Joystiq

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition for retail in UK on June 28

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 EST

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will dig its way to the UK on June 28 and it'll also include a 48-hour subscription to Xbox Live Gold. The disc-based game includes all the features and content currently found on the XBLA version, and those with an internet connection will also receive the same updates as the digital edition.

The North American disc version of the blocktastic building game was recently delayed from April 30 to June 4. Microsoft has not officially announced any change in plans for the game to also launch in Australia, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan during June.

Continue reading Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition for retail in UK on June 28

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition for retail in UK on June 28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA Title Update 9 out a day early, which is today

Sinan Kubba — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST

Minecrafters waiting for 'The End' are in for a treat, as 4J Studios says Title Update 9 is rolling out for the XBLA game "right now." It was expected tomorrow, but the early release means, we suspect, more than a few people's weekends are going to start a day early.

The End, complete with Ender Dragon, isn't the only inclusion in TU9; you can check out the update's change log on the official Minecraft forums.

Minecraft XBLA Title Update 9 out a day early, which is today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBLA Minecraft blocks out April 5 for title update 9

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST

"The End" is nigh for Minecraft on Xbox 360. 4J Studios, developers of the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft, announced last night on Twitter that title update nine has passed certification and is scheduled for release this Friday, April 5.

4J Studios recently noted the XBLA version of Minecraft had sales surpassing six million units. A retail version of the Xbox Arcade's digitally distributed hit will arrive April 30. We're sure folks will dig it.

XBLA Minecraft blocks out April 5 for title update 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA reaches 6 million units sold

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST

Soooo, the Minecraft is doing well. 4J Studios, developers of the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft, announced on Twitter recently the game has sold over six million units. The Xbox version of the game began the year at a little over the five million mark.

Minecraft for Xbox 360 is set to receive title update 9 in the near future, along with the digitally distributed game taking a pickax to retail on April 30. Across various platforms, Minecraft has sold over 20 million units.

Minecraft XBLA reaches 6 million units sold originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft Title Update 9 trailer totally has Ender Dragon in it

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:45:00 EST

"The End" is coming to Minecraft for Xbox 360. Here's the trailer for update nine, which will be free when it launches in... um, the realm of soonish?

Minecraft Title Update 9 trailer totally has Ender Dragon in it originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft Title Update 8 is all about fixes, nixes Ender Dragon till TU9

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST

Minecraft on Xbox 360 gets a host of fixes in Title Update 8 today, but no Ender Dragon as Play XBLA previously reported. Ender Dragons certainly are sneaky beasts, considering their size.

Title Update 8 includes fixes for a few random crashes and freezes, to force a Nether Fortress, Blaze Spawner and Nether Wart to always be present in the Nether for a new world, increase the Mooshroom spawn rate, add an Awkward Potion, improve animal breeding mechanics, and change the "Download Content" menu to "Minecraft Store." Check out the entire changelist below, as provided by Play XBLA.

Ender Dragons, part of "The End" of Minecraft, are part of Title Update 9 and they will have sound, developer 4J Studios tweets. Rawr.

Continue reading Minecraft Title Update 8 is all about fixes, nixes Ender Dragon till TU9

Minecraft Title Update 8 is all about fixes, nixes Ender Dragon till TU9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft purchased over 15 million times across 2012

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:45:00 EST

Last year saw a total of more than 15 million purchases of Minecraft across all platforms, with Pocket Edition the leader at just under 5.9 million across iOS and Android. As if we needed any more proof of the blocky sandbox's success, Mojang published concrete figures for last year's sales, demonstrating just how prolific 2012 was for its franchise.

In addition to Pocket Edition, there were just under 4.2 million purchases of Minecraft on PC and Mac in 2012, and just over 5 million on Xbox Live Arcade. This is only speculation since it assumes all purchases were made at particular prices, but based on the games' current North American prices our supercomputer reckons Mojang's figures translate into a whopping $254 million of revenue, just from sales of the games alone.

Even if those figures are a little off, this video link feels entirely justified.

Minecraft purchased over 15 million times across 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA closes out the year by reaching 5 million sales milestone

Sinan Kubba — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

Minecraft dug deep on New Year's Eve to reach 5 million sales on Xbox Live Arcade before the close of 2012. The news is maybe not surprising given the franchise's prolificacy across the board over the last 12 months, including 453,000 sales on Christmas Day alone, but the achievement still represents a momentous way for developers 4J Studios and Mojang to see in the new year.

