Minecraft [ Page 2 ] | Cheerful Ghost

"I've Got A Bone" - Dan Bull

Now that it's October, Halloween season can begin!

This song has a fun "This Is Halloween" type vibe to it and I just thought I'd share!

Get Minecraft For Windows 10 For Free Until April 20th, 2020

If you bought Minecraft: Java Edition before October 19th, 2018 you can get the Windows 10 Edition for free! Hurry, this offer ends on April 20th, 2020! I think this is pretty important news, so I'm sharing it here. I think the offer expired some time ago, but it's back once again. If you have not yet taken advantage of this opportunity, I pretty much strongly recommend you do so. This version of Minecraft is called the "Bedrock Edition." It's the same game that is on consoles, (Switch, PS4, XBox One), Android/IOS phones and tablets and more. This also means that cross-play is a feature. Perhaps one of the best parts about the Bedrock Edition is performance. This... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 01/18/2020 at 11:47pm

This is a cool offer they did before (as you noted) I got already. Cool it's available for folk that missed it before. I know there are a ton of mods for the Java edition, curious if people are porting those over to the bedrock edition?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 01/19/2020 at 02:39am

Honestly, I don't think it's possible. Java Edition runs on Java (a virtual machine, I believe I read), while Bedrock Edition runs on an entirely different engine (maybe a C or C++ based one). Optifine, a very great and popular Minecraft mod that helps optimize the performance and visuals of the game does not exist for Bedrock Edition. Also, if you report a bug in the game for the wrong platform, they will most definitely tell you to report it in the correct place, as the two are separate. I think there are some add-ons you can get, though I can't remember how or where exactly at the moment. I think there is a site for some. Other than that you can get skins, mash-up packs, and maps at the Marketplace, which you'll see on the main menu of the game.

If you're interested, you should check out a video on the differences between Java and Bedrock Edition. I found one some time ago. I have an idea to write a post about these differences, but I haven't written it....yet.

jdodson Admin wrote on 01/20/2020 at 02:57am

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Shaders Make Minecraft Beautiful!

Wow, shaders really make Minecraft beautiful! If you haven't tried them, you're missing out. I've embedded a video that shows off some different ones. Beware that some shaders may require high-end hardware, but there are also some for low-end hardware, too (check out https://youtu.be/swOAdaTN770). You may want to look for information on the web about the various settings in each shader, some shaders have different presets you can use, which don't require you to change any settings. Otherwise, just play around with the different settings and see what looks and performs best for you.

I don't know if this applies to all shaders, but at least some of them require you to... Read All Wow, shaders really make Minecraft beautiful! If you haven't tried them, you're missing out. I've embedded a video that shows off some different ones. Beware that some shaders may require high-end hardware, but there are also some for low-end hardware, too (check out https://youtu.be/swOAdaTN770). You may want to look for information on the web about the various settings in each shader, some shaders have different presets you can use, which don't require you to change any settings. Otherwise, just play around with the different settings and see what looks and performs best for you.

I don't know if this applies to all shaders, but at least some of them require you to install Optifine. If you're running Minecraft on a computer, you should be using Optifine anyway. It comes with a lot of features that help the game look and perform better. Optifine doesn't work with snapshots, so if you want to try it out, you'll have to check Optifine's versions to see which Minecraft versions are compatible. You can check it out at https://optifine.net/downloads. Installation is easy. Download whatever version and wait for the "skip" option to appear in the top right side of the page (if you're using an Adblocker, you won't see an ad, just a banner). You'll download a .jar file, which requires that you have Java installed. Once all that's done, double click on the Optifine file and click "install" and it'll be installed quickly. You'll need to select the Optifine profile next to the "Play" button on the Launcher. Then, when in Minecraft, go to your video settings and check out all the options.

I decided to check out Sildur's Vibrant Shaders and it makes Minecraft look amazing! One quick tip I have for you is to turn off Vsync. I usually have Vsync on, because I don't like screen tearing, but I don't notice it in Minecraft unless I'm move the mouse really fast to see if I can see any screen tearing. Turning off Vsync will unlock your FPS potential, instead of limiting it. With the setting on, I was able to get 60 FPS (for my 60hz monitor), but it averaged about 40-50FPS sometimes, which I think is still playable. I turned Vsync off and now I'm seeing an average of abut 100 FPS.

