Spherical Minecraft Demo showcases a planet, transitioning the conventional flat earth surface into a rounded shape, while maintaining the game's signature blocky mechanics.
Blocky Planet, a captivating tech demo, has been created by 3D artist and software developer Bowerbyte. This innovative project offers players a unique diversion from Minecraft's gameplay, transporting them from a flat world to a 3D planet.
The biggest challenge in developing Blocky Planet was converting the Minecraft world into a planet while maintaining a consistent block size. To tackle this issue, Bowerbyte broke the flat surface into six equal pieces and mapped them onto a cube. Each face of the cube was then divided into smaller squares and distorted to follow the shape of the planet. This process was likened to inflating a balloon.
To solve the depth problem, Bowerbyte added more blocks when the distortion became too obvious, increasing it by a whole number to make it easier to align blocks across different layers. This approach offers a more realistic planetary surface compared to Minecraft's flat world.
The gravity mechanic in Blocky Planet is another intriguing feature. Unlike Minecraft's downward-focused gravity, Blocky Planet's system prevents players from "falling off" the planet's sides, with gravity focusing on the central point of the planet.
Blocky Planet groups multiple layers into shells to make them easier to process. The distorted squares, now referred to as quads, add to the game's unique aesthetic.
It's important to note that Blocky Planet is not intended to be a full game due to time constraints. Bowerbyte has no plans to turn it into a fully-fledged game, but they do intend to continue working on it in their free time.
The Blocky Planet demo can be downloaded and installed on a PC or played through a browser. Bowerbyte shared playable builds and a detailed technical breakdown, but no explicit information about further development plans was provided.
In summary, Blocky Planet is a fascinating tech demo that offers an exciting new take on the classic Minecraft gameplay. With its unique gravity system, distorted quads, and 3D planetary surface, it provides an engaging and immersive experience for players. Although it's not a full game yet, it's definitely worth checking out for Minecraft enthusiasts and tech demo enthusiasts alike.
