It's not affecting the monsters, and it's more than just adding height.
It's a complete change of how the data is stored, which makes it more efficient and more flexible for mod authors.
It shouldn't take as long as it is, but I guess that's a combination of:
1a) Minecraft storing each region (512x512 block areas) in individual files;
1b) Us lot having explored and built things across relatively vast area;
1c) the server being Windows, which isn't great at handling large numbers of files;
2) Mojang not bothering to performance test the process on non-small worlds, and thus putting little/no effort into optimising the code once it was completed.
(Mostly I suspect it's down to reason 2 there.)
I was being a bit facetious there Pete. But yeah I agree it's probably #2 mostly. It's a fun game but I don't think I understand why it's written in Java.
Simple: because Notch knew Java.
And that's not really the problem - Java is perfectly capable of being fast enough.
Assuming the in-game converter uses the same code as the standalone tool, which I just had a quick look at, then the slowness probably comes from a bunch of debugging functions left turned on, (and using an exponentially slow method of concatenating strings for some of them).
*shrug* Oh well.
Yup. Oh well. Better than I can do.
Can we have a hangout while it's processing with you slowly unwinding a piece of ribbon ad if it's a progress bar?
It's going to have to be a very long piece of ribbon or I'm going to have to do it verrrrrrrrry slowly.
(79%)
Turns out it's only utilizing one core rather than two. Stupid thing.
(86%)
World done, now The Nether and The End to do. But they'll be quick, much much quicker.
All done. You can update to 1.2.3.
Maybe Jon can now finish his dome!
You're not a Java programmer.
People excusing incompetance because they're unable to do better is one of the reasons the world is as fucked up as it is! :@
Yeah but criticizing something that you can't do better yourself is a dickish move.
But that doesn't stop me from doing it! :-D
No it's not! :@ If you hire a plumber to fix a leak and they end up flooding the room in the process, you don't say "oh that's ok, I couldn't do better".
That's an excellent analogy, which I will remember for future use as a witty comeback.
I agree with that one. But if someone invented a car that was perfectly driveable but only got 3mpg what would you say?
I can't invent a car, and it works fine, just sucks on mileage.
Your argument works when someone fucks up though.
I'm talking about fuck-ups.
If their aim was to produce a usable car, and they end up with only 1.2 km/l then they have screwed up.
You can't go shouting at schools kids at science fairs for failing to do something great, but you absolutely can if professionals are set a task and come up with lousy results.
I kind of agree. But I think it's on a case by case thing. But usually I just ridicule the person and pretend in my mind that I could do much better if I wanted to.