The Minecraft: Story Mode fandom brought out the creative aspects of young fans for many years. With the game being based off Minecraft, it is no surprise that there have been multiple mods, addons, and resource packs dedicated to adding items or blocks that have always been exclusive to Minecraft: Story Mode, such as Cracker's Wither Storm Mod and the MCSM Armors Mod, a select example of mods that allows you to play with such exciting features one would want to play with in actual Minecraft.
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| Credit: chronos_sacria on CurseForge |
However, no other mod has matched the inclusiveness and creativity of Spayzers' Story Mode Additions (abbreviated to SSMA).
Created by Spayzers, SSMA is a Minecraft: Story Mode mod that looks like any other mod that adds features from the game. While it does have the usual addons, such as the MCSM Armor and Order's Amulet, this mod adds so much more than just the blocks you see in Minecraft: Story Mode.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
What makes SSMA stand out is that it takes certain aspects and features from the lore of MCSM and expands it by adding more blocks and items that looks like it would fit into the Minecraft: Story Mode universe.
What does this mean? The colored redstone lamps is a fine example of that. In Minecraft: Story Mode, many people noticed that the redstone lamps aren't just limited to the one color we always see. They come in many other colors, such as blue and magenta.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
SSMA, in this case, takes this simple concept and adds the other dye colors in vanilla Minecraft. The colors have been used to their greatest advantage in Minecraft with its multiple beds and banners, especially in its explosive World of Color update from 2017. Ever since then, more colored items have been added to the game (candles and bundles). Therefore, it only makes sense for redstone lamps to receive the same treatment.
This pattern of adding more color continued with SSMA, into the competitor helmets from Episode 8, as a way of empathizing the concept of more competitor teams, even if they're not seen on-screen. But, of course, it's always up to the player's imagination.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
In addition to the dark cobblestone and netherite-like blocks from the game, SSMA also adds other building blocks, including the MCSM-exclusive doors and windows, as well as its own special type of White Pumpkin. Many which have a ton of potential, but are either background features or not expanded on as much as one expected.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
Of course, a Minecraft: Story Mode mod isn't complete without its fair share of features from the actual game, such as the hostile mobs from Romeo's challenges and the underground prison in Season 2.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
While it may not seem like much right now, apart from the upcoming Prismarine Update that's been teased multiple times, Spayzers and his team are working long and hard to bring players all the exciting items and weapons needed to swim in the Doom Sea and explore the Sea Temple.
The Mod Team consists of a small but creative number of Minecraft: Story Mode fans, some who are well known in the fandom, including CEntertain, joey342, DrEzeanDev (mod of the MCSM Subreddit), P3tr1xx (creator of Raider's Reign), Pak-Vin (content creator), VizualMation (animator), Zer0, and ZiomekZKresu (composer).
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
I spoke with Spayzers, the creator of SSMA and a very good friend of mine. In this exclusive interview, he gives us insight as to what SSMA is, how it came about, as well as the amazing progress he and his team are making so far.
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| Credit: Spayzers |
Could you start off by telling us who you are?
Let's say I'm a "random guy who found the path of creativity". Currently on my last day of high school and trying to start off a YouTube channel by the antagonistic fan's favorite name: Spayzers. Also a fan of voicing a random villain and a really good story builder (currently writing my own one).
I discovered Minecraft Story Mode when I was still in college, and it completely changed my view of story making. I was a fan of Season 1 and even more of Season 2. And when I could finally play Minecraft on my potato powered pc, I realized that there were no MCSM Mods at the time (or at least a good, polished one), so I was kinda sad. Later, still in college, I discovered MCreator, an easy to make modding application with little to no effort, I remember my first mod was something... pretty bad and really generic with no real effort.
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| Credit: Spayzers |
But then, it hit me: No (well polished) MCSM Mod existed at the time, and it seemed like no one was going to take the role of reviving every MCSM aspect into Minecraft. So I decided to take that role.
Of course, the first version of my new entitled mod "Spayzers' Story Mode Additions " wasn't in the spectrum of the word good. Mobs were just... walking and punching, [there was] bad AI [and] animation, and I was horrible at coding stuff.
But as time flew on, I started to gain knowledge about the thing that could help me: animation, modeling, texturing and other stuff. Now, my mob was... still walking and punching, but this time with fancy AI and animation.
How did you come up with the idea of SSMA?
I wanted something unique, that people could remember and play with loads of fun. The MCSM elements were great, but they were missing something... a whole lot of... additions. Things that could be filled with adding other elements. That is why I took the decision of adding unique things to SSMA, and tried to make them as lookingly canon from MCSM.
What makes SSMA stand out so much, apart from other MCSM mods?
Well, If I had to answer this, it's the creative route I decided to took. As [stated] earlier, I wanted to fill those holes of content by making additions of stuff that came fresh from my mind, while still trying to keep a canon style from the original MCSM.
