We’ve seen some pretty crazy and complex models added by mods, but Realms of Argoth blows all that stuff out of the water. This expansion being made by Aeron, aims to rework the entirety of Minecraft by adding complex 3D models, new blocks and features while keeping the basic gameplay premise that made Minecraft so popular. Find out more about the mod and read the exclusive interview.
Currently there are several very interesting features already implemented and working. First of all there is a completely reworked interface. The inventory looks a lot different, as it now looks more like the inventory in big RPG games, and has more armor slots like rings and gauntlets. This looks like an interesting addition which could be really awesome if armor stats are improved to be more complex. Hovering over an item will show some stats like durability and damage (on swords).
There are also new decoration blocks. Chairs, stools, cupboards, couches and desks all with very complex, nice looking models will make your house look much nicer. Shelves are implemented and look neat and ladders and stairs have new 3D models. Windows look much better and can be interacted with – opened and closed – and multiple windows are intended to open together on right click. Chests are redesigned to be more realistic and fit in with the rest of the new stuff.
Aeron has also decided to rework wood, making it completely round instead of a block. At first I thought this was going to look awful in the blocky Minecraft world, but the pictures convinced me otherwise – it actually looks pretty cool, and his addition of horizontal logs is very welcome and can be used for house design. An addition are new workstations (like furnaces and craftbenches) which includes an anvil and a sawing table, as well as war banners (which could be very cool in multiplayer). Slopes are a new addition too, and with them you can make better looking roofs and other stuff. I assume they are made using the sawing table.
To expand Minecraft’s mining, new ores are being added, and those include copper, corundum, cobalt, malachite, platinum and more. A cool graphical addition are new models for torches, which are different for ground placed torches and wall attached ones. There is a new player model, this time consisting of more than just cubes, as well as new 3D armor to fit that player model. The mod also includes custom new music.
I talked with the creator of this amazing mod, Aeron about the mod. Here’s the exclusive interview:
LittleDinamit: Let’s start with a simple one. You have a whole lot of features implemented already. What kind of stuff are you planning? Are mobs in the works?
Aeron: Yes, the skeleton model was kinda abbandoned, when I almost completed the skeleton head model, it has too many polygons atm, skeleton mob model will be the first one in the list to be replaced with the new 3d model. About other custom mobs, I have delayed any progress on them until I finish remodeling existing mobs and NPCs, including Snowman and Golem, all the neutral mobs as well, to make out of Minecraft a really beautiful and nice looking 3D game experience.
LittleDinamit: Very interesting. What are you doing with terrain generation? Obviously the game is already good at it, but new stuff could fit in nicely with all the new features you’re implementing, some of which have a very RPG feel to it which terrain generation could use. Do you have any plans for this?
Aeron: Terrain generation is something I am looking forward in the long run, but not in the closest time period, the only addition to it will be the new ore generation, that are now listed a total of 13 new resources of possible 16 by using only one block ID for that purpose. I would definetly love to work later on on things like dungeon generation using the new elements, that will be implemented, which at this point will be only human craftable and not generated in the world, with the exeption of existing models like chest generation in dungeons etc, I only altered chest, so that it has new GUI, larger inventory, stack limit and of course new model.
LittleDinamit: I often read comments on the site from people complaining about certain mod like Evil Minecraft being unplayable due to it requiring more power than vanilla Minecraft. Since your mod has high polygon models as well as other very good looking stuff, how will it impact performance?
Aeron: At the moment Minecraft has seriouse performance issues by itself, that’s why it is using by default simple models and low level textures, on my computer the mod runs roughly at 30-50 fps, which I consider decent enough for current gaming standards, since I play Global Agenda and i get < 30 FPS there. Yes, you will need a more powerful computer than one, which runs default Minecraft, however I will try to do my best to improve the performance in the last stage of development before the first release, I have multiple machines with variouse video cards and processor power to test the performance and based on that post the minimum requirements of hardware to run the mod.
About the 3d models, furniture etc, I try to make them as low polygon as i can, for instance the new armchair has only 93 polygons. I can add that it purely depends on how many models players will stack up in close distances. Try stacking up chests in a pile of 10x10x10 and youll see how “good” is minecrafts performance. It has issues with tile entities in general. Player initial model had 5000 polygons, now 1500, so I really take that into consideration, better less polygons but more stuff in the world than more polygons and barely some things.
LittleDinamit: It’s very reassuring to hear you’re taking care of that. I was wondering about the online side of things. You’ve stated previously the mod will support multiplayer. How is that part of the mod coming along? Are they being codeveloped or do you plan on adding that post-release.
Aeron: Multiplayer is planned post-released and I will be setting up a test server with planned 100 slots for multiplayer testing of the mod, about the form of it I can’t be for sure at the moment, since the person, who wanted to help me on setting it up for multiplayer to run through a Bukkit plugin for Bukkit Server software, I haven’t seen or gotten the chance to contact him since mid March, so I will be coding it based on SP code on standard server software, possibly running with Modloader MP.