Have you tried it out? Do you have a favorite shader pack? Are you using Optifinet? Feel free to let me know. If you want help, I can try to do that, too.

Minecraft To Get Ray Tracing

It looks like Ray Tracing is coming to Minecraft. According to an article (https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/render-dragon-and-nvidia-ray-tracing), Ray Tracing will come to Minecraft next year. The video trailer says "Windows 10," so I'm not sure whether or not that means it's coming to the Java Edition or just the Windows 10 Bedrock Edition. Check out the embedded video. It looks beautiful!

This actually makes me regret that I did not recently buy an RTX GPU. Part of that decision was because not a lot of games feature Ray Tracing yet, so it didn't seem like a technology I really cared about at the time. That part of the decision still holds true, although this... Read All

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/19/2019 at 10:38pm

My laptop has an RTX in it. Not sure what frame rate I will get with this, but if it comes in the java version, I will give it a go.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 08/19/2019 at 10:44pm

I'm jealous! I imagine since you have an RTX GPU, you'll probably get a decent fps. I managed to get a lot of fps for the Quake 2 RTX version, especially when I was in a dark place and also when I played it on lower settings. I don't have an RTX GPU, I have a GTX 1660Ti.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/17/2020 at 09:13pm

Fair warning: The Minecraft RTX beta is out, but unless you have an RTX 2060 or above, don't bother wasting your time. If you do not meet this minimum system requirement, the game will not allow you to enable the related features. This is a departure from the Quake 2 RTX version, where it required a RTX 2060 or better, but you could still run it, even if your FPS was horrible.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 04/23/2020 at 04:53pm

I tried a little bit of this the other day and thought it looked ok. I need to dig into it a little more.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 04/23/2020 at 06:43pm

I watched a benchmark video, you (or anyone else) can check it out here if you want: https://youtu.be/LWBnLPlxVhg

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Minecraft The Essential Guide Book Review

jdodson gives this a solid "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

jdodson gives this a "Rad" on the Ghost Scale

This is fun, with very few issues, and is well worth your time.

As Minecraft is now one of the most influental and popular games of the last decade it made sense that someone would make a book about it. In fact a ton of books have been written about Minecraft but the one that I saw sold in stores and advertised the most is Scholastic's 2014 "Minecraft The Essential Guide." It's priced right for it's audience and at $7.99 it's an impulse buy for anyone curious about what the game is. So many copies of this book have been sold that I found it used at a second hand thrift store for $3. Since I own a few video game guides and this one is the right kind of pocket sized hardback in great condition, purchasing it seemed like the right... Read All As Minecraft is now one of the most influental and popular games of the last decade it made sense that someone would make a book about it. In fact a ton of books have been written about Minecraft but the one that I saw sold in stores and advertised the most is Scholastic's 2014 "Minecraft The Essential Guide." It's priced right for it's audience and at $7.99 it's an impulse buy for anyone curious about what the game is. So many copies of this book have been sold that I found it used at a second hand thrift store for $3. Since I own a few video game guides and this one is the right kind of pocket sized hardback in great condition, purchasing it seemed like the right thing to do.

If you've played Minecraft for a while now nothing in this book will be new to you. In fact, it's already aged as there are things in Minecraft the guide doesn't cover. That said, if you like collecting stuff about the games you love then this will be a fun romp through the high points of Minecraft. The book has a brief history of Minecraft and contains a really good primer on how to get in and play the game quickly. It even features sections by Paul Soares Jr, Notch and Jeb that really light up the book with a bigger context to the history of the game and some of it's biggest players. For Mincrafters like me that haven't memorized every recipe, it's nice to have this guide tell you but obviously an Internet search could yield the same result. Still, it's nice to have it all in this little book and if the Internet goes out and you HAVE to play Minecraft and need to craft a bucket this is a nice option.

This book is so well put together that it feels like Minecraft from the header fonts it uses that mirror the base game to how the pages are laid out. It really feels like a Minecraft field guide that you'd want if you were inside the game and I bet the kids that got this as a present loved it. The practical tips it gives are also spot on and one specifically from Paul Soares Jr. about building a house and putting a light on top of it you can see from a distance to not lose your house are super helpful.

If you love Minecraft or want to get a fun gift for someone this book hits the sweet spot at $7.99. But if you don't like Minecraft or the thought of owning some dead trees turned into a physical book isn't your thing, skip it.

