Java Edition Alpha

This article is about the fifth development phase of Java Edition. For the development phase that was previously called "alpha", see Java Edition Classic. For other uses, see Alpha.
Java Edition Alpha
Alpha v1.0.0.png: Infobox image for Java Edition Alpha the development phase in Minecraft
Alpha v1.2.6.png: Infobox image for Java Edition Alpha the development phase in Minecraft
Starting version

Between June 29, 2010
and v1.0.1 (July 2, 2010)

Latest version

v1.2.6 (December 3, 2010)

Paid

Yes: US$13.00/€9.95 

{
    "title": "Java Edition Alpha",
    "images": [
        "Alpha v1.0.0.png",
        "Alpha v1.2.6.png"
    ],
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "Between (link to Java Edition Infdev 20100629 article, displayed as June 29, 2010)<br>and (link to Java Edition Alpha v1.0.1 article, displayed as v1.0.1) (July 2, 2010)",
            "label": "Starting version"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Java Edition Alpha v1.2.6 article, displayed as v1.2.6) (December 3, 2010)",
            "label": "Latest version"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes: US$13.00/€9.95",
            "label": "Paid"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [],
    "footer": "<div style=\"display:inline-block\">\n<div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:0 .4em\">[[Java Edition Infdev|<span style=\"margin-right:-0.35em\">◄</span>◄ Java Edition Infdev]]</div>\n\n</div><div style=\"display:inline-block\">\n\n<div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:0 .4em\">[[Java Edition Beta|Java Edition Beta <span style=\"margin-right:-0.35em\">►</span>►]]</div>\n</div>"
}

Alpha was the fifth phase in the development cycle of Minecraft. It succeeded Infdev, and was the fourth Minecraft development stage to have some of its versions released to the public. There was only one type of game mode playable in this version — Survival. One of Alpha's most striking differences to modern versions of Minecraft is the bright green color used by all foliage blocks, as biomes were not implemented at the time.

History

Unlike other phases of the game's development, the start of Alpha cannot be exactly pinpointed. The first version to display text "Alpha" in-game was Alpha v1.0.1, released on July 2, 2010. However, upon the release of that version, Notch stated that he "just arbitrarily decided that the previous version was 1.0.0",[1] thus making Alpha retroactively decided to have begun on the release of the second June 30, 2010, version of Infdev. Additionally, there is evidence for Alpha having actually begun on June 29, 2010, with Notch mentioning in a June 30 blog post "the version that was called “infdev” up until yesterday",[2] thus implying Infdev 20100629 was the first version of Alpha. Infdev 20100629 was the version that added the offline client, and IRC logs show that people were referring to this as "alpha" upon release.[3]

During the Alpha phase, Minecraft was updated very frequently due to Notch working full-time on Minecraft since June 1, 2010,[4] and having a small company made later (Mojang).[5] Bug fixes and tweaks could happen throughout the week, appearing on the game's development blog, with major additions and changes appearing in 'Seecret' Friday updates, leaving the game's players to discover the included new features.

While mostly continuous in version numbering, there is no current evidence of the existence of Alpha version v1.2.3_03; Notch appears to have skipped directly from Alpha v1.2.3_02 to v1.2.3_04. In addition, there is no version labelled Alpha v1.2.4; it is instead strongly believed to be the case that the existing version alpha v1.2,3_95 was retroactively considered to be this release upon Alpha v1.2.4_01 being made public.

On December 11, 2010, Notch announced that the game would enter the Beta stage of development on December 20, 2010, at which point the price would increase to €14.95.[6]

