Contrary to popular belief, mastering the fundamentals of robotics doesn’t have to be a mind-numbing slog through programming and electronics courses. SunFounder’s Nano DIY 4-DOF Robot Kit offers an intuitive and beginner-friendly way to break into the field by walking you through building your own programmable robot, and you can get it in the Boing Boing Store for $50.

Going by the name of Sloth, this DIY kit is compatible with the included SunFounder Nano board or an Arduino Nano board. It’s equipped with two legs that you can program to walk, kick, or even dance, and, thanks to its HC-SR04 ultrasonic ranging module, it can even detect and avoid obstacles intelligently. What’s more, this simple kit comes with a visual programming language, allowing any DIY-er to start from scratch regardless of their coding background.

The SunFounder Nano DIY 4-DOF Robot Kit can be yours for $50 when you order it from the Boing Boing Store.

Learn the ropes of robotics with this programmable dancing robot

Alice Maz was part of a small group of players who came to have near-total mastery over the internal economy of a popular Minecraft; Maz describes how her early fascination with the mechanics of complex multiplayer games carried over into an interest in economics and games, and that let her become a virtuoso player, and brilliant thinker, about games and economics.

Maz’s long, fascinating essay about her business ventures in Minecraft are a potted lesson in economics, one that shows where financial engineering actually does something useful (providing liquidity, matching supply and demand) and the places where it becomes nothing more than a predatory drag on the “real economy” of people making amazing things in Minecraft.

Back when I was working on For the Win, my YA novel about gold farming, I read pretty much every book and academic paper on the subject of games and economics, and Maz’s essay is among the best pieces of writing on the subject I’ve encountered. It’s especially interesting because all the economic activities are aimed at dominating a server, but Maz never talks about whether, how, or if any of the in-game wealth can be converted to cash money, giving the whole thing a kind of abstract clarity that is sometimes obfuscated in the literature on in-game economics.

Diamonds being not the most valuable but certainly the most valued item in the game, both for their utility and their price stability, the server was littered with buy chests for them. These were mostly of the fling and a prayer sort, offering prices low enough that anyone selling to them was a noob or a fool. But not so low that I couldn’t sell them Charlotte’s. I bought from her all I could afford, bankrupted every single person who had a buy chest at any price, then went back for more. Buy chests in the market shops, scattered on the roadsides, nestled in secluded towns no one remembered the names of, I hit them all. If you were buying diamonds at the bottom of the ocean, I would find you and take all of your money.

At the same time, I dropped my sell price in the market to 16M and did pretty good business for a few weeks. I had the advantage of one of the two best plots there were, the other belonging to Emma. (This I’d gotten via inside knowledge that Zel’s to-be partner was shuttering his store and gifting the plot to a friend. I offered to swap my plot as the gift, help with the deconstruction process, and advise on pricing in the Emporium in exchange, thus getting the prized location without it ever going up for sale.) QuickShop provided a console command to show the closest shop selling an item, and these two plots, though behind hedge walls and not immediately visible, were the closest as the crow flies to the market’s warp-in point. So anyone using the command–and this was most people, traipsing through the market looking for deals being a rare activity mostly limited to speculators–got directed to me or Emma for anything either of us sold.

This all made me a lot of money. I drove a portion of profits into bolstering my diamond and beacon reserves, bought basically any building material I thought I’d ever need in bulk, and still watched my marble balance grow. Up til the diamond bonanza, I’d been making money on a dozen different side hustles. A bit here, a bit there, doing better than most, but regardless the day-in day-out of working the market took up the majority of my time on the game. That made me rich; this is what made me wealthy.

But soon 16M became 14M, and 14M became 12M. A few people started to notice Charlotte’s store, and she restocked faster than I, or anyone, could recoup enough to buy out. Mostly though, it was clear to everyone the price of diamond was falling, even if they had no idea why. I diversified into selling enchanted diamond equipment of all types, priced just so that I could break even on the enchant and move the component diamonds at the same price I sold them for raw. A few of the buy chest people I’d tanked tried recovering some of their money by putting up at a loss the diamonds I’d sold them, but they still couldn’t move product faster than a trickle. Eventually even Charlotte had to cut her prices to keep selling. It was bad.

