Posted by: xSicKxBot - 03-16-2019, 01:05 AM - Forum: Minecraft
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Minecraft 1.14 Snapshot 19W11A
It’s wednesday, my dudes! Todays snapshot marks The Village & Pillage update as, for the most part, feature complete. We’re still planning to do a big polish pass, there may be some small features snuck in here or there, but ultimately it’s bug fixing from here on out and we’re
hoping for a release quite soon!
A full summary of the content available in this snapshot can be found in the changelog on Minecraft.net.
Lots of accessibility improvements!
Added a new “Globe” banner pattern and item (Currently only accessible from commands or the creative inventory)
Trading changes
Added recipe for smithing and fletching table
TNT and TNT minecart explosions now have 100% drop rate
There’s a new Accessibility menu which provides a useful place for all of our accessibility features to be toggled
When the narrator is turned on, buttons will be narrated on focus
Most screens allow tab and shift+tab navigation through buttons, edit boxes and other UI elements
Most lists allow up/down arrow keys to navigate through them
We’ve added a new option for turning up the background of all transparent text elements, which should help make them more readable for some people
Smithing table is crafted with 4 planks + 2 iron ingots
Fletching table is crafted with 4 planks + 2 flint
Villagers use them as a work site
We’ve decided not to add the functionality for these blocks for this update as we want to make sure that they’re useful for the overall gameplay. We have a great idea for them for the next major themed update…
Lots of new trades have been added
Villagers now level up in a new way
The trading UI is updated (WIP)
The trading prices now depend on your reputation and on demand
The villagers will restock up to two times per day (if they can work at their work station!)
Added visual trading; villagers will display the item they want to trade for your in-hand item
Villagers now have a daily schedule. They will for example go to work and meet up at the village bell
Each villager will try to find their own bed and work station
Each profession has a specific block that works as a work station for them (e.g. lectern for the librarian and cauldron for the leatherworker)
Village detection is now based on beds, job sites and meeting points instead of doors
Iron golems will spawn when enough villagers meet
To get snapshots, open your launcher and go to the “launch options” tab. Check the box saying “Enable snapshots” and save. To switch between the snapshot and normal version, you can find a new dropdown menu next to the “Play” button. Back up your world first or run the game on in a different folder (In the “launch options” page).
Please report any and all bugs you find in Minecraft to bugs.mojang.com.
Snapshots can corrupt your world, please backup and/or run them in a different folder from your main worlds.
Share your thoughts on how 1.14 is shaping up in the comments below!
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 03-16-2019, 01:05 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Narrative Preview – The Murder of Cayde-6
Dawdling outside the entrance to a Gensym lab, the man tucked a green coin into a pocket of his newly-acquired duster, and then checked to make sure his Obsidian Mind was sealed shut. He fiddled with the clasps of the helmet as a technician carrying a clipboard hurried up to the door. She stepped inside, and he followed on her heels. The doors almost caught him as they slid shut, and the tech noticed, turning around to take stock of him.
“How you livin’?” The man said in a deep, modulated voice as he shouldered past her.
“Creep,” the tech muttered, and walked the other way.
The man stopped to check a listing of room schedules on a monitor at the front desk, then continued down the hall into the darkness of Lab 3.
Inside, the Praxic Warlock Aunor stood under a constellation of holographic projections anchored in the air around her.
She saw the man out of the corner of her eye, and nodded her head slightly.
“Warlock,” the man said in greeting.
“Warlock,” she returned, dragging a looping feed from a far corner into focus in front of her. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time,” he said, leaning against the far wall. “I’ve always wanted to see a Praxic at work.”
“I assure you it’s glamorous,” she replied, throwing her arms wide and unfolding the feed into a three-dimensional space.
The lab flashed with light and became the shattered, burning husk of the Prison of Elders.
The man turned to his left and saw a familiar, weathered face staring up at the eight Barons of the Tangled Shore.
Cayde-6 stumbled forward and raised a hand. “Hey, help me out here, little buddy.” His Ghost appeared in a blazing burst of Light.
“Freeze playback,” Aunor said. Time stopped. “Confirm what I’m seeing.”
The Tower’s central processing unit spoke with an automated voice. “Ghost ‘Sundance’ audiovisual feed, third-person perspective; date of recording is roughly six months prior.”
“Scan the feed for soft light interposition.”