Minecraft Pro Tip (Getting Mending)

Quick overview on how to easily get Mending in Minecraft 1.14

Mending uses the EXP you gain to repair your gear

Simple method: Put a lectern next to an "unemployed" villager (see videos)

Longer method: Find a good seed with a village near spawn, recreate world until you get a librarian

Quick explanation with video: Sl1pg8r recently created an elaborate way of transporting Villlagers and changing their professions. However if you watch this video (starting at 4:09), you’ll get an extremely quick look at how to get what you want: https://youtu.be/XJrBuKckez0?t=249 For a more detailed explanation, watch the video I’ve embedded in this post. Although xisumavoid shows you... Read All Quick overview on how to easily get Mending in Minecraft 1.14

Mending uses the EXP you gain to repair your gear

Simple method: Put a lectern next to an "unemployed" villager (see videos)

Longer method: Find a good seed with a village near spawn, recreate world until you get a librarian

Quick explanation with video: Sl1pg8r recently created an elaborate way of transporting Villlagers and changing their professions. However if you watch this video (starting at 4:09), you’ll get an extremely quick look at how to get what you want: https://youtu.be/XJrBuKckez0?t=249 For a more detailed explanation, watch the video I’ve embedded in this post. Although xisumavoid shows you how to do this, I think his method is a bit more complicated than the very quick bit of video you should watch of Sl1pg8r changing a Villager’s profession to get the Librarian trade(s) he’s looking for.

Method details: Mending is perhaps one of, if not the, most valuable enchantments in the game. It’s now much easier to get! This is because version 1.14 has made it so that Villagers can now change professions and you can get them to do this easily. A lectern (https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Lectern) is a new block that will turn a Villager into a Librarian. Basically, you just need to place one next to an “unemployed” Villager. If they already have a profession, you may want to trap them and remove any Work Tables. For a full list of these visit https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Villager#Professions. When they become “unemployed,” you can then put a lectern next to them to turn them into a Librarian. Then, look at their trades and see if they’re offering what you want (like Mending). If not, pick the lectern back up and they’ll turn back into “unemployed” and put it back down. Repeat this until you get the trade you’re looking for. And that’s it! It’s incredibly simple to do now.

What is Mending? One of the enchantments recently added is called Mending, which is definitely a game changer. It uses experience gathered and repairs an item with the enchantment. From the wiki, “when an item with the enchantment is held (main hand, offhand, or armor slots), XP orbs collected will repair the item at a rate of 2 durability per XP instead of adding the XP to the player's total. If multiple items have the enchantment, one will be chosen at random for each XP orb collected, and if the chosen item does not need repair, the XP will be added to the player's total as normal, rather than choosing another item to repair.” For more details check the wiki: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Mending

Find a good seed: One way to get Mending is to find a village that has a Librarian. This could take you forever on a normal world with the Java version. You could just create some worlds until you get a village near spawn, but there are some good seeds out there already. Luckily, I found one that contains a village near a ravine. There is also an abandoned mine shaft under the village well (seed# 105899026). For more details check the link: https://minecraftseedhq.com/ravine-village-mineshaft-seed/ *Note* Since seeds can differ between versions, you may want to look online for a seed that contains a village near spawn for the version of the game you’re running.

With a good seed: The trick is to create your new world, go to the Librarian in the village, and see what you can trade. Librarians start off offering a random enchanted book for some emeralds and a book. If the Librarian isn’t offering Mending, recreate that world until Mending is the enchanted book being offered.

Minecraft Everywhere, With Super Mario on The Wii U!

"On May 17, the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack comes to Minecraft: Wii U Edition as a free game update. After downloading the update, players who own the Minecraft: Wii U Edition digital game, which launched last December, will have immediate access to new skins, a Super Mario-themed pre-made world and a set of Super Mario-themed music and item textures."

