I now also installed the chat channels and IRC chat on the 1.8 server. This means that we can chat between the 1.7 and 1.8 server via the IRC bridge. Also the channels are available in-game.

Still waiting for the recommended build of Bukkit to be released.

I sat down today and ported all the user data to the 1.8 server. Therefore you have now userlevels back again and can see in the chat who has which level. Since no other plugins are installed, there are no additional user rights of course.

Due to the new permissions plugin I am using now, we will have a smoother time and less work for me in the future when it comes to upgrade people to another userlevel.

If you just registered today or in the last 7 days, please note that if you are connecting to the server at port 25565, you are using our temporary 1.8.1 server. This server does not have the whitelist installed in the same way as the normal server at port 25564. This means that you might have issues connecting. If this is the case, please leave a comment here so I can fix it for you.

Please try to reconnect, should be working now

I just updated the server to 1.8 final. Please get the client from minecraft.net if you want to try it out.

(there is a jar download if minecraft.net is down. You won’t be able to connect to the server still however until minecraft.net is back up)

Please note that since 1.9 will be another update on the mapping system, there will be no new map when 1.8 comes out. Instead you will have the chance to regenerate your lot or to move to another lot that is regenerated with the new mapping system – on the same world. If you will be able to switch to a new lot or regenerate the current lot will have to be evaluated. Either way, you can keep your current lot as it is if you want. And, please note that if your lot is regenerated or if you move to a different lot, the current lot in question that you own will have to be cleared by you of everything that you want to keep. Either you move the stuff temporarily into a shop (only for a day or so), or you find an alternative space for it, be it in a different lot you own or on a friends lot.

So what about 1.9? Ideally, we do not start a new map either. However if it’s heavy biome AND landscape changes (height & location of oceans etc), we will start a new map then to have a clean start. It will NOT be a forced update for anybody, people can choose if they want to move to the new map or not. If it is ONLY biome but no height/water changes, we will not start a new map. So as you can see, it really depends what they are doing with it. It is be hard to tell.

I have upgraded the temporary server to the latest version of the pre-release (v2). Please download the client again and connect to uncovery.net:25565 to see what has been fixed!

Please note that as always this is a temporary map and will be deleted once in a while in case there are bugs and for SURE when 1.8 final comes out.

Again, there is a map to be seen @ http://minecraft.uncovery.net/map/temp.png

I wanted to give some info how the upgrade will most likely happen.

1. I will be on a business trip from Sunday night to Thursday night. That means that I will not have too much time doing things.
2. On Monday, 1.8 comes out hopefully. The plugins for protection will most likely not work yet. I will therefore install only a vanilla server (like the current pre-release one) with a temporary map which will later be deleted.
3. I will try to find a map seed that does not have 80% ocean in the area where we want to build. I might be giving creative mode to some people so they can fly and explore the map faster.
4. Once the protection plugins work. I will move the old maps over to a running 1.8 server. If you want to play on the old maps, you should not upgrade your client before that happens. At that moment I will also remove the temporary map & server.
5. I will then prepare the new maps that will replace the normal world and the kingdom, the lots on them etc. and make sure all is working properly. Then you will be able to reserve a lot in the new world. To transfer your stuff you can move it either to another lot that you own or also use the shop to do so. Put your stuff for sale at a very high price and take it back out afterwards again. Please note that this is only a temporary permission to do so.
6. The other plugins that we are currently using will be installed as they are updated. There is a certain risk that stuff like minecarts will not work immediately.
7. The current ‘world’ will be kept as a showcase and a home for the city, as spawn etc. The new world will be where the lots are. If I ever get super-bored I might start a new world for the city and move it over. Skylands will remain as it is. The kingdom will be regenerated and I will be moving stuff over to the new map.

I have no idea how long it will take to accomplish all of this. I hope it will take only 1-2 days. Depending how long the plugins will take to update and how much time I actually have to work on this, it might take a bit longer though. Please be patient.

I had to restart a new map in 1.8 since the current one started to create excessive CPU loads that would not stop. Be prepared to have more of this, when the final 1.8 comes out for example.

Mojang released a 1.8 Pre-release! Get it here! I have setup a server at port 25565.

The world of that server will be deleted once the final version is out.

we built basic shelter @ -36 / -23

I also created a map here: http://minecraft.uncovery.net/map/temp.png

If you are a new user there is a high chance that you cannot connect to the 1.8 server. The whiltelist does not update automatically but only on restarting the server.

It seems now the world generation will not only change with 1.8 but also with 1.9 which should not be too far out in the future. So I posted a question to Mojang at reddit regarding the world generation. If you have a reddit account, please upvote it so we have some chance at an answer.

