87cubed.net has been upgraded to Minecraft 1.7.9

Thursday, 4 December 2014

I've upgraded the Minecraft server to 1.7.9 - you will need to change your client to use 1.7.9 or 1.7.10; please see the Help page if you need instructions to do this.

The practical upshot of this:
  • With the 1.7.9/1.7.10 client, you can set a per-server Resource pack
  • You can push your FOV all the way to 30 - kinda like having binoculars
  • Full Minecraft Realms support

Most of the server plugins were upgraded and, while I've tested & debugged extensively, PLEASE let me know if you run into problems. This means the Teleport portals under the spawn hut (to the SafeZone and Labyrinth) should just work now.

Tekkit server deactivation

Monday, 1 December 2014

Just a quick note - I'm deactivating the Minecraft Tekkit server due to lack of activity (4 months and counting). If you wish to try it out, drop me a line and I'll re-activate it, no problem. I'll check in on the progress of Tekkit development in a couple of months, and if a Minecraft 1.7 mod update is published, then I'll post a notice.

87cubed.net and the Minecraft server future beyond 1.7

Monday, 15 September 2014

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard that Microsoft has bought Mojang; I'll leave out my opinion and direct you to the official announcement:

https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/

This news came last week hard on the heels of the Bukkit controversy. By the way if you didn't hear about it, let me sum up for you: The Bukkit project is dead. Due to DMCA actions against the Bukkit project by one of its developers, there is no real chance of Bukkit for Minecraft 1.8.

Where do we go from here?


It is very difficult to guess any time frame for standing up a Minecraft 1.8 alternative server. While there are several successors vying for attention, Bukkit didn't become popular because it was an exact clone of Minecraft server; it had support for plugins: Dynmap, WorldEdit, WorldGuard, etc. The equivalent functionality of these other servers range from "Doesn't actually exist just yet", to "Has a huge amount of work to do."

Put simply, I can't see any kind of usable Minecraft 1.8 alternative server coming available within six months. Though I very much would like to upgrade to 1.8 as soon as possible, I'll keep it as is for now. The alternative would be: No Safe Zone, no warps, unconstrained mob spawns, etc. - this isn't palatable to me at the moment.

What about the Tekkit server?


It still has version 1.7 to "grow into", so expect to see some upgrade news about it over the coming months.

If you've any questions, please feel free to ask.

BRACE YERSELVES, Minecraft 1.8 - The Bountiful Update - is upon us!

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

If you thought 1.7 brought large changes, it was only the beginning. Version 1.8 has been over 10 months in the making - time flies when you're having fun, right? The changes to the game are even further reaching than the Anvil map format and cubic chunks - more fundamental than even the client/server split from years ago. If you are interested at all in Minecraft, read on.

Mojang has continued to overhaul the core of the game engine, it now no longer is stuck rendering "just blocks", but instead reads the actual shape of each block from data files and at long last, has multi-threaded client-side chunk rendering!

"Great," you say, "but what does that mean to me?"

  • Client performance may see a 10-30% frames per second boost
  • Max render distance now 32 chunks - client needs 64-bit Java and >=2GB RAM set to do this (87cubed.net only shows 10 blocks away)
  • Resource packs are no longer merely texture, sound and fonts
  • New player skin system:
    • each sleeve and pant leg are separate, you can wear a hat (or glasses)
    • you can create a second layer on every body part - think tattoos and bracelets
    • see this for reference: http://minecraftwiki.net/Skin#Creating_a_skin
    • "Alex": if you've not set a custom skin, you may be randomly assigned this model, it's slimmer and looks like a female with ginger hair
    • Alex only seen if playing Minecraft 1.8+
    • Change your player skin at https://minecraft.net/profile
  • Command block/game commands are vastly expanded - you can basically directly edit the world now via commands/command-blocks
  • New game mode: Spectator - you're a ghost! http://minecraftwiki.net/Spectator
  • Highly customisable new world terrain generation http://minecraftwiki.net/Customized
  • New world type: Debug - lets you preview resource packs - every item and block in the game is laid out in every possible configuration
  • Usernames: now internally replaced by UUIDs: makes way for eventually being able to change your player name

That's just the core - on to the goodies

Mobs
  • Rabbits! They come in different colors and patterns
    • they'll destroy mature carrot crops - time to make some fences
    • you can tame them, breed them, etc.
    • wolves find them very tasty
    • When killed, they may drop: hide, raw meat, rabbit foot
    • Meat used in rabbit stew: restores six hunger
    • Four hides make a full-sized leather
    • Rabbit foot used in potion of leaping
    • Killer bunny: if you encounter one, beware! If you're not well-armed and armored, RUN AWAY!
  • Endermites: occasionally spawn when an Enderman teleports, or when a player teleports via Ender Pearl
  • Sheep may now drop mutton when killed
  • Ocean Monuments: huge underwater structures at the bottom of Deep Ocean biomes
    • Hefty loot, in addition to lovely Prismarine stuff
    • Don't go there unless WELL equipped
    • Guardians really don't like you (or any other creature)
  • Creepers: Hostile mobs now run away from them if about to explode
  • Iron Golems: don't care and will attack and kill creepers
  • Villagers: trading has been re-balanced