If you were looking for one of the coolest Minecraft updates it might be coming to the Wii U. The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack is going to add a ton of really incredible Mario themed gear in Minecraft making this version pretty compelling. I imagine you can get similar stuff on the PC with mods but this comes for free and... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/13/2016 at 07:50pm

Nice! I got Minecraft for the Wii U for my son a while ago.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/14/2016 at 06:41pm

Neat. Let me know how the new DLC plays when it drops.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/21/2016 at 06:59am

I'm glad you posted this to let me know about it. I'm also glad I saw this post again a while ago, which reminded me about it. I loaded the game so I could get it for Vinny, but I didn't see this DLC listed. I went to the Nintendo eStore to find it, it wasn't there either. The game did tell me that updated data was downloaded, but that's about it. I finally figured out out to access it. If you choose to create a new world, you'll see the Mash-Up Pack in the options. I didn't play around with it, but I told Vinny about it. So, I don't have my own experience to share with you, just my initial impression of looking at the screen every now and then and hearing it while Vinny played it. The blocks do look like a mix between Mario and Minecraft, which should be expected. I think it looks kind of cool. At one point it looked like Vinny was in the Nether, which looked a lot like a place where you'd expect to see one of Bowser's castles. Although I recognized some music from Mario 64, some of it sounded kind of like a carnival, which I didn't really like. I may play around with it some time or watch Vinny play it some more. Anyway, I just thought I'd share my initial impression with you, since you asked.

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"34.7% More Hype" Right Here for Minecraft 1.9 The Combat Update

http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/3008741-minecraft.jpg

Well, it's been over a year and Mojang is almost ready to release Minecraft version 1.9. I can't recall exactly when I was aware of this new version, but I know it's been quite a while now. As far as my own personal knowledge, this is called the "Combat Update" in which we will be able to dual-wield things such as holding a torch and a sword, maybe a shield? I also know that arrows are getting the various buffs or debufffs, so if you want to heal yourself, you can make healing arrows, shoot them straight into the sky to have them hit you, and then you'll have that buff.

Recently, I found out that the latest update is finally ispre-release and is expected to be fully... Read All Well, it's been over a year and Mojang is almost ready to release Minecraft version 1.9. I can't recall exactly when I was aware of this new version, but I know it's been quite a while now. As far as my own personal knowledge, this is called the "Combat Update" in which we will be able to dual-wield things such as holding a torch and a sword, maybe a shield? I also know that arrows are getting the various buffs or debufffs, so if you want to heal yourself, you can make healing arrows, shoot them straight into the sky to have them hit you, and then you'll have that buff.

Recently, I found out that the latest update is finally ispre-release and is expected to be fully released next week (2/25). Not much of what I've learned about this new release really makes me want to jump into the game again, but it also seems as the The End is getting a new area with new things, so I think that will be cool to check out.

I've recently decided to rewatch the Minecraft tutorial "Survive and Thrive" videos by Paul Soares, Jr. I watched all of his pre-1.8 videos before I played the game. It did take a while for me to become aware of the game. Initially, my son, Vinny, was really interested in it and I even had a copy for him to play on my computer, but I hadn't played it. Once I watched Paul's videos, I decided to jump in and it's hard to describe how it made me feel. I really enjoyed it, perhaps much more than I expected. I love the music, it seems so relaxing. I also enjoyed the open world exploration, mining, and crafting parts of it along with taming animals. So, since then, I've definitely fallen in love with the game and enjoyed it. It's even become something I've looked for in other games. I have, however, not done everything in the game. Re-watching Paul's videos reminds me of the things I've missed out on like the beacon and Wither boss.

So, I'm curious what my fellow Ghosts think about this new update. Are you excited about it or are you done with the game? Are you going to jump back into the game? After I told my son, Vinny, about the new release expected to come out next week, he's been pretty excited. He asked me how I feel about it and I honestly told him that I do want to play it again when the new version is released. He wants to play together again, on a server, which I've done for us before and I may do again. One of the cool things about the game is that it bridges so many generational gaps and allows people of all ages to play together and have fun. From my experience, it's definitely been something I've enjoyed doing together with my son.

Other versions of the game are expected to receive an update, too. I'll include links to those details below. I do have the Windows 10 and Kindle Fire versions of the game, but I've come to the conclusion that, so far, the regular PC version (for me at least) is the best. I expect other versions (like the Windows 10 beta) to grow and contain everything that's included in the main version of the game, but it's disappointing to play them now knowing that some things are missing.

