OK, so 1.7 isn't out yet, and I don't know why they're giving the pistons a full 1.x update instead of, say, 1.6.9 or something, but he's talking about the "Adventure Update!"

'is blog, innit!

Since 1.8 is still a significant time away, we’re going to have to stop being as secretive about it as we have. We’ll provide information about it as we go, but we’ll keep actual details secret. So, for example, we could say “added two new colors” without saying which ones, or “testing experience and leveling to see if it’s fun” without giving details on exactly how it works.

The update is pretty big, and will change a lot of how Minecraft is played, focusing on making exploration and combat much more rewarding, and bringing in a bigger sense of adventure to the game.

Already implemented are new complex terrain features, at least one new mob, some interesting new combat mechanics, a new lighting engine, and some experimental new gameplay ideas. To come is more interesting farming, bigger incentives to explore, and npc villages.

NPC VILLAGES!!! There might finally be a reason for me to play singleplayer for something other than messing around with redstone and mobs.

I'm excited for this update. I've been playing the YogBox mod pack in single player for a few days now since I'm bored of regular mc, but I might want to play single player without a mod pack after this update.

I'll still prefer SMP to SP. Seeing what other people do is far too intriguing to ignore. I may check out how the NPC villages are in SP, but I don't expect it'll impress me enough to stay in SP.

I'm not saying I'm going to stay in SP, I'll just play it whenver I get bored of SMP. Villages will probably spawn in unexplored areas on the server anyway.

When this update comes out broonie should make a temp map so we could do adventure mode all together for a couple of days. (just a thought from the top of my head.)

I wonder if NPC villages will have a protective area around them where you can't destroy/create blocks. If they don't then you could just build a wall all around the village, then build a roof 1 block lower than the wall, fill it with lava, then destroy the roof. Or fill the roof with TNT conduits(Cobblestone with Redstone on them) with TNT either side and "Boom".

I hope the NPC villages are similar to Millenaire.