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| {{More citations needed|date=August 2016}} | |||
| {{AfDM|page=Blockland (2nd nomination)|date=2009 December 19|substed=yes|origtag=afdx|help=off}} | |||
| ⚫ | {{Infobox video game | ||
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| ⚫ | |title = Blockland | ||
| ⚫ | {{Infobox |
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|image = Blockland Logo.svg | ||
| |image_size = 100px | |||
| |image=] | |||
| |alt = Blockland Logo | |||
| ⚫ | | |
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| |developer = Eric "Badspot" Hartman, Anthony "Rotondo" Rotondo, Ben "kompressor" Garney | |||
| |publisher=Step 1 Games LLC | |publisher = Step 1 Games LLC & Blockland LLC | ||
| |designer=Eric "Badspot" Hartman | |||
| ⚫ | |designer = Eric "Badspot" Hartman | ||
| |engine=] | |engine = ] | ||
| |released=February 24, 2007 | |||
| |released = November 15, 2004 (])<br>February 24, 2007 (retail)<br>December 16, 2013 (]) | |||
| |genre= ], ] | |genre = ] | ||
| |version=13 | |||
| |modes=], |
|modes = ], ] | ||
| |platforms= |
|platforms = ] | ||
| }} | |||
| |minimum system requirements=800 MHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 32 MB ], compatible video card}} | |||
| ⚫ | '''''Blockland''''' is a ] |
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| ⚫ | ==Gameplay== | ||
| Structures can be built in a ] or ] setting. Using tools in the game, a player can add effects to bricks, such as lighting, ] and animated particles, although these are not the only effects available. The game also features a variety of vehicles players can control, weapons, saving and loading of constructions, automated construction through ] and a mini-game system. The ] system enables users to create configurable and self-contained game modes using options and then play in the world they create.<ref name="%3BEdge">{{Cite web|url=http://badspot.us/Dumb/misc/edge.JPG|title=Edge Issue #148|accessdate=2008-06-05|year=2005}}</ref> These can range from a simple ] to a zombie survival game to Capture the Flag. This system can allow players on a server to be in a minigame while the others continue to build. Any player who buys the game can create a server. A standard server is able to hold up to 32 players.<ref name="%3BChange Logs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.blockland.us/index.asp?p=changelog|title=Blockland Changelog|year=2008}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | '''''Blockland''''' is a ] in which players build and play using ]-like building blocks in ] and ] modes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://play-free-online-games.com/games/blockland.html |title=Blockland – Free Multiplayer Online Games |publisher=Play Free Online Games |accessdate=October 15, 2009}}</ref> It was created by American developer Eric "Badspot" Hartman, using the ], and was originally released as ] on November 15, 2004. The game is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the ] brand, but at one point, Lego was in talks with Hartman about purchasing the game.<ref name="LALM Podcast">{{Cite podcast|url=http://radio.laml.org/lamlradio-13-blockland/|title=LAMLradio #13 – Blockland|website=LALMradio|publisher=James Wadsworth|date=2008|accessdate=September 9, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303221253/http://radio.laml.org/lamlradio-13-blockland/|archivedate=March 3, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Blockland'' was spotlighted on ]<ref name="G4 - The Screen Savers">{{Cite web|url=https://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/episodes/3887/Pauly_Shore_Blockland_Avion.html|title=Pauly Shore, Blockland, Avion|accessdate=October 11, 2007|year=2005}}</ref> on February 11, 2005, drastically increasing the user base overnight. It has also been featured on ].<ref name="Shack News">{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=654&page=2|title=The Games of IGC 07|accessdate=June 5, 2008|year=2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826212359/http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=654|archivedate=August 26, 2009}}</ref> ''Blockland'' was officially released on February 24, 2007.<ref>. February 2007</ref> It was released on ] in December 2013 after spending nearly a year on ]. | ||
| ⚫ | ==Gameplay== | ||
| ''Blockland'' uses a ]-based system to create basic interactive objects such as light switches, missile launchers, collapsing brick structures, or ]-like games such as '']''. Players can also script triggers and events.<ref name="%3BBlockland Events">{{Cite web|url=http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/14285/1#comment-90849|title=Blockland Events Demo|year=2008}}</ref> ''Blockland'' features an add-on system to aid users in managing custom content, such as weapons, vehicles, types of brick effects, player commands and game modes. With the update to v11, a new physics feature was included in an attempt to bring a more realistic aspect to the game. This feature comes into play when a brick is blown up using weapons. | |||
| ''Blockland'' is an open-ended ], giving players the freedom to design and construct elaborate structures. Styled as a ], players build inside of the ] using bricks reminiscent of ]. These structures can be built in either a ] or ] server. Any player who buys the game is able to host a standard server, holding up to 100 players. | |||
| The properties of individual bricks can be changed, such as illumination, particles, and ]. ''Blockland'' features non-player characters, weapons, destructible vehicles, and a ] system, enabling users to create new self-contained gameplay modes.<ref name="Edge">{{Cite web|url=https://badspot.us/Dumb/misc/edge.JPG|title=Edge Issue #148|accessdate=June 5, 2008|year=2005}}</ref> These can range from ] to full games-within-a-game, such as ], or zombie survival. ''Blockland'' features a ]-based system to create basic interactive objects, such as operable light switches, missile launchers, collapsing structures, or ] games such as '']'' or Breakout. ''Blockland'' has a large community of player-created ] content, such as gamemodes, vehicles, and specialty bricks. | |||
| == Demo == | |||
| The demo version of Blockland is limited to exactly 150 bricks and offline gameplay. Players may also play on a ] server with another person who has the full version, where the demo player is free of their brick limit. Demo builds that come with the game are under the demo brick limit and allow new players to explore some of Blockland's features. The demo version becomes the full version when a unique activation key is purchased from the Blockland website and entered into the game. | |||
| == |
== Development == | ||