The internal economics of a popular Minecraft server are an object lesson in everything great and terrible about markets

The Star Control: Origins – Fleet Battles BETA is underway for those who have pre-ordered the game (currently priced at $29.99 on Steam). However, we were able to partner with Stardock Entertainment to give away twenty-five beta codes through the raffle method.

Just enter below and keep completing the actions until December 15th to increase your chances to be among the winners. Good luck!

Star Control: Origins is a science-fiction adventure game set in an open universe that puts the player as the captain of Earth’s first interstellar vessel on a mission to find allies to help save humanity from certain annihilation.

The beta unlocks the Fleet Battles feature, where you’ll assemble ships in a fleet and engage in battle with fleets controlled by either the computer, humans via the Internet or even friends sitting at the same PC.

You can literally design your own ships to use in combat using the Ship Crafting system, or you can download ships designed by others to play with. Ship Crafting not only allows you to decide what weapons and defenses a ship has, but allows total control of how a ship looks.

The goal of the Beta 1 series

The goal of the first beta of Star Control: Origins is to help us with balance, compatibility, eliminating cheese tactics and improving the user experience in designing ships and creating fleets.  There will be a lot of changes coming into these betas as we go forward.  For example, additional elements will be added to the combat arena such as salvage, temporary boosts to speed, crew replenishment, Precursor relics that help your entire fleet, etc.  The arena will be randomly chosen at the beginning of the fleet battle and we hope to have many different arenas available (and possibly an arena editor for players).

What we really want to emphasize is: DO NOT assume that beta 1 is representative of the final game.  It is a beta for a reason.  We think most people will really like Beta 1.  But every time I play it, I find something that has to be changed (the look of the planet or the variance in space backgrounds or a sound effect or a weapons effect or the way the planet interacts with something, etc.).  This is where you guys come in: Make sure that the final released version of the game isn’t a 1.0 but is more like a 1.5 of a normal game.

Star Control: Origins – Fleet Battles BETA Raffle Giveaway

It’s been a while since we covered Survarium, the Free-to-Play online first-person shooter made by Vostok Games, the Ukrainian studio founded by former S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developers.

The game, which is available on Steam Early Access, recently added its first cooperative story-driven mission with Update 0.50. To play this mission you’ll need access keys though, and we’ve got three thousand codes from Vostok Games. After you’ve picked a code from the giveaway below, follow these instructions:

• Each code gives 3 Access Keys to play Team Mission.
• If a player prefers to play Survarium via Steam he must enter the code on the game’s website using the Steam browser
• The codes can be used for old and new accounts
• One code per account. If someone else has already redeemed a code he will not be able to use it again
• Redeem codes here: https://survarium.com/en
• My account – Add promo code – apply code
• Bonuses of the codes are not awarded immediately, but within 5 to 30 minutes
• Expire date: December 24th, 2017

Story mission tells about a conflict between Black Market and The Renaissance Army and also unveils the mystery about secret experiments which lead to the creation of the Forest.

Specifically for this mission developers created a new map with lots of both open and indoors locations. Developers tried to add an element of exploration into the game, and also let players interact with the world of Survarium.

The mission is designed for a squad of three players, and to successfully finish it players need to complete a set of tasks. At least one of the players must reach each of the checkpoints: then defeated squad members (if there are any) are resurrected and may continue. If all squad members are dead, the mission is failed.

While going through the mission players will learn the storyline, but the player can also find stashes containing various trophies which players will receive when the mission is successfully finished.

Survarium PvE Giveaway – Get A Taste of Story Missions

It’s Christmas day, which means it is only benefitting for us to post a new giveaway. We’ve partnered once again with Stunlock Studios, the makers of Battlerite, for the occasion. The free-to-play game is a great success with almost three million players registered by SteamSpy and by grabbing a code in the giveaway below you’ll be able to earn a free Deathstalker Scorpion mount in the game.