Blocks and items and stuff
  • Armor stands: show off your weapons and gear
  • Banners: literally TRILLIONS of unique combinations - use this site to design your own: http://algoin.de/bngn/
  • Doors and fences are now different, based upon the type of wood you use to craft them (fences have a new recipe to do this)
  • New blocks: red sandstone, slime blocks, Sea Lantern, Prismarine, Coarse Dirt, sponges
    • Slime blocks: players and mobs that land on their top side will bounce, like on a trampoline
    • Slime blocks: connected to sticky pistons, they will now push and pull blocks beside them when moved by pistons (up to 12)
    • Coarse dirt: replaces "grass-less dirt" that exists in Mesa Taiga and Savanna biomes - can also be crafted
  • Anvil tool repairing has been re-balanced
  • Enchanting has been redone, now also requires Lapis Lazuli
  • New stone types: Andesite, Diorite, Granite - will generate in new areas but can be crafted with Nether Quartz. Polished variants can be crafted
  • These bricks can now be crafted: Mossy cobblestone, mossy stone bricks, chiselled stone bricks

And now, for my happy dance: The Void fog (and particles) are gone, bye-bye. WOOOHOOO!

The real question: It was so many months for Bukkit 1.7 to be released, will it be even longer for Bukkit 1.8 and 87cubed.net to update? The answer: Probably not! There was drama surrounding Bukkit last week, with the team lead announcing they were shutting down the Bukkit project, no 1.8 update, or any updates again. One minor over-site there: Mojang owns Bukkit, and they have no plans to shut it down. Dinnerbone said he will personally update Bukkit to 1.8. He wrote it, so I'd say he's well-qualified to do this. This all means the chances of 87cubed.net updating to 1.8 within a month is decent.

Tekkit server updated to 1.2.9e

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

The Tekkit server has been upgraded from 1.2.8e to 1.2.9e - please update your launcher to use "1.2.9e - Recommended". If you need help, please see the Tekkit Help page.

It's an entire minor-point revision update, wooo! Seriously:

  • Backpacks: fixes
  • DimensionalDoors: fixes
  • Equivalent Exchange: fixes, and re-added the Alchemical pouch
  • ExtraCells (NEW!) - better liquid storage: 50-bucket drums, and adds liquid storage to Applied Energistics
  • Galacticraft - fixes (no more infinite power, awww)
  • Logistics Pipes: fixes, more fixes, and fixes
  • MineFactory Reloaded: fixes
  • Nether Ores: tweaks
  • ProjectRed: fixes
  • Simply Jetpacks (NEW!): 4 tiers of jetpacks that just work
  • ThermalExpansion: fixes, plus liquid glowstone now "falls" upward, will spread out on the ceiling!
  • WAILA (What Am I Looking At?): fixes, better functionality (see energy cell levels directly)

The first time loading after updating, you may get a warning about 3 different blocks/mods - you can ignore those. If you run into problems, drop me a line.

Glacier, we have liftoff

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

And now, 87cubed.net is running a Minecraft Tekkit server! Everyone that can log in to the "vanilla" Minecraft server is white-listed on the Tekkit server.

Tekkit is Minecraft with a LOT of mods that add all kinds of new blocks, capabilities, items, and even extra dimensions. It's kinda crazy how much is packed in, but also tremendously fun!

The main mods include:
  • Applied Energistics: Store your items in a complex network
  • Buildcraft: Quarries, pipes and pumps. Create a dream factory!
  • Dimensional Doors: Create your very own pocket dimension
  • Galacticraft: Travel to the great beyond in your own spaceship!
  • MineFactory Reloaded: Automate everything! Farm, ranch, and build crazy conveyor belt networks!
  • Modular Powersuits: Build infinitely configurable suits with dozens of special powers
  • Mystcraft: Travel to another age
  • Thermal Expansion: Dozens of factory improvements: ore processing, energy conduits, and liquiducts.

Tekkit is so packed with features that I can't even begin to scratch the surface in one message, so I won't. You can read up about the various included mods here:
    http://wiki.technicpack.net/Tekkit
It's important to remember that "Tekkit" is a collection of programs from different authors. Each has its own documentation, or lack thereof, so the various flavors of Minecraft mod collections (like Feed The Beast, Hexxit, Attack of the B-Team, etc.) have built their own wiki docs to supplement the instructions. You must do a fair amount of reading.

How to get it?
  • First, be sure you're running Java 7 - if you don't know what you're running, just install the latest version from java.com.
  • Go here and get the Technic launcher:
    http://www.technicpack.net/download

You must configure the launcher!
  • Start the launcher and configure it to connect to 87cubed.net:
    • Ensure that "Tekkit" is selected on the left side then click the gear icon under the "Tekkit" logo
    • Select "Manually select a build"
    • In the "Select Build" drop-down box, set it to "1.2.8e - Recommended"
    • Click on Save then click on PLAY
  • Once Minecraft finishes loading (takes a long time with all the mods) ...
    • Click on Multiplayer, then "Add Server"
    • Set the Server name to 87cubed Tekkit, or whatever you like
    • Set the Server Address to 87cubed.net:25570
    • Then click Done

You (should) appear in the spawn area. From this point, you're on your own - there are no "safe" areas.

