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Tag: Minecraft

  • Minecraft Workshops Reconstruct Pre-Atomic Bombing Cities in Japan

    Minecraft Workshops Reconstruct Pre-Atomic Bombing Cities in Japan

    University students in Japan are using the popular video game Minecraft to educate children about the appearance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before the atomic bombings of August 1945. These workshops aim to help participants grasp the scale of loss and destruction caused by the nuclear attacks.

    Misaki Katayama, a 27-year-old graduate student at the University of Tokyo specializing in peace education, initiated these two-day workshops in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2023. The program targets elementary school students from fourth to sixth grade, tasking them with digitally rebuilding the pre-bombing cityscapes.

    Rebuilding History Through Gaming

    Participants utilize historical maps, photographs, and video footage to reconstruct significant areas within Minecraft, a game renowned for its block-building virtual environment. For instance, a workshop held in Hiroshima on August 4 and 5, 2023, saw students meticulously recreate the district where Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park now stands, including a temple and a kindergarten that were once part of the bustling neighborhood.

    Katayama’s inspiration for the project arose six years ago after an atomic bomb survivor (hibakusha) recounted an elementary student’s comment, “It was lucky that the atomic bomb was dropped on a park.” This statement highlighted a critical gap in understanding, as the student was unaware that the park site was once a vibrant, densely populated area. Katayama noted that as time passes, it becomes increasingly challenging for people to visualize the pre-bombing cities.

    Understanding Loss and Reality

    The workshops are structured to offer a comprehensive learning experience. On the first day, students gather historical information, plan their reconstructions, and build the cityscapes in Minecraft. This activity allows them to experience how long it takes to build a city and how quickly it can be destroyed. The second day transitions to a more somber reflection, where participants view images of hibakusha immediately after the bombing and listen to survivor testimonies. This segment helps them understand the stark reality of the attacks and their transformative impact.

    While digital technology can significantly broaden understanding of historical urban environments, Katayama acknowledges the challenge of ensuring participants remain focused on the educational objective rather than merely the game’s building aspect. She mitigates this by beginning workshops with a moment of silence for atomic bomb victims, emphasizing the gravity and respect required for the subject matter. Katayama believes these digital tools can stimulate imagination and encourage deeper reflection on the atomic bombings and the lives affected.

  • Minecraft’s biggest update since launch is here

    Minecraft’s biggest update since launch is here

    Microsoft has been working on the so-called Nether Update for Minecraft for a very long time. But it makes perfect sense since this is one of the biggest and most important updates since Minecraft’s launch.

    Minecraft’s Nether Update is now available not just on Android and iOS, but also on all the other platforms the game was released, including PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The thing is depending on what platform you’re playing the game, you’ll get a different set of new features and improvements.

    The gist of the new update is that it brings an entirely new world with its own biomes, mobs, and blocks. In the new world, players will discover a powerful new material called Netherite, which is even harder than diamond.

    To access the new world, Minecraft players must get the “Way of the Nether” quest, which is available for free via the Minecraft Marketplace. Then, you’ll have to visit Poppy Isle and enter the dimensional rift that has just appeared to venture into the Nether.

    There are four new biomes (locations) included in the update: Crimson Forest, Warped Forest, Soulsand Valley, and Basalt Deltas. New mobs like Piglins and Hoglins have been added too, along with new bricks and wood galore.

    More importantly, the Nether Update fixes more than 300 bugs since the previous major update, Buzzy Bees. Also, new music and ambient sounds are now available in-game. There are also a lot of new gameplay features introduced such as Ruined Portals, Bastion Remnants, Blackstone, Respawn Anchor, Lodestone, and a lot more. Make sure to check out the full changelog for the Nether Update to learn more about what’s new.