Do keep in mind the following instructions for the giveaway before entering.

VALID REGIONS:

• US-East
• US-West
• Europe
• Russia
• Japan
• India
• South Africa
• Hong Kong
• Australia
• South East Asia (Singapore)
• South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru)

HOW TO ACTIVATE YOUR FREE CHAMPION KEY ON STEAM

1. Download Battlerite for free at this address.

2. Please follow these instructions to activate a new retail purchase on Steam:

3. Launch the Steam client software and log into your Steam account.

4. Click the Games Menu.

5. Choose Activate a Product on Steam…

6. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

7. Open the game and go to the mount collection to find your Free Deathstalker Mount.

Battlerite is a PvP arena brawler and the spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed Bloodline Champions. Experience the unique combination of a top -down shooter meeting a fast -paced fighting game and take part in highly competitive, adrenaline-fueled 2v2 and 3v3 battles.

Engage in quick and intense action as you take control over one of many Champions, each with unique abilities to master. Welcome to a world where Champions dedicate their lives to the Arena.

 QUICK ARENA ACTION​​​

Master the Arena in explosive battles of reaction. Choose your Champion, team up with friends, and dive into combat – for glory awaits only those who seek it.

 PRECISE GAMEPLAY MOVEMENT

Aim skill-shots and dodge projectiles with the use of WASD movement & cursor – based aiming. Wield total control over your champion and execute massive attacks against opponents.

 PERFORM BATTLERITES​​​

Gain strength and upgrade your abilities using rites. Select your rites to strategically customize your play style.

 ACCOUNT CUSTOMIZATION​​

Show off your skills in style. From weapons and outfits to victory stances, there’s a huge variety of cosmetic customizations to make you stand out from the crowd.

Christmas Giveaway – Battlerite Deathstalker Scorpion Mount

Nintendo Switch Online, the paid online service for Nintendo’s hybrid console, was originally meant to launch in Fall 2017 after the trial became available with Splatoon 2. However, we haven’t heard about it in a long time and for good reason.

As you can read below, on the Italian website it is now explained that the paid subscription service will be available in Fall (Autumn) 2018. That’s a pretty huge delay and one has to wonder whether Nintendo is simply having infrastructure issues or perhaps there will be new features to entice players to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online. As a reminder, we’ve included below the official feature list confirmed by Nintendo at the time.

Of course, availability could vary between territories though it would be quite weird in this day and age where services and even games launch day and date globally.

Online Play on Nintendo Switch

You’ll be able to play compatible co-op and competitive games online by signing in with your Nintendo Account. Online play is free for Nintendo Account holders until our paid online service launches in 2018.

After the free-trial period, most games will require a paid online service subscription from Nintendo in order to play online. Currently the free-trial, the paid service, and online play (for applicable modes in compatible games) will be available for customers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. For the latest list of countries, please visit Customer Support.

This service is only for Nintendo Switch. It does not affect Wii U or Nintendo 3DS systems or online play.

Nintendo Switch Online app

The Nintendo Switch Online smart device app is designed to enhance your online experience for compatible games on the Nintendo Switch console.

Link to compatible games

This app will initially be compatible with the Splatoon 2 game. It will give you access to SplatNet 2, where you can see your online battle stats, your gear, and much more. See details here.

Invite friends and voice chat during games

With the app, you can send online play invitations to players on your Nintendo Switch system’s friend list. The app also lets you quickly send invites via social networks and messaging services. When you’re invited to a game, you’ll get notified right away via a push notification on your smart device.

Once players are connected, you can use voice chat openly with friends while in the online lobby and during online play (depending on the game).

Classic Game Selection

Subscribers will get to download a compilation of classic titles with added online play, such as Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario.

  

Nintendo eShop deals

Special offers for subscribers may include discounts on select digital games and content.

