2024-05-04T12:37:49-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149933952/interdependent-city-design-video-game-block-hood-launches-thursday Julia Ingalls 2016-03-09T20:03:00-05:00 >2016-03-17T23:24:46-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/im/imj4gv4qdqgdkzg5.png?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The complexities of designing at the scale of a city could take years to enumerate, but with Block'hood,<a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/134499490/this-studio-illustrates-minecraft-s-architectural-capabilities-to-create-imaginary-worlds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> a game</a> where players design neighborhoods in various modes of complexity with over 80 pre-set blocks, it takes only minutes to start encountering these challenges first hand. Developed and designed by Jose Sanchez and Gentaro Makinoda, Block'hood's players are encouraged to think "ecologically," which is to say, designing an environment that not only sustains itself but can work interdependently with other neighborhood designs. If a design does not have enough resources, it can become victim to decay.&nbsp;</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/7m/7mnsjh9k2hiks30f.jpg"></p><p>The perpetually evolving game, which has its public launch March 10th, has five modes:&nbsp;"Sandbox," which allows players to build a resources-constrained neighborhood without any particular goal in mind, "Challenge"&nbsp;which limits the number of blocks and resources a player can use to construct a neighborhood, "Education" which focuses on real-world city problems, "Research" which incor...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/92531259/build-with-chrome-brings-the-lego-building-pastime-to-the-digital-realm Justine Testado 2014-01-31T13:12:00-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/sg/sg59g4mu4xb9d29o.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="http://www.lego.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LEGO</a> and Google Chrome linked up to create "Build with Chrome", a social online building website that lets users build anything anywhere with an infinite number of Lego blocks -- virtual Lego blocks.<br><br>First developed as an experiment by a LEGO-loving team in Australia, Build with Chrome was based on the idea of bringing the classic plastic toy bricks to the digital realm. The website uses 3D graphic technology called WebGL that lets the virtual Lego bricks work like the real ones.&nbsp;<br><br><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/lm/lmbficcwd32xy8kh.jpg"><br><br>Once you're on the website, you can pick your plot anywhere or <a href="http://www.buildwithchrome.com/explore#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">explore the "world of Build"</a>, which has a Google Maps interface. You can also start building your own project right away and publish or share it with friends.<br><br>If you already have a Google+ account, the Build Academy lets you master your LEGO building skills online through tutorials guided by characters from the upcoming LEGO film and completing tasks. The tasks grow more elaborate as you learn more tricks.<br><br><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/na/na8lpayp6lvv5as1.jpg"><br><br>Even if it's not the same experience, virt...</p>