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M NE IN W ECR S, A GU FT ID M ES AP AN S, D MO M D OR S, E!
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VOLUME 9 JANUARY 2016
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build bigger!
MINECRAFT BUILDING BLOWOUT
Play any game in Minecraft!
20 packed pages of must-try Minecraft builds
Assassin’s Creed, Fallout, Mario and more
2016 BUCKET LIST
12 challenges every Minecraft fan should try
Survival islandS How long could you last?
MINECRAFT LOOT CRATE NEW YEAR’s RESOLUTIONS LEARN TO CODE WITH MINECRAFT
The whole hog! Nintendo news Minecraft lands on Wii U
ESSENTIAL TIPS & TRICKS
get crafty
Cakes, cards and more!
MINECRAFT GEAR GUIDE
amazing maps
15 maps you have to play
SPECIAL 18
PRINTED IN THE UK
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Learn to code without memorising all those endless fiddly numbers and letters.
programming made easy with minecraft Microsoft partners up with Hour of Code to teach basic programming
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hile some people are off building working Game Boys and even video phones, the rest of us are wondering how Minecraft even works in the first place. If you want to get into game development but aren’t sure where to start, Microsoft’s new partnership with Hour of Code means you can try your hand at easy programming without having to drown in inaccessible endless numbers and symbols. “Hour of Code is focused on introducing basic programming skills in a simple, accessible way. It feels like a great fit for Minecraft, so we’ve been working with Microsoft to create a themed set of challenges,” explains Mojang’s Owen Hill. “The Minecraft Hour of Code takes
about 3,600 seconds to complete and will introduce you to programming logic like Repeat Loops and If Statements. If you don’t know what those things are, play through this thing and find out!” The project uses a system called Blockly and lets you choose between programming Steve or Alex. The UI is nice and simple, complete with Minecraft music to keep you relaxed, and has various challenges for you to complete. You simply need to drag and drop controls into a workspace – that snap together with a satisfying click – and you can even see the lines of Javascript that were written by your actions. Game Boys and smartphones await. The full tutorial is available online from Jens Bergensten (Jeb) from Mojang, and you can try this excellent project out for yourselves here if you fancy it: http://bit.ly/mchourofcode.
NEWS
newsflash Now you never have to leave the comfort of your blocky world to chat to your pals.
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Feline fine
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No place like biome
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Is this the real life?
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Record breaker
My Neighbour Totoro’s Cat Bus is just one of Pero of Planet Minecraft’s ace Studio Ghibli creations. He’s even created a version of the forest from Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind.
“This incredible device will let you make video calls” Verizon builds a working blocky smartphone Real life? Pah. We all know that Minecraft is more important than that (mostly) and now we don’t even have to come out of the game to make phone calls. As demoed by both SethBling and CaptainSparklez on YouTube, US mobile phone company Verizon has created a working smartphone in Minecraft. This incredible device will not only let you make video calls but even browse the internet – albeit in very block-like form, a bit like the bygone days of ancient tech. The phone displays your
friends in real time using blocks and, of course, shows them your Minecraft avatar in return. Verizon has even created a selfie stick mode, so it’s possible to text real world phones with a perfect MMS selfie of your square self in your own world. Verizon worked with Minecraft architects BlockWorks to craft the marvellous in game tech, but how does it actually work? “In the world of Minecraft, almost everything is made of blocks,” explains Verizon. “We’ve created a web application, Boxel, that translates real web pages and
streaming video into blocks so they can be built on a Minecraft server in real time. Our server plugin uses Boxel-client to handle the communication between Minecraft and the real world as translated by the web application.” Verizon has made both Boxel and the client open source, so if you fancy trying it yourself (maybe after some Hour of Code work!) you can visit Github and get started on your very own version of ‘VerizonCraft.’ You can find out more here: http://bit.ly/mcverizoncraft
Minecraft Windows 10 and Pocket Edition now both have the option to download the Biome Settlers Pack for £1.49. It includes skins for Forest, Tundra and Desert settlers.
Samsung Gear VR, by Oculus, is coming to the UK at the reasonable price of £79.99. Good if you have a compatible Samsung phone and great news for Minecraft in virtual reality.
stat attack 16%
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How far record breaker Kurt J Mac got into the Far Lands after three in-game years.
