Add Early Winter 2024 post

.vscode/settings.json

@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@
 			"language": "markdown",
 			"scheme": "file",
 			"pattern": "_posts/2023-04-00-March.md"
+		},
+		{
+			"language": "markdown",
+			"scheme": "file",
+			"pattern": "_posts/2024-01-17-January.md"
 		}
 	]
 }

_posts/2024-01-29-January.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "Top of the Year in Minetest (16)"
+contributors:
+  - Zughy
+  - rubenwardy
+  - jordan4ibanez
+  - Bituvo
+  - Apercy
+  - BuckarooBanzay
+  - jdiego
+  - grorp
+  - Luatic
+authors:
+  - MisterE
+description: >
+  Recently in Minetest, there have been graphical, API, and user interface
+  improvements to the engine. We welcome a new core developer, Lars M. We also
+  applaud the winners of the 2023 Game Jam, present some recently added mods, and
+  look forward to FOSDEM 2024!
+tags:
+  - last_month
+image: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/header.png
+
+# forum_topic: https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29889
+
+# pulls: https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pull
+gallery_apercy:
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/vwbug.jpg
+  caption: Lovebug 🪲
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/savoia.jpg
+  caption: Savoia S21 from "Porco Rosso"
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/ww1plane.jpg
+  caption: WW1 planes
+gallery_BlEx:
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/better_details.png
+  caption: Better Details page
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/featuredschems.png
+  caption: Featured Schematics
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/login_options.png
+  caption: More Login Options
+gallery_temple:
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/Mortuary_Temple_of_Ramesses_III_at_Medinet_Habu.png
+  caption: Overhead view
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/Mortuary_Temple_of_Ramesses_III_at_Medinet_Habu_2.png
+  caption: Inside
+- src: /static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/Mortuary_Temple_of_Ramesses_III_at_Medinet_Habu_3.png
+  caption: The Wall
+---
+
+Recently in Minetest, there have been graphical, API, and user interface
+improvements to the engine. We welcome a new core developer, Lars M. We also
+applaud the winners of the 2023 Game Jam, present some recently added mods, and
+look forward to FOSDEM 2024!
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+- [Engine News](#engine-news)
+- [2023 Game Jam Winners](#2023-game-jam-winners)
+- [Mods News](#mods-news)
+- [Art and Builds](#art-and-builds)
+- [Other News](#other-news)
+- [FOSDEM 2024](#fosdem-2024)
+- [Contributing to Minetest](#contributing-to-minetest)
+
+## Engine News
+
+### New core dev: Lars M.
+
+The community welcomes Lars M. (aka Luatic, appguru(eu), LMD) ([Github](https://github.com/appgurueu),
+[ContentDB](https://content.minetest.net/users/LMD/)), a longtime community member, as the newest Core Dev.
+He is active in the effort to modernize Minetest's mesh loader with the glTF
+format. He also has a PR to limit the observers of objects, allowing entities to be
+hidden from players.
+
+### Improved input: gamepad support and dynamic touchscreen support
+
+Progress is being made towards moving to SDL2 input support, which will allow
+Minetest to be controlled with a gamepad, mouse and keyboard, or a touchscreen
+on any platform. We’ve received a lot of feedback about the lack of mouse and
+keyboard on Android and gamepad support generally, and so switching to SDL2 was
+made a big priority.
+
+Additionally, work is being done to make it possible to switch between
+touchscreen and mouse modes at runtime, which will allow laptops with touch
+screens or Android devices to switch between modes while playing.
+See: [PR #14075](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pull/14075) and [PR #14146](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pull/14146)
+
+### Code-defined Entity Animation Improvements
+
+Lars [contributed new features](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pull/12388) to entity model bone overrides, which allow
+setting model bones' position, rotation, and scale in a relative and/or
+interpolated manner. This finally allows smooth code-defined animations.
+
+### God Rays Shaders
+
+x2048's god rays shader implementation was adopted by lhofhansl and was merged
+into the development version of Minetest 5.9. Game developers will have to
+enable the [new lighting API features](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/40bf88ac7483084c3ba9b77004c36c6f62ed05ca/doc/lua_api.md?plain=1#L8086)
+for godrays to be enabled, and players will have to enable bloom
+and volumetric light in their settings.
