Minecraft Can Now be Used to Model and Print Objects via 3D Printer

by Camth • 15 years ago

113 35 15 years ago

marshray3• 15 years ago

Should I actually try this Minecraft thing?

I don't know anything about it, only that it sounds like something that absorbs an unlimited amount of your free time and allows you to implement CPUs, programmable logic, and now 3D printer models.

pnathan2• 15 years ago

Fun, but not very productive.

It allows a lot of creativity though.

ido• 15 years ago

Are any games productive?

randoom• 15 years ago

If you want to "[...]implement CPUs, programmable logic[...]" I would rather go with "The Elements of Computing Systems" [0].

On the other hand, if you are into gaming and want to experience a sandbox building game with a huge, albeit rather premature, community and lot of modding going on, give it a try, it is about 15 €. [1]

[0] http://www1.idc.ac.il/tecs/

[1] http://www.minecraft.net/

lucian1900• 15 years ago

It's pretty awesome, especially with other people. You can build a shocking number of things, and fun at it too.

tsumnia• 15 years ago

It is addicting, and whatever you generally spend your free time doing will be absorbed. Your interests might feign after a bit, but it won't be until you've spent a good amount of time building something.

I look at Minecraft as a good entry point for video game development. The modding community is huge, and getting larger now that Mojang is officially creating an API for modding. Also, because it is so transparent; the original map was nested folders (which is where converting to a 3D printer is so 'easy'). Logic-wise, its not built to make processors, the logic is slow. The aforementioned book would be a better suitable candidate for it.

KeithMajhor• 15 years ago

It's actually a pretty good game for engineers. Also, it rewards you for having basic knowledge of digital design. Here's a hidden door I made using pistons which were just added to the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z98iFceC0zY

Also there's an editor called mcedit that you can extend with python. For example I wrote a little script to trace caves and fill them with dirt.

I couldn't give the game a stronger recommendation.

Sukotto• 15 years ago

I think the main appeal is that it's basically a new take on classic Lego bricks. I turn off the monsters and just explore, and build... and I've easily gotten my money's worth from that alone.

But then again... I really liked Lego bricks as a child. If you weren't into that then it might not be the game for you.

marshray3• 15 years ago

This game is pretty cool. Thanks for the recommendations!

palish• 15 years ago

R.I.P. marshray's free time.

curious_man• 15 years ago

It depends on you. Personally I play with it sometimes, but for me there is no danger of addiction.

It's a fun and creative game, even relaxing. However, sometime in the future there will be an adventure mode with NPC and a better fighting system, so it might become TOO fun for someone.

In the end, however, it depends on your personality.

Joakal• 15 years ago

The inverse can be seen with Kinect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2mCDkqXki0

You can have your own cat walking through your minecraft world.

riledhel• 15 years ago

wow!! that's amazing! thank you for sharing that video, I had no idea you could do that.

scott_s• 15 years ago

And you can go full-circle by scanning yourself into Minecraft and then making a you-figurine.

inportb• 15 years ago

Ohmygoodness. Attack of the giant kitten.

yesimahuman• 15 years ago

Is the script available? I can't seem to find it on there.

Camth• 15 years ago

It will be made available soonish. We want to clean it up/make it a tad more user friendly first. And that will probably be after the last shuttle launch this weekend.

sehugg2• 15 years ago

This is cool, although I'd rather have a nice voxel editor that I can use to print stuff to a Makerbot. Would I be best served just using a Minecraft map editor, even though I don't play Minecraft?

nickpinkston• 15 years ago

You should try out: http://3dtin.com for a MineCraft experience, or you can use http://tinkercad.com for a more CAD-like design. Both pretty cool and export STLs needed for manufacturing in 3D.

sehugg2• 15 years ago

Thanks!

dylanhassinger• 15 years ago

The singularity will come when they can build Minecraft inside Minecraft

klochner• 15 years ago

   stack level too deep (SystemStackError)

Stormbringer• 15 years ago

I know they can build an ALU inside minecraft, can they build a 3D printer inside minecraft yet?

TeMPOraL• 15 years ago

We're getting uncomfortably close to the 'meta' threshold of those ideas...

reacocard• 15 years ago

Yes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0i8gUK1cVw

JonnieCache• 15 years ago

That is bananas. Especially the 8x8 version he links to.

Minecraft Can Now be Used to Model and Print Objects via 3D Printer

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