Features

For a complete list of changes, see Java Edition version history § Alpha.
Alpha block and item additionsInvicon Redstone Ore.png: Inventory sprite for Redstone Ore in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Redstone Ore with description: Redstone OreInvicon Redstone Torch.png: Inventory sprite for Redstone Torch in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Redstone Torch with description: Redstone TorchInvicon Oak Pressure Plate.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Pressure Plate in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Pressure Plate with description: Oak Pressure PlateInvicon Stone Pressure Plate.png: Inventory sprite for Stone Pressure Plate in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Stone Pressure Plate with description: Stone Pressure PlateInvicon Stone Button.png: Inventory sprite for Stone Button in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Stone Button with description: Stone ButtonInvicon Lever.png: Inventory sprite for Lever in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Lever with description: LeverInvicon Iron Door.png: Inventory sprite for Iron Door in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Iron Door with description: Iron DoorInvicon Snow.png: Inventory sprite for Snow in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Snow with description: SnowInvicon Ice.png: Inventory sprite for Ice in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Ice with description: IceInvicon Snow Block.png: Inventory sprite for Snow Block in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Snow Block with description: Snow BlockInvicon Cactus.png: Inventory sprite for Cactus in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cactus with description: CactusInvicon Clay.png: Inventory sprite for Clay in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Clay with description: ClayInvicon Sugar Cane.png: Inventory sprite for Sugar Cane in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Sugar Cane with description: Sugar CaneInvicon Jukebox.png: Inventory sprite for Jukebox in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jukebox with description: JukeboxInvicon Oak Fence.png: Inventory sprite for Oak Fence in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Oak Fence with description: Oak FenceInvicon Nether Portal.png: Inventory sprite for Nether Portal in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Nether Portal with description: Nether PortalInvicon Netherrack.png: Inventory sprite for Netherrack in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Netherrack with description: NetherrackInvicon Soul Sand.png: Inventory sprite for Soul Sand in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Soul Sand with description: Soul SandInvicon Glowstone.png: Inventory sprite for Glowstone in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glowstone with description: GlowstoneInvicon Carved Pumpkin.png: Inventory sprite for Carved Pumpkin in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Carved Pumpkin with description: Carved PumpkinInvicon Jack o'Lantern.png: Inventory sprite for Jack o'Lantern in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jack o'Lantern with description: Jack o'LanternInvicon Redstone Dust.png: Inventory sprite for Redstone Dust in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Redstone Dust with description: Redstone DustInvicon Snowball.png: Inventory sprite for Snowball in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Snowball with description: SnowballInvicon Boat.png: Inventory sprite for Boat in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Boat with description: BoatInvicon Leather.png: Inventory sprite for Leather in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Leather with description: LeatherInvicon Milk Bucket.png: Inventory sprite for Milk Bucket in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Milk Bucket with description: Milk BucketInvicon Paper.png: Inventory sprite for Paper in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Paper with description: PaperInvicon Book.png: Inventory sprite for Book in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Book with description: BookInvicon Clay Ball.png: Inventory sprite for Clay Ball in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Clay Ball with description: Clay BallInvicon Brick.png: Inventory sprite for Brick in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Brick with description: BrickInvicon Slimeball.png: Inventory sprite for Slimeball in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Slimeball with description: SlimeballInvicon Egg.png: Inventory sprite for Egg in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Egg with description: EggInvicon Music Disc 13.png: Inventory sprite for Music Disc 13 in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Music Disc 13 with description: Music Disc C418 - 13Invicon Music Disc Cat.png: Inventory sprite for Music Disc Cat in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Music Disc Cat with description: Music Disc C418 - catInvicon Minecart with Furnace.png: Inventory sprite for Minecart with Furnace in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Minecart with Furnace with description: Minecart with FurnaceInvicon Minecart with Chest.png: Inventory sprite for Minecart with Chest in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Minecart with Chest with description: Minecart with ChestInvicon Compass.png: Inventory sprite for Compass in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Compass with description: CompassInvicon Fishing Rod.png: Inventory sprite for Fishing Rod in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Fishing Rod with description: Fishing RodInvicon Clock.png: Inventory sprite for Clock in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Clock with description: ClockInvicon Glowstone Dust.png: Inventory sprite for Glowstone Dust in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Glowstone Dust with description: Glowstone DustInvicon Cooked Fish.png: Inventory sprite for Cooked Fish in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Cooked Fish with description: Cooked FishInvicon Raw Fish.png: Inventory sprite for Raw Fish in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Raw Fish with description: Raw FishInvicon Painting.png: Inventory sprite for Painting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Painting with description: Painting Graham Kristoffer Zetterstrand 1x2Invicon Painting.png: Inventory sprite for Painting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Painting with description: Painting Creebet Kristoffer Zetterstrand 2x1Invicon Painting.png: Inventory sprite for Painting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Painting with description: Painting Kong Kristoffer Zetterstrand 4x3Invicon Painting.png: Inventory sprite for Painting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Painting with description: Painting Mortal Coil Kristoffer Zetterstrand 4x3Invicon Painting.png: Inventory sprite for Painting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Painting with description: Painting Pigscene Kristoffer Zetterstrand 4x4
  • Multiplayer (Survival). Currently, the only way to connect to a server is to find out the IP of it to connect.
  • The Nether - a realm accessible with nether portals that contains blocks and mobs (i.e. ghast and zombie pigmen as of yet) not found in the normal world, and allows for fast travel (1 block traveled in the Nether is equivalent to 8 blocks traveled in the Overworld.)
  • Biomes - different environments that differ as location/chunk/temperature changes.
  • The addition of redstone circuits, a logical I/O system including switches.
  • The following items from the Halloween Update: netherrack, glowstone, soul sand, pumpkins, and the jack o'lantern.
  • Improved AI pathfinding and spawning.
  • New sounds for caves and mobs.
  • The addition of snowy and icy terrain, plus craftable snow blocks.
  • The addition of boats.
  • Cow, slime, and chickens.
  • New music.
  • More paintings.
  • Press F1 to remove the inventory display and the player's arm (the HUD, or Heads Up Display).
  • While holding down F1, press F2 to take a screenshot. The images are saved in .minecraft/screenshots.
  • 40 inventory slots instead of Beta and later's 36, since one could hold items in the crafting slot.
  • Fences
  • Sneaking
  • Fishing rods and fishing