| A prototype version of Blockland known as 'Vanilla Blockland' was released on November 15, 2004. Canadian newspaper ] wrote an article on this early version of ''Blockland'', in which creator Eric "Badspot" Hartman claimed the game had gained 20,000 users in the ten days since it "became big", after being featured on ''The Screen Savers''.<ref name="Globe and Mail">{{Cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/technology/not-your-big-brothers-sim-city/article1114544/|title=Not your big brother's Sim City|accessdate=November 12, 2017|location=Toronto|work=The Globe and Mail|first=Scott|last=Colbourne|date=February 25, 2005}}</ref> The retail version of ''Blockland'' was completed and released on February 24, 2007. A new version was released in August 2012, removing terrain but adding more dynamic lighting to builds. The game was greenlit on ] in August 2013, and on December 16, ''Blockland'' was released on ] after spending nearly a year on ]. | |||
| ===Shadows and Shaders=== | |||
| == Modifications == | |||
| Included in the game on August 9, 2012, an update called "Shadows and Shaders" (also known as Version 21) removed the game's traditional 'maps' - open-world terrain - replacing them with a flat field. ] shadows and shaders were added, along with customizable skyboxes, and a day/night cycle. Additionally, it provided users with the ability to make custom shader files. | |||
| Blockland allows users to write add-ons for the game to share with other players. Generally an add-on will consist of new building blocks, weapons, maps or items. These add-ons are packed into a zip file containing the script and art required and can then be placed into a folder for Blockland to automatically load into the game as it starts up. While Blockland itself is not open source, all of the default vehicles and weapons in the game use the add-ons system so new players can examine working examples to help them learn about how to modify the game. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *'']'' – a Late-2009 ] in development by ], endorsed by ] | |||
| *'']'' - The company that created the toy blocks that inspired Blockland. | |||
| *'']'' - another MMOG using Lego-like bricks | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * {{official website|https://www.blockland.us/}} | |||
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| {{Torque Game Engine games}} | {{Torque Game Engine games}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 21:37, 23 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Blockland" video game – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Blockland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Eric "Badspot" Hartman, Anthony "Rotondo" Rotondo, Ben "kompressor" Garney |
| Publisher(s) | Step 1 Games LLC & Blockland LLC |
| Designer(s) | Eric "Badspot" Hartman |
| Engine | Torque Game Engine |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | November 15, 2004 (freeware) February 24, 2007 (retail) December 16, 2013 (Steam) |
| Genre(s) | Sandbox |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Blockland is a sandbox game in which players build and play using Lego-like building blocks in singleplayer and multiplayer modes. It was created by American developer Eric "Badspot" Hartman, using the Torque Game Engine, and was originally released as freeware on November 15, 2004. The game is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the Lego brand, but at one point, Lego was in talks with Hartman about purchasing the game. Blockland was spotlighted on The Screen Savers on February 11, 2005, drastically increasing the user base overnight. It has also been featured on Shack News. Blockland was officially released on February 24, 2007. It was released on Steam in December 2013 after spending nearly a year on Steam Greenlight.
Gameplay
Blockland is an open-ended sandbox game, giving players the freedom to design and construct elaborate structures. Styled as a minifigure, players build inside of the virtual world using bricks reminiscent of toy blocks. These structures can be built in either a single-player or multiplayer server. Any player who buys the game is able to host a standard server, holding up to 100 players.
The properties of individual bricks can be changed, such as illumination, particles, and specularity. Blockland features non-player characters, weapons, destructible vehicles, and a minigame system, enabling users to create new self-contained gameplay modes. These can range from deathmatch to full games-within-a-game, such as role-playing video game, or zombie survival. Blockland features a trigger and event-based system to create basic interactive objects, such as operable light switches, missile launchers, collapsing structures, or arcade games such as Pong or Breakout. Blockland has a large community of player-created add-on content, such as gamemodes, vehicles, and specialty bricks.
Development
A prototype version of Blockland known as 'Vanilla Blockland' was released on November 15, 2004. Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail wrote an article on this early version of Blockland, in which creator Eric "Badspot" Hartman claimed the game had gained 20,000 users in the ten days since it "became big", after being featured on The Screen Savers. The retail version of Blockland was completed and released on February 24, 2007. A new version was released in August 2012, removing terrain but adding more dynamic lighting to builds. The game was greenlit on Steam Greenlight in August 2013, and on December 16, Blockland was released on Steam after spending nearly a year on Steam Greenlight.
Shadows and Shaders
Included in the game on August 9, 2012, an update called "Shadows and Shaders" (also known as Version 21) removed the game's traditional 'maps' - open-world terrain - replacing them with a flat field. GLSL shadows and shaders were added, along with customizable skyboxes, and a day/night cycle. Additionally, it provided users with the ability to make custom shader files.
References
- "Blockland – Free Multiplayer Online Games". Play Free Online Games. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
- "LAMLradio #13 – Blockland". LALMradio (Podcast). James Wadsworth. 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- "Pauly Shore, Blockland, Avion". 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
- "The Games of IGC 07". 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- Blockland Forum – It's Here. February 2007
- "Edge Issue #148". 2005. Retrieved June 5, 2008.
- Colbourne, Scott (February 25, 2005). "Not your big brother's Sim City". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
External links
| Torque video game engine games | |
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