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Minecraft XBLA gets pistons, much more in tomorrow's 1.73 update
Minecraft's Xbox 360 version continues to march forward, with the latest update (1.73) bringing "pistons and sticky pistons," "stackable fences," and a whole mess of other items, functions, and skins to your handcrafted block world. There are even 40 new character skins, some of which can be seen above. The update doesn't include NPCs, villages, or the much desired Adventure Mode, but 4J Studios promises those will come in time.The patch, which corrects some errors too, goes live tomorrow at 2AM UTC. The full list of changes is right after the break.
More Minecraft XBLA skins include Ms. Splosion Man, Banjo
Five more of those 40 upcoming skins for the XBLA version of Minecraft have been revealed in all their pixelated glory. Jack of Blades, Clayton Carmine, Banjo, Ms. Splosion Man and a prisoner will all be working towards building a better, blockier tomorrow, as seen in the gallery after the jump.
Minecraft XBLA update coming tomorrow
Minecraft's XBLA edition will get a patch tomorrow, fixing issues with save crashes, enemy spawning, zombie pigmen, and "being able to stand on sugarcane." It also fixes the issue that prevents players from entering the Nether properly. Non-"fix" updates include the ability to turn tooltips on and off, and an autosave feature. Find the full list of fixes after the break.Now if there were only a patch allowing us to enter the Neitherworld. Beetlejuice has been waiting for us for years! With some Party People in a Can ready!
Minecraft XBLA sales surpass 2 million copies
Minecraft for Xbox 360 has sold 2 million copies since its launch in early May. The $20 XBLA version of the sandbox crafting phenomenon sold a million units in five days following its May 7 launch.XBLA portfolio director Chris Charla tweeted earlier today: "I guess I can officially mention Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition has crossed 2,000,000 in sales on XBLA!!"
Minecraft edges Black Ops out of second spot on XBLA charts
This week, two important things happened to Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition on Xbox 360 – one, the game topped the Xbox Live activity charts once more, this time beating out the longstanding Call of Duty: Black Ops for the number two spot (Modern Warfare 3 remains lodged in the top position). Second, and more importantly, I finally made a nether portal last night. This is important business, folks! Regardless, it's likely many of you folks have also done so by this point – the game's also topping this week's "Top Arcade Titles" list as well, digging under the hills and valleys of big seller Trials Evolution. How about those crazy ghost things, huh? Straight up madness!
Adventure Update components coming to Minecraft XBLA, eventually
It may not be the next update (that's scheduled to be an Xbox approximation of Beta version 1.7.3, which adds pistons), but at some point the XBLA version of Minecraft will be brought up to parity with PC version 1.8, also known as the Adventure Update."There are no big architecture changes with the move to 1.7.3, so it's been quite straightforward. The move to 1.8.2 is much more challenging," 4J Studios co-founder Paddy Burns told OXM. "We are working with Daniel Kaplan at Mojang to define what is going in to the Xbox version, but the aim is to include as many of the PC features that make sense on the Xbox as possible. The game isn't Minecraft on the Xbox, it is Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, so it isn't really a direct port of the PC game."When the Adventure Update went live last on PCs September, it introduced the Endermen, several new kinds of building materials, a new mode specifically designed for free-form creation (dubbed "Creative mode"), as well as more minor changes to combat mechanics and the introduction of a food system.
Minecraft XBLA sold 1 million copies in five days
Yep, that's a 1 followed by six 0s and two – count 'em, two – commas. Minecraft on Xbox 360 has sold 1 million copies since its launch on May 9, Microsoft announced today. Minecraft runs $20 a pop on XBLA, making its initial revenue bump against $20 million, supposedly split between Mojang, port developer 4J Studios and Microsoft.Players have so far spent more than 5.2 million hours mining on XBLA, played 4 million multiplayer sessions and clocked more than 2.4 million multiplayer hours, Microsoft reported. Original Minecraft developer Markus "Notch" Persson reacted to the news in what we think is an appropriate manner: "Wow."
How to buy Minecraft on Xbox 360 for $5 less than on your Xbox 360 [update: no more!]