I'm really hoping to jump in once the new version is released and I'll be more than happy to report my experience with it here at Cheerful Ghost. :)

1.9 patch notes news: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/latest-minecraft-patch-notes-include-bug-fixes-and/1100-6434894/
"Overworld" update for Windows 10 and other versions: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-overworld-update-introduces-new-skins-re/1100-6434924/
Paul Soares, Jr.'s Minecraft "Survie and Thrive" tutorials: https://youtu.be/B36Ehzf2cxE?list=PL7326EF82122776A9

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/20/2016 at 05:24pm

Interested in dual wielding for sure. That said, not much in that Gamespot article is mentioned for content for the patch.

The full list looks to be coming next week. Oh and yes, please post your review of 1.9!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 03/01/2016 at 02:29pm

So, I spent some time playing with the new update and thought I'd share my initial reaction. It seems a lot has been added, so you can look at the link below for more info. I did watch a video, which covered many of the new changes. Right away, the most notable change is the combat system (hence the name "Combat Update"), although this entails more than I was expecting.

Dual-wielding is as I described in this post, which is actually helpful. If you're walking around with a sword in your main hand and a torch in your "off-hand" slot, then you can right-click to place a torch without having to switch between the sword and torch individually. You can put items in that off-hand slot by clicking on them in your inventory and pressing the “F” key. Of course, the main item you probably want there is the newly added shield.

I think I read in another article or perhaps heard in the video I watched that blocking with a sword is no longer an option, which pretty much makes sense. I think it's pretty cool, especially since a skeleton can shoot you from a distance while you run up to it to hit it with your sword. This is especially good early in the game when you don't have a bow yet. Shields can also apparently be decorated with banners.

"Attacking now has a 'cool-down' delay, making it more important to time your attacks." This basically means that if you spam the attack button (left mouse button), your attacks will do less damage. So, it's better to wait between each attack. I think this also gives you time to use your shield while waiting for that “cool-down” period.

I also noticed that the sword has a new swing mechanic or animation and hearts appear on enemies when they take damage. I'm assuming this shows how much damage they've taken. Another thing I noticed is that some of the sounds are different. I'm not sure if squids had a sound before, but they definitely do now.

They have also made additions to the End. Apparently, there are new islands you can visit, but I think you get there after defeating the Ender Dragon. They've changed that battle a bit, too, as it now attacks differently and can be re-summoned. There is apparently something else in this new area that lets you fly, which seems pretty cool.

https://mojang.com/2016/02/minecraft-19-combat-update/

jdodson Admin wrote on 03/02/2016 at 12:18am

I think a separate post outlining what is in the update might be good so others can see it.

Thanks for the update Greg!

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Now Billionaire Minecraft Creator Feels Isolated

http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/536/5360430/2656294-minecraft-xb1-screen07-png.jpg

Minecraft was obviously a huge hit, it's still extremely popular and a work in progress. However, things have changed a bit for the creators of Minecraft, since Mojang was sold to Microsoft for a couple billion dollars. Markus "Notch" Persson recently tweeted about how he now feels more isolated and lonely than every before, proving that money doesn't necessarily buy happiness.

I do honestly feel sorry for him a bit. I watched the documentary, so I understand his story. He was a guy that just decided to make a game and it became a huge blockbuster which really shocked him. Instead of getting super excited about it, he retracted and decided to get away from the game and... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/03/2015 at 03:21am

I've heard it's lonely at the top. I don't know if that's true from personal experience, but all us bottom dwellers might want some personal time up there to find out for ourselves. /rimshot

I think if I had a ton of money I could turn into a total douche wad. I kind of skirt around being a proper asshole and a lovable one so I think a few bucks more would make me go "full douche-tard."

That said, i'd never turn it down and would welcome wealth. Because, you know, who wouldn't? But that's a dumb way to look at it as it this wasn't just hoisted on him unwittingly. He had a few choices in the matter.

That said, I don't really feel bad for him or take joy in this. It's more like a "huh, well I guess that could be a thing if I ever get there." Which will be never so you know, that.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/03/2015 at 04:20am

Well yeah, I'd love to take the money, too! Right now I could use it to pay off my near $50k student loan debt and move out West where I really want to be. Then, I could buy a mansion, invite friends to move in or come by some time. I'd not just have this sweet PC, but I'd have one with Titans, like Notch does!

I remember times in my life (college especially) when I felt extremely lonely (even though I wasn't alone). Now I feel like I've dominated that feeling and now actually more often than not wish to be alone. I, selfishly, want the freedom to do what I want when I want and as long as I want. That especially goes for sleeping and gaming. I also don't want to feel like a social or family slave. But all of that is just how I imagine it would be (really f'ing great), but I won't know how it will be until it happens and I doubt that it ever will.

