As part of our Building Blocks exhibition you can also join us online to build your dream house or just simply experience local landmarks like Inverness Castle, Cromarty Courthouse or the Cathedral in a whole new way! To join our Highland Minecraft server, Mineverness, you will need your own Minecraft account on computer or laptop and not the tablet pocket edition. Weekly winners will be displayed within the Building Blocks exhibition from 21 May – 18 June.
Images: Maarten de Vries
Background & Rules: The Legend of Mineverness
The legendary city of Mineverness was all but forgotten when after a lifetime of searching, Steve McEwb and Steve MacSphereson stumbled on the remains or a place they now believe was the long lost capital of the Minelands and Islands. Much of it had succumbed to eons of erosion, but after years of painstaking excavation and reconstruction, the Steves have managed to save a handful of the original buildings including a bothy, a house, the castle, cathedral and courthouse. They decided though that Mineverness should become a living city once more and have invited people to come and build their dream house here.
Planning permission was granted for a number of plots and work can now begin. A few pioneers have already moved in. Dougie MacRedwood build cosy hut in the highest tree he could find and Raymond Choucroute has built his 5 star restaurant the Unterwasserhaus in a rather damp spot.
All the areas with gravel are free to build on, but make sure you share the space with others. Respect the work of others. Do not destroy or alter buildings that aren’t yours or put up inappropriate structures, or behave in an acceptable manner. Play fair or you may find yourself in jail or even banned from Minverness. The Mineverness authorities may also remove buildings that are deemed an obstruction to others or otherwise unsuitable for the city.
Each week the houses will be judged and the best design will win a prize. Put up a sign to let us know when your house isn’t finished yet so we will not judge it until it is finished. The judges will be looking for style, aesthetics, innovative use of materials and most importantly, comfort. You may of course replace any remaining gravel with a nice little garden too!
Mineverness has a few so called mods that provide additional blocks of different shapes that make it possible to refine your designs. Instructions on how to obtain or use these blocks can be found below. Alternatively you can copy blocks from the existing buildings. If you have finished your house and you want to protect it, please leave a sign on it and we will make sure no one can change or demolish it.
Please feel free to explore the rest of the area. There are some interesting buildings, a campsite and when you follow the river you may discover something unusual… There are also some great mountain routes to try (start behind the cathedral) with caves, bridges and pinnacles to climb. Can you do them without flying?
How to Join Mineverness
Instructions for Windows:
1. Download .zip from http://www.devrieshome.nl/mc/mineverness/Mineverness-Win.zip
2. Unpack .zip > in the zip is a folder called Mineverness.
3. You can put the Mineverness folder anywhere you like, everything happens within that folder there are no install procedures.
4. In the folder you’ll find startme.exe > That is the program to start Minecraft for Mineverness.
5. In the launcher you first have to fill in your Minecraft account details: username and password (top right corner).
6. You now can start the instance “Mineverness”, it may take a while as it will download all the necessary files from Mojang.
7. When Minecraft has started, choose multiplayer. You find the correct server-address already filled in, >join that server.
Instructions for Apple Mac:
1. Download .zip from http://www.devrieshome.nl/mc/mineverness/Mineverness-Mac.zip
2. Unpack .zip > in the zip is an app called Mineverness.app
3. You can put this app anywhere you like, everything happens within that app there are no install procedures.
4. Click the app to start the “launcher”
5. In the launcher you first have to fill in your Minecraft account details: username and password (top right corner).
6. You now can start the instance “Mineverness”, it may take a while as it will download all the necessary files from Mojang.
7. When Minecraft has started, choose multiplayer. You find the correct server-address already filled in, >join that server.
For more info email: Kirsten Body, Exhibitions Unit
