With the usual lack of a proper announcement, Minecraft 1.6.2 was made available on July 8, 2013. The new version fixes a large number of bugs, many of which were introduced in version 1.6.1. The related Minecraft News post lists notable changes in 1.6.2, while the (unofficial) version history in the Minecraft Wiki goes into a lot more detail. Version 1.6.2 of the client requires the new launcher.

The JDRGaming Minecraft server has been updated to version 1.6.2.

I just received the email below from Ubisoft. This is, of course, yet another in the long list of reasons why forcing users to connect to online services to play offline games is idiotic. I'm talking about Ubisoft's UPlay service, which you must use in order to play any newer Ubisoft games. Anyone using this service should change their UPlay password as soon as possible.

We recently found that one of our Web sites was exploited to
gain unauthorized access to some of our online systems. We
instantly took steps to close off this access, investigate the 
incident and begin restoring the integrity of any compromised 
systems. 

During this process, we learned that data had been illegally 
accessed from our account database, including user names, 
email addresses and encrypted passwords. Please note that 
no personal payment information is stored with Ubisoft, meaning 
your debit/credit card information was safe from this intrusion. 

As a result, we are recommending that you change the 
password for your account: xxxxxxxx 

Out of an abundance of caution, we also recommend that you 
change your password on any other Web site or service where 
you use the same or a similar password.  

We sincerely apologize to all of you for the inconvenience. 
Please rest assured that your security remains our priority. 

The Ubisoft team 

Update: I followed the instructions in the email to change my password. I can log in on the web site, but when I go to the Account settings, it tells me I need to change my password again. I can play Far Cry 3 in Offline mode, but when I try to go online, it tells me my password is wrong. When I enter the new one, it still doesn't work. Way to go, Ubisoft. Looks like UPlay is working out really well for you.

Version 1.6.1 of Minecraft was released today. The JDRGaming Minecraft server has been upgraded to the new version. The Minecraft page on this site has been updated to include download links and update notes for the new version.

Note that this version includes a new launcher that is incompatible with older versions of Minecraft.

More about the new version:

• Minecraft News posting
• Mojang Blog post
• Post on Mojang support site about the new launcher

Surprise, surprise. Microsoft has already started backtracking on some of its less enlightened policies for the XBox One.

The changes are:

• An Internet connection will not be required to play any disc-based game. As with the XBox 360, disc-based games can only be played with the disc in the console.
• There will not be a requirement to connect to the Internet every 24 hours.
• There will be no limitations on how games can be shared, loaned, resold or traded, except that you cannot do any of those things with downloaded games.
• You will be able to play downloaded games offline.
• There will be no regional restrictions limiting where games can be played.

Never underestimate the power of the Internet.

Over at Techdirt, Tim Cushing has an excellent rebuttal to Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski's clueless rant against the used games market.

If the game business is really being hurt by used game sales, why is that the customer's fault? If it's getting too expensive to make games, find ways to reduce costs or increase profits that don't make enemies of your customers. Here's a hint: try lowering prices.

If you can stand to hear more XBox One criticism, check out this Forbes article covering recent revelations that Microsoft's baffling policies for the new console include one that requires all games to be produced by a major publisher. That policy will exclude games like the independently-produced Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty from the XBox One lineup.

This is yet another easy victory for Sony, since that company already encourages independent game development for its consoles and has no plans to change that with the PS4.

I'm continually amazed at the ongoing uselessness of the main Minecraft web site, minecraft.net. I run a Minecraft server, so I need to be aware of changes to the game. That means I have to dig through existing resources and sort through redundant and outdated information every time there's an update. I figured since I'm doing that work anyway, I might as well share it with other people who may find it useful.

You can get to the Minecraft page by clicking the link in the 'Site Features' section in the left sidebar, or by clicking 'Minecraft' in the top-most line of the site.

The JDRGaming Minecraft server has finally been upgraded to version 1.5.2. Sorry for the delay.

Microsoft has finally answered some of the nagging questions about the next XBox:

• "every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection" - In other words, a high-speed Internet connection is a requirement for using this game console, despite the fact that the vast majority of console games have no specific requirement for network connectivity. People who live in areas with poor or no Internet service are simply out of luck, the same as if they had no electricity.


• "your system, games and apps are always current and ready to play - no more waiting for updates" - Many people (myself included) are happy to wait a few minutes for an update if it means they have control over what their devices are doing when they're not watching. This sounds like a nice feature except when you consider that every XBox One will be constantly updating itself, even games that the owner is no longer playing. This will increase bandwidth use unnecessarily. Hopefully this feature can be disabled.


• "Access your entire games library from any Xbox One - no discs required" - Not having to swap discs constantly is definitely a good thing. The only reason discs are always required for the XBox 360 is copy protection. Microsoft is shifting the copy protection to a network-based model; hence the need for always-on Internet. Convenient, yes - but at what cost?


• "buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release." - This is a welcome break from traditional (and senseless) release windows. No more need to push through crowds at GameStop.


• Improved networking - Gigabit Ethernet (as opposed to 100 Mbit on the XBox 360), and better wireless (802.11n, 5 GHz, two antennas). Good stuff.


• "While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend." - Okay: strictly speaking, an 'always-on' Internet is not required, but in practical terms, it amounts to the same thing.


• "With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies." - Yes, your shiny new game console is about as useful as a brick if you lose your Internet connection. Because, um, piracy!!!


• "Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you." - Well, that's a relief. With the technology already in place on the new console, Microsoft could have required a separate license for every user. Don't laugh: if Microsoft thought they could get away with it, they would do this.


• "game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games." - So Microsoft won't charge a fee for trading in games, but individual game publishers may or may not enable trade-ins, and may or may not charge a trade-in fee of their own. That is extremely lame, and likely to hurt overall game sales.


• "game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends" - Sounds good, until you realize that again, the publisher has to enable this. Also, you can only give a game to someone on your XBox friends list. And a game can only be given once. Lameness, you have found your pinnacle.


• "You are in control of what Kinect can see and hear" - Well, that's a relief.

My prediction: when XBox One sales tank immediately after the initial buying frenzy, Microsoft will scramble to backtrack on some of these restrictions.

Ars Technica and The Verge have their own analysis.

More fallout from the disappointing reveal of the XBox One: Playstation fans are mobilizing to push Sony to avoid XBox One problems on the new Playstation.

Followup: Sure enough, by merely avoiding doing something really dumb, Sony has scored a major PR win over Microsoft.