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/volumetric.png" caption='Example of Volumetric lighting in Minetest Game' %}
+
+### Customizable Android tool input
+
+Many items that are used by holding the right mouse button, such as
+bows and shields from MineClone2. Until now, these items didn't work on
+touchscreens. The recently merged [PR #14087](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pull/14087) by grorp allows game and mod makers
+to fix this. Also, with grorp's PR, Touchscreen players can now punch other
+players or entities with a short tap instead of a long tap, which improves the
+combat experience and brings Minetest closer to other voxel games on Android.
+
+## 2023 Game Jam Winners
+
+The 2023 Game Jam was held in December. The theme was "Unexpected". Contestants
+had three weeks to make a game from scratch and submit it to ContentDB.
+Then the community ranked their favorites on the new
+[Game Jam Site](https://jam.minetest.net). Here are your picks:
+
+### 1st Place: Citadel by Irevol
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/Citadel.png" caption='The Ruins of the Citadel' %}
+
+Weave through the past and future in the 4-dimensional parkour puzzle game of
+[Citadel](https://content.minetest.net/packages/_Irevol_/citadel/) by [Irevol](https://content.minetest.net/users/_Irevol_/). You are a daring explorer who searches the ruins of an
+ancient citadel. You find mysterious runes which allow you to navigate the ages.
+Use your powers to navigate space and time and unearth the secrets and treasures
+of the Citadel.
+
+
+### 2nd Place: The Velvet Crystal by Regulus
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/velvet_crystal.png" caption='The mission begins.' %}
+
+Recover the lost crystal and bring the light back into the world in [The Velvet
+Crystal](https://content.minetest.net/packages/regulus/regulus_mtgamejam_2023/) by [Regulus](https://content.minetest.net/users/regulus/), a Parkour game with a twist. Use a wand to do stunts and to
+help you navigate the castle. Defeat the boss at the end to restore the light.
+
+### 3rd place: The Unexpected Gambit by NO11
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/gambit.png" caption='Your Move.' %}
+
+Are you a chess Master? [The Unexpected Gambit](https://content.minetest.net/packages/NO11/the_unexpected_gambit/) by [NO11](https://content.minetest.net/users/NO11/) will keep you on your toes
+with crazy moves that come at unexpected moments. The game is well-polished and
+executes the jam theme in an interesting way.
+
+### Honorable Mentions
+
+Thanks to everyone who participated in the jam and congratulations to the
+winners! Here are some other interesting projects that came out of the 2023 Jam.
+We hope all the jam games will continue to receive updates and become polished
+examples of what Minetest can do while giving players great experiences.
+
+#### MineOS
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/mineos.png" caption='It can even run Boom!' %}
+
+[MineOS](https://content.minetest.net/packages/jordan4ibanez/mineos/) by [jordan4ibanez](https://content.minetest.net/users/jordan4ibanez/) is an astonishing demo, for those of us who are familiar
+with Minetest's GUI capabilities. It implements a polished graphical operating
+system with retro sound effects and animations and includes several windowed
+apps to play around with, including a 3d doom-like shooter. It certainly was
+unexpected.
+
+#### Shadow Forest
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/shadowForest.png" caption='The shadows are coming!' %}
+
+[Shadow Forest](https://content.minetest.net/packages/Wuzzy/shadow_forest/) by [Wuzzy](https://content.minetest.net/users/Wuzzy/) is a polished role-playing game, where you play a wizard
+with a light orb companion. It is your job to rid the forest of shadows which
+have invaded it. Use your weapons to defeat enemies, but don't become too caught
+up in battle and stall your progress through the world.
