Space Battle 2014 was a success.  More details will follow on this post in the near future.

We've started another web series entitled 'First Play' where we play games for the first time and comment on their design points.

Today, we introduce you to a new gamemode-in-a-box for Minecraft: Master Hardcore Mode.

PaddleSpace is Mikeware's Magnum Opus, which unfortunately has been laying dormant for too many years...  Originally created in 2007 it evolved to a point beyond its creator's control.  That is planning to change in 2014.

You may have seen our 'Ships in Space' videos before.  We're happy to finally release the materials for Space Battle Arena v0.9.

Space Battle Arena is a 'Programming Game' where students must write code (in Java) to control a space ship to accomplish specified tasks.  We have performed this project and its challenge two years running now with great success.  Students have been enthusiastic, excited, and engaged with learning to control a ship in a physical environment and comparing strategies against their fellow students in a fun competition.

Check out the Let's Play video of Gamius Type IV we found:

Once again students were tasked with creating their own autonomous space ships which could navigate the harsh physics of space on their own without their programmer's interaction. However, unlike last year where they simply had to collect Baubles to score points, this year, they had to bring the Baubles back to their home base before points would be scored.

The original intent for Battle Box was to be a cloud based game you could play against other people (at random). That dream is now a reality.

[caption width="520" align="alignleft"][/caption]