“None found. This Ghost feed is direct from the subject’s databanks and has not been tampered with.”
“Resume playback.”
The high-pitched whine of the Rifleman’s weapon was the last sound on the feed. It was the last thing Cayde’s Ghost ever heard. The bullet shattered the holographic world around Aunor and the man, and Lab 3 reappeared in its place.
Aunor swept her coat back and clasped her armored hands behind her. “Why did the feed end?”
“Subject ‘Sundance’ suffered unrecoverable system failure and ceased recording.”
“Scorn guns can’t kill a Ghost,” the man said, taking a step away from the wall, and uncrossing his arms.
Aunor ignored him. “Cause of death?” she continued.
“’Sundance’ appears to be the victim of a single, catastrophic wound from a Devourer Bullet, modified to fire from a Scorn launcher. Projectile classified as ontological.”
“Define Devourer Bullet.”
“Payload matches the ballistics of a Weapon of Sorrow or a comparable Hive implement.”
“What do you think, Warlock?” Aunor asked the man without turning around.
“Didn’t the Mindbender build himself an Ascendant throne?”
“Yes.”
“Crafting bullets sounds easy if you can manage that.”
“Sword Logic doesn’t work that way. The throne came after,” Aunor replied. “It was built on Cayde-6’s death. I didn’t catch your name.”
“Finch,” said the man.
“Finch,” Aunor echoed dryly.
He gestured at the holographic displays. “What’s all this for?”
The various HUDs and data streams reflected off Aunor’s polished black helmet. “I’m investigating the possible involvement of the Hero of the War in the death of Cayde-6.”
Finch chuckled. “Won’t they hang you for that?”
Aunor looked at the ground. “You’d be surprised what this City will let a Lightbearer get away with.”
“I hear that. So? Is the big hero actually the villain?”
“You can read the report once the Vanguard publishes it.”
Finch nodded. “Fair enough.” He turned to leave, then stopped himself. “And what actually happens if the saint turns out to be a sinner?”
Aunor still hadn’t turned around. “The Praxic Order doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t stop. If we can prove you’ve done demonstrable harm to humanity or the City, doesn’t matter how far or how fast you run. We’ll catch you. And you’ll face Praxic Fire.”
“You’re a scary sister.”
She turned to look directly at him. “You have no idea.”
Finch coughed and headed for the door. Behind him, Aunor called out, “Didn’t you need lab time?”
“Just remembered I’m busy,” he replied over his shoulder and disappeared.
The doors closed and Aunor stood in the half-darkness, a sea of data streams reflecting off her helmet.
Assassin's Creed 3: Remastered Will Include New Stealth Gameplay Mechanics
Ubisoft has announced the upcoming remaster for Assassin's Creed III will have gameplay improvements. The remaster will get additional updates in the Switch version too, most of which take advantage of the unique features of Nintendo's console.
The gameplay changes for Assassin's Creed III: Remastered are detailed in the March Monthly Update for Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Ubisoft stated that many of the changes are to create a "better balance between action and stealth" in the game. Double assassinations, which existed in the original AC3, are now easier to pull off. Whistling to attract enemy guards, which you only could do from behind cover before, can now also be done from bushes. Free-aiming long-range weapons--which was added into the franchise in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag--is being implemented into the remaster as well, allowing more control with Ratonhnhaké:ton's pistols and bow.
AC3: Remastered also includes "additional weapons for crafting," an updated in-game economy, and a new UI that incorporates color-blind settings. The game will include new Legacy outfits as well, which allow Ratonhnhaké:ton to dress up as protagonists from other Assassin's Creed games, such as Origins' Bayek and Odyssey's Alexios.
For the Switch version, AC3: Remastered will receive a few additional gameplay changes. The Switch version will include touch screen support for navigating the game's menu. There will also be motion control for aiming with long-range weapons. The design of the UI will be tweaked for the Switch version to better adapt to the console's feature of going back and forth between docked and handheld, and HD rumble support has been added as well.
AC3: Remastered is scheduled to release for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on March 29, and for Nintendo Switch on May 21. The game will release as a standalone title, but is also included in Odyssey's Season Pass.