Update: Best Buy's price for Minecraft is back at $20, unfortunately. Congrats to those of you who managed to snap up the lower price!With the launch of Minecraft today on Xbox Live Arcade for the lofty price of 1600 MS Points ($20), we searched long and hard to discover a way to buy the game for a full 25 percent off. There was lava and exploding Creepers and this skeleton that kept shooting arrows – pretty harrowing stuff. Anyway, we sussed out this precise formula for snagging the game on the cheap. Follow along below ... if you dare. Step 1: Go to Best Buy's website. Step 2: Purchase Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition for $15 instead of the $20 it costs on Xbox Live Marketplace. Step 3: Laugh and throw money in the air, you baller.[Thanks KP!]
Minecraft on XBLA working toward constant updates
Xbox Live Arcade is an excellent platform that's delivered some of our favorite games over the years, but the approval process for XBLA titles (and their subsequent updates) isn't quite as expedient as other platforms. For ever-changing games like Minecraft, where updates are as vital as they are frequent, this can create potentially destructive brand fragmentation where two distinctly difference experiences exist on two different platforms. Microsoft is aware of the issue, however, and as such will be streamlining the update process for 4J Studio's port of Mojang's runaway hit. "Microsoft knows that to do a similar thing that's on PC where they constantly update it, that's a very difficult thing to do on Xbox because you have to go through the full tests," said chief technology officer Paddy Burns during an interview with Edge. "But they are quite keen to move towards that - they do see it as the future, so I think we might be the first to do constant updates."Realistically, Burns never expects updates for the XBLA port to come as frequently or as easily as on the PC, but he does believe that "every two months" is within the realm of possibility. Upon release, XBLA's version of Minecraft will be based on the Beta 1.6.6 version of the game, which released just before last year's E3. Burns hopes to reach parity with retail version 1.0 as quickly as possible.
Minecraft for Kinect is an XBLA title, ported by 4J Studios
More details have begun to trickle out on Swedish developer Mojang Studios' first Xbox 360 title, a Kinect-enabled port of indie hit Minecraft. Beyond the fact that it'll be some form of indirect port and that an unnamed developer other than Mojang was at the helm, few other details were known, but as Minecraft creative lead Markus "Notch" Persson revealed on his Twitter feed last night, Scottish devs 4J Studios are apparently in charge of this holiday's world-builder. If you, like us, are unfamiliar with 4J, a cursory Wikipedia'ing reveals work on a wealth of ports, not to mention a handful of not-so-well-known original games. Hopefully any worry you have in the studio's confidence is abated by the fact that Notch will remain a game designer on the project, presumably retaining creative oversight.
Perfect Dark updated with new control options
Apparently, even Perfect Dark isn't perfect, as Rare and company have released an update for the XBLA port. Although the update includes a host of tweaks, the biggest change is the addition of several control options. Chief among these is the (blessed) option to lock the targeting reticle in the center of the screen. Southpaw and legacy control options have been added as well. Beyond that, there are some Achievement fixes and a few tweaks to help match the original N64 experience. The update has also been incorporated into the trial version, so those turned off by the initial control options are able to test out the new tweaks. Find a full list of changes after the break.
