Tag Archives: modding

Gaming and Technology

My Modpacks: Updates, Insights, and Future Steps

In this week’s blog post, I’m diving into my modpacks: what they are, their current status, and when you can expect to download and play them yourself. Just to clarify, all of my modpacks are currently designed for Minecraft 1.20.1.

Before I explain my modpacks, let me explain the three statuses of modpacks and what each one is:

  • Alpha: Active development of the modpack – no private or public releases
  • Beta: Released for private testing on my Discord server (must be a Ko-fi Full Member or Twitch Subscriber to access the files and reports area), with bug fixes after they are reported. Lasts for six months.
  • Public: Released to CurseForge for anyone to download and play. Updates if game-breaking bugs are found.

My first modpack is called Peaceful Mekanism, and it is designed to help the player learn the Mekanism mod in Peaceful mode. There are no mods which do things that the Mekanism mod can do itself, even if they are late-game. It is currently in Alpha. It will be released for Beta-testing after I do a full YouTube series on it, probably after my Factorio series ends, as it will likely be completed before my Banished series is done. If you’re interested in joining the beta testing or following the development journey, make sure to check out my Discord and YouTube channels for updates!

The next modpack is called The Land of Peace and it is focused around the Minecolonies mod with ProjectE assisting (maining to provide resources that have no limit). The task of the player is to build a settlement into a thriving town in Peaceful mode. With its emphasis on creating a peaceful, thriving town, this modpack offers a unique and relaxing gameplay experience for those who enjoy building and strategizing without the pressure of hostile mobs. It is currently in Beta, although the files on the Discord don’t match what I’m currently testing as I reverted to the Beta 1.0 release with some small changes. It will be released to the public in about three months time.

My final modpack is called Creative Engineering and it’s in Alpha. This modpack is for the first season of the YouTube series of the same name, and will be changing between seasons. It will be entered into Beta after the end of the current season. Season one’s modpack is focused around surviving on a classic flat world with the assistance of mods in Peaceful mode. As the world is just four blocks deep, mining is out of the question in this modpack, and thus you will have to follow a similar process to a skyblock world, except without the fear of falling into the void to your death. Stay tuned for updates as the season unfolds and this modpack evolves in preparation for Beta!

As you can tell, I have three very different modpacks currently under development. I have not listed here the two modpacks that are already available to the public on CurseForge as they were for an earlier version of the game. I enjoy coming with new concepts for modpacks and if you have an idea, I’d love to read your idea in the comments! There are a few limitations to what I add to my modpacks like an emphasis on avoiding magic and preferring technology, and that they must be playable in Peaceful mode, so please keep that in mind when suggesting an idea. I’m looking forward to reading your ideas and exploring new possibilities together!

Gaming and Technology

Why An Authorized Pokemon Mod for Minecraft is Needed

I enjoy Minecraft (well, modded at least, but you get the point). I also enjoy Pokémon—I remember playing one of the handheld games as a child. I won against the Elite Four and the Champion on my GameBoy Color, and I enjoyed playing the version that was set in the Orre region, though I never finished it. Imagine if you could enjoy aspects of Pokémon in Minecraft safely and legally—what adventures could you come up with, and what sorts of battles you could have, both against wild Pokémon and in multiplayer, against other trainers! You could build your own Pokémon center—make it as big as you wanted, as long as you had the materials! You could maybe even challenge gyms that spawned in villages and earn a unique reward when you won—or even a badge toward a bigger battle with the ultimate reward. The possibilities would be nearly endless!

The history of unauthorized Pokémon mods goes back a few years. The first unauthorized Pokémon mod, Pixelmon, did not have a good reputation with the community at large due to hidden code that allowed the developers to shut down servers that didn’t follow their rules—not Mojang’s or The Pokémon Company’s, but theirs. Due to this, and their use of copyrighted materials such as sounds and images, the developers were sent a cease and desist letter from Mojang in 2017, which they complied with. However, the mod has been revived several times since then by others after the base code was leaked. Pixelmon Reforged, Pixelmon Generations, and Cobblemon are three more unauthorized Pokémon mods for Minecraft, but sooner or later, I bet that Nintendo and/or The Pokémon Company will move to shut them down to protect their intellectual property, which they need to do in order to safeguard it.

I believe there is a way to get an authorized Pokémon mod for Minecraft. Yes, monetization is a factor that would appeal to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company (as they are both driven by profit), but I don’t think it should be the key aspect. Instead, an authorized mod would help their companies stay relevant and open Pokémon up to people who have never heard of the anime, games (both card and video), or manga. There could even eventually be a Pokémon World Championship tournament like there was in the anime—imagine seeing someone acknowledged as the best player of the game! Right now, this is impossible with the mods not being authorized. Additionally, an authorized mod could be trusted by the community to not have malicious code that would harm your game, and it would be compatible with the version it was designed for.

Personally, I will only ever support an authorized version of Pokémon as a mod for Minecraft and not include it in my Minecraft video series until this is accomplished. This aligns with my goals of making my content both family-friendly and ethical. I use tools like the YouTube Audio Library and Content ID to ensure that I am compliant with copyright at all times in my productions. If I’m uncertain about whether or not I can include something, I keep it out. For example, I encountered issues with copyright using Pretzel Rocks for my livestreams to provide background music, so I decided to stop using it. I’d rather use the normal Minecraft music (which I know is safe to use) than deal with the hassle of copyright claims on my livestream VODs. I have chosen in the past not to post videos when they went against these principles, and I will do so again in the future—you can count on it!

Once again, I call for an authorized Pokémon mod for Minecraft—just imagine the possibilities and how it could extend the shelf life of both games with such support! An official mod would not only ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for players but also foster a thriving community of Pokémon and Minecraft fans. It would open up new creative and competitive opportunities, from building intricate Pokémon-themed structures to participating in epic battles and tournaments. By supporting an authorized mod, we can encourage Nintendo and The Pokémon Company to collaborate with Mojang and bring this dream to life. Together, let’s advocate for a mod that respects intellectual property, enhances our gaming adventures, and paves the way for even greater innovations in the future. Join me in this call to action, and let’s make our voices heard!