems.

It sounds utterly surreal. As well as real-world investigation, Date can enter people’s dreams thanks to an artificial eye, hence why the trailer above shows a polar bear about to saw a woman in half. She’ll also have an AI assistant called Aiba, and the cast includes a light novel author and a teen internet pop star.

The Steam page is live here, if you want to give it a look. Katharine’s 90/100 review of Zero Escape: The Nonary Games is here, in case you want to know what all the fuss is about.

Thanks, RPS.

Minecraft players build touching tribute to server owner who died of cancer

Minecraft players build touching tribute to server owner who died of cancer

Minecraft players have turned the hub area of a once-popular server into a tribute to the server’s founder, who recently lost his battle with cancer.

Players have left tribute signs all over the hub of the Emenbee Minecraft server to Bryan, known in-game as Pendar2, who started the server back in 2011. At its peak, Emenbee contained 10 separate servers and had more than 1,500 concurrent players. More than one million players logged on during its lifespan. Pendar2 shut most of the server down—save for the hub—in October of last year.

“You built bonds that will last a lifetime, and there’s no way to repay or express…how much you’ve done for us,” reads one tribute at the hub. “Your server gave me memories I won’t forget…rest in peace,” says another. The image above was posted on Reddit by user remydesp.

In a post on the official Emenbee website, friend Mod_masta paid their own tribute to Pendar 2, who “influenced more people than most others have throughout their lifetime”.

“For years, he dedicated his life to creating a Minecraft server that many of us called our home for a while. It started out as a survival server, and eventually grew to have up to over 10 different servers and 1,500 concurrent players. For the last couple years of the server’s life, Bryan was not very active and many of you thought he had given up. The truth is that he was diagnosed with cancer. He endured chemo and surgery for several months, and eventually we thought he had been cured. But towards the end of last year, it unexpectedly came back. Recently, Bryan passed away,” Mod_masta said.

“To me Bryan was a partner, a friend, and an amazing server owner. Working with him for several years, I learned how much of a genius he truly was, in both his knowledge that allowed Emenbee to become so popular and in how he excelled at developing with so little experience. Our time spent together on Emenbee together were some of the best years of my life. It was truly an honor to have a friend like him. He did so much more for the server than most players thought he did. I could not have done anything without him.

“Without Bryan there would never have been an Emenbee, and so many of us would have been deprived of so many fun and exciting experiences. Bryan will be remembered as a genius, a compassionate person, and our hero.”

Thanks, Eurogamer.

Minecraft players write touching tributes on in-game signs for “amazing” server owner who died of cancer “Our hero.”

Minecraft players write touching tributes on in-game signs for “amazing” server owner who died of cancer “Our hero.”

Minecraft players have left tributes at an in-game memorial for a popular server’s creator after he died of cancer.

The touching community-created memorial includes hundreds of messages written on signs placed around the server’s hub.

Bryan, otherwise known as Pendar2, created the Emenbee Minecraft server back in 2011, and at its peak it hit 1531 concurrent players. Over the course of its seven-year life, Emenbee saw over one million unique players. But in October 2018, Pendar2 shut down the server after struggling to maintain it.

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Image credit reddit user remydesp.

In a touching note on the Emenbee website, friend “Mod_masta” said goodbye to “a genius, a compassionate person, and our hero”.

“For the last couple years of the server’s life, Bryan was not very active and many of you thought he had given up. The truth is that he was diagnosed with cancer. He endured chemo and surgery for several months, and eventually we thought he had been cured. But towards the end of last year, it unexpectedly came back. Recently, Bryan passed away.

“To me Bryan was a partner, a friend, and an amazing server owner. Working with him for several years, I learned how much of a genius he truly was, in both his knowledge that allowed Emenbee to become so popular and in how he excelled at developing with so little experience. Our time spent together on Emenbee together were some of the best years of my life. It was truly an honour to have a friend like him. He did so much more for the server than most players thought he did. I could not have done anything without him.

“Without Bryan there would never have been an Emenbee, and so many of us would have been deprived of so many fun and exciting experiences. Bryan will be remembered as a genius, a compassionate person, and our hero. He accomplished so much in so little time and influenced more people than most others have throughout their lifetime.”

In-game, ex-Emenbee players came together to leave tributes to Pendar2, turning the server’s hub into a memorial.View image on Twitter

View image on Twitter

Mod_masta@Mod_masta

Bryan (Pendar2) was a true friend and an absolute gift to this world. He was an unbeatable server owner that I shared so many happy moments with. He will forever live in my memories. Rest in Peace.8010:00 AM – Mar 21, 201925 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

This image, posted to reddit by user remydesp, shows over a hundred messages written on boards in the hub.

“I played on this server since its birth, I’m saddened by its shutdown. The friends and memories I made are priceless. Thank you all for the time of my life,” reads one message.

“In its prime, this was the best part of my day,” reads another message. “Thank you for making EM the best place to be. I will never forget all that you’ve done for me as a person.”

“Emenbee was a definition of my early teen years,” said another. “Thank you.”

It’s one of the more impressive virtual memorials I’ve seen in a video game – and evidence Minecraft’s community can certainly be a wonderful one.

Mod_masta pointed those who would like to support Pendar2’s family to consider donating to Cancer Research.

Fake London: The city built in Minecraft

Fake London: The city built in Minecraft

Gamers have painstakingly rebuilt London in the virtual world of Minecraft.

Minecraft is what is known as a sandbox video game and allows players to build with a variety of different cubes in a 3D world.

Using virtual building blocks, real life blueprints and photos gamers from around the world have recreated some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

Video Journalist: Jamie Moreland.

Save $60 on this Xbox One S bundle that comes with ‘Minecraft,’ plus a game of your choice

Save $60 on this Xbox One S bundle that comes with ‘Minecraft,’ plus a game of your choice

What’s the point of buying a brand new gaming console without any games to play? In our opinion, console bundles are the way to go — and the best bang for your buck. More often than not, gaming console bundles come along with some of the hottest titles on the market, so it’s always a good idea to keep a keen eye out for these deals. As a matter of fact, we found a really great bundle just for you. 

This Xbox One S bundle is a great starting point for those just jumping in, and it comes with the cult-favorite Minecraft as well as a bonus game of your choice (from the three that Walmart is currently offering). For a total of $248.89 and $60 in savings, you’re truly getting your money’s worth from this kit.  

Coming with a hefty 1TB of storage, the Xbox One S can support games and stream entertainment in glorious 4K resolution and HDR. With a library containing upwards of 1,300 games from the current and last generation, you’ll never run out of things to play on your system. Not only do you get one of the best consoles on the market in this bundle, but you also get the opportunity to experience some of today’s most popular titles in gaming. 

Included with the base bundle is Minecraft, a cult-favorite sandbox game that allows players to build anything their minds can conjure up with 3D blocks in a procedurally generated world. In addition to Minecraft, those who purchase the bundle will also get to choose a bonus game from a list of three titles: Tom Clancy’s The Division 2Anthem, or Kingdom Hearts 3

The Division 2 will see you taking back a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. from the corrupted powers that be, Anthem will put players in the shoes of high-powered Freelancers and their Javelin exosuits to bring balance to a world of diverse threats, and Kingdom Hearts 3 will take players on a thrilling Disney-themed adventure through the long awaited third installment in this cult-classic series. 

There’s plenty of variety here for all types of gamers — the choice is totally yours. Check out the Xbox One S 1TB Minecraft Bundle with your choice of a bonus game for $60 off at Walmart.