Pricing

1-Month Membership

$3.99 (USD)

3-Month Membership

$7.99 (USD)

12-Month Membership

$19.99 (USD)

Prices listed are in U.S. dollars and do not include tax. Pricing for additional countries will be announced closer to the launch of the service.

Paid Nintendo Switch Online Service Delayed To Fall 2018

There’s a tendency among Minecraft-alikes to forget what made Minecraft so popular. Aside from the novel pricing during alpha, LEGO comparisons, and a vague crafting system that really forced the community to come together, it was the freedom of it. You drop into the world, and you go anywhere, do anything, build the world you want to build. Yes, I know that you’re fully aware of what Minecraft is, but the building blocks (hehe) of its success cannot be understated.

Imagination is required in Minecraft, with the limited selection of blocks you must take yourself back a few hundred feet and squint a wee bit in order to have your majestic replica of a castle look like your reference point – but this imagination requirement also makes absolutely anything that much more feasible. Adding details, more block types, and most damagingly, linearity; well, it just doesn’t gel with the way the game should be played. It’s something games inspired by Minecraft have yet to learn, and Portal Knights is yet another title where I’m sure it seemed like a great idea at the time.

It’s a shame though, because the foundations of Portal Knights are all here, and they’re solid, with some great ideas. Take the basic crafting formula of Minecraft, which is tried and tested, and introduce more customisability, more interesting, detailed environments, heck just a few RPG elements to make things unique. All great ideas, all implemented well, but together, it all feels like a bit of a mess.

In Portal Knights you start as a basic Warrior, Ranger or Mage class in a tutorial area, where some quests will run you through combat, collecting materials, crafting and progressing through the game. You do set your own pace, for the most part, and the game never rushes you, but there’s also no agency. Or reason to do anything, I suppose. Exploring the world and making progress is its own reward, but what is defined as progress is a bit weird. Is it completing quests? Achieving your own goals and building your own structures? Crafting new gear? I suppose its all of these things, but none of them made me feel like I was, well, progressing. Or enjoying the experience.

Instead, it felt more like a checkbox exercise. Upgrading the Workbench to Workbench II happened because the quest told me to. Sure, it was a tutorial quest, teaching me how to upgrade things – but I also don’t know what new avenues that opened up for me. The game never told me why it was necessary, it just was. Having tutorial quests for things like this are nice, but then the game left me alone to figure out how to repair my tools – which degrade really fast. Luckily it’s simple enough to repair them, once you figure out how.

Once you’re done mucking around in the tutorial area it’s time to move on, by crafting a portal from blue stone shards. You collect these from almost everything, so you should have plenty after killing monsters and mining for resources. Each portal you complete opens up the next area, which has a different theme, vibe and monsters. They feel like unique areas, something Minecraft wishes it had. Sadly though, the randomly generated nature of the world lets it down. In one world I had generated, a house was on top of a hill overlooking the rest of the area. Beautiful. In another, that same building was in a pit that I had to dig my way out of. Not so beautiful.

When you jump into Portal Knights and generate your own world you can select from a Small or Large world size, and the largest world size isn’t exactly that big. Not a problem though, since there are loads of different “stages” to visit, not confining you to a single, limited open world. Each stage is unique, taking on different appearances, such as desert, forest, snowfield, and changing to a different season, Autumn, Spring, etc. The change of scenery is a welcome addition and makes traveling between them feel like there’s some genuine progress between each one.

Simple acts like mining, however, feel so frustrating. It sounds minor, but it’s awkward to aim at a single block to mine in third person (there is, of course, a first person mode) and the mining just takes too long. Perhaps this is an isolated complaint, but staring at blocks to slowly chip away at them is a tedious process, especially on top of all of the regular combat you’ll be doing. It takes too long to collect a single block, even with the proper tools, and it makes digging a staircase out of a hole super frustrating – more frustrating still, is that sometimes the game will essentially tell you to get into the holes before making you burrow your way out, unless you warp to a past area.

