Our research uses Minecraft as a thinkertoy: “a computer display system that helps you envision complex alternatives” (Ted Nelson)
What’s New?
SunBlock One
SunBlock is a solar powered modded Minecraft server with custom mods that give access to real time data about the energy production and consumption of the system as a condition of possibility for playing the game. Rather than just playing a game with a message around energy transition, we are endeavoring to provide a direct, tangible and playable experience of the energy infrastructures which make that experience possible.
LEARN MOREThe Fun Palace SMP
On October 13th, 2023, the Minecraft Bloc research group at the Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) lab brought the avant-garde 1964 “Fun Palace” by Cedric Price, Joan Littlewood, and contributors into the world of MINECRAFT!
Latest Musings
Smithed Summit 2024 (by Quinn Saggio)
What is the Smithed Summit? Last week from November 2nd to November 9th, I attended the Smithed Summit with very little knowledge of what it was about, and I was[…]
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What is SunBlock One?
Sunblock One is a prototype solar powered Minecraft server. There is nothing exceptional about this technologically; we can manage this with inexpensive consumer grade DIY components. We have a 100watt[…]
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“A/B Testing” – Allegories & Builds
One of our main goals was to get the Funsters engaged in the allegorical build of the Fun Palace. This meant that YouTube 60s movies and music sharing, or merely[…]
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