The client/server never ran 15w31a but did upgrade from 1.8.8 to 15w31b. I have multiple profiles to switch between 1.8.1, "Current Release" and Snapshot for the client. The 1.8.1 and Current Release (1.8.8) operate as expected, Snapshot 15w31b does not. There production server still run 1.8.1.
Moving world and usercache.json did allow for a playable game though:
terminal log
$ mv world world-orig
$ mv usercache.json usercache.json-orig
$ java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar
[02:41:27] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version 15w31b
[02:41:27] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties
[02:41:27] [Server thread/INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
[02:41:27] [Server thread/INFO]: Generating keypair
[02:41:28] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25565
[02:41:28] [Server thread/INFO]: Using default channel type
[02:41:28] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing level "world"
[02:41:28] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for level 0
[02:41:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 4%
[02:41:30] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 7%
[02:41:31] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 11%
[02:41:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 17%
[02:41:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 26%
[02:41:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 32%
[02:41:35] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 40%
[02:41:36] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 49%
[02:41:37] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 57%
[02:41:38] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 65%
[02:41:39] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 73%
[02:41:41] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 80%
[02:41:42] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 87%
[02:41:43] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 94%
[02:41:43] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (15.470s)! For help, type "help" or "?"
[02:41:43] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting GS4 status listener
[02:41:43] [Query Listener #1/INFO]: Query running on 0.0.0.0:25565
[02:42:22] [User Authenticator #1/INFO]: UUID of player turtle2472 is xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
[02:42:22] [Server thread/INFO]: turtle2472[/127.0.0.1:53482] logged in with entity id 1080 at (-222.5, 64.0, 7.5)
[02:42:22] [Server thread/INFO]: turtle2472 joined the game
[02:42:27] [Server thread/WARN]: Can't keep up! Did the system time change, or is the server overloaded? Running 3460ms behind, skipping 69 tick(s)
[02:42:57] [Server thread/INFO]: [turtle2472: Set own game mode to Creative Mode]
[02:43:31] [Server thread/INFO]: turtle2472 has just earned the achievement [Taking Inventory]
[02:43:48] [Server thread/INFO]: turtle2472 lost connection: TextComponent{text='Disconnected', siblings=[], style=Style{hasParent=false, color=null, bold=null, italic=null, underlined=null, obfuscated=null, clickEvent=null, hoverEvent=null, insertion=null}}
[02:43:48] [Server thread/INFO]: turtle2472 left the gameI was able to place a sign and edit it unlike MC-82968. This issue seems more related to the upgrade.
This is a link to my world folder as of 1.8.8: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2306664/Archive/world.zip 388.9MB
This is a link to my world folder as of 15w31b: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2306664/Archive/world_15w31b.zip 388.9MB
Please let me know if you would like the entire MC operating dir.
Are you asking that I wipe my world and start fresh? While I can do that, the idea would be to be able to upgrade an existing world so the players to not have to start from scratch. Please be more specific on what you would like me to do. Since I'm working with a dev environment I can do anything you need for this. I would rather not have to lose all world progress with 1.9 proper hits the streets.
The issue is still present with 15w31c