Halloween Update

Update Features
The Minecraft Halloween Update was a special accumulative update released on October 31, 2010. The update included the following features:


 * The addition of The Nether; a "Hell" world that can be used for quick travel, where you "portal in" walk ten meters and then "portal out" and you're hundreds of meters away - movement in The Nether in relation to the normal world is 1:16, meaning that for block travelled (meter) in The Nether, 16 blocks are travelled in the normal world.
 * 2 new mobs (Ghast and Zombie Pigmen)
 * Darker areas are more dangerous
 * Fishing using fishing rods
 * 6 new block types (Lightstone which yields 1 sulfur dust, Hellstone, Slow Sand, Pumpkin, Portal(?))
 * Multiplayer bug-fixes
 * Craftable Jack-O-Lanterns and pumpkin helmets (Pumpkins)
 * Craftable watch
 * Biomes
 * New sounds and music
 * Dawn and Dusk now have red-ish colors just like real sunsets and sunrises.

Lanterns and torches as temporary light sources were planned to be included in this update, but didn't make it in time. These should be added in the next update.

This update was announced on October 4th, 2010, as seen at minecraft.net/boo

On October 8th, 2010 a new type of block was announced. And on October 11th Notch wrote the following on his twitter: "I just made the most unfair mob ever even more unfair. You will hate the Ghast."

On October 19th, 2010 Notch added the following on his blog: "There are six new block types (five of them have unique abilities), one new monster, a new dimension, and a couple of bug fixes."

On October 22nd, 2010 PCGamer published new info and two screenshots of the Halloween update.

On October 25th, 2010 Notch tweeted: "Anyway! I'm working on the second new mob today, and it's far less dangerous  than the Ghast. Right now they're kind of pointless, actually!"

On October 29th, 2010 Indie Games and PC Gamer published new articles about the Halloween update, with reviews, videos and screenshots. Both sites have uploaded a second video, PC Gamer's is called Slipgate Adventures 1, and Indie Games' second video is here.

For more information on what is to come on the 31st, check out MrTorus's facts page on the official forums here.

Media
There are some announcement videos and commentaries about the Halloween update here and here.

On 10/10/10 Notch revealed the following screenshot on his blog:



On 22 October 2010 this article appeared on the PC Gamer website, giving more details about the new update. The article states that Ghasts are flying cuboid jellyfish that destroy blocks and shoot fireballs at you, and that portals to get to and from the Hell dimension will be made from Obsidian.





Notch has put up a youtube video of biomes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=953XeQ3qwMM&feature=player_embedded