Pocket Edition Alpha

Pocket Edition Alpha

Starting version	v0.1.0 alpha (August 16, 2011)
Latest version	v0.16.2 alpha (November 18, 2016)
Paid	Yes
Pocket Edition ►►

{
    "title": "Pocket Edition Alpha",
    "images": [
        "Pocket Edition v0.1.0 alpha (Xperia Play).png",
        "Pocket Edition 0.16.2.png"
    ],
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "(link to Pocket Edition v0.1.0 alpha article, displayed as v0.1.0 alpha) (August 16, 2011)",
            "label": "Starting version"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Pocket Edition v0.16.2 alpha article, displayed as v0.16.2 alpha) (November 18, 2016)",
            "label": "Latest version"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes",
            "label": "Paid"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [],
    "footer": "<div style=\"display:inline-block\">\n\n<div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:0 .4em\">[[Pocket Edition#Full Release|Pocket Edition <span style=\"margin-right:-0.35em\">►</span>►]]</div>\n</div>"
}

Alpha was the first development phase of Pocket Edition, developed for over 5 years, from August 16, 2011, to November 17, 2016. Alpha was succeeded by the full release of Pocket Edition 1.0.0 on December 19, 2016.

Unique Features

Blocks

• Water color can be changed in cauldrons by adding dyes. This dyed water can be used to dye items such as leather armor.
• Cauldrons can store potions, and will make an explosion sound (not a real explosion) if potions are mixed, making the potions disappear. Potions in cauldrons can be used to make a tipped arrow.
• Chests are directional; adjacent chests will not connect to form a large chest if they are facing different directions. Chests can be placed next to a large chest horizontally.
• Glowing obsidian, which replaced the nether reactor structure, except for the nether reactor core block.
• Invisible bedrock which generates at the edges of the world.
• Nether reactor core, which was used to generate nether reactors before the addition of the Nether.
• Stonecutters, used to craft stone-related items as there was not enough space in the crafting system.
• Update game block, which appears when a world with blocks added in a newer version is loaded in an older version.

Items

• Leather armor can be dyed in cauldrons, instead of in the crafting grid.
• Leather horse armor can be dyed using a cauldron, and can be crafted using 7 leather in the shape of an "H".

World generation

• Early versions used terrain and biome generation akin to that of Java Edition Beta. (more specifically, Alpha v1.2.0 to Beta 1.7.3)
  • Alpha v0.9.0 and subsequent versions brought both more in line with Java Edition 1.7.2 and beyond.
• Biomes that would exceed the 128-block height are shrunk to fit in, although the maximum tall block is 256 block height limit.
• Far lands in infinite worlds generate Far Lands since X/Z: ±12,550,821, like prior to Java Beta 1.8.
• Old world type
  • Generates as a finite world 256 blocks in length and width, while 128 blocks in height.
  • Nether and end portals cannot be activated.
• Nether reactor, which was used before the addition of the Nether: generates a large spire made of netherrack.
• Fallen trees, which are composed of a trunk lying on its side, sometimes with vines and mushrooms, and a stump one to two blocks away in the direction the rings are facing.
• Flat world type

Gameplay

• The HUD and other elements are adapted to mobile standards of gameplay. Interactions are made via touchscreen (both the iOS and Android versions of Pocket Edition have the same gameplay).
  • Crafting uses the MATTIS system, and items are disposed of by long-tapping their icon on the toolbar.
  • For better visibility, blocks being aimed at are highlighted rather than outlined.
  • Curiously, these versions of Pocket Edition have the fewest amount of inventory slots for use, that being three.
  • Note that the One Block At A Time April Fools joke of 2022 is not the one to have the fewest slots, as via riding a horse, donkey, mule or llama, you can access its inventory, and in turn your own.
• Windows 10 Edition's crafting menu is similar to Java's and Console's crafting menus.
• Multiplayer allows for four ways of player connection:
  • Through LAN, which allows 5 players to be on a single world.
  • Through Pocket Realms; Pocket Realms was closed in Alpha v0.7.6 and was available again in Alpha v0.15.0.
  • Through a user-created external server.
  • Through Xbox Live.

General

• Add-ons, used to change the way things in the game look and behave.
• Behavior packs, which are used to change the behavior of entities.
• World templates, which can be used to import the world from outside.
• Skins have extra pixels on the skin model, and multiple skin packs are available.