Notch and Jeb lately released two screenshots that show some features of the highly anticipated 1.8 update of Minecraft, the so called "Adventure Update".

 

 Read on for a full list of confirmed and speculated features as well as the full sized screenshots.

Features found in the pictures:

• NPC villages
• giant mushrooms - browns and red ones
• ravines (just behind the village on the right)
• Ruins!
• new building materials (stone bricks, mossy stone bricks, cracked stone bricks)
• some kind of wierd gate in the ruins, maybe iron bars

From previous pictures we also know torches are going to give off a warmer light, and nighttime will give off a blueish light. Cobwebs, cocoa bean trees, spikes and a new mob type are also very likely to be added. Additionally, there will be an improved texture for mossy cobblestone as well as a new combat system introducing critical hits.