At the same time, I feel like Notch in that I don't want fame. I don't want the spotlight or even 15 minutes of fame. I don't want everyone up my tail and with their nose constantly in my face. I think it must suck to be famous, having he public eye watching your every move, writing down your every word and expressing their contrasting opinions about, becoming the hot topic on Facebook. I think i'd like to be rich, but not famous. But I'll tell you honestly, if I just got a load of money, I'm sure the first thing I'd do is pay off that student loan debt (otherwise I don't see how it'll ever be paid).

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Minecraft: The Bountiful Update

New features

New blocks

New animals

Ocean monuments

Improved performance

On 9/2/14, Minecraft was updated to version 1.8. This update is called the "Bountiful Update." It contains many new features and improvements. For a detailed description of the new update, please see the wiki (http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/1.8). In the meantime, there are a few changes that I wish to report.

New blocks: Four of the new blocks that have been added to the game include andesite, diorite, granite, and slime blocks. The first three, in that list, are new rocks which can be crafted into "polished" versions. Andesite and diorite look similar to gravel and cobblestone, while granite... Read All New features

New blocks

New animals

Ocean monuments

Improved performance

On 9/2/14, Minecraft was updated to version 1.8. This update is called the "Bountiful Update." It contains many new features and improvements. For a detailed description of the new update, please see the wiki (http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/1.8). In the meantime, there are a few changes that I wish to report.

New blocks: Four of the new blocks that have been added to the game include andesite, diorite, granite, and slime blocks. The first three, in that list, are new rocks which can be crafted into "polished" versions. Andesite and diorite look similar to gravel and cobblestone, while granite looks almost like dirt. All three are very abundant and easy to find. So far, I have used all three polished versions to create a house in my new world. I have not yet had any experience with slime blocks, but I know that you can bounce on them. One of my favorite YouTubers has a video regarding this new update, which I recommend watching (http://youtu.be/Q9ykTDAFl7E?list=UUP6f9x4iXk3LH8Q1sqJmYPQ).

New animals: Sheep now drop mutton, which can be cooked as another food source. This update also introduces bunnies. They are adorable and come in a variety of colors and designs. They can be bred with a variety of items, but only carrots will make them follow you. They also drop meat, which can also be used as a food source. There is also a slight chance for a "killer bunny" to appear. This bunny has red horizontal eyes, while the tame ones have eyes that are vertical. This "killer bunny" is clearly a nod to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The end of the following video gives the best strategy for when encountering this new "killer bunny" (http://youtu.be/92gP2J0CUjc). (Hint: Run away!)

Ocean monuments: There are now also ocean monuments which are underwater and apparently filled with water. I have not yet found one, so I can't quite report on it. I know that these monuments contain guardians, which are a new mob. There are also new blocks within these monuments including prismarine and sponges. For more information visit the wiki (http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Ocean_monument).

Improved performance: Finally, I think the most important part of this update is that the game's performance has been greatly improved! When I got my new PC many months ago and played Minecraft, I was impressed by how far I could see, but still disappointed in how long it took chunks to load. Since I've been playing with this new update, I have not had any issue whatsoever with chunks loading. The only chunk loading I noticed was initially when I spawned in my new world, but that's it! Previously, while walking around, I had to wait for chunks to load, I no longer have to wait at all! There is also a new option in the video settings, "use VBO." This feature apparently gives about a 10% increase in performance when set to "on," by reassigning some of the processing from your RAM and CPU to the GPU. For a little more information about this setting please see the following link (http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/177257/what-is-the-use-vbos-setting).

Now seems to be a great time to get back into Minecraft, if you've been away from it for a while. There is still much that I have not covered, so I recommend checking out the wiki for the full release notes.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/19/2014 at 03:59am

I have been preparing my character for the discovery of a water monument. I created some water breathing and night vision potions, as the wiki suggests. I used red stone to increase the duration of both potions and then I went out in search of a water monument. I did finally find one, they are located in deep ocean biomes and are under water. You may see them as you are riding around the ocean on a boat. I went down into the monument I found and came across some of the new guardian mobs. Unfortunately, I did not survive. What's worse is that I did not write down the coordinates to the monument's location, so I'm not sure where it is, but I'm looking again. I agree with the wiki's suggestion of bringing good gear. I don't think my gear, made of iron, was sufficient.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/19/2014 at 04:11am

Interested to hear in what it takes to survive those mobs. Also, if you could snap a image of the water monument I’d be interested in checking it out.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/19/2014 at 05:00am

The wiki doesn't seem to suggest what materials to use for recommended gear, but it does recommend "enchanted armor," water breathing potions, and invisibility potions. This is actually the first time I've ever created potions in the game.

