Two children try out "Minecraft: Education Edition" and share the fun together. (Photo : YouTube/Minecraft: Education Edition)
Microsoft has recently published their Project Malmo source code which allows programmers and computer scientists to conduct artificial intelligence experiments in Minecraft, effectively making it open-sourced.
The Redmond-based tech company initially launched the project in March dubbed as AIX and it was only available to a select few. Microsoft promised to launch it again as open-source and it delivered by publishing the Project Malmo source code for Minecraft AI projects on the Github repository.
Mojang struck gold with Minecraft as it went on and still is one of the bestselling games in the video game history. It even made its way to several platforms including the Android and iOS devices.
Minecraft is a simple yet complex sandbox adventure game. Players are tasked to survive by building their own tools, weapons, armor and homes. They could choose to live underground near the mines or build a massive mansion by the sea.
Microsoft acquired the Minecraft franchise from Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014. One of its plans for the product was the Project Malmo AI experiments inside Minecraft which would test how the AI programs will interact with real human players inside the game, Computerworld has learned.
Inside Minecraft, the AI programs will be able to learn their boundaries. If they fall off a cliff or drown in a pool of lava, they would know to avoid it the next time in order to prevent dying or being hurt.
Another advantage of using Minecraft for AI experiments is that the programmers can control the passage of time. Simulations can be sped up or slowed down depending on their preference.
Interested users in Project Malmo can grab it via Github for the modified Minecraft java version, PC Magazine reported. Microsoft said that even novice users will be able to play around with Project Malmo and that it can be used with any programming language including Java itself or C++.
Another academic pursuit of Microsoft with regards to the franchise is the Minecraft Educational Edition that is expected to be rolled out to universities and schools several months from now. It allows professors and educators to teach students through the Minecraft world to allow creativity and fun as not to bore them with the traditional way of teaching.
