How to set up a perfect split screen for Minecraft on your PC

Today I wondered how to properly split the screen when playing Minecraft in split screen with the Joypad / Split Scren Mod. Before I got a second monitor I just used the Windows 7 snap docking functionality to split the screen evenly between two Minecraft windows, and nowadays I just run each window on a separate display. But this works only for the two players, and is kinda ugly since window borders are still being displayed:

Today I found a better solution - programs named WinSplit Revolution and WinExplorer.

Minecraft Joypad Mod 0.12.1

Minecraft forum user under the name "Maguin" noticed that the "shift click" functionality used to quickly transfer items between the containers is not working correctly in the 0.12, so I'm releasing the fix.

Changelog for version 0.12.1:

-[fix] fixed the "shift click" functionality

Thanks for noticing it!

Download the Joypad / SplitScreen mod

A small milestone

I just visited my mediafire profile and noticed that Minecraft Joypad/Split screen mod has been downloaded over 22 thousand times since the beginning of the project. Thats a serious number. Huge thumbs up for all contributors and users without which the mod would not exist. You rock!

Introducing 1.4.6

Hi all,

I have updated my Joypad/Split Screen mod to the newest version of the Minecraft (1.4.6).

Changelog for version 0.12.0:

• ported all bugs and features to Minecraft 1.4.6

There are no new features (that I know of), but I plan to fix some long standing issues in the future, as well as investigate some possible developments. For now, enjoy the new old Joypad Mod.

Get it here.

Playing backups on GameCube - making your own XenoGC

When faced with the problem of scratching discs one starts to seek the alternatives to wearing out once expensive GameCube games. One solution is making a backup copies of our games and playing (and inevitably scratching) them while the original ones sit safely on the shelf.
Creating and playing backups is not endorsed by Nintendo so we need to somehow fit our GameCube with the possibility to load copies on our own. Popular choices include SD Media Launcher as a non-intrusive solution or the variety of modchips which have to be soldered to the drive control board in order to operate. A few short years ago the XenoGC modchip was amongst the most used chips on the market due to it's low price, relatively easy installation and good compatibility. Unfortunately, nowadays it's quite rare to stumble upon an affordable and available modchip. It seems that the XenoGC authors have ended the production and the few units resellers still have in stock have reached the high price level. Thankfully the authors have also released the full sources of the XenoGC firmware, so with a bit of determination and right tools we can change a small, cheap heap of electronics into a working XenoGC modchip.

All you need now is a hammer

Minecraft Joypad Mod v0.11.3

Hello,

After quite some time I've decided to port my Joypad Mod to the newest version of Minecraft - 1.3.2. I'm happy to announce that the work is done, and the version 0.11.3 - released. Read more for some back story.

Minecraft Joypad Mod v0.10

Hello,

Last couple of days I've been working on improving the Joypad Mod. I'm happy to announce that the version 0.10 is ready for testing.

Minecraft Joypad Mod Installation Instructions Video

Minecraftforum.net's user with a nickname Linus371 created an instructional video for installing the Joypad Mod, and running the game in 2-player splitscreen. Thanks!

Minecraft Joypad Mod v0.9

Hi,

I've released an update to the Minecraft Joypad Mod. Here's the changelog:

[add] added fully analog movement
[fix] fixed sneaking at walk speed (oops)
[fix] fixed OutOfBounds exception when using a joypad with less than 4 axes
[fix] fixed large chest navigation (you can reach all items now)
[fix] improved navigation in dispenser and brewing stand (you can't exit the boudaries anymore)
[fix] tweaked navigation in other screens (mostly wrapping in corner cases)

Minecraft Joypad Mod v0.8

Hi all,

Just a quick update from my side. Based on the feedback I've received so far, I released the new version of the Joypad Mod. It has some improvements and a bit of new features:

Playing Minecraft in split screen on PC and other funny stories

A few weeks ago I felt a sudden urge to play some Minecraft with my brother. We both have accounts on minecraft.net, but my PC is the only one in our household capable of running it smoothly. Besides, we prefer the same-room multiplayer, preferably hot-seat (like in Worms) or split screen (so many hours lost on Left 4 Dead), so regular Minecraft multiplayer was out of the question.

I started looking into available options. Minecraft didn't have a split screen option, unlike the upcoming XBox 360 version. Searching for mods that added the functionality revealed no results. Then I remembered of a method of playing another game, Borderlands, in semi-splitscreen. It was based on running two instances of a game in a window, and connecting to each other in LAN. Add a bunch of scripts, boarder-less (no pun intended) windows, and you have yourself a playable game.

So, if I could run and control two instances of Minecraft, after connecting to the same server I would have some real world, first class, same room multiplayer fun. I could even connect a second monitor and play it really comfortably.

The quest was on finding a way to control both instances separately. Minecraft didn't support joypad input, and I haven't found a mod that does that neither. Other possible solutions included programs like Joy2Key and xpadder to map the joypad buttons and axes into keyboard and mouse input. But doing so would not resolve the problem because only one window can receive keyboard and mouse input at a time, and having two windows open, only one would be focused. Having found no available solution to the problem, I decided to try and develop one myself.