CAUTION: The Tekkit world is less friendly. There are poisonous pools of sludge and toxic waste, and in the Nether, mining the ores may cause an explosion and will cause nearby zombie pigmen to attack you - en masse.
The Tekkit server is not "Bukkit" so I cannot and will not treat it like Glacier: I can't edit the landscape, set warps, or generally do admin stuff. This means PVP can happen, as well as griefing. I'm ok with pranks, but I don't want to see theft and destruction, because my only recourse is to ban you from the Tekkit server. Anyone that doesn't respect reasonable boundaries (like building stuff inside your neighbor's area) may face a ban as well. If you have to ask how close is too close, move 100 meters away before starting your base.

Last word: DO NOT SET UP NUCLEAR REACTORS WITHIN 100 METERS OF YOUR NEIGHBORS WITHOUT THEIR EXPLICIT PERMISSION! Nobody wants to lose their stuff because the guy next door accidentally let his reactor go critical.

Happy powersuit building!

The 87cubed.net Minecraft server is finally back up, not even kidding.

Thursday, 13 March 2014

After three long weeks, the Minecraft server at 87cubed.net is back up! Please accept my apologies for the downtime - I assure you I wasn't away on a tropical desert island (or any other kind of vacation).

I would like to thank Magmorel for his time, patience, skill and donations to getting the server back up - without him, this would not have been possible.

What's new? Up front, nothing - unless you count a vastly better experience with everyone logged on. Oh yeah, and also zombies - they'll be out and about now, so watch yourself!

There is now vastly more server power behind the scenes, so I'll be working on adding extra server-side plugins for more fun and a better experience. I'll also be playing with adding another Minecraft server: Tekkit. Stay tuned!

Server down for uprades

Sunday, 23 February 2014

The Minecraft server is down for upgrades, sorry for the late notice. I'll send out an update when downtime is concluded.

Terraforming map merge operations have concluded

Friday, 14 February 2014

I've (finally) completed map edge editing: you may inhabit, tear up, or otherwise alter any old/new border areas.

For those keen to explore the new area, I'll next start work on the Nether transit tunnels - these will initially be 250m from the Nether portal, which will take you 2000m North, South, East, and West of the town center. In addition to the Nether portals, I'll be working on extending the road network to the already-discovered new villages. Eventually, a map wall will go up in the town center, so you won't need to use the web browser if you don't want to.

Speaking of new hardware (wait, what?) I've purchased a smokin' hot processor/motherboard/RAM combo and will be putting it to use within the next two weeks. At that time, the server may be down for several hours during the day - most likely on the weekend. What does this mean to you? Well, those trying to run any redstone contraptions have undoubtedly noticed the highly irregular clock timing. This will fix that, and allow for even more lattitude with extra game-enhancing plugins in the future.

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

87cubed.net is now running Minecraft 1.7

Saturday, 25 January 2014

The server has been upgraded to Minecraft 1.7 (Bukkit 1.7.2) and has been given a clean bill of health - a thanks goes to _tymesink and Gilbs for helping with the testing. The world has been trimmed back, per the crop map I mentioned, and I'll be working on smoothing those harsh lines.

So get out there and explore! There are all new biomes, weather changes, new plants and trees, resource pack changes (you can mix and match), better graphics & performance, new fish & fishing stuff, and did I forget to mention? STAINED GLASS.

The changes were covered in my message last November, "Minecraft 1.7 - The Update that Changed the World, " so I won't regurgitate them here. How to get to the wonderful new land? Take a horse! Or brave the Nether, or just start walking.

I'll be working on Nether transportation tunnels - this will allow somewhat quick access to the new lands. Until then, have fun exploring!

The 1.7 upgrade is nigh

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Fair Warning: this Friday evening (24 January) I'll upgrade the server to 1.7.2, if all goes well.

Things you need to know:
  • The world map will be cropped (cut back) - I recommend not building in the "outside" area until afterward
  • Logins will be disabled some time after 7 pm Mountain Time on Friday
  • Find out if you're building inside the area that will remain: http://87cubed.net/xtn/crop_for_17.html
  • If you want a .schematic dump file of a build that you've made in the "outside" area, let me know immediately
  • If you've built something in the "outside" area and want it moved, let me know immediately
  • After the upgrade, you must use Minecraft 1.7.2, 1.7.3 or 1.7.4 to connect

The radical world generation changes will cause harsh border clashes that I'll work on smoothing - this will take some time. If you come across one of these boundaries and want to keep it for building on, let me know, or put up a clear sign, or something. If you fail to do this, your work may disappear.

If anyone is available for post-upgrade testing Friday night, diamonds or diamond ore (your choice) will be awarded!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, SPEAK UP!

Ascend