Pixels per eye in the upcoming consumer version of the Oculus Rift.
Size of the audience at Stampy Cat’s Royal Society Of Edinburgh lecture
Kurt J Mac has made it into the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition for the Longest Journey in Minecraft. His quest to the Far Lands has covered 2097.15km – wowsers!
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No matter what the genre, hundreds of classic game worlds have been remade in Minecraft. It goes to show that you can do almost anything with the will and a lot of time in creative mode. And long may that be so…
CivilizationCraft http://bit.ly/1Y1coQX
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n interesting twist on the PC empire building strategy series, Civilization, this modded server asks players to band together to gather resources and erect buildings that boost your empire. Those of course include some of Civ’s famous wonders of the ancient world. It’s a multiplayer affair that relies on trade, deal-making and competitive expansion. The buildings also look lovely, but be warned, “this is a very long term game” according to the CivilizationCraft wiki, that may require quite a lot of dedication if you’re to get the most out of it.
Call of Duty
http://bit.ly/1Qiu0Dd
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uns guns guns! This Call of Duty inspired mod adds some of the most detailed gun models you can hope to use in Minecraft. Weapons vary from pistols to light machine guns and assault rifles. You can use iron sights aiming to hit targets, and damage varies depending on the model and where your shot hits. So load this mod up, create a little arena and invite some friends in for a few rounds of deathmatch.
Mine 4 Dead http://bit.ly/1L1YkO8
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great co-op adventure map that pits you against zombie hordes in a doomed city. It honours Valve’s terrific zombie survival shooter with character textures representing every hero from the series. Safe rooms with beds offer brief respite, and there’s even a four-minute finale event to mimic the desperate last stand moments of Left 4 Dead.
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http://bit.ly/1upB6bH
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he city of Rapture is one of the most memorable game worlds ever created, and now you get to explore it in blockbased form thanks to this ambitious build. The famous introductory lighthouse has been faithfully recreated, and huge underwater buildings carry the same sense of claustrophobia that BioShock captured so well. The map is unfinished, but what’s there is still an impressive ode to Irrational’s creepy underwater hell.
CraftFighter http://bit.ly/ISc7L8
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ot a Minecraft mod, but a free game that reimagines Minecraft as a Street Fighter style beat-’em-up. Such imagination! The prototype version was developed for Minecon 2012, but now it exists as a free download that lets you pit Minecraft’s iconic characters against one another in classic 2D side-scrolling combat. Skeleton, Villager, Creeper, Steve and Pig duel for glory, and you can play against friends to discover which character is the best. Pig for the win! He is our cover star, after all...
Ocarina of Time http://bit.ly/1sci35L
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his stunning build recreates the world of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in Minecraft in gorgeous detail. The creator says that the map took six months to make, and it shows in the care and attention given to famous landmarks like the Great Deku Tree and Death Mountain, complete with ominous hovering smoke ring. If you like this, it’s also worth checking out the Twilight Princess map (http://bit.ly/1hkjF9l) from the same creator. You can invite up to three friends to join you. Well, it would be rude not to…
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expand your game
BioShock
diary of Survival Island Cranking it up a Notch with one of Minecraft’s toughest challenges
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day 1
1. Play on at least Normal difficulty. Hardcore difficulty is a great test for Minecraft veterans: you get one life, there are no respawns, and your world save disappears if you die. Starving to death is possible, but backing out isn’t, as you can’t change the difficulty setting. 2. Start on an island seed (duh!). There are some great ones to be found on the Internet. For an authentic challenge, use an island that has only a few trees and some grass. 3. No island-hopping! You’ve got to survive on your island with what little you have, and players who gather resources from elsewhere will be fed to the Wither. You’ve been warned.