Here are some updates on 1.8 plans:

• Sounds like 1.8.1 will be out on 8th September. At that moment, I will put up a temporary vanilla server on a different port with a temporary map (which will later be deleted) to run parallel to the current server. People will be able to try 1.8 until the most important plugins are working with 1.8 (Whitelist, protection etc)
• It also seems the map changes will be dramatic. If that is really the case I will create a new map with 100×100 lots. New lots will all be registered on this new map.
• The old map will continue to exist. People who have a lot can keep it there. If you want a lot on the new map, you have to give up a lot on the old map.
• I will write some code that will allow people to abandon their current lot and register on a new one in the new world. This allows for a fast automated process. However there will be no transition time where you can have both lots. If you can find a place where you can deposit resources such as a friends lot, kingdom plot or if you already are allowed to have several lots, you can use that to take along goods by depositing them there before moving to the new lot. I will not compensate anyone because you forgot to take stuff, if your friend took it or whatever.
• The old world will stay as it is. We will use it to grow the city. Very nice builds will remain and be integrated into the city as it grows.
• Skylands will stay as it is.
• There will be a new kingdom world. I will try to move all kingdom builds to a new world over the coming weeks. Please continue building in the current world until your structure is moved.
• Nether will be reset.

Please note that I am on another business trip from 12th to 16th September and will have very little time to do anything during that period.

I upgraded the server to Bukkit version 1000 – in case you care about that level of detial.

The Upshot is that there are no real new features, but there are lots of bugfixes and performance improvements. So if something got lost in transition please tell me and I will try to fix it. Currently, the only 2 things that are not working as expected are:

• Building in the city for VIPs does not work
• the /who list is not sorted by user level anymore
• adding other people to your lot

I am trying to fix both of those issues, please stand by.

Bukkit, the software which allows to install plugins on a server, has been updated to a new version. The new version includes a completely new permissions system that will be the new defacto-standard for all plugins. I am currently working on understanding how this new system works and how to move all users from the current system to the new system.

At one point I will upgrade the server. During this time, there will not everything be working as expected. I will be adding plugins as they come and installing them. The minimum will be the lot protection to be working in order to switch to the new system.

So currently this is just an announcement of what I am working on already and what will come. Nothing will change on the server for the coming couple of days.

We are officially running 1.7 now on port 25564 with no known bugs or flaws. Please tell me if anything goes wrong. Portals etc should all be fine now. The server on port 25565 is gone.

Tried all I could to do the upgrade this morning. Failed on the essentials plugin which does stuff like /home and /spawn. I think I was able to fix that now, will have to do further testing but have no time anymore now. Please stand by for further info.

Other stuff that has been mentioned below should be fixed now. Please continue checking if everything works.

While the 1.6 server will continue running on port 25564, I copied a current map to the 1.7 server and started it for testing. Please all get on the 1.7 server at port 25565 and check if everything works as expected. If this is the case, I will upgrade the server finally to 1.7 within the next 10 hours, provided I get positive feedback.

So please test and comment here if anything does not work properly! Things to check for among others:

• Lot protection
• Minecart setups
• Darklands restrictions
• Skylands permissions

Currently known bugs:

• Portals have a loop effect
• Someone reported that minecart pickups in the spawn building don’t work. They work for me, so someone else please test it.

1.6 is on the brink of extinction and 1.7 is about to see the day of light on Uncovery minecraft. So we will be doing it like all the times before:

• If you are VERY eager to try the new functions, do the upgrade on your client. I will setup a temp server on a port 25565 with temp map for the updaters. Once the upgrade is done, this map will be deleted.
• If you want to access the current maps, build on your lots and are able to wait, please do not upgrade. The current server will continue running until I can guarantee that the protection etc works with 1.7

Since I am on holiday now (business trip is over since 6 hours, now traveling through China) I will most probably have the time to install the temp server within the next 24 hours (in case it is released then) but I will most probably not have the time (and fast enough internet connection) to upgrade the current server to 1.7 within the next 10 days.

[Update] 1.7 is out and running on a temp server & temp map as announced above on port 25565 (the standard port). ATTENTION: Whitelisting and bannlists work, but registering here on the server will NOT instantly allow you to enter the temp server since the whitelist there wirks different. I first have to logon and restart the server. Do not expect that to happen too often. So if you are new to this server, you better use the 1.6 version [/Update]

[Update 2] The environment which allows plugins (bukkit) was updated already for the current version 1.7.01. I installed it and along some 1.6 version plugins for testing. Chat-channels, user levels, IRC, minecarts and common commands like /home should work already. Please test them. I will be updating those plugins and testing additional plugins as I have time to when they hit the shelves. Please not that if there is another client update beyond 1.7.01 that requires an updated server and I do not have time to move with it, you might be locked out of BOTH servers. In that case, please wait until I upgrade the temp server or revert to the 1.6 version.[/Update]

I have upgraded the forum to the latest release. It is now integrated much better into the website. Please check it out.

I wanted to inform you that the forum (not the comments on the blog however) allow <img > tags. You can therefore post your pictures there and show them immediately.

Please be aware however what you are doing there. If you post dozens of high-res images you won’t make any friends on the server. So please use this feature with care.

Anyhow, all images that exceed 600px width are shrunken to that size in display.