Java Edition Alpha v1.2.0

Alpha v1.2.0, also known as the Halloween Update, was released with server 0.2.2 on October 30, 2010, adding the Nether along with new Nether-exclusive mobs and blocks. It also added fishing, a new terrain generator, and other changes and fixes. This version is listed in the launcher, but only Alpha v1.2.0_02 is downloaded instead.

Blocks

 * Netherrack JE1.png Netherrack
 * Soul Sand JE1 BE1.png Soul Sand
 * Glowstone JE1.png Glowstone
 * Carved Pumpkin JE1 BE1.png Carved Pumpkin
 * Jack o'Lantern JE1 BE1.png Jack o'Lantern
 * Nether Portal JE1.png Nether Portal

Items

 * Clock.png Clock
 * Craftable item that tells the time


 * Glowstone Dust JE1 BE1.png Glowstone Dust
 * Cooked Cod JE1 BE1.png Cooked Fish
 * Raw Cod JE1 BE1.png Raw Fish

Mobs
Ghast
 * Large white mobs that float around in the Nether.
 * Shoots fireballs at the player.

Zombie Pigmen
 * When one pigman is attacked all nearby pigmen will retaliate and attack the player.
 * Hold gold swords.

World generation

 * New terrain generator, featuring biomes.
 * The Nether
 * A dimension with lava, ghast and zombie pigmen.
 * Desert
 * A biome with sand and a lot of water. There's also Ice Deserts but that's only in mods.
 * Tundra
 * A very cold biome with snow and ice. Earlier there was Winter Mode but that was removed in this update.

Gameplay

 * Fishing

General

 * Added new music tracks and sound effects.


 * Splash
 * Added new splashes:
 * Slow acting portals!
 * Try the Nether!
 * Don't look directly at the bugs!
 * Oh, ok, Pigmen!
 * Finally with ladders!
 * Scary!

Blocks

 * Stairs and furnaces
 * Now face the same direction as the player when placed.


 * Grass Block and Leaves
 * Are now darker in shade, and their color is now dependent on temperature/humidity values.

Mobs

 * Mobs
 * Higher lighting values are required the deeper they are to keep mobs from spawning.


 * Creepers
 * Now have new sounds.


 * Skeleton Revision 2.png Skeletons
 * Now hold bows.


 * Slimes
 * Completely removed from mob spawning code.

World generation

 * Fake chunks generate in the Far Lands.

Gameplay

 * Sunrise
 * Sunrise now creates a red glow at the horizon.
 * Heads-up display
 * Pressing hides the HUD and the view-model from the person's view. In third person mode, pressing  will create a view looking back at the player's own face.

General

 * Menu screen
 * Changed Minecraft logo from Java Edition 5.png to Java Edition 6.png.

General

 * Removed Winter Mode.


 * Distance effects
 * Due to the removal of winter mode and therefore snow, it no longer becomes visually distorted at great heights.