NOTE: We now have a facebook page, facebook group, myspace page (myspace is not appropriate for kids, adults and teens only!) and a twitter page!  To be kept up to date don't forget to sign up for our newsletter!  Also be sure to check out our nice new forum!

Dec 21 2009 UPDATE - WE NEED YOUR HELP Its that time of the year again and Sandbox has been nominated for mod/game of the year again!  As a note VOTES COUNT MORE IF YOU ARE LOGGED IN TO MODDB guest votes only break a tie!  Please consider voting for us here and tell your friends!
http://www.moddb.com/games/platinum-arts-sandbox

We have lots of other exciting things coming as well, including the near release which is due in late December or early January.  In addition to save games, minimaps, many bug fixes, we are hoping to have a working version of moviecube set for you!  Also the Masterserver should be in gear thanks to the hard work of Quin!  Take care and enjoy!

The Platinum Arts Sandbox Free 3D Game Maker 2.4 Release has arrived!  Check out the DOWNLOAD SECTION to download it!  Sandbox was recently featured at the PBS/WHMT and 1st Playable conference for Teachers with an overwhelming turnout, some teachers had to sit on the floor! In addition Sandbox has appeared in multiple magazines and is being used in countries throughout the world including a game design contest in Malaysia where only using Sandbox was allowed with 1st prize being a new laptop!

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using Sandbox in schools please e-mail me!  We'd also really like you to post your experiences here if possible.  I would really like to keep an accurate list of what schools are using Sandbox.  Also it is required in the license now to let us know please.  In addition if possible please put a link on your school page to Sandbox.  Thanks!

CONGRADULATIONS TO CAPTAIN AHAB FOR WINNING THE MAPPING CONTEST! - You can check out his map cavern2 in 2.4 or go to our forum and check out the other awesome entries as well!  Congrats to all our winners 2nd - Dr. Tygen & Mortar Tied, 3rd - GoBolognia and Gr1m Tied!  Thanks for all the entries and we'll be having more contests soon!

Platinum Arts Sandbox Free 3D Game Maker is an open source game design program for kids and adults.  The focus is to make the process of creating games and worlds easy enough for kids but powerful enough to create full game projects.  Sandbox is already being used in many schools and colleges throughout the world and included in game design contests.  To see Sandbox in action be sure to check out tutorial video showing off the in game editing! 
Tutorial 1 Featuring Sandbox Basics <- Make sure to watch that tutorial if you are new!

To see the full list of important changes and new features check out the 2.4 Changelog forum post

New Features: To see videos of the features in action scroll to the previous news post or check out our youtube page

* Multiplayer Bots! Check out the map bottest in multiplayer /coop bottest Go here for more info and commands

* Ragdolls! Models will now ragdoll!  You can try it out using /nap

* Many new maps - bottest, cavern2 (winner of the mapping contest!), trainmap (FEATURING A WORKING TRAIN!), textanim (shows off how to make animated textures and movies in Sandbox!), Bastion, updates to Village, Save The Banana for the Multiplayer BananaRelay Base Capture mode /bananarelay

* New RPG Mode! Spells featured are fireball, lantern/light, and invisibility.  Edit mode is accessed with F1 and the inventory is opened with TAB.  This is very much a work in progress.

* Updates to the sidescroller! features flying fish protectile, magnetic armor that can attract power ups and winged armor to make you fly! /newent pickup and whatever number in /data/game_ssp.cfg

* BananaRelay multiplayer Base Capture mode!  This was a major kid favorite!  When setting up a server try /bananarelay savethebanana and invite your friends for some banana capturing action!

* Blendmap aka texture painting is highly improved! Use P on a texture with a mini texture in the corner and start painting away!  Change the brush shape with B + Mousewheel

* In game movie recording! /movie moviename to start and /movie to stop!

* New Menu Background by Nekia! Daughter of Captain Ahab, creator of trainmap and cavern2!

* My_Stuff folder to save your custom maps!

* New Launcher thanks to ZKAT8IT! His Company Webpage full of neat goodies

* Lots of new models, skyboxes and textures! Also the Sandbox Cheat Sheet has been updated to provide an easier editing reference!  Check out the help menu in game for more commands.

* Tons of bugfixes and various new features!!!

We hope you enjoy 2.4 and feel free to post feedback in the forums!  Make sure to mention that you are referring to 2.4 in your subject!  Take care and enjoy!

-mike