The rest of the March Monthly Update details changes coming to Odyssey in the coming weeks. The new Abstergo-themed cosmetic items for Kassandra/Alexios and the Adrestia and her crew are coming out March 19, as is another Legendary ship lieutenant called Captain Octopus. A new Lost Tales of Greece, titled A Friend Worth Dying For, will be available March 26. Odyssey is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Random: The Entire Mega Man ’90s Cartoon Is Available To Watch On YouTube
If you’re yet to experience the Mega Man cartoon from the mid-nineties and feel a sudden urge to do exactly that, you’re in luck, because the entire show is available to watch – legally – on YouTube.
Produced by Capcom and Ruby-Spears Productions, the show aired for around a year or so back in 1994-95. It was based on the Mega Man games available at the time, and two seasons were completed and aired; a third was reportedly planned but cancelled before seeing the light of day.
We wouldn’t exactly describe it as being a must-watch show, but we challenge you to make it through every episode without wanting to shout “Mega Man” along to the theme tune. Here’s the very first episode:
If you’re wanting to check out the whole thing, it’s all available here via Mega Man Retro – Official Channel. There are playlists for each season as well as special compilations. Enjoy!
Did you watch this back in the day? Will you be checking out the full show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Hands Up, Who Needs A Pair Of These Custom Zelda Game Boy Trainers?
It’s safe to say that we’re pretty huge Legend of Zelda fans here at Nintendo Life, so much so that we’d happily go out and about wearing our favourite hoodies, backpacks, or t-shirts featuring our favourite Hyrule characters. Taking things up a notch, though, are these pair of custom trainers featuring a particularly fresh Zelda Game Boy theme throughout.
As you can see, they feature Link’s Awakening artwork on the tongues, Game Boy text on the sides, and even the console’s various buttons are dotted around the edges. To top it off, they even came in a Game Boy-themed box, as shown off by their owner, YouTube’s head of gaming, Ryan Wyatt.
“But how do we get a pair exactly like this?”, we hear you ask. Well, judging by the branding on the box, it seems that they’re from Freaker Sneaks – a “company that creates unique, one of a kind hand-painted custom sneakers”. You can order custom designs on the store’s website by discussing your ideas and applying via a form.
What do you think? Are you a fan? Would you be tempted to get your own gaming-themed shoes? Let us know how you’d design yours in the comments.
The release of the GNOME desktop is the default desktop environment in the upcoming release of Fedora 30 Workstation. GNOME 3.32 includes a wide range of enhancements, including: new default application icons, a new emoji chooser in the on screen keyboard, and improved per-app permissions control.
GNOME 3.32
New Icons
GNOME 3.32 features a range of UI tweaks and improvements. Notably, the entire default icon library has been updated and refreshed, featuring more vibrant colours.
Some of the new icons in GNOME 3.32
Additionally, the colours of the desktop are tweaked to the brighter colour palette to match the new icons.
App Menus deprecated
In GNOME 3. the App Menu is the dropdown that appeared in the top left of the panel next to the Activities hotspot. As of GNOME 3.32, this UI feature is deprecated, and all core GNOME default applications now no longer have App Menus.
Fractional Scaling
Previously, the GNOME UI could only scale in increments of 1. With the wide range of different DPI screens available this may cause a strange middle ground on some displays, where the UI is either too small or too large when scaled. GNOME 3.32 provides experimental support for scaling the UI by more granular amounts.
Better emoji input
GNOME 3.32 features an updated on-screen keyboard implementation. Most notably, this includes the ability to easily “type” emoji with the on-screen keyboard
Emoji on-screen keyboard in GNOME 3.32
Improved App permissions control
The new “Application Permissions” in the main settings dialog allows users to view and change permissions for applications.
Read more about this release
There are many more changes and enhancements in this major version of GNOME. Check out the release announcement and the release notes from the GNOME Project for more information.
Maxell sues Apple over navigation, camera & data tech patents
By Roger Fingas Friday, March 15, 2019, 01:36 pm PT (04:36 pm ET)
Long-time magnetic storage and electronics maker Maxell on Friday launched a lawsuit against Apple, accusing it of violating 10 U.S. patents, some of them inherited from Hitachi.
Three of the patents — dubbed ‘317, ‘999, and ‘498 — are connected to walking navigation, and Maxell cites features like Find My Friends and pedestrian routes in Apple Maps as infringements. A third patent, ‘493, involves Apple camera design, while a fourth (‘438) relates to wireless communication and AirDrop file transfers.