On top of a myriad of small frustrations, we even have an apparently Switch-specific bug, where the Warrior – the only melee class – can’t hit flying monsters. They fly right over the weapon’s hitboxes, and it’s utter nonsense. The development team made it clear that they’re aware of the issue and are fixing, but when an RPG-like game has only three classes, having one of them being entirely broken is unforgivable.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Portal Knights is a very pretty game, and although the framerate can chug at times, it never became a serious problem in my time playing the game. The abundance of flora covering the world gives everything a bit of extra depth, but it also makes the blocks underneath more difficult to see. Typical. It’s a shame, but it feels like for every positive addition this game has over its basic block-placing buddies, there’s also a negative point to counter anything I can praise. A real shame, because I think Portal Knights had great promise, but I wouldn’t recommend it over either Minecraft or Dragon Quest Builders.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch (code provided by the publisher). You can purchase the game on Amazon.

Portal Knights Review – Minecraft + RPG – Fun

THE head of a computer games studio based in an East Lothian village has collected a prestigious award in Japan after a game he helped develop sold more than two million copies in Asia.

Paddy Burns, CEO of East Linton-based 4J Studios, was at the PlayStation Awards at the Grand Prince Hotel to collect a double platinum award for Minecraft.

That award acknowledges that the game has sold more than two million copies in Asia across the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita consoles.

Mr Burns explained how the county-based business had helped develop the worldwide hit game.

He told the Courier: “Microsoft bought the creators of the Minecraft game [Mojang] for $2.5 billion in 2014 but 4J Studios are independent and develop the console editions of Minecraft for Microsoft on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U.”

At the ceremony in Tokyo, Mr Burns said it was a “great honour” to accept the award.

He said: “I was delighted to receive the award and to visit Japan for the first time.

“I had quite a few Sony people coming up to me at the after show party to thank me for developing the game for Sony consoles and to say how much they enjoy playing the game with their kids.”

And while Mr Burns, who set up 4J Studios with Chris van der Kuyl and Frank Arnot, knew in advance that he would be on stage, he was not aware they were the only recipients of the double platinum award.

He added: “I was told in advance that we were receiving the award but didn’t know we were the only game to have achieved a double platinum award, so that was a nice surprise!

“It caused some surprise that it was a Western game and that there was a Microsoft representative getting an award at a Sony show.”

The 4J Studios console edition versions of Minecraft – which allows players to build with a variety of different cubes in a 3D world – have now sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

The East Linton office is based in the bottom floor of Mr Burns’ house in the village.

A seven-strong software and internal test team are based in East Linton, while the art and world-building teams are at the company’s Dundee office.

Minecraft edition made in East Linton goes double platinum in Japan

Review: Minecraft: Story Mode Season Two – Episode 5: Above and Beyond

What would MPavilion look like if it was co-designed by kids using Minecraft? Find out in this interactive workshop hosted by our friends at Matters Journal, as they bring to life a feature story from ‘Mini Matters’—the first ‘mini’ print publication of Matters Journal.

Based on the ‘Block by Block’ program developed by UN-Habitat in partnership with Mojang, this workshop gives kids aged eight to fifteen a chance to bring their creative visions to life, using the video game Minecraft to build a virtual model—all the while exploring new ways of using technology and design to engage communities in the public realm.

If you or your friends have children who love Minecraft, building things or all of the above, bring them along to MPavilion for this workshop facilitated by some highly experienced and tech-savvy big kids. Channel your love of Minecraft, architecture, engineering or design as an online facilitator for this IRL multiplayer activity—redesigning MPavilion Minecraft-style! Following the event, Monash University’s Department of Materials and Science Engineering will 3D print the designs created during the workshop.

This is a free workshop. Drop-ins welcome but registration is encouraged! This workshop is limited to 24 kids (aged 8–15) and 16 big kids (aged 15+).

MPAVILION Redesign MPavilion with Minecraft