Download Minecraft Snapshot 12w40a - Flatworld Trees, Strongholds, Hotkeys

12w40a is an 'ease of use' and performance update for Minecraft as Mojang head towards the pretty scary update. Download 12w40a and you'll find new options for generating flatworlds including adding trees and strongholds. Picking blocks is now easier thanks to the hotkeys and custom map makers have new NBT tags for several items.

12w40a - New Features

Minor terrain changes for the Witch mob
Flatworld configuration now supports the addition of trees, strongholds etc.
New NBT tags for several items - making it easier for map makers to weave their creative magic
Pick block now works on items
Hotkeys 1-9 can be used to immediately store an item into your inventory whilst hovering over it
Left click no longer performs the following actions - open doors, pull levers, push buttons or open trapdoors
Fire spreads at a slower rate and will not spread indefinitely. No wildfires destroying everything
Your usual collection of bug fixes

What features didn't make it

Unfortunately, Nathans improvements to the lighting system haven't been included in this snapshot and are unlikely to make it into 1.4. If you've been following his development recently, you'll know that he was making some great perfections to the lighting physics such as light not penetrating walls from the back of furnaces etc.

Between themselves, Jeb and Nathan have made the call to leave the new lighting code out of 1.4 until it's been fully tested. Makes sense really, who wants performance problems again just because of some fancy light fixes? Not me.

Minecraft 1.4 - The Pretty Scary Update - Release Date

During his mojang blog post, Jeb also confirmed the release date for Minecraft 1.4 - The Pretty Scary update. It's confirmed for the 24th October, a week before Halloween takes place. Expect your usual pre-release to take place 1 week before that date, which gives us only one more snapshot next week - 12w41a.