Opportunities like this only come along once in a lifetime. A group called The-Core is calling on Minecraft enthusiasts around the world to imagine and design a new smart city for Maroochydore in Queensland, Australia, using the popular computer game Minecraft.  The global competition has attracted widespread interest to date with almost 30,000 views of the competition YouTube clip found at: http://youtu.be/QHhxckyfOZg.

With more than 100 million users worldwide, The-Core co-founder Craig Josic says Minecraft is the ideal game to design the new city as it promotes creativity and building and taps into the imagination and creativity of young people to create innovative urban design options for the new city.

“Gamers have incredible imaginations and I’ve seen my own sons create incredible world’s through playing a lot of Minecraft. Knowing our local council is currently consulting the local community on what they would like to see built on the 60ha block of land they have earmarked to develop a smart city in the heart of Maroochydore, I thought ‘What better way than to get the kids involved and not just from around our area, but from around the world!’”

The land earmarked for development has previously been a golf course, but after extensive negotiations, the land has been given the all clear to be developed in what is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with council proposing a combination of retail space, residential, public open space, community facilities such as a regional arts and entertainment centre, a transit plaza, regional library, public amphitheatre and civic plaza and urban open space and ensuring a sub-tropical design that embraces Maroochydore’s unique sub-tropical climate, and existing coastal and waterfront lifestyle.

Entries are now open with over $10,000 in cash, prizes and education up for grabs, with an over 13 years, and an under 13 years category to nominate for, and will run until 31 May 2014.

To register for The-Core go to or www.the-core.com.au, watch a video at https://www.youtube.com/user/ByTheCore or follow the social channels on https://www.facebook.com/ByTheCore, http://twitter.com/ByTheCore and by using the hashtag: #ByTheCore.

 

FAQs ABOUT THE-CORE MINECRAFT COMP How will the Minecaft design competition run?

A video explaining the competition has been produced and a link is provided at the end of the video which directs viewers to The-Core (www.the-core.co) website. Contestants can then register to receive a link to the MineCore competition server where they will be given a designated plot to start building their creation.

The-Core’s team will then select the best entrants based on clever, different and innovative ideas. These entries will then be posted on https://www.facebook.com/thesunshinecoastdaily – the region’s main daily newspaper Facebook page which has over 100,000 likes, where the local community will vote for their favourite concepts. Age group winners will be chosen based on the most number of likes received for their idea.

Great Prizes

The-Core is giving away $10,000 in cash, prizes and education. Register now and create an innovative concept building or city a building on your plot for your chance to win!

Under 13 years

•        1st Prize: 3D Print design, Apple mini pad, $300 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate
•        2nd Prize: $200 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate
•        3rd Prize: $100 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate

Over 13 years

•        1st Prize: 3D Print design, Apple iPad Air, $500 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate
•        2nd Prize: $300 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate
•        3rd Prize: $200 Cash or Mojang Store credit, Premium Minecraft account & The-Core Certificate

Most Innovative: Business Cert 111 *Note – Australian applicants only eligible for this prize

Most Inspiring: 10 sessions, one on one business consulting

How is the comp going so far? On the Minecore server at server1.minecore.co all the community can view the action that is currently taking place by people that have already registered. There are already some amazing designs underway and lots of chat between players around their ideas and the competition itself.

Giving Back

We believe community is the glue that holds together the Minecraft phenomenon, but it’s also a way to exercise our belief in the importance of giving back. That’s why a portion of The-Core’s registration fee will go back to a number of different local and global charities, like the Minecraft’s Block by Block program which gives young people opportunities to be in urban design globally.

Who is behind The-Core?

The-Core is a consortium of successful business people, and industry and education leaders who share the vision to create a place ‘where anything is possible’. The-Core acknowledges and thanks the following businesses for their support and contributions:

JosicMedia, Inn-Spire, Three60 Films, Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre, Regional Development Australia, Sunshine Coast Daily, Sunshine Coast Destination, St George Bank, Cloud DC, The Various Artists, MenteeCo, The Creative Collective, Harp Media, Craft-RP, Q Advertising, Target Training, Traffika, BizDojo, GroupX, Coastline BMW & University of Sunshine Coast.

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