Hello everyone, this is Catblox–I’ve been a long-time member of ROBLOX (five years and still going) and a scripter for a little over half that time. Today, I’m going to talk about some more advanced ways to use ROBLOX’s raycasting API – namely simulating the interactions of lasers with mirrors. I’ll walk you through the steps of how to turn 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. To check out an example of what I’ll be explaining, check out this test level I made, which will show you the basics behind this premise.

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I just stepped off of a plane after participating in our first-ever BLOXcon in London, England! In Chicago, Alan wrote a retrospective piece that focused on the the happenings at BLOXcon – so I thought I’d take a look back at the craziness I just experienced, and write about it. If you’re into the whole “brevity” thing, take a look at the video below for a quick summary of BLOXcon London. If you’ve got a few minutes, read about my BLOXcon experience, from setup to tear down.

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BLOXcon London is wrapping up as we speak. It was, as expected, an exciting and amazing opportunity to meet with ROBLOX fans across the pond (and one family from Tennessee that made the trek with us). While we’ll have a more detailed recap in the coming days, we want everyone to see what it was like to be part of BLOXcon London today at the Royal Air Force Museum. Thanks to everyone who attended and made it a totally enjoyable, totally worthwhile event.

We’re always keeping a close eye on fantastic and innovative creations in ROBLOX–and are continually impressed by what we find. Andrew and I go in and out of virtual worlds every single day, so it probably comes as no surprise that we make note of the particularly beautiful places or games we find, for the purposes of articles just like this. Below, you’ll find six creative and beautifully detailed levels that we’ve come across in the past month during our extensive travels throughout ROBLOX. Enjoy!

Far Lands:

Far Lands features a sort of tropical getaway in the form of a floating island; waterfalls cascade off the side of the level into a well a few studs below the baseplate, and there’s some lush and vibrant vegetation to check out. There’s also a highly detailed bell you can take a look at–only then will your attention probably be directed to the massive white cloud hanging precariously over the floating island, as if some sort of natural disaster is seconds away from happening. Oh, and watch your step if you choose to go through the front door.

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Yesterday (and today), the BLOXcon team trekked across the Atlantic to London for our next fan convention, this Saturday at the Royal Air Force Museum. While more than 20 of us will be there running the show, we’re not the only people you should be seeking; several successful community members will be there to interact with their fans, as well. Read on to find out who we’re talking about (and to get prepared for an awesome BLOXcon experience).

First, a look at what’s going on at BLOXcon London

Main Stage Presentation: CEO and ROBLOX Co-Founder David Baszucki and VP of Marketing and Brand Experience Brad Justus will lead a two-hour presentation covering a gamut of ROBLOX news and developments. We’ll showcase new and upcoming ROBLOX features, make exciting announcements, give BLOXY and Hall of Fame awards, host a Q&A session where the whole audience can participate, and more!

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Art is everywhere on ROBLOX–whether it’s the visual aesthetic of a virtually-built place, the design of your character’s clothing, or the look of a decal or thumbnail. Further still, we’ve come across a lot of off-site art directly inspired by ROBLOX, which brings us to Zelios. His fascination with art, like his fascination with ROBLOX, began at an early age. He began creating pieces of art based around the world of ROBLOX, and is now the premiere, go-to visual artist for game makers looking for stellar, high-resolution promotional art.

His clients include names you might recognize (we’re being sarcastic): Merely, TheGamer101, CloneTrooper1019, to rattle off a few. His intricate designs are built entirely from the ground up, and he works with his clients every step of the way to ensure that the finished pieces properly express their intent. I got the chance to talk with Zelios about a wide range of topics, including the life of a prolific visual artist on ROBLOX.

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We’ve made some drastic improvements to every facet of ROBLOX Battle, our flagship internally developed combat title, over the last several weeks. New game modes, maps, character animations, and social interactions have turned Battle into an entirely different game. These changes are substantial for numerous reasons–not only do they revamp the ROBLOX Battle gameplay experience, they serve as a benchmark for future product enhancements. We went behind the scenes with the Content Team to find out how and why ROBLOX Battle has changed, starting with the core gameplay experience. We tapped Software Engineer Dan Healy, who’s been working closely on the game, to deliver the details.

Gameplay

ROBLOX Battle has come a long way–what was once a simple combat game featuring six weapons and a single map has since evolved into a robust and layered multiplayer experience. When we initially decided to turn ROBLOX Battle into a deeper game, the Content Team got together and brainstormed game types that would be ideal for Battle. We started implementing new maps and modes, and have since renovated the entire core experience.

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