Minecraft:Redstone Update

The Redstone Update is the name for Minecraft:Java Edition 1.5, a major update released on March 13, 2013. Among the main changes were a number of new redstone-related blocks, including the comparator, Minecraft:hopper, Minecraft:dropper, daylight sensor, trapped chest, weighted pressure plates and block of redstone. A new decorative block – block of quartz, crafted from Nether quartz – was also added. Also included was a Minecraft:scoreboard system, a new Minecraft:texture pack format and a Minecraft:lighting engine optimization.

The Redstone Update was announced at the Future Updates with the Minecraft PC Team and The Future of Mod API talks at Minecraft:MINECON 2012.<ref name="gspot-mod">https://web.archive.org/web/20130305180746/http://www.gamespot.com/minecraft/videos/6400551</ref>

Development began shortly after 1.4.6 was released. Sixteen development snapshots were released, from Template:Verlink to Template:Verlink, with a few snapshots being quickly re-released straight after to fix bugs without changing the client version number. During the development period, 1.4.7 was released. Nearer the end of the snapshot cycle for the 1.5 update, Mojang focused primarily on fixing bugs, rather than adding new features.

Mojang originally planned to release a pre-release version of The Redstone Update on February 28, 2013, and the official update in the first week of March.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130228145425/http://www.mojang.com/2013/02/minecraft-snapshot-13w09a/</ref> However, the pre-release was delayed as Mojang was trying to fix more bugs before a stable release,<ref>Template:Tweet</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130304005418/http://www.mojang.com/2013/03/minecraft-snapshot-13w09c/</ref> and was subsequently released on March 7.

Notable features

New Minecraft:blocks

• File:Activator Rail (NS) JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Activator Rail
  • Crafted using six Minecraft:iron ingots, two Minecraft:sticks, and a Minecraft:redstone torch.
  • When activated by redstone, it stops item flow for Minecraft:minecart with hopper and activates Minecraft:minecart with TNT.
• File:Block of Redstone JE2 BE2.png Minecraft:Block of Redstone
  • Mineral block crafted using nine Minecraft:redstone dust.
  • Also acts as a redstone component, having an active redstone signal.
• File:Daylight Detector JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Daylight Detector
  • Crafted using three Minecraft:wooden slabs, three Minecraft:Nether quartz, and three Minecraft:glass.
  • Used to output a redstone signal depending on the intensity of the sun.
• File:Dropper (S) JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Dropper
  • Crafted using seven Minecraft:cobblestone and one Minecraft:redstone dust.
  • Ejects an item similar to a Minecraft:dispenser, but does not do any special functions that a dispenser would normally do, such as shooting an Minecraft:arrow.
  • Also transfers items to a container when faced to it.
• File:Hopper (D) JE8.png Minecraft:Hopper
  • Crafted using five Minecraft:iron ingots and a Minecraft:chest.
  • Used to collect items and drop them to a corresponding container.
  • Any container objects placed above the hopper automatically has their items removed by the hopper.
• File:Redstone Comparator (S) JE4.png Minecraft:Redstone Comparator
  • Crafted using three Minecraft:redstone torches, a Minecraft:Nether quartz, and three Minecraft:stone.
  • Reads inputs from any adjacent blocks and sends an output.
  • Can also be used to compared redstone signals.
    • If signal A is stronger or equal to signal B, it repeats the signal or outputs the difference between signal A and B.
    • If signal A is weaker than signal B, no output is given.
• File:Trapped Chest.gif Minecraft:Trapped Chest
  • Crafted using a Minecraft:chest and a Minecraft:tripwire hook.
  • Give an output whenever the player looks into the chest.
• File:Light Weighted Pressure Plate JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Light Weighted Pressure Plate & File:Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate
  • Used to detect Minecraft:item drops and give a redstone output.
  • Light weighted pressure plate reach full strength at 60 items.
  • Heavy weighted pressure plate reach full strength at 600 items.
• New quartz blocks:
  • File:Nether Quartz Ore JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Nether Quartz Ore
    • Found in the Minecraft:Nether, in y-levels between 10 and 117.
    • Drops Minecraft:Nether quartz when mined without Minecraft:Silk Touch.
  • File:Block of Quartz JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Block of Quartz
    • Mineral block crafted using four Minecraft:Nether quartz.
    • Unlike other mineral blocks, it cannot be used to store Nether quartz as it cannot be crafted back into it.
    • File:Quartz Stairs (N) JE2 BE1.png Minecraft:Quartz Stairs
    • File:Quartz Slab JE1 BE2.png Minecraft:Quartz Slab
  • File:Quartz Pillar (UD) JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Quartz Pillar
  • File:Chiseled Quartz Block (UD) JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Chiseled Quartz Block

New Minecraft:items

• File:Nether Brick JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Nether Brick
  • Obtained from smelting Minecraft:netherrack.
  • Used to craft Minecraft:Nether bricks.
• File:Nether Quartz JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Nether Quartz
  • Obtained by mining Minecraft:Nether quartz ore.
  • Used to craft Minecraft:block of quartz, Minecraft:daylight sensor, and a Minecraft:redstone comparator.

New non-mob entities

• File:Minecart with Hopper JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Minecart with Hopper
  • Crafted using a Minecraft:hopper and a Minecraft:minecart.
  • Collects items from above when in motion.
• File:Minecart with TNT JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Minecart with TNT
  • Crafted using a Minecraft:TNT and a Minecraft:minecart.
  • Activates when over a powered Minecraft:activator rail.
  • Can also explode when hitting a nearby block.
• File:Minecart with Spawner JE1.png Minecraft:Minecart with Spawner
  • Obtainable only through NBT editing.
  • Spawns mobs when in motion.

Other additions

• Minecraft:Realms
  • A subscription-based service allowing players to host a server with help by Minecraft:Mojang Studios.
  • Provided only to 100 random players.
• Minecraft:Scoreboard system
  • Allows for the tracking of objectives per player, such as health or kill count.
• 3 new Minecraft:commands: Template:Cmd, Template:Cmd, and Template:Cmd

Notable changes

• Better Minecraft:light
• Minecraft:Bone meal no longer instantly grows a plant, and now increases the chances of said plant growing into their next stage.
• Tools enchanted with Efficiency speed up only the mining speed of the intended blocks for that tool
• New Minecraft:inventory management features
• More specific Minecraft:death messages
• Increased range of Minecraft:beacon effects
• Minecraft:Brewing stands, Minecraft:chests, Minecraft:detector rails, Minecraft:dispensers, and Minecraft:jukeboxes now emit a redstone signal when a redstone comparator is placed against them.
• Nether brick is now craftable
• Changed the shooting mechanics of Minecraft:skeletons
• The spawn rate of Minecraft:slimes in swamps now depends on the moon phase

Further revisions

• 1.5.1 gave the players the ability to combine Minecraft:enchanted books to get a higher enchantment level, and allowed Minecraft:hoppers to take empty buckets out of Minecraft:furnace fuel slots and fixed performance issues.
• 1.5.2 fixed bugs, crashes and additional performance issues.

Videos

Promotional videos

The following videos are fan trailers created by the community and shown on the official Mojang blog.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130313154601/http://www.mojang.com/2013/03/minecraft-1-5-is-published/</ref>