Bloxel

What it does:

Bloxel lets users design, animate, and create 3D worlds by combining modular blocks of logic, characters, props, movement, and design elements. It’s intuitive, fun, and perfect for fostering creativity and learning. Like snapping together LEGO in a fully interactive digital space. With Bloxel, you can craft games, tell stories, and bring ideas to life—it’s not just a tool, it’s a space to let your imagination run free.

Inspiration:

Growing up, LEGO, Bob the Builder, and Miffy & Friends shaped my sense of creativity and problem-solving. LEGO showed me how simple blocks could create endless possibilities, Bob the Builder taught me how to tackle challenges creatively, and Miffy & Friends sparked curiosity through its simplicity and storytelling. Bloxel was born from these inspirations—a platform where anyone can intuitively build, animate, and explore in a 3D space. It’s about nurturing creativity and logical thinking, and helping folks turn their imagination into meaningful creations.

How we built it:

I used Unity for the core functionality, including Shader Graph for custom materials and the Particle System for FX. Also used, Maya for modeling, Substance Painter for texturing, and Photoshop for design. For interactions, I integrated Meta SDKs and relied on ChatGPT to assist with coding.

Challenges we ran into:

Creating an intuitive node system and making it work seamlessly with character movement was a tough challenge. Perfecting something as simple as a character jumping onto a single block but at 3 or 4x of the height turned out to be far harder than I ever expected.

Accomplishments that we're proud of:

I am proud of how smooth and intuitive Bloxel feels and of achieving 70% of what I envisioned initially. I have always focused on creating individual prototypes or small experiences, but this time, I pushed myself to build something complete and cohesive. The process was challenging, but the learning and growth I’ve gained along the way have been invaluable.

What we learned:

I have always seen XR as fun. It’s at the heart of everything I create, from prototypes to interactions to any short indie experience. I even started Bloxel because it seemed fun to build, but as I created it, I realized its potential to inspire, educate, and make creativity accessible. This project has changed how I see the power of "fun" in XR.

What's next for Bloxel:

The next step for Bloxel is to simplify the node system, add features like painting for creating blocks directly in MR, and introduce multiplayer for real-time collaboration. Like Scratch makes coding fun, I want Bloxel to bring creativity and learning together for everyone, kids and professionals alike.