Halloween Update

Announcement
The Minecraft Halloween Update is planned by Notch to be released on October 31, 2010. The planned features to be released are:


 * A "Hell" world that can be used for quick travel, where you "portal in" walk ten meters and then "portal out" and you're 160 meters away.
 * Movement in the hell world in relation to the normal world is 1:16, meaning that for block travelled (meter) in the hell world, 16 blocks are travelled in the normal world.
 * 2 new mobs
 * More danger at deeper depths in-game
 * Torches that eventually burn out, but are re-lightable, and the introduction of lanterns as a new infinite light source
 * Fishing
 * 6 new block types (5 have unique abilities)
 * (Multiplayer) bug-fixes
 * Craftable Jack-O-Lanterns and pumpkin helmets
 * Craftable watch
 * Infinite fire source
 * A new dimension
 * Biomes
 * And more. [See image]

This was announced on October 4th, 2010, and can be 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
No gameplay footage has been released yet, but there are some announcement videos and commentaries  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