http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/611324-regarding-18-pre-release/ go go quick a pre release is out!!!

For real?

Yes, for real. Also, as usual, it's buggy as all hell. In my opinion, it seems like they decided to use the community for bug checking.

Beat me to it!

This is the pre-release; Jeb leaked it deliberately.

I think it is a pre-release because 'they never release on a Friday' - there will be nobody around to tackle bugs over the weekend, but now we have a chance to find them.

I've been playing this for about an hour now, and wow. I think the way we work as a community will really change now - biomes are absolutely huge:

Forests: can go on for miles, and are made up of a certain type of tree (ie. evergreen forests, tall tree forests).

Oceans: They are absolutely huge. Ridiculously. Even with no view limit on, I couldn't see from one side of an ocean to the other. It would take a long time to get across one.

Rivers: Not seen any yet!

Mushrooms: Not seen any either.

Endermen: Aren't actually that rare at night, in this version at least. Rarer than other mobs, but not difficult to find. They are pretty strong too - as expected they only attack when you look at them then look away, but there is NO outrunning them, they can teleport THROUGH things (so no hiding in a building either) and teleport behind/to the side of you if you try and attack them!
Their one weakness: Water. It hurts them like fire does to other mobs.

NPC Villages: I was in creative mode when I found one, and couldn't see any people (Notch said there wouldn't be any). However I heard someone mention that there were in fact NPCs in the villages, so I don't know. No village boundaries that I can see.

I can't see villages being all that useful right now, but I can see them being used by newbs who have no idea what they can do in the game.

Swamp biomes are pretty cool.


The only issue I've had so far is that the first time I loaded it up, the game put me on a tiny desert island with one tree right in the middle of an ocean. I couldn't see any shore in any direction.

Edit: BLUE SPIDERS - 1 block wide, they can get everywhere!

Abandoned mines are also pretty cool

Sounds awesome, I'm gonna try it as soon as I can.

holy cow, oceans are beyond massive!

Love ravines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgXyZlf_2Os

Ah double-tap space to fly.

I could get used to this flying.... !
these underwater / under ocean ravines are everywhere.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOYtyxRny1A

New sunrise + swamp also good... (and there are mushrooms RetepNamenots) ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69uv4pvR0Rs

Thought I may post some pictures.

Best update ever? I think so.

Still loads of buggy stuff around buildings you can't get into without flying.
All those floating mineshaft supports, a lot more floating dirt blocks and or small floating islands.
Lava under the sea (lights it up quite well).
Some pitch black areas from some dodgy lighting.

Fun factor... off the scale.. and I'm just running around like a lemon... *flying around :x

Those Vast Jungle Is So Nice ! 1.8 Tree Hotel !!! Tree City !

Bah, I'm not doing this until it's an official release (and Bukkit updates). Don't care for SSP at all. But daym, it does look good.

i just had a play. the villages seem pointless to me. the farms in them are so vast you'll have bread coming from your ears

the new biome settings are nice, but there are alot of random floating mountains, reminds me alot of the early alpha

if only the requirement for food was also accompanied with the need for water too. i've been playing with a mod that does that, food and energy requiring you to sleep which adds alot more challenge to the survivalist in me.

i'm still looking forward to it but it doesn't seem all that ground breaking to me.

If your food meter is full, you can't die from mobs. I may be wrong though.

Here are some builds of mine. Thought I might try to see what designs work best.

And then, I get the feeling that mob spawn level is a little damn high.

Anyone know what the right click option is on swords? It looks like a defensive block, but haven't bothered trying on Survival.

It stops arrows that's for sure.

Iron railings will connect to blocks, unless they are stacked half-steps

And then, I get the feeling that mob spawn level is a little damn high.

Agreed!

the new biome structure is really good

you know, flying aroun in Creative Mode, I'm actually looking forward to a new CFUK map more and more.

Everything seems to flow better and isn't just a random jumble. It gives me positive thoughts on how the new server will flow and link together. If people adhere to building "WITH" the landscape rather than mass excavation, i reckon it'll look more like a real life town

[EDIT] perhaps Broonie and the mod gang should consider a slightly more strict building code for a radius around the new spawn. perhaps requiring planning permission for builds over a certain size/height to keep the place looking tidy and easy for navigation.

Talking about the new biome. If anyone wants a rough idea of the biome layout then it works like this.

You'll find large land masses surrounded by vast deep oceans. I have taken habitat on a "small" group of islands.

First image shows my locations and the second a comparison in size.

Just a few screenies of the rivers.

what i love about one of these, is that the river separates two biomes perfectly

Also, the third picture shows the marbled lake floor. that marbling is a mixture of dirt, sand, and CLAY

there is now a crap ton of clay, YAY!

Talking about the new biome. If anyone wants a rough idea of the biome layout then it works like this.

You'll find large land masses surrounded by vast deep oceans. I have taken habitat on a "small" group of islands.

Mulan

you must've got unlucky with your seed. Mine is the opposite, about 50/50 land to water ratio.

i'll post my seed if i can figure out how to find out what it is lol