Also cited are Maxell’s ‘193 covering cellphone technology, ‘306 for ring alerts, ‘794 for controlling power consumption, ‘586 for unlocking one device with another, and ‘991, which the company says is violated by FaceTime video calls and iTunes video.
A wide range of Apple devices are listed as infringing, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs up to 2018 models. The iPhone XS is repeatedly cited as an example in Maxell’s complaint, filed through a U.S. District Court in Texarkana, Tex.
The company is seeking a jury trial, compensatory damages, and both preliminary and permanent injunctions.
“Since at least June 2013, Apple has been aware of Maxell’s patents and has had numerous meetings and interactions regarding its infringement of these patents,” the complaint charges. “These meetings included Apple’s representatives being provided with detailed information regarding Maxell’s patents, the developed technology, and Apple’s ongoing use of this patented technology. Through this process, Apple’s representatives requested and received detailed explanations regarding Maxell’s patents and allegations. Maxell believed that the parties could reach a mutually beneficial solution and to that end considered a potential business transaction and continued to answer multiple inquiries from Apple over the course of several years, including communicating with Apple as recently as late 2018.”
Based on its track record Apple will mostly likely try to get the case dismissed or settled out of court, given the potential cost of losing a trial. This often succeeds, but Maxell is more prominent than most plaintiffs, and the company isn’t immune — earlier today a judge ruled against it a Qualcomm patent suit, awarding the latter $31 million in damages.
It’s been an interesting week as far as looking into the future goes – between potential Pokemon Go successor Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and this morning’s news that a big PC mod is being ported to mobile, I’m hoping the free-to-play space will get its act together and give us some half-decent experiences for a change.
Until and if that happens though, we’ve got you covered with reviews of premium games like Card Crusade and Heroes of Flatlandia. Board games especially are getting better and better, with more on the way. We’ve already got reviews of Assembly and Tides of Time waiting to drop next week, but that’s just scratching the surface of what 2019’s got in store.
Probably the biggest highlight of the week is the news that Stardew Valley has now finally hit Android. Make sure you check out our review for our full thoughts on the game, but just in case you’ve not heard of this before it’s a game where you spend your time either tending your farm or exploring a dungeon for crafting materials (for the farm). There’s some relationship building thrown in there for good measure as well. The mobile version specifically now enjoys some platform-suitable improvements which the android version is getting from the off.
Mythical City Games return with another entry in their turn-based strategy/war game series Battle Fleet with a land-war focused entry, Battle Fleet: Ground Assault. Owen was rather luke-warm on the previous entry, 2014’s Battle Fleet 2, and Wargamer.com’s Bill Gray reviewed this latest entry on PC last year. He was a bit on the lukewarm side as well but then this is a heavily abstracted experience – it only features tanks, for starters, and is definitely more on the ‘arcade’ end of the war/strategy spectrum. Still, it does some interesting things with hidden movement and range finding, and I always thought it seemed more suited for mobile audiences.
The iOS version is priced at an incredibly premium $9.99, so we’ll try and get you a full review as soon as we can to see if this one measures up to the rest of the genre, but for the curious here’s a gameplay trailer:
Cartoon Network has put out some decent enough mobile titles, all things considered. Last year’s Teen Titans GO! Figure was especially engaging, and once again shows what you can do with a popular IP if you’re not just out to make a quick buck.
The Cartoon Network Arcade isn’t a game per se, but an app that features a collection of mini-games based around popular IP, and there’s an collectables aspect to it as well. There’s also supposed to be some interactivity features with regards to getting unlocks while watching a show at the same time. The app is free so it doesn’t cost you anything to explore if for yourself, but we felt it was worth a mention given how well CN treats mobile gaming at the moment.
Daylight Studios have entertained many a mobile gamer with their charming blend of deep, action-filled games and potatoes. It’s been over a year since Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space!?, and now the developer has released a new title on PC – Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story!?
Desktop warriors aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy this new spudtastic experience however – the game will be coming to iOS on March 28th. Pre-Orders are available now, if you want to spend the $4.99 on it now, otherwise the game (and our review), will drop at the end of the month. Not sure if it’ll be coming to Android, so far only Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop!? Has crossed that divide.
Those still keeping up with the mobile version of Fortnite might be interested in the changes that have come in the recent 8.10 patch. As well as adding in a new vehicle (The Baller, which looks like… well, a ball), vending machines and a new map marker, this update has also change the competition pool.