Also, snapping an image is a great idea! At first I thought, "oh just check the wiki," but the wiki doesn't show what it looks like from your perspective in a boat. I'll see what I can do. =)

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/19/2014 at 06:34pm

Found it again (I believe it's the same one I found before). Check out some of the screenshots I took (http://gregopeck.imgur.com/). I created an album for them. Keep in mind, you can only see the very top of the monument in these pictures. I also found something posted in the Minecraft forums (http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-discussion/recent-updates-and-snapshots/2109912-giant-ocean-monument-info-thread). One of the things I found out from this post is that there is a new enchantment, "Dept Strider," for boots, which helps swim through the monument.

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/19/2014 at 11:49pm

Nice. Is that a kind of one-eyed fish?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/20/2014 at 12:28am

Some what, it's one of the new mobs, guardians. I believe it can drop fish when defeated, but I haven't killed any yet. I'm currently looking for more diamonds so I can craft a full set of diamond gear before I return to the monument.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/20/2014 at 02:14am

Still looking for diamonds....check out this awesome video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxH0r2Z8ce4

jdodson Admin wrote on 09/20/2014 at 08:22pm

I liked the part where the Creeper started singing.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/21/2014 at 03:40am

The guardians in the ocean monument are tough and can seriously take a beating. After collecting enough diamonds, I created diamond gear (armor and sword) and enchanted each piece. I used the new Depth Strider enchantment on my boots, which helped me get around in the underwater ocean monument. I also brought along water breathing potions, which had an extended duration thanks to using some red stone. I was able to defeat two out of the three elder guardians, I was not fortunate enough to find the third. I made multiple trips to the monument as I was killed quite a few times. Sadly, I was hurt enough that some of my armor broke and now I need to find more diamonds. Luckily, I found some melons in a jungle, so now I can make regeneration potions. While the wiki recommends night vision potions, I found this suggestion unnecessary as my brightness setting is set to "Bright." If anyone is interested, I can give you the number for the seed of my world and also the coordinates of where the monument is located. Previously, with a Google search, I found out that there is an app that can tell you where these monuments are found, but I didn't use it.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/21/2014 at 03:44am

Opps, slight correction, I need Ghast tears to make regeneration potions, melon seeds help make healing potions, not the same thing.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/21/2014 at 08:17am

I beat the final Elder Guardian, but forgot to get my loot! I didn't know that there were 8 blocks of gold hidden in one of the rooms. Check out this video about Ocean Monuments: http://youtu.be/sCmV4v1bvqI.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 09/21/2014 at 07:19pm

Last night I found a great video that shows off all of the new changes in 1.8, check it out: http://youtu.be/R8WX3_WGzto

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/03/2014 at 06:41pm

Yesterday, I decided to test out the new world creation customized presets. Some of them seemed very similar, some were interesting, and some looked liked death traps. In "Water World", I barely found any land at all, certainly no caves, just a group of very small islands. I also spawned deep under water, luckily I was in Creative mode. In "Good Luck," I found that oceans were no longer filled with water, but lava instead. Finally, I found one that I quite liked called "Drought." This one removed almost all of the water that's usually located in the oceans. I thought this was interesting because I could now see the sea bed, which led to a few discoveries. Not only did I find a series of abandoned mine shafts, or two, but I also found an Ocean Monument. This made the monument very easy to find. I've uploaded a new screenshot (http://imgur.com/xDvRuOd), so take a look!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/03/2014 at 06:42pm

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/05/2014 at 09:06pm

That's a interesting picture. Looks like the water is in a bowl.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/05/2014 at 09:57pm

Yeah, I didn't think it would spawn in the Drought preset because I assumed ocean sizes were very small, almost non-existent. However, it seems that ocean biomes exist, they just don't contain as much water. I did find out that the ocean monuments spawn with their own water around them, which is apparent in the screen shot I shared. =)

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