Project Spark: Little Hype, Lots to Like

Relatively speaking, destruction always seems so much more popular than creation. For every Minecraft, SimCity, or Viva Pinata, there are dozens of variations on Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Skyrim. Thankfully, Microsoft’s Team Dakota is still hard at work at Project Spark, a new game that allows players to craft their own worlds and create their own missions and game types.

At first glance, it’s understandable that some might think of Project Spark as just an editor. The sculpting and painting tools are usually up front in any of the presentations of the game. Starting with a flat, featureless world, players essentially paint on the terrain using a variety of brushes. Some expand the terrain, others reduce it. Some roughen the features, others smooth them out. One of the coolest brushes allows players to actually cut through the geometry, creating tunnels, caves, and other interior spaces. Creators can adjust the size, shape, and intensity of each of these brushes, allowing for both quick creation and loads of fine control.

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