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ait, where am I? Oh, not again, GamesMaster! Well, at least they left me with my shoes this time. Best get cracking. I spring into action like a cubic ninja, punching trees into splintery submission. Grass is next: yield your riches, pixelated pasture! One set of seeds?! My stomach is eating itself already. Scanning the island 1 (a process that takes half a second) reveals a handful of friendly and potentially delicious animals to get acquainted with. I make direct, purposeful eye contact with a pig as I craft a wooden sword. Dominance asserted. The setting sun saves his bacon 2, because I must dig a dirt bunker to hide in, lest any mobs decide to spawn all over my survivalist hopes and dreams. A safe sunrise and a few blocks of cobblestone later, 3 I’ve built a furnace. The pig is trying very hard to hide, but a rabbit practically leaps into my waiting oven. What a team player. You seeing this, pig? You’re first on my list, buddy. Just you wait…
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Expand your game
THE Rules ver wished you could just get away from it all and make a fresh start on a desert island? Well, our writer said she was alright thanks, actually, but we booted her out into the Minecraft wilderness anyway. It’s character building. Her resolve was strong, her challenge mildly unreasonable: set the game to Hardcore difficulty, start on an island seed with nothing but a few trees, grass and sugar cane, and eventually battle the Ender Dragon… without a single death. Victory would mean mad XP and a dragon egg fry-up for everyone; failure, the immediate deletion of the world save. Also, we’ll make her wear a tiny paper hat with “CREEPER FODDER” written on it. But remember: bullying in the workplace is bad, kids. Our intrepid explorer still hasn’t returned to us. We can only hope she’s living it up on her island, riding about on pigs and swimming in end game loot. Fortunately, we’ve managed to get hold of her survival diary to find out exactly what happened. Will the race to The End, er, drag on? Or will it be cruelly cut short by an errant zombie? Read on, find out, and be inspired to kick off the New Year on your own survival island.
Super Surviving
Making your world work better for you
h, those first nights in Survival mode. Fond memories of huddling in your fresh new dirt hovel, waiting patiently for the sun to rise and hoping nothing and no one notices you. Just like a real holiday. It’s no wonder a home to call your own is the primary mission for most, but it can be overwhelming to think about how to put together your perfect dwelling.
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A well equipped house is the key to surviving, of course – but you don’t want to just survive, you want to thrive! You want to be ready to take on the world, well armed, well fed, and well supplied. And when you do, you want to win. Well don’t worry you brave survivor, help has arrived. It’s no big deal that everyone has their own favourite set-up – diversity is the spice of life after all – but it’s fair to say there are some essentials that basically any super secret awesome base
can benefit from. Whether you’re carved into the mountainside or nested in the jungle treetops, at least some of these ideas are going to apply. This isn’t your basic must-have checklist though; this is about making something good, and then making something even better. There are some cool builds ready to take you from surviving chump to thriving champ. They may take a bit of preparation, but they are all pretty resource friendly – you’re not made of redstone, after all.
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Expand your game
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H ey, you! Yes, you with the excellent bookazine and the weary expression. Bored of wandering aimlessly through adventure landscapes? Tired of taking tours of other people’s huge, empty castles? Then do we have an opportunity for you. Two words: Extreme. Custom. Maps. Okay, that was three words – but these downloadand-play maps aren’t about tedious stuff like counting and safety. They’re about ACTION. That’s ACTION. Yeah. And we’ve packed more action into these eight pages than Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a space rocket into the sun with a rucksackful of kung-fu penguins and fireworks strapped to his back. Oh, and he’s got roller skates on. Hold onto your diamond helmets, because these custom maps don’t let up. Whether it’s hardcore parkour in dangerous locations, crazy brainteasers that test everything you thought you knew about your grey matter, or survival situations that’d make even Bear Grylls beg to be airlifted home to his mummy, 15 of the very best are right here. Newbie or not, there’s something for every kind of player – we’ve even divided them up into three useful categories for you. How terribly nice of us. Kick off 2016 with a bang by putting yourself on the map. You’re gonna be a star, kid.
