Halloween Update



The Halloween Update was a major update for Alpha released on October 30, 2010 as Alpha 1.2.0. The Nether was the most prominent feature of the update.

Features

 * For a complete list of changes, see Alpha 1.2.0


 * The addition of the Nether; a "Hell" world that can be used for quick travel - movement in the Nether in relation to the normal world is 1:8, meaning that for every block (meter) traveled in the Nether, 8 blocks are traveled in the normal world.
 * The Nether can be entered via Nether portal
 * 2 new mobs (Ghasts, and Zombie Pigmen)
 * Deeper areas are more dangerous due to mobs having higher spawn rates lower down.
 * This feature was removed by Notch in a later update.
 * Fishing using fishing rods
 * 6 new block types (Glowstone, Netherrack, Soul Sand, Pumpkins, Jack-O-Lanterns, Portals)
 * Multiplayer bug-fixes
 * Craftable Jack-O-Lanterns, and the ability to wear pumpkins.
 * Craftable clock
 * Biomes
 * New sounds and music
 * Dawn and Dusk now have reddish colors just like real sunsets and sunrises.

Torches were planned to become temporary light sources with the new permanent light source being lanterns, but the update didn't make it in time, and the idea has now been officially rejected (at least so far as adding lanterns).

History
The update was announced on October 4, 2010 on Notch's blog. . A new type of block was announced on October 8, and on October 11 Notch posted a statement on his Twitter saying: "I just made the most unfair mob ever even more unfair. You will hate the Ghast." On October 10, 2010, Notch posted the first image of The Nether on his blog. On October 19, it was announced that there were six new block types (of which five had unique abilities), one new monster, a new dimension, and a couple of bug fixes. On October 22, PC Gamer posted an article giving more details about the new update. The article states that Ghasts are flying cuboid jellyfish that could destroy blocks and shoot fireballs at you, and that portals to go to and from the Hell dimension will be made from obsidian.

On October 25, 2010 Notch tweeted that he was working on a second, more harmless mob.

Trivia

 * The "poster" was located at minecraft.net/boo, which no longer exists. An archive of it is available at archive.org
 * The poster said that pumpkins were "useless", while now, they provide a shield against provoking Endermen.
 * The poster said "Portal in, move 10 meters, portal out, and you're hundreds of meters away." Since portals move you by a factor of 8, 10 meters away in the Nether is 80 meters away in the overworld, not hundreds. Also, moving less than 16 meters before building a new portal will most likely take you back to the original portal in the Overworld, so 0 meters away.