One other thing I'd say is the fact that I took a more RPG style, where you progress through bosses, each getting harder and harder over the course of the adventure, along with a not-totally linear progression. The amulet can (and will be) used to find structure, but it just can, because you don't need it to find all structures, you can find them naturally (expect yourself to be real lucky bud). But after the Overworld route, things become a lil more linear, though I won't spoil future plan for SSMA for draaamaaaa.
That's interesting. I feel like that's how many people always approached it when it comes to SSMA and Minecraft lore in general! Speaking of which, what features does SSMA have right now?
If you're talking about the public version that are available, not much at all. This version is not in a state where players could start a survival playthrough, as it was made when I wasn't organized at all.
However, if you are talking about the version in development, things have changed a lot.
Most of the elements from the previous version were removed, as they would've served no purpose until their respective update arrived.
Mobs such as the prismarine foes now have polished AI, will well-made animated attacks and a clear gear level to actually stand against them.
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| Credit: Spayzers on CurseForge |
The White Pumpkin received a rework too! Before her attacks were way too... bad and non challenging. Now, she can jump and run if you're too far, knock you far away from her, re-gen if she is low and summon converted mobs to help her out!
Two biomes are also in development: the Spooky Forest and the Doom Sea, each will receive their amount of content to not bore up the player.
Armors also have unique abilities! I won't spoil them to keep the tension for players, but my goal was that each armor have the same level, but have each unique abilities to help players in various ways.
But one of my favorite features (and last one I'll share) is the capacity bar! You see the 'lil stamina bar you had in MCSM Season 2? Yeah, it had been turned into a cool bar that allows you to use special skills from weapon or armor. Pretty cool right?
Overall, I say that more and more features will rise in the making of SSMA, making the mod way more unique over the time!
What are you most excited about, in regards to the upcoming Prismarine update? I know you’ve been teasing us with updates and features in the Discord server, and I feel like it could live up to the hype, with what you told us about the improvements so far.
I'm expecting lots of change. People were already hyped about SSMA, even with the unorganized alpha version, so seeing the next update will blow their minds. It will be THE update that will install a survival state to the mod, where players will be able to play in survival and explore the world and its new elements. New challenges, dangerous mansion, and a terrifying Prismarine Colossus...
[I am also expecting] a flood of new people in the Discord Server, if the update succeeds and YouTubers advertise it. So I gotta prepare a team of moderators for that.
That sounds exciting! I feel like this update will definitely elevate SSMA to a whole new level. Have you seen players use the expanded SSMA features and lore to their advantage, in fan fictions or play throughs in general? If so, how do you feel about it, as the creator of such a mod?
For now, I haven't seen anyone do stuff about SSMA. But I'm pretty sure they'll do in the future, as the mod will probably be open source, such as mob idea, items, and who knows!
I noticed that on CurseForge, you had a list of ideas on what we would expect in the future of SSMA, and given how well the Prismarine Update is going so far, I feel like there could be more than what has already been listed. Did you have any other plans for the future of SSMA, or is that a secret as well?
Well, since it has been shown on CurseForge, there's no need to hide it.
The mod will add everything from MCSM (except the Wither Storm). It will definitely take time, but in the end it will be worth it. From what we discussed with some mod devs, the next update will probably be about PAMA... but for now, lets finish what's need to be finished.
Some unused mobs in MCSM will also have their appearance in the mod, such as the prismarine creeper which has already been teased, but also others that will offer new challenges to players.
I'm also planning two new dimensions: The Skyline (still a concept name) and a reworn of the Underneath, with 5 already imagined biomes ready to be in!
Overall, each update will have their fair amount of content, and the mod will have an end one day: When the Admin will be added, SSMA will probably stop receive updates. I'll probably update it to fix bug and switch to new version, but other than that, the mod will be finished once the Admin will be a defeatable foe.
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| A preview snapshot from SSMA's mod progress on Discord |
That sounds wonderful. And I also assume you'll be adding small things via the stuff from the ideas and suggestions area as well (if it fits, of course)?
Yes! I want the MCSM community to be able to contribute to SSMA. So if there's a good idea that me and the other mod devs really like, it gets in!
Followers of the SSMA updates can join the official Discord server and post their own ideas on what they would like to see in the mod, within the foreseeable future.
Spayzers has been teasing so much more potential updates for the future of SSMA, which is exciting to hear. Just yesterday, he presented some more progress on the Prismarine Update, which included a preview/showcase of the Prismarine Mobs in this striking video here.
As of now, there is no confirmed release date for the upcoming Prismarine Update, but it is expected to come out later in the year.
For anyone who may be interested in the mod, you may download it via CurseForge, or join the official Discord server to receive more news and updates, regarding the mod's progress.
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