Now, mobile and Switch users are lumped in together, instead of Switch users competing against their console brethren. I’m not so sure this is doing mobile users any favours – reports suggest the Switch and mobile versions are basically the same, but I would have thought the Switch interface was closer to a controller than it was a mobile touch device. Time will tell, I guess, but if you suddenly start winning/losing more, this may be why.
Sales
Lots of sales on either one app store or the other this week, which is a shame, but let’s round up what we have:
Codito Development (All items $0.99)
These guys are having their own catalogue sale on iOS at the moment, and you can get the following games for just a buck:
Meanwhile, there are two games we spotted going cheap on Android (but not their iOS counterpart) that you may be interested in:
Hydra was Wave Light’s most recent game prior to the release of Shieldwall Chronicles, which we enjoyed. It’s the developer’s usual tactical RPG flair, but with more sci-fi.
Not sure why Beamdog chose to discount this game specifically, but there you go – half price on Android. Did you know they’re working on a digital adaptation of the Axis & Allies table-top wargame?
Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!
ONS Evolution: Cloud, Edge, and Technical Content for Carriers and Enterprise
The first Open Networking Summit was held in October 2011 at Stanford University and described as “a premier event about OpenFlow and Software-Defined Networking (SDN)”. Here we are seven and half years later and I’m constantly amazed at both how far we’ve come since then, and at how quickly a traditionally slow-moving industry like telecommunications is embracing change and innovation powered by open source. Coming out of the ONS Summit in Amsterdam last fall, Network World described open source networking as the “new norm,” and indeed, open platforms have become de-facto standards in networking.
Like the technology, ONS as an event is constantly evolving to meet industry needs and is designed to help you take advantage of this revolution in networking. The theme of this year’s event is “Enabling Collaborative Development & Innovation” and we’re doing this by exploring collaborative development and innovation across the ecosystem for enterprises, service providers and cloud providers in key areas like SDN, NFV, VNF, CNF/Cloud Native Networking, Orchestration, Automation of Cloud, Core Network, Edge, Access, IoT services, and more.
A unique aspect of ONS is that it facilitates deep technical discussions in parallel with exciting keynotes, industry, and business discussions in an integrated program. The latest innovations from the networking project communities including LF Networking (ONAP, OpenDaylight, OPNFV, Tungsten Fabric) are well represented in the program, and in features and add-ons such as the LFN Unconference Track and LFN Networking Demos. A variety of event experiences ensure that attendees have ample opportunities to meet and engage with each other in sessions, the expo hall, and during social events.
New this year is a track structure built to cover the key topics in depth to meet the needs of both CIOs/CTO/architects and developers, sysadmins, NetOps and DevOps teams:
The ONS Schedule is now live — find the sessions and tutorials that will help you learn how to participate in the open source communities and ecosystems that will make a difference in your networking career. And if you need help convincing your boss, this will help you make the case.
The standard price expires March 17th so hurry up and register today! Be sure to check out the Day Passes and Hall Passes available as well.
Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Adds Another Castlevania
Xbox One has gotten another bloody addition to its backwards compatibility line-up today, with the addition of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. The Xbox 360 game is now playable on Xbox One. If you don't already own it, it's now for $15, along with several character packs for a few bucks apiece.
The 2010 game was part of that year's Summer of Arcade lineup, with an emphasis on co-op play that remains unique to the series. To that end it featured several of the series' most well-known protagonists, including Alucard, Soma Cruz, and Julius Belmont. The DLC packs added other heroes like Simon Belmont and Maria Renard, along with extra stages.
In GameSpot's review, critic Giancarlo Varanini suggested that the co-op play was a unique twist, but some areas required it too much for it to live as a single-player experience.
"There are some instances where Harmony of Despair caters more to the multiplayer cooperative experience than the single-player," he said. "For instance, most of the secret areas can be accessed only with other players, but in reality, that's the best way to experience this new Castlevania. And it's the optimal way to experience what may be a new and fun potential direction for the series to take."
As always, the game will be ready to download on your Xbox One if you already own it. This was a digital-only release, but disc-based ones can be played if you still own the disc as well. Check out our full list of every backwards compatible game to see if some of your nostalgic favorites are ready to play.