+
+#### Air Game
+
+by wsor
+
+*this section was left intentionally blank*
+
+
+## Mods News
+
+### Vehicles from Apercy
+
+{% include figure_gallery.html items=page.gallery_apercy %}
+
+[APercy](https://content.minetest.net/users/apercy/) has continued creating
+lots more quality vehicle mods since the last post, including a VW bug addition
+to [Automobiles Pack](https://content.minetest.net/packages/apercy/automobiles_pck/),
+the [Savoia S21 airplane](https://content.minetest.net/packages/apercy/savoia_s21/)
+from the "Porco Rosso" anime movie, and a
+[WW1 airplane combat mod](https://content.minetest.net/packages/apercy/ww1_planes/).
+
+### TypeScript For Minetest
+
+[jordan4ibanez](https://content.minetest.net/users/jordan4ibanez/) has created a
+[TypeScript modding system]() on top of the Lua API using the TypeScriptToLua
+compiler. He made a custom TypeScript typing system specifically for Minetest
+and is using it in his project
+[ForgottenLands](https://github.com/jordan4ibanez/forgotten-lands).
+
+### BlockExchange
+
+{% include figure_gallery.html items=page.gallery_BlEx %}
+
+The [Blockexchange project](https://content.minetest.net/packages/BuckarooBanzay/blockexchange/) by [BuckarooBanzay](https://content.minetest.net/users/BuckarooBanzay/) has undergone internal rewrites and
+enhancements that improve the overall usability, such as logging in with
+ContentDB, featured schematics on the homepage, better schematic detail pages
+with CDB collections and markdown support, and a new UI with faster response
+times. Check out the new features here: <https://blockexchange.minetest.ch/>
+
+
+## Art and Builds
+
+### Egyptian Temple
+
+{% include figure_gallery.html items=page.gallery_temple %}
+
+"Egyptian Temple" by jdiego, was built using references of the Mortuary Temple
+of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu.
+
+### ColorLand Spawn
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/colorland.png" caption='Spawn at the Colorland Server' %}
+
+### Digilines Computer
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/digilines_comp.png" caption=' The ventilated computer with several commands executed on its large screen, by Bituvo. The Digilines computer can be found on the server "Eden Lost". From spawn, go to the "travelnets" section, and go to the first travelnet on the right labeled "Thresher". Visit the "Computer" station.
+' %}
+
+## Other News
+
+### Minetest at Events in December
+
+In late 2023, Minetest was featured at several conventions around Italy thanks
+to Zughy and his sponsor Italian Linux Society. Zughy has brought Minetest to
+several events in Northern and Central Italy from underground videogame
+festivals like [Zona Warpa](https://www.zonawarpa.it/) to Free software events like [MERGE-it](https://merge-it.net/). He demoed games
+and gave talks (you can listen to one of them [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBZoPYleoX4), in spaghetti language 🍝 ). In
+December, Zughy also presented a workshop at Empoli for the first time, where
+participants learned how to create a complete minigame from scratch using
+[arena_lib](https://content.minetest.net/packages/Zughy/arena_lib/). It doesn't seem like these events are going to stop. What's next?
+FOSDEM!
+
+## FOSDEM 2024
+
+Minetest will be at FOSDEM 2024. FOSDEM is the largest conference in Europe for
+free and open-source software and will be held from 3rd to 4th February in
+Brussels, Belgium. We'll be running a booth, showing off Minetest, giving out
+stickers and goodies, and introducing visitors to the Minetest!
+
+If you happen to be in the area, come say hi!
+
+{% include figure.html src="/static/blog/2024_TopOfYear/minetest_at_freenode_live_2018.jpg" caption='Minetest at Freenode Live in 2018' %}
+
+See: [FOSDEM stands this year](https://fosdem.org/2024/news/2023-11-20-accepted-stands-fosdem-2024/)
+
+## Contributing to Minetest
+
+Want to contribute to Minetest but don't know where to start?
+Start with [these simple issues](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22)!
+
+Want to help fix the [most annoying bugs]((https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3ABug+label%3A%22High+priority%22)) for the community? Please do!
+
+Want to add a feature and you're not sure if it will be accepted? Have a look at
+the [roadmap](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/direction.md) or [choose an issue with the "Supported by core dev" label](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22Supported+by+core+dev%22)!
+
+Are you a professional artist or UI designer? Help us make our main menu more
+appealing and [help create an identity for Minetest](https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues/6733)!