I kind of wish I were a kid today

As a kid, I loved playing with blocks, and I loved playing video games. I think the combination of the two is at least partially whyMinecraftis so popular with kids these days. Well, here’s another product that I wish existed when I was a kid. Bloxels lets users build physical maps on a 13×13 grid and then translate them into video game levels.

The first of the games to use this is an action role-playing game calledB.R.A.V.E. Squad. On its own, it looks fairly standard, if not a little dull, but the real draw is in the interaction between building a physical thing and having it show up in a virtual space. There is just something special about creating and arranging with one’s own hands and seeing the immediate results of that.

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Bloxels is currently onKickstarterwith about $25,000 pledged of its $40,000 goal. I’m holding out hope that it catches on in some way and we see some really cool games come out of it.

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Indie game collage of Blue Prince, KARMA, and The Midnight Walk

Close up shot of Jackie in the Box

Silhouette of a man getting shot as Mick Carter stands behind cover