Not that there's time for 4J Studios to rest on any laurels, as the team is off its festive break and back at work remedying some of the problems encountered with Title Update 7. The developer says a bug-fixing patch is being released later this month.

Minecraft XBLA closes out the year by reaching 5 million sales milestone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft franchise sells 453K units on Christmas

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:30:00 EST

It's Christmas, the presents have been opened, turkey and ham consumed - it's the midday lull. What to do? If you're like over 400,000 other people, you buy whatever version of Minecraft is handy. Across all available platforms, Minecraft sold 453,000 copies on December 25, according to the block maestro himself, Markus "Notch" Persson.

Be careful folks, that's not a festive, green holiday decoration - it's a Creeper.

Minecraft franchise sells 453K units on Christmas originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft Halloween Skin Pack hell-raised $770K for charity

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST

The Minecraft Halloween Skin Pack racked up a total of $770,448 for charities, developer 4J Studios revealed today. All proceeds from the spooky add-on, sold on Xbox Live for a month at 160 MSP ($2), are being split between the Block by Block, SANDS Lothians, Child's Play, and Macmillan Cancer Support charities. Based on the price, the figure suggests roughly 385,000 players bought the pack, making it a veritable graveyard smash.

4J Studios is hard at work on further Minecraft updates. The next in line, Title Update 7, includes among other things experience points and animal breeding, while Title Update 8 features The End and its Ender Dragon boss.

Minecraft Halloween Skin Pack hell-raised $770K for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA reaches 'The End' in Title Update 8, Update 7 incoming

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:01:00 EST

"The End" of Minecraft, which involves battling a giant Ender Dragon in a barren, vast void, is coming to the game's XBLA version in Title Update 8, Play XBLA reveals. Title Update 7 is next on the list, and it will bring most of the features from PC version 1.0.1, including animal breeding, potion brewing, experience points, enchantment tables, the mushroom biome and nether fortress.

XBLA developer 4J Studios handed out a few extra details on Twitter, noting that leveling up takes 30 experience points, rather than 50 as in the PC version, and XP is earned by mining, smelting and breeding. Ender Pearls will teleport and can be thrown in creative mode. Title Update 7 will not include ocelots, jungles, spawn eggs or Iron Golems.

Minecraft XBLA reaches 'The End' in Title Update 8, Update 7 incoming originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST

Minecraft XBLA's Adventure Update 1.8.2 is live and kicking, probably because it's fending off nasty, blocky bugs. The 1.8.2 Bug Fix Title Update doesn't have a release date yet, but it contains dozens of fixes and adds recipes for Golden Apples and Golden Pumpkin Seeds. Fixes include chest lids not working correctly, glass panes and iron fence hitbox problems, tools taking damage in creative mode, and many more. Hit the break for the complete list.

4J Studios provides more insight on its Twitter feed, adding that the Golden Apples and Pumpkin Seeds are crafted with gold ingot for now, but gold nuggets are on their way and the recipe will use those once they're in-game. Additionally, players will eventually be able to climb vines, and the next update will add villagers.

In other mining news, sales of Minecraft XBLA's Halloween Skin Pack (again, that sounds pretty gross) raised more than $500,000 in under two weeks for the four charities chosen by Mojang, 4J Studios and Microsoft Studios: Block by Block, SANDS Lothians, Child's Play and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Continue reading Minecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds

Minecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft overtakes Modern Warfare 3 for most played on Xbox Live

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST

If you've yet to truly grasp the power of Minecraft, let this just sink in: Minecraft is now more popular than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live. According to the latest Xbox Live activity report from Major Nelson, Minecraft was the most popular game on the service for the week of October 15.

That puts it above Modern Warfare 3, which now sits at number 2. It also makes it more popular than several other huge names, including FIFA 13, Black Ops, Halo: Reach and Battlefield 3. The only other Arcade game to even break the top twenty is the recently launched Happy Wars, Xbox Live Arcade's first free-to-play game.

If you took a break from Minecraft to read this post, feel free to return to chopping down trees, building roller coasters or whatever you were doing.

