Welcome to DMA Tech Watch, where we review the biggest news and tech trends on our radar. This week, we take an advance look at a massive new Minecraft project.
One of the great things about Minecraft is that there are no limits on what can be built using it. Even huge, complex things can be turned into cool Minecraft projects – including the entire American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Mavericks NBA team holds court.
As you can see, the playing floor is only a small piece of the total American Airlines Center building. (Just look at all those seats…)
That’s the plan for “Mavs World,” an exact Minecraft re-creation of the enormous arena, which occupies 840,000 square feet of Downtown Dallas.
Making a Massive Model
The American Airlines Center is a big building, as proven by its 18,500-seat capacity. Both the Mavericks and the Dallas Stars NHL team call the facility home, and major music acts perform there frequently. (When the American Airlines Center opened in July 2001, it had the largest ribbon-cutting ceremony ever, according to the Guinness Book of Records.)
And now the Mavs are teaming up with Mineplex, LLC. The goal: Create a whole Dallas Mavericks world on the Mineplex server, including a scale model of the Mavs’ home stomping grounds, as rendered in Minecraft’s famously blocky visual style.
Minecraft is not just a game. It’s a way for kids (and adults) to build, explore and learn the fundamentals of computer science.
– Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks Owner
This is the first time an NBA team is partnering with Mineplex, which operates one of the largest Minecraft servers in the world.
Mavs World will include a variety of competitions and games, with Minecraft users even being able to virtually sample what it’s like to run the hardwood floor of the American Airlines Center.
Will the Minecraft re-creation of the AAC also include its many luxury suites? We hope so!
Building Great Foundations for Learning
The Mavs World project has received the enthusiastic push of Mavericks owner and colorful billionaire Mark Cuban (now being considered as a potential 2016 vice presidential candidate).
Cuban makes headlines whenever he speaks, and he recently spoke about the educational value of Minecraft. “Minecraft makes you think,” he said. “You have to be creative. Logical. Fun. Those are great foundations for learning.”
“The Dallas Mavericks have always been big supporters of education in our community,” Cuban said. “But now we can truly be a part of it on a global scale. Minecraft is not just a game. It’s a way for kids (and adults) to build, explore and learn the fundamentals of computer science.”
Mavs World is slated for release later this summer, appearing only on Mineplex. For more info, visit the Mavs World and Mineplex sites.
Launch Your Imagination with Minecraft
Minecraft is an amazing product – part game and part game-builder supreme. It’s a game with few creative boundaries and it can help prepare young Minecraft users for more complex adventures in tech.
With a game this freeform, it can be really useful to have a knowledgeable guide who can lead you through Minecraft efficiently and give you a complete idea of what all it has to offer.
Digital Media Academy is gearing up for its 15th fantastic summer camp season, and that means we’re putting our final touches on this year’s Minecraft tech camps. Let our ace instructors show you this summer what bold new worlds you can create with Minecraft!
Come discover Minecraft modding, this summer at DMA!
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