Weekly ROBLOX Roundup: August 4th, 2013

August 4, 2013

Two-week Blog Recap

As noted in the last issue of the Weekly Roundup, we’re currently on an every-other-week publishing schedule due to Sunday travel from BLOXcon. We’ll resume normal, weekly publication after the events have wrapped up and things have settled down at HQ!

BLOXcon, BLOXcon and more BLOXcon

If you read the blog, you can’t escape BLOXcon. In the last couple weeks, we’ve posted a photo gallery from BLOXcon London, a Shedletsky-penned retrospective of the event (including a video tour), and a recap of the latest BLOXY and Hall of Fame award winners announced during the London Main Stage Presentation. If you couldn’t attend — and, let’s face it, most of you couldn’t — you can get darn close to feeling like you were there by checking out all these great posts.

Remember, we also did the same coverage for BLOXcon Chicago. I’m feeling helpful, so here are the links:

And I’d be remiss not to mention that BLOXcon NYC is just around the corner.

Spotlight on graphic designer Zelios

While ROBLOX is loaded with great builders and game developers, there are many subgroups of specialization: filmmakers, clothing designers, advertisers — the list goes on. In our latest Spotlight feature, Alan spoke with Zelios, who’s become renowned in the community as a prolific 3D modeler and artist. See samples of his stunning work and learn more about how he creates it by reading the complete article.

Building ROBLOX Battle, parts one and two

The ROBLOX Content Team has been hard at work updating ROBLOX Battle — partly as a testing ground for potential new features and partly to learn more about what it takes to engage players and keep them coming back for more. We’re going in-depth on the design changes the team is bringing to the game. We started with the logic behind the myriad new gameplay mechanics, and more recently had Luke (aka stickmasterluke) explain the build process for Battle’s expanding repertoire of levels. If you’re an aspiring builder and game developer, it’s a series worth reading.

Participation for all through “white list” filtering

In an effort to allow everyone — regardless of age — to participate in all the activities ROBLOX has to offer and do so in an appropriately safe environment, we recently launched a new “white list” filtering system. The implications are myriad: you can now do things like write game descriptions, update your status on your profile, participate in forum discussions, talk on group walls, name the clothing you create – you now have the power of communication and complete participation, even if you’re under 13. For more information on how this all works, see our blog announcement.

Must-see builds

In doing what we do, Alan and I happen upon at least couple amazing ROBLOX builds each week. Sometimes we get so backed up with builds to share that we publish an entire gallery dedicated to spreading the word. Such was the case with this compilation of six must-see places. Peruse our screenshots, then check out the games to experience them for yourself!

catblox’s Developers Journal

ROBLOX game developers are a smart bunch. In this, our latest Developers Journal article, catblox discusses advanced ways to use ROBLOX’s raycasting API – namely simulating the interactions of lasers with mirrors. He walks you through the steps of turning an idea like this into a finished product, explaining the basics of vector (and Vector3) math and features of ROBLOX Studio’s API along the way.

You should play this ROBLOX game

ClashBLOX Battle Cards is a new card game by Nexx that is based in a shared 3D world but rooted in slick graphic user interfaces (GUI). While it’s in beta, it is functional — not to mention fun. The concept is simple: enter the world, challenge someone who’s not already playing to a duel, and use your deck of cards strategically to defeat your opponent. There are four types of cards: characters (some modeled after veteran ROBLOXians), weapons (to equip on characters), potions (to restore the health of character cards), and buffs (to increase damage attributes). You go back and forth with your opponent making moves, and ultimately battle to be the last one with characters standing. While you start with a basic deck, you can earn points to spend on better cards as you continue to play. This is early-stage, but already worth your time. Let’s hope Nexx really polishes this product and gets it to the top of the Games page!

Victorian Gothic is a build in progress by deathgiver23, who’s made an appearance in the Weekly Roundup in the past. This place is simply an architectural showcase. And it makes for a nice Roundup photo. See it for yourself, if you’d like.

Bits

Take a look at this nice attendee review of BLOXcon London. Thanks for the comprehensive recap and kind words!
A couple veteran ROBLOX builders are experimenting with seasonality in their well regarded places. Check out asimo3089’s summer version of The Wind and crazyman32’s winter version of Freeflight! Crazyman32 has also posted a making-of video for the transition to winter. I love the changing of seasons, so I’m really into these experiments.
Arbirator’s ROBLOX News has posted a cool video interview with our own Matt Dusek from BLOXcon London.
RoGo Magazine has launched a new website.

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