Versions

A landscape in Minecraft Alpha.

Trivia

Loading a world while the game is out of focus shows that the player originally spawns in the world at Y=0 and then gets teleported up.
  • Classic was originally known as "Minecraft Alpha", before being retroactively named "Classic" after development on Infdev completed.
  • The player originally spawns in the world at Y=0 and then immediately gets teleported up; creating a world while the game is out of focus shows this.
  • Before the Halloween Update, Alpha had several "biomes", such as:
    • Woods
    • Plains
    • Treeless mountain
    • Woods mountain
    • Beach
    • Ocean
    • Cactus beach
    • Original (land with a medium amount of trees)
    • Original mountain
    • Overhang
    • Cliff
    • These are not actually "true" biomes, but various types of landforms the game would generate.
  • Upon world creation there was a chance that the world would be a winter world, consisting of snow-covered versions of the above "biomes".
  • On September 18, 2010, the Minecraft authentication server broke. Notch turned this into a free weekend where everyone could download and play the game.[7] This got Minecraft lots of free press coverage and made lots of new players buy the game afterwards.[8]
  • The price for Minecraft Alpha was €9.95 (£8.95/US$11.54).
  • All versions of the game before Alpha are still regarded as old-alpha by the launcher, regardless of their development stage.
  • 23% of all of the Alpha versions that were made are lost.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Seecret Friday update the third! OooooOOOoo! – The Word of Notch, July 2, 2010
  2. ↑ And another thing.. – The Word of Notch, June 30, 2010]]
  3. ↑ Adura's IRC logs, 2010-06-29_#minecraft.log, "Jun 29 16:34:50 <visiON> wtf [...] alpha?" ... "Jun 29 16:41:24 <Quatroking> the alpha only gives me 55 fps" ... "Jun 29 16:45:59 <Quatroking> Yeah, it doesn't work in alpha"
  4. ↑ "One month until full time!" (archived) – The Word of Notch, April 30, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Wait, it’s Wednesday!?" (archived) – The Word of Notch, November 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Minecraft Beta: December 20, 2010" (archived) – The Word of Notch, December 11, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Free Minecraft until this gets fixed" (archived) – The Word of Notch, September 18, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Minecraft sees surge in sales following unplanned "free weekend"" (archived) by John Callaham – Big Download News, September 28, 2010.

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