Most of the basics of the game engine is in place, so it’s time to flesh this game out into something more gamey. More content, more exploration, more things to do, and interesting combat! Once this update is out, there will only some tweaks, optimizations and code cleanups left to the core game before we can call it a full release.

We’ve got a list of some 40+ things we want to add to the game, some small, some big. Some huge. We’ve finished a fair number of the items, but there’s still a significant amount of work left. While I can’t reveal the date yet for various reasons, we do have a release date for the Adventure Update in mind, and we’re hoping we’ll be able to hit it.

Jens and I are keeping the exact contents of the update secret, but we do leak some information every now and then to keep people interested and to stop us from going insane. For the most immediate spoilers, you can follow us on Twitter (@notch and @jeb_), or on Google+ (+Markus Persson and +Jens Bergensten).

Here are a few of the things we’ve revealed so far:

• NPC villages
• Randomly generated dungeons
• New biome code
• Fully working Creative Mode (and individual admins can enter Creative Mode on a Survival Mode server if they choose)
• Critical hits
• Sprinting
• More farming options

As soon as I can reveal the release date we’re aiming for, I will!

Oh, and the modding support is happening, honest. -^{Source: Notch}

Though the story of Minecraft’s development is unique, equally so are the stories of those who play the game. They may take it to unexpected places and push the limits of its design; or they may find the game itself changing their lives in unexpected ways.

2 Player Productions is putting out an open call for Minecraft players to send us your personal stories about how the game has impacted your life. These stories will be collected and considered for inclusion in “Minecraft: The Story of Mojang,” the new feature-length documentary in development by 2 Player Productions.

Please submit your story in 350 words or less to minecraft@2playerproductions.com

Not all submissions will be used in the film, but they will be read and considered.

http://www.2playerproductions.com/projects/minecraft

In-game maps!

Hatch/Trap doors

Nether in SMP supported

Long grass biomes

Record player now supports more than 15 different songs

Mushrooms now spread

Minor sound changes and additions

..and much more! More additions and fixes than I could fit in one little front-page post.

We’re thinking about how to celebrate reaching the release on 2011/11/11. There’s also a significant lack of a MinecraftCon this year. Perhaps we can combine them?

So we’re thinking of perhaps setting up a MinecraftCon in Las Vegas on 2011/11/11, with all of Mojang going there, and us pushing out the final release live on stage or something. There’d be contests (costume, speed building, whatever else), Q&A; sessions, parties and awesome food and such. This would be a great opportunity to both celebrate the release, and to meet the fans up close again.

It’d probably cost about 90 dollars per person, excluding hotel room and travel costs, although it’s possible we might be able to set up bulk deals with some hotel.

It’s a bit hard to guess how many people would be interested in something like this, so here’s a poll

Weather (rain, snow, thunder)

Statistics

Achievements

Detector rail

Booster rail

Performance improvements

More statistics and achievements will be added over time as we develop the game. They’re only stored locally at the moment, but we’ll slowly be rolling out online storing of achievements over time.

Bugs (Possibly)

Blocks can not be placed on blocks of dirt that also have snow on them, clean that snow off first.

Achievements are buggy on multiplayer games

New Features and Changes

You can no longer climb ladders with gaps in them

Performance related: New video settings are implemented. GUI Scalingx4 and Advanced OpenGL can now be toggled

Saddles can now be crafted

New Saplings (birch and pine)

Grass on side of dirt blocks

Some new sound effects. Ambient ones included (prepare to be creeped out in caves!)

New Animations: Chickens peck for food off of the ground now

Passive Animals had their max health lowered (easier kills)

SMP: New option in your server properties: Allow Flight - Admin and Mods can now toggle permissions for... well, flying!

Join IGN's Charles Onyett and Ryan Geddes for a blocky orgy of castles, pork chops, wolves and beards. This is a great introduction and overview of MineCraft. Check it...