LittleDinamit: Sounds like a plan. For this last part, I have a bit of a silly question: Are you going to change the creepy eyes on the default player texture? XD
Aeron: I did change the eyes, though I may alter the face polygons at some point, can’t say for sure, but since I do plan of adding gender support and possibly changable hairstyles, I will have to remodel the head at some point.
LittleDinamit: And those are going to be features for premium members?
Aeron: Possibly yes, because I am thinking of making the customization of your character through a website interface, that will store your appearance through database.
LittleDinamit: Ok. Thank you for your time, it was a great interview.
Honestly, just looking at the screenshots and videos, I could go on about all the new stuff this mod will add. The thread is updated often with pictures of new features, and it looks like this ambitious project will actually see the light of day. To find out more hit up the official mod’s thread:
It cannot be downloaded yet, but it should be ready soon and fully come out this year. Multiplayer support is also planned post-release.
What do you think of the mod? Does it look good to you, or do you think round stuff in Minecraft is blasphemy? If you have any suggestions to be added to the mod you can leave them in the mod’s thread, the creator is taking suggestions. As always, leave your feedback and opinions in the comment section below.
Interview + Preview: Realms of Argoth,
Noooooooo!!! not for just premium members!!!! I have a question though, how will the texture pack system work if it is implied into this mod? and one more question, why isn’t this a game instead of a minecraft mod? cuase its great! XD good luck with completeing it, and don’t tottally get rid of the bukkit support. I have a bukkit server and this would be a great plugin for it.
It doesn’t really fit into Minecraft, at least from what I’ve seen so far. It’s as if he’s trying to make it as much like other RPG games, or as realistic, as possible. I don’t like that. Minecraft is supposed to be, well, blocky! Minecraft is so fun and popular because it’s so unique and simple. Now, I’m not saying he should stop making the mod. Undoubtedly there will be people who disagree with me and think this is one awesome mod. But I don’t like it.
you’re right, I disagree – i think you are a simpleminded fanboy and this mod is fantastic
Wait, you’re telling me I’m right, and then saying that you disagree with me? You just contradicted yourself there, pard’ner.
By the way, I’m merely sharing my opinion. Insulting me for my opinion just proves how stubborn and thick you must be. True, I’m insulting you for your opinion as well. But an eye for an eye, ain’t it? Plus, I’m not saying I hate this mod. It just doesn’t fit into Minecraft, that’s all. And I agree with LittleDinamit, those eyes are creepy.
Absolutely agree. He should make a game, not use Minecraft as his backbone and take over the game.
This mod looks amazing. I think if you want to add stuff you should look at the game Kings field. It looks similar to that game.
One more suggestion, when the hand is selected in first person it should be a fist. and again, good luck on the mod!
Jessica, the reason this is a mod and not a game is because its built off of, and relies, on the foundation of minecraft. anyways, awesome mod, just hope its compatible with the aether 2 when they are both realeses
Nope. This defeats the point in minecraft. Minecraft is a simple, retro low quality textured block based mining game. This mainly focuses on improving the graphics and adding blocks, most of which aren’t cubes. Call me a fanboy if you like, but if you do it just emphasises the lust you have for an RPG game. There’s no point making minecraft into something it isn’t just because people want something else.
Some people enjoy Minecraft’s block breaking mechanics, but also would love some RPG stuff. This is where mods like this one come in. Mods really are just there to personalize your experience more, and it seems a lot of people want this kind of stuff since mods like this exist.
Glad to see someone else agrees with me, JamieLow.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! this mod is tooo coool for minecraft, only one bad thing MINECRAFT HAS NO CIRCLES!!!!!!!
Guys, this is a bit overkill for a mod. Mods, to me, are supposed to ADD things to Minecraft, unfortunately, this overhauls it, and makes it a completely new game! I think that the furniture, the new hub, the sideways wood, and other things, are great ideas, but adding ROUND TREES?! Sorry guys, but this is overkill. What have all of us done, as we start? We punch trees. We kill pigs, and we take control of our world! This just changes it into a new game, and it stops being Minecraft after it becomes a game with rounded edges, and a burly new character model with curves. This deserves to be a new game, not become a game by using Minecraft as a proxy, a place for parasite!
i hate it.too realistic.and that mustache looks like hitlers.
well, you kind of destroy the “real minecraft” because the fun thing with it is that you play with blocks. cool mod though. (ps:that mod makes minecraft more like g-mod.) BUT! it looks cool and should be given credit.
This looks so much like Skyrim i cant even begin…
Amazing. Turning minecraft into something amazing.
round things? In minecraft? blasphemy!! … Looks like an epic mod tho!
I dont think thats minecraft anymore ya know
why has the mod have its own game (i what an aweser from a administrator)
When is this going to be released ‘coz’ my computer cant manage sonic ethers shaders but i want something awesome for a mod, kind of realistic, then i heard this and then I’ve been waiting for it until today. So plzzz dont give up! keep up teh effort because this is so cool. XD