Perfect Dark, Alan Wake items now in Avatar Marketplace
Your virtual closet of Avatar wear just got some new styles, as Perfect Dark and Alan Wake gear is now available in the Avatar Marketplace. You can peruse the usual -- shirts, pants, helmets and outfits -- or if props is more your thing, there's a variety to choose from. "Elvis" you can see above, but there's also a flare, some pages of a manuscript or even an Alan Wake book. Like, a book that says Alan Wake on it that your Avatar looks at. Head into the Avatar Marketplace to see all of the new stuff. Source -- Perfect Dark Avatar gear on Xbox Live [Xbox.com] Source -- Alan Wake Avatar gear on Xbox Live [Xbox.com] [Via Destructoid]
Review: Perfect Dark (XBLA)
"Remastered" is the appropriate term for 4J Studios' Perfect Dark port, which takes Rare's classic console FPS and remodels it with high-resolution assets and tactful tweaks to better suit its new Xbox Live Arcade format. Perfect Dark is the third N64-generation Rare title that 4J Studios has remastered, following XBLA ports of Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, and it's likely the most anticipated. Perfect Dark is a historical landmark, after all, and it's one that should be visited from time to time by anyone interested in games. Originally released in mid-2000, Perfect Dark arrived as I was staggering forth from my freshman year of college. I picked it up because, back in high school, we played GoldenEye until the sun came up. I never grew to worship Perfect Dark as I had Rare's acclaimed Bond shooter, but my memory recalls it as a "slightly superior" game (if not as personally beloved). As one of the more prominent entries on my "I woulda, coulda, shoulda played it more" list, I've been looking forward to this reunion -- a chance to get to know Perfect Dark better. %Gallery-70692%
This Wednesday: Perfect Dark KLOBBers XBLA
That's "This Wednesday," like, this Wednesday -- today. Sorry we waited so long to bring you this regular installment of "This Wednesday," it's just that we kind of figured this particular release would be a little hard to forget. But for those of you not paying attention, here it is: FPS classic Perfect Dark arrives on Xbox Live today for 800 ($10). If you're on the fence, check out our full review of the game. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to go buy some Surge and Tato Skins off eBay and hit Felicity for some King of the Bathroom. %Gallery-70692%
See screens, new info from XBLA Perfect Dark
We made plenty of new video game friends during E3, but, we still care about our old friends for, as the Girl Scouts remind us, one is silver and the other is gold. Why, just today we checked in on the upcoming XBLA version of Perfect Dark and walked away with a ton of new info.Perhaps most excitingly, the game will include online multiplayer, according to the Xbox.com listing for it. Also, it's being developed by 4J Studios, which you may know from its PS3 ports of Oblivion and Overlord. Finally, we've got a few screens, which appear to indicate the game hasn't gotten too much sprucing up. What do you think?[Thanks, Lee]
Star Trek: Conquest boldly going for much cheaper than what it was going for before
Star Trek: Conquest didn't fare too well in our last metareview, partly due to its lack of options, and partly because its retail price of $30 is double that of the near-identical PS2 version. There isn't anything short of a time-travel episode that can be done about that first complaint considering that the game is already out in the market, and, unfortunately, we used up our one time-travel episode for the season when we visited Nickelodeon's studios in 1996 to stop them from canceling the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? series. We regret to report that we weren't able to complete that important mission due to interference by the Romulans. Amazon has addressed that second criticism, though, cutting the strategy/shooter title's price by a third and selling it now for only $19.99! This deal ends today, so pick it up now if you're interested, but just keep in mind the 19th Rule of Acquisition: "Satisfaction is not guaranteed."[Via CAG]
Metareview: Star Trek: Conquest
We were excited when we heard that Bethesda was bringing Star Trek: Conquest to the Wii, even more so when the strategy/shooter's $30 budget pricing was revealed ($15 for the PS2 version). So, now that it's out, is it worth its weight in gold-pressed latinum? Well, no.IGN -- 68%: Though Star Trek: Conquest is technically sound, IGN doesn't think there's enough there to warrant pruchasing: "The game is obviously a quick cash-out strategy game that does little to innovate, and lacks the serious depth it takes to sit among the ranks of strategy greats ... For starters, there's no multiplayer at all in the game, so while it's a turn-based board game in nearly every respect, you'll be playing one-on-one with the computer only, rather than bringing friends into the action via local or online play. Even further, the game has no real story mode, as it only includes a user-defined 'Campaign' mode and skirmish extra mode."Gamespy -- 20%: GameSpy agrees, and takes issue with its combat portions and inaccuracies: "It's not a very good shooter, with trudging controls, no choice over which of your ships you control (you only get to control one), and bland graphics. And just to drive the license fully into the ground, you'll encounter fun things like Borg spheres as fast/light 'scout' vessels. Technically, Conquest could be worse, since it loads quickly and has no real technical issues. But there is simply no reason to play this game or spend the money on it."Remember how every other episode of The Next Generation climaxed with some sort of warp core breach that required a saucer separation? The red alert klaxon would sound off and the camera would cut to a shot of Geordi rolling dramatically under one of the descending emergency gates, just narrowly escaping death and ensuring he'd be around to host another episode of Reading Rainbow.We imagine that's just how your Christmas morning would play out if someone were to gift you Star Trek: Conquest, except instead of a saucer separation, you'll be running out of the house and jumping into your car, driving away as fast as possible, glancing at your rearview mirror just in time to see your house explode spectacularly behind you.