Minecraft overtakes Modern Warfare 3 for most played on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft 'Adventure Update' hits XBLA tomorrow, October 16

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:30:00 EST

Minecraft on Xbox Live Arcade is getting its massive, game-changing update tomorrow, known colloquially as the Adventure Update. Update 1.8.2 brings creative mode, hunger, sprinting, new mobs, new food and new biomes, among many more fixes and additions.

The Adventure Update just passed Microsoft certification and is set to launch Tuesday, October 16, port developer 4J Studios tweets. Check out the complete change list on the Minecraft wiki.

After this update, 4J Studios may consider adding an Xbox-tailored mod system, or "taking the game in a different direction from PC."

[Thanks, Steven S.]

Minecraft 'Adventure Update' hits XBLA tomorrow, October 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft documentary building towards December 7 release date

Sinan Kubba — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST

2 Player Productions is laying the foundations for a December 7 release of its Minecraft documentary. Speaking to Eurogamer, Minecraft: The Story of Mojang director Paul Owens said that while an exact date hasn't been settled on, December 7 is the aim.

After getting the documentary funded on Kickstarter back in March 2011, 2 Player also committed to a similar production for Mojang's upcoming Scrolls. The Oregon-based production company has a strong history of gaming documentaries, having made videos for Double Fine, Sony, and Penny Arcade among many others.

Minecraft documentary building towards December 7 release date originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA hits 4m mark, PC prepaid cards now in stores

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:30:00 EST

Minecraft is over the 4 million mark for Xbox Live Arcade sales. 4J Studios revealed the figure on Twitter, showing the game that smashed XBLA records is still shifting like crazy. 5 million before 2013 looks well within reach (you heard it here first*).

Meanwhile, Mojang today announced that the PC version is now available in physical stores via prepaid cards. The cards cost the same $26.95 amount at which Minecraft is priced online, and can be found at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart stores nationwide.

*you probably didn't

Minecraft XBLA hits 4m mark, PC prepaid cards now in stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA considering mods, diverging from PC after 1.8.2

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:59:00 EST

Update 1.8.2 for Minecraft on XBLA adds creative mode, new food and new mobs, bringing the game closer than ever to its PC counterpart. After this update, developer 4J Studios is considering the addition of mods, though in a different sense than on PC.

"This isn't something that will be coming with 1.8.2, but will be further down the line," 4J Chief Technology Officer Paddy Burns tells Hookshot Inc. "The Xbox 360 won't be able to have the mod system that gives such a variety of community additions to the game on PC, but we're looking at the elements of these that people seem to be enjoying the most, and deciding how we could tailor those elements into something for Xbox."

Xbox 360 players are based in a living room, using a controller, and this fundamentally alters the way they interact with the game, Burns says. "We need to ensure that whatever we do is right for that audience."

Minecraft XBLA may diverge from its PC parentage in big ways in the future. "We're going to be discussing with Mojang where we go after version 1.2.3," Burns says. "Some ideas of taking the game in a different direction from PC having been raised already."

Minecraft XBLA considering mods, diverging from PC after 1.8.2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft update 1.8.2 creeping up on XBLA, new video and images

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST

Minecraft on XBLA is getting bug fixes and more in update 1.8.2, and needs about two weeks of work before it heads off to Microsoft for certification. Developer 4J Studios today gives players a taste of the food fixes and environments in the latest update, tweeting out images and posting a video called "New Food."

The video shows apples, watermelon, bread and cooked meat, as well as sprinting, which isn't edible but sure looks like fun. The tweets show the images (below) of a village, stronghold, ravine and abandoned mineshaft.

Gallery: Minecraft XBLA (Update 1.8.2)

Minecraft update 1.8.2 creeping up on XBLA, new video and images originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft 'Adventure' update on XBLA 'still weeks away'

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST

Look, we really want the next big update for Minecraft's XBLA incarnation - the big "Adventure" update, which adds NPCs, villages, strongholds, abandoned mineshafts - but it won't be here this week, it seems.

Minecraft XBLA developer 4J Studios says it's "still weeks away." Taking to Twitter, the studio's official account says, "We're still working on 1.8.2 [the Adventure update]. A few things left to add, more work on the Creative Mode interface, then lots of test." Was that an invitation to test it? Because that's totally what it sounded like on this side. Just slide that code on over, 4J.

