About this project
Mineblock includes the RaspberryPi Model B+ Linux computer with fast 16 gig microSD card encased in a durable solid spruce block with acrylic siding and bottom plate.
Features
Easy to use
- setting up Mineblock on your home network is simple
- Durable solid Beech wooden case
- semi-transparent acrylic removable bottom plate.
Quality Materials
Small & Portable:
- easily thrown into a kid’s backpack
- 4" x 4" x 2” case
- easily upgradable Raspberry Pi
- 4 USB slots and HDMI display port
- Includes 5 volt power supply and Wifi dongle
Expandable hardware
How does it work?
Once plugged in, Mineblock looks for a network to connect to. If your network is password-protected Mineblock creates its own temporary network which can be accessed by phone or laptop, allowing you to log Mineblock in to your network. Once restarted, Mineblock connects to your network and provides a Minecraft server. Crafters will be able to log into the server by typing in Mineblock’s IP address into their games.
The story
Mineblock originally came out of the specific need for a Minecraft server in our own home but has grown into what you see today. As I shared the idea with parents I realized that there is a market and a viable product concept.
While in graduate school at the Centre for Digital Media over the past year I was able to dedicate time to the project. Over the summer of 2014 I explored many directions for Mineblock and after a great deal of sketching and over 12 prototypes I eventually settled on the final design. The software and hardware have now been tested and proven to be robust enough to delight your minecrafters.
The Plan
Right now it's just a prototype but it has been designed to be mass-produced and I had a lot of great help at MakerLabs, here in Vancouver to help plan the best strategies for the construction and assembly. I plan to hire a small team to help produce and assembly Mineblock all in Vancouver where I live, sourcing the wood in British Columbia. Ultimately supporting this campaign will help bring Mineblocks to families and even schools.
Future Plans
Parents Monitoring Gameplay
During the research phase of this project an overwhelming amount of parents asked for ways or features that might help them manage their children's time while playing Minecraft. On the Mineblock roadmap will be a number of features that will help track time spent playing and notifications representing time blocks set my parents or children set through a web application.
Minecraft for Education
There's a branch of how people are using games to learn that I believe Minecraft has had a large role in developing. There are now over 4000 classrooms that use Minecraft to teach team colloration and constructive concepts. I would like to evolve the Mineblock server to have a customizable Minecraft environment that allows for teachers or parents to configure the game to teach their students important lessons about creativity in our world. This idea needs further development and this Kickstarter campaign will help get both of these future ideas off the ground.
I'd like to thank my good friend, Afshin Mehin of Woke Design and Jason Miller, a former student from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where I teach. Along with the folks at MakerLabs, they were incredibly helpful in supporting my endeavours through the prototyping of the product.
Additionally, a big shout out goes out to Carlos Flores for helping shoot the video and my old time friend Anthony Baird for his video editing mastery.
Risks and challenges
The Mineblock project has always been a pilot project and a successful campaign will prove the concept, eventually make it a viable business. Mineblock has recieved a great deal of positive feedback. People really seem to understand it's place in the world and by building the project incrementally I hope to build a Mineblock community that might contribute new ideas, code and resources to build on features and perhaps build new products.
I anticipate a few challenges with this project. Primarily, time is an issue and dedicating time to make this project fly will depend on the support that Mineblock is able to attract. I've sourced out many of the components and since Raspberry Pi has sold over 4 million units this year, it may be difficult to secure a bulk order with the suppliers. I'm thrilled to partner with various Vancouver production hubs to produe a high quality product and feel strongly about keeping the outsourcing to a minimum. That said, the electronic components will be purchased offshore and shipped to Canada for assembly.
Thanks for your help
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Funding period
- (30 days)