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Expand Your Game
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Lights! Camera! Creepers! Be the star of the show in 15 thrilling challenge maps
HOW TO
Creepy crafty Let your creative side out with our creeper cushion how-to 122
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KIT LIST All your cushiony ingredients - A 16” cushion pad - Half a metre of green fabric - Matching green thread - Two squares of black felt - Some velcro - Fabric glue - Scissors - A few sewing pins - A ruler - A pen or pencil - Some baking or tracing paper - A sewing machine or sewing kit - An iron
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f you fancy giving your bedroom, games room or living room a bit of a revamp, why not do so with your favourite game? Cushions are a really great way to do this – they’re super easy, only take a few hours to make and don’t need a whole ton of materials. Seeing as they’re the most iconic creatures in the game, we’ve gone for a creeper face. Their vivid green skin also means they’ll add a wonderful pop of colour to any room. Ah, who are we kidding? We just think there’s no better way to decorate than with one of Minecraft’s most recognisable baddies! To make your cushion cover, you’ll need the following: a 16" cushion pad; half a metre of green fabric (cotton or light canvas would be ideal for this, but just ask in a fabric shop if you’re not sure); matching green thread; two squares of black felt; some velcro; fabric glue; scissors; a ruler, pen/pencil and some baking/tracing paper; and a sewing machine or sewing kit. Our instructions assume you’ll be using a sewing machine, but don’t worry if you don’t have access to one – all of the sewing can be done by hand, and will just take a little longer. Whatever you use, please be careful not to prick or cut your fingers. We hear they’re precious.
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Trace your template
Measure and cut out your pattern pieces onto your baking or tracing paper, using the dimensions shown on page 129. You’ll need one each of Piece A and Piece B. All of the corners need to be right angles, so be careful as you’re drawing them out – using the edge of the paper as one edge of each piece is a good idea to help with this, and you could even use a protractor to make sure your rectangles are perfectly ship-shape.
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MERCH-CrAFT The very best Minecraft loot you can buy
Mighty Mini Figures £2.99 These tiny figures are awesome for two reasons: 1) They’re blind boxes, so you don’t know which one you’re going to get – if you unwrapped one of these cubes you’d get a double surprise; and 2) You won’t need loads of shelf space to get a good collection going, because they’re adorably tiny! There’s always the chance you’ll end up with three of the same Minecart Steves, though, so finding friends to swap with might be a good idea. www.amzn. to/1LDWXpV
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Custom EnderToy Figure From £9.99 This might have to be the coolest Minecraft toy we’ve ever seen. Yes it’s a simple figure, but it’s also a completely customisable one. Want a collectible version of your favourite Minecraft YouTuber? Yep, they’ve got it. But the best thing of all is that if you put in your own username you can make a toy of yourself. Yes, you. Eeek! That’s a pretty cool thing! https://seuscraft.com/store
MAKE YOURSELF!
The great Minecraft bake off Want to make your own Minecraft cookies? Well why don’t you try this tasty recipe… Ingredients: 250g softened butter 140g caster sugar 1 egg yolk 2tsp vanilla extract 300g plain flour
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Carefully cream all of the butter and sugar together until they are completely combined. Next, add the egg and vanilla extract and thoroughly mix them in. Sift and add the flour bit by bit until you have a smooth dough. Don’t be afraid to use your hands to bring it all together at the end.
Preheat your oven to 1800c (or 1600c for fan ovens) and while you wait for it to heat up, wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the fridge to chill. This will help stop the shape from splodging out when you bake it.
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Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper then take out your dough. Roll to about 1cm thickness then cut out your shapes. Arrange them on your baking tray, and make sure there’s plenty of space around each biscuit.
Cookie cutters £13.23 Make tasty, filling snacks for your Minecraft sessions with these appropriately shaped cookie cutters. They work really well with a simple sugar biscuit recipe, and while it can be a bit fiddly to get the dough out of the thin bits on the weapons, they hold their shape really well. All they need is plenty of green icing. www.bit.ly/1HymPjk
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Place them in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until they are just turning golden brown at the edges, then remove from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack until they’re completely cool.
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For the icing, mix together 300-400g of icing sugar with 3-4 tablespoons of water, then add a few drops of food colouring in your desired colours. Make sure the biscuits are definitely cool, and then ice your biscuits. If they’re still warm the icing will slide right off. And nobody wants that.
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MINECR AFT MERCHANDISE
ith so much Minecraft merchandise out there these days it can be hard to figure out just what is worth spending your money on and what’s worth skipping. That’s where we come in! We’ve separated the confusing lapis lazuli trash from the sparkling sapphire treasures to bring you the ultimate collection of Minecraft loot that you’d be proud to display on your shelves for when your pals come around. As well as some more extravagant items, we’ve also got plenty of bargain buys for those on a budget, too. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or you just love delicious loot, there are sure to be a few things here that are worth putting onto your wishlists. Perhaps it’s worth leaving the magazine open on these pages in strategic places around the house in order to give friends or family a not-so-subtle hint…