Beyond the aforementioned updates in 1.8.2, the Adventure update adds Creative mode, allowing for unlimited building (without having to mine), limited only by the constraints of the Xbox 360's RAM. We'll see what that means in ... um, some weeks from now. Soon-ish. Better than "eventually," eh?

Minecraft 'Adventure' update on XBLA 'still weeks away' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA update brings the thunderclaps

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST

Minecraft's Xbox 360 iteration just got a mess of fixes in its latest update ("Title Update 4"), including pistons at the world's edge causing crashes and thunder "not being audible." Why, that's no thunder at all, then!

Remedies are also given for the newly released skin packs and and several other minor glitches/bugs. And no, there are no content additions this time around, mostly just fixes for the last big update. But that Adventure Update is totally still coming!

Continue reading Minecraft XBLA update brings the thunderclaps

Minecraft XBLA update brings the thunderclaps originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA sells 3 million

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST

Minecraft for Xbox Live Arcade has now surpassed 3 million units sold. The announcement comes via Twitter from Mojang's lord of the blocks, Markus "Notch" Persson, who wrote this morning: "I got told Minecraft for XBLA passed three million sales today!"

The $20 downloadable title launched on May 7 and sold a million units in five days. It then reached two million sales in early June. Minecraft for XBLA has also enjoyed significant support through updates, the latest (v 1.73) having gone live last week.

Minecraft XBLA sells 3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA gets pistons, much more in tomorrow's 1.73 update

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Minecraft XBLA gets pistons, much more in tomorrow's 1.73 update

Minecraft XBLA gets pistons, much more in tomorrow's 1.73 update originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Minecraft XBLA skins include Ms. Splosion Man, Banjo

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:45:00 EST

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.

Continue reading More Minecraft XBLA skins include Ms. Splosion Man, Banjo

More Minecraft XBLA skins include Ms. Splosion Man, Banjo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA update coming tomorrow

JC Fletcher — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST

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!

Continue reading Minecraft XBLA update coming tomorrow

Minecraft XBLA update coming tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA sales surpass 2 million copies

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:30:00 EST

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 XBLA sales surpass 2 million copies originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft edges Black Ops out of second spot on XBLA charts

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

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!

Minecraft edges Black Ops out of second spot on XBLA charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventure Update components coming to Minecraft XBLA, eventually

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:15:00 EST

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.

Adventure Update components coming to Minecraft XBLA, eventually originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft XBLA sold 1 million copies in five days

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

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."

Minecraft XBLA sold 1 million copies in five days originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to buy Minecraft on Xbox 360 for $5 less than on your Xbox 360 [update: no more!]

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:45:00 EST

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!]

How to buy Minecraft on Xbox 360 for $5 less than on your Xbox 360 [update: no more!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft on XBLA working toward constant updates

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

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 on XBLA working toward constant updates originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft for Kinect is an XBLA title, ported by 4J Studios

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:50:00 EST

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.

Minecraft for Kinect is an XBLA title, ported by 4J Studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Dark updated with new control options

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:47:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Perfect Dark updated with new control options

Perfect Dark updated with new control options originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 May 2010 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Dark, Alan Wake items now in Avatar Marketplace

David Hinkle — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:15:00 EST

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]

Perfect Dark, Alan Wake items now in Avatar Marketplace originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Perfect Dark (XBLA)

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST

"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: Perfect Dark (XBLA)

Continue reading Review: Perfect Dark (XBLA)

Review: Perfect Dark (XBLA) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Wednesday: Perfect Dark KLOBBers XBLA

Justin McElroy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:01:00 EST

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: Perfect Dark (XBLA)

This Wednesday: Perfect Dark KLOBBers XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See screens, new info from XBLA Perfect Dark

Justin McElroy — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST

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]

See screens, new info from XBLA Perfect Dark originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek: Conquest boldly going for much cheaper than what it was going for before

Eric Caoili — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

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]

Star Trek: Conquest boldly going for much cheaper than what it was going for before originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview: Star Trek: Conquest

Eric Caoili — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Metareview

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.

Metareview: Star Trek: Conquest originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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