We have just released Greenfoot version 2.1.0.

This update of Greenfoot includes a good number of bug fixes, so if there is something that has bugged you for a while, give the new version a go and see whether it’s improved. (If not, tell us!)

But, more importantly, this version also includes some new functionality. The new features include:

• A new sound API for volume control. This means Greenfoot scenarios can programmatically adjust the volume of sound clips. Several people have asked for this, especially aiming at fading sounds in and out nicely.
• A new input function: getMicLevel. This function returns the noise level from the system microphone. This makes it very easy to write soem very simple early interactive examples.
• Support for multiple worlds. Greenfoot now has a function to dynamically show different world objects. This makes it much easier to develop games with different levels.
• Built-in move and turn methods. Actors in Greenfoot now have turn(int) and move(int) methods which turn and move relative to the current rotation.
• UI changes. Finding out how to share your scenario on the Greenfoot Gallery has been made much easier. We suspect that many users previously never discovered this important function.

So, surf over to the Greenfoot download page and give it a go. Let us know what you think.

Over the next few days, I will add a few blog posts here that introduce and explain the new functionality in more detail. So check back soon!

Part 1: Using setWorld to create multiple game levels.