7 ms·

Microsoft built its new campus in Minecraft [video]

62 points by myinnerbanjo 8y ago

arikr 8y ago
Seems smart. We tend to like things more, the more that we are familiar with them. So this will mean that employees like the new campus more when they first walk on it, because they'll be more familiar with it.
- everdev 8y ago
  It'll be interesting to see if familiarity with the digital space correlates to comfort in the physical space.
  - tialaramex 8y ago
    Minecraft's proportions are a bit wrong, for example Minecraft people are two blocks high, a block seems to be roughly one metre. And obviously in reality very few people are two metres tall! Also movement speed in games is unrealistic, because it turns out moving is boring, so Minecraft's "walking" speed is much faster than you'd walk - over 4 metres per second, enough that in an hour you'd cover about 15 kilometres! It's not a _sprint_ but it's a decent Marathon time for example, and those guys aren't walking. Together these effects can give the impression that a nice large space (say 5x5x2 metres, a pretty nice two person office) is rather cramped. So I'd anticipate that when they see the real thing they'll be cued to find it more spacious.
    - mrguyorama 8y ago
      Nitpick: "Steve" in Minecraft is actually 1.7 meters tall.
    - js8 8y ago
      I think what is more unrealistic in Minecraft is terrain height and distance, and for a reason, realistically sized terrain in Minecraft would be very difficult to render and also not fun to walk around. Also walls in Minecraft are typically one meter thick, so unless their new HQ is a medieval castle, it also won't be realistic.
- theoh 8y ago
  The architects probably aren't thrilled to have their work presented in this crude way. HN might feel like architects don't matter too much, which is fine, but what definitely does matter, when it comes to buildings, is how they make you feel. This kind of stunt doesn't help preview that. I'm not sure that it reallys help with anything. Conventional renderings communicate pretty well. A Lego model would be equally silly and unable to communicate the actual spatial and material qualities of the building.
chrsstrm 8y ago
They used the Education Edition, not vanilla. But link to source and world download - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/nzedu/2018/10/19/explore-microsofts-redmond-campus-in-minecrafteducation-edition/ https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/nzedu/2018/10/19/explore...
gadders 8y ago
I always wondered why tools like Doom (other better FPSs are available) aren't used to familiarise people with building layouts. I'm sure there are Doom levels that I haven't played in years that I could walk round confidently [1] if they suddenly became real. [1] Assuming no cacodemons etc.
- bitwize 8y ago
  > I always wondered why tools like Doom (other better FPSs are available) aren't used to familiarise people with building layouts. Because Columbine, that's why. In the 90s, kids used to recreate their college campuses, etc. in Doom. Then Columbine happened, and such things were viewed as possible mass-murder prep. Doom is primitive by today's standards anyway. I hear tell Unreal Engine is sometimes used for architectural visualizations, etc. > I'm sure there are Doom levels that I haven't played in years that I could walk round confidently [1] if they suddenly became real. Given that Doomguy moves at approximately 50 mph, it'd take real-world you quite a bit longer to explore those real-world levels.
  - mrguyorama 8y ago
    This despite the claim that the columbine shooters used doom was false.
    - MikeTheGreat 8y ago
      I remember it being reported that they had played Doom. What do you mean by "used Doom"?
      - mrguyorama 8y ago
        People spread a rumor that the shooters had planned out their spree by building their high school in doom and playing it
    - VikingCoder 8y ago
      Yeah, they did play Doom. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-harris-levels/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-harris-levels/ They just apparently did not design their HS in Doom.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
moneil971 8y ago
Smart way to get more kids interested in/familiar with Microsoft?
vertline3 8y ago
has that viral ad feel. Lots of game engines would be better tools for the job.

62 points by myinnerbanjo 8y ago

Seems smart. We tend to like things more, the more that we are familiar with them. So this will mean that employees like the new campus more when they first walk on it, because they'll be more familiar with it.

everdev 8y ago
It'll be interesting to see if familiarity with the digital space correlates to comfort in the physical space.
- tialaramex 8y ago
  Minecraft's proportions are a bit wrong, for example Minecraft people are two blocks high, a block seems to be roughly one metre. And obviously in reality very few people are two metres tall! Also movement speed in games is unrealistic, because it turns out moving is boring, so Minecraft's "walking" speed is much faster than you'd walk - over 4 metres per second, enough that in an hour you'd cover about 15 kilometres! It's not a _sprint_ but it's a decent Marathon time for example, and those guys aren't walking. Together these effects can give the impression that a nice large space (say 5x5x2 metres, a pretty nice two person office) is rather cramped. So I'd anticipate that when they see the real thing they'll be cued to find it more spacious.
  - mrguyorama 8y ago
    Nitpick: "Steve" in Minecraft is actually 1.7 meters tall.
  - js8 8y ago
    I think what is more unrealistic in Minecraft is terrain height and distance, and for a reason, realistically sized terrain in Minecraft would be very difficult to render and also not fun to walk around. Also walls in Minecraft are typically one meter thick, so unless their new HQ is a medieval castle, it also won't be realistic.
theoh 8y ago
The architects probably aren't thrilled to have their work presented in this crude way. HN might feel like architects don't matter too much, which is fine, but what definitely does matter, when it comes to buildings, is how they make you feel. This kind of stunt doesn't help preview that. I'm not sure that it reallys help with anything. Conventional renderings communicate pretty well. A Lego model would be equally silly and unable to communicate the actual spatial and material qualities of the building.

chrsstrm 8y ago

They used the Education Edition, not vanilla. But link to source and world download - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/nzedu/2018/10/19/explore-microsofts-redmond-campus-in-minecrafteducation-edition/ https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/nzedu/2018/10/19/explore...

gadders 8y ago

I always wondered why tools like Doom (other better FPSs are available) aren't used to familiarise people with building layouts. I'm sure there are Doom levels that I haven't played in years that I could walk round confidently [1] if they suddenly became real. [1] Assuming no cacodemons etc.

bitwize 8y ago
> I always wondered why tools like Doom (other better FPSs are available) aren't used to familiarise people with building layouts. Because Columbine, that's why. In the 90s, kids used to recreate their college campuses, etc. in Doom. Then Columbine happened, and such things were viewed as possible mass-murder prep. Doom is primitive by today's standards anyway. I hear tell Unreal Engine is sometimes used for architectural visualizations, etc. > I'm sure there are Doom levels that I haven't played in years that I could walk round confidently [1] if they suddenly became real. Given that Doomguy moves at approximately 50 mph, it'd take real-world you quite a bit longer to explore those real-world levels.
- mrguyorama 8y ago
  This despite the claim that the columbine shooters used doom was false.
  - MikeTheGreat 8y ago
    I remember it being reported that they had played Doom. What do you mean by "used Doom"?
    - mrguyorama 8y ago
      People spread a rumor that the shooters had planned out their spree by building their high school in doom and playing it
  - VikingCoder 8y ago
    Yeah, they did play Doom. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-harris-levels/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-harris-levels/ They just apparently did not design their HS in Doom.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

moneil971 8y ago

Smart way to get more kids interested in/familiar with Microsoft?

vertline3 8y ago

has that viral ad feel. Lots of game engines would be better tools for the job.