Hasta La Gadget!

The Raspberry Pi Foundation, maker of the $35 mini computer, is on a mission to get more kids to learn to code – and what better way to get children excited about the power of programming than by involving virtual block-builder game Minecraft? An official Mojang produced port of Minecraft: Pocket Edition was announced for Pi at the weekend – known as Minecraft: Pi Edition. Now the Foundation has put up a video showing how Minecraft gameplay on Pi can be combined with programming commands so kids can use text commands to control the world

Here’s the Foundation describing one possible set-up

All you have to do is set up a network connection to the running game, and then you can send text commands to control the world. This makes is possible to program in any language which supports network connections, and you can access the game from any computer which is connected to the Pi. One possible setup is to have a Python prompt and the Minecraft window side-by-side on the Pi.

Minecraft Pi edition does not require programming to play it but text commands can be used to “place large numbers of blocks in particular patterns to speed up the building process” — which makes it sound of like a 3D version of Tetris.

The Foundation sent a volunteer to demo Minecraft: Pi Edition at Mojang’s MineCon conference, which took place in Paris at the weekend — noting that he was able to write a simple loop which “simultaneously changed the position and type of blocks being placed, which soon resulted in lava cascading from mid-air and setting fire to the wood below”.

The more creative programmer will only be limited by their imagination. Want to build a digital clock into the wall of your house which displays the real time? Easy. Want to get back at a friend who stole your precious diamonds? Remove the floor from underneath their feet and let them fall into a pit of lava. The possibilities are endless.

The Foundation says its goal is for Minecraft: Pi Edition to be released by the end of the year — and offered as a free download, so even more kids can start cutting their coding teeth on Minecraft’s blocks of virtual earth and ore.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and it does amaze me that video games do more than just keep folks entertained. In fact, the hugely popular game Minecraft will soon hit the Raspberry Pi platform, and not only that, it is said to be employed in order to aid the United Nations (UN) in regeneration projects. The gist of it is this, residents will soon be able to take a virtual stroll around the Minecraft models, as though it is a vision of the upcoming and future village layout.

Right now, development plans for more than 300 places worldwide are being modelled in Minecraft, letting residents have a say in how the redevelopment will work out at locations where they have grown up over the years. Dubbed Block by Block, this programme is just a segment of a collaboration between Mojang, the folks behind Minecraft, and UN Habitat. Apart from taking a virtual tour, residents are also able to change the model while sharing their input on just how every single penny of regeneration cash should be spent.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Unofficial GTA Radio app makes its way onto Google Play, Raspberry Pi Powers Small Arcade Cabinet,

The Raspberry Pi has gained a huge following since its initial release back in February, and while we were all spending time with our families over Thanksgiving, the Raspberry Pi team was hard at work with a few new features that will soon come to the $35 circuit board, one of which is the ability to play Minecraft.

The Raspberry Pi team has announced a Minecraft port called Minecraft: Pi Edition. On top of just playing the game, it’ll also support several different programming languages, which will let you modify the game and make tweaks to the in-game world. The Raspberry Pi team has promised that eager users will be able to download the game for free starting next week.

The Raspberry Pi computer runs on a 700MHz ARMv6 processor and has sold tens of thousands of units to hobbyists and educational establishments alike, and it’s still on back order. So, if you’re now wanting to get in on the Minecraft fun for cheap but don’t yet have a Raspberry Pi board, you’ll be waiting a little while.

In related Raspberry Pi news, the team was also hard at work over Thanksgiving weekend developing a camera add-on for the Raspberry Pi board, which was announced earlier this year. It was shown off at Electronica 2012 in Germany, and it has a 5MP sensor that’s also capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second. The camera will plug into the CSI pins on the Pi board and will arrive sometime next year at a cost of $25.

Minecraft will soon run on Raspberry Pi is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Raspberry Pi will soon be able to see all, thanks to an upcoming camera board that will mate with unused CSI pins on the $35 hobbyist board. The new 5-megapixel camera (in the video after the break) will be capable of 1080P, 30fps video, and though the prototype being shown at Electronica 2012 is attached using scotch tape technology, the Pi foundation promised it would come with a proper mount when it ships in the new year for $25. In other news, the group has also announced a new port from the Notch gaming group called “Minecraft: Pi edition.” You’ll be able to play the game, of course, but if you’re feeling more ambitious it’ll also support several programming languages, letting you “modify the game world with code” to boot. The group promised you’ll be able to download it next week at the source.

Continue reading Raspberry Pi says it’ll run Minecraft, demos upcoming 5-megapixel, 1080P, $25 camera

Filed under: Cameras, Robots, Science

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Source: Raspberry Pi (1), (2)

If you’ve ever caught yourself wishing that real life was like Minecraft, then boy does Mojang have the app for you. Developed primarily by studio 13th Lab, Minecraft Reality is a new augmented reality iOS app that allows you to drop your most cherished Minecraft creations into the real world. Do you particularly like that towering Pikachu pixel art you made with Minecraft blocks? Why not place it into the real world and see what it would look like if a giant Pikachu invaded New York City?

It’s definitely a cool idea, but there’s more to Minecraft Reality than simply seeing your Minecraft creations show up in the world around you. You can actually walk around them to view them from all different angles, and if your friends have Minecraft Reality installed on their iDevice, they’ll be able to track down your creations and check them out too. That’s made possible by the app’s use of GPS tracking to remember where in the world you placed your creations, which is an awesome feature if you ask us.

You can resize the object before you place it, letting you make sure that it fits in with the surrounding well enough before plopping it down in the real world. The app also comes with a few pre-made models ready to be placed, so you can begin using this app right away even if you don’t have anything of your own waiting to be uploaded. Speaking of uploading, players can head to http://minecraftreality.com to upload their own Minecraft worlds for use in the app. Check out Minecraft Reality in action below.

Minecraft Reality is available now on the iTunes App Store for $1.99 [download link]. The listing on the App Store says it isn’t compatible with the iPod Touch 4G or earlier and that it most of the app’s functionality isn’t available on the iPhone 4, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to buy. Do you think you’ll be picking up Minecraft Reality?

[via Mojang]

Mojang launches Minecraft Reality for iOS is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.