Just when I thought I had a weekend off writing, Mojang decided to throw another snapshot our way! Presenting spectator mode!
/Gamemode 3 has been introduced to the game enabling spectator mode. This allows a player to become invisible to anyone except other spectators, and freely fly around the map at a wide range of speeds varied by the scrolling of the mouse wheel. A player in spectator mode may left click on another player or creature, both friendly and hostile, to see through their eyes. Spectators may no-clip through any kind of block without interfering with it and inspect inventories of chests and other "container" blocks but are unable to modify their contents. Placing and breaking of blocks or using of items is not possible while in this mode. Currently this mode is not completed and is quite buggy, and perhaps we have not seen all we can do just yet!
The F3 screen has undergone some changes which make it much easier to read. It clearly states what coordinates your feet are presently at, what block you are currently occupying, the chunk number, the direction you are facing, the biome you are currently in, the block lighting level, and the shader you are viewing minecraft in. This is a great improvement upon the mish-mash of almost undecipherable letters and numbers from previous versions of the games. Great work!
The copying of written books has been changed so that the original may be easily identified. They will now state if they are the original, a copy of the original, or a copy of a copy. Mojang have also created a limit to the copying as well by not allowing a "copy of a copy" to be copied (say that 10 times fast!). Activator rails have been modified too! When a minecart travels over a powered activator rail, the passenger will be ejected from the cart instead of having to manually leave, or break the cart from under its inhabitant.
Yet another new block has been added to the game with this snapshot for creative mode and mapmaking purposes. The invisible "barrier" block is now available and can be simply described as a totally invisible bedrock block. It is unbreakable in survival mode, cannot be pushed with pistons, and there seems to be no restrictions to what is placed on them.
Along with all of these new features of course come a slew of bug fixes slated for 1.8! Mojang are working hard to iron out all the bugs and polish all the shiny new playthings they are giving us! What might next week bring?
- Pantzz