proxima adventures

hackathon submission

mod concept: ever wanted to walk on an alien world orbiting the nearest star to our sun? proxima centauri b: exoplanet explorer brings a scientifically inspired, hypothetical, non-tidally locked version of this fascinating exoplanet into minecraft! this mod focuses on creating an immersive experience where players can explore a world shaped by a red dwarf star and learn about its unique environmental characteristics directly through gameplay.

how to setup:

• make sure you have the latest version of mcreator installed.
• download and extract the zip into a folder.
• open the extracted folder in your file expolerer/finder.
• open the mcreator app.
• drag and drop the "proxima_adventure.mcreator" file from your file explorer/finder into the mcreator app.
• once the setup is complete, click run to test/play on your device!

how to play:

• create a new world in creative mode.
• create a portal with obsidian blocks.
• search for "proxima field projector" and use it to open the portal to the planet proxima b.
• go through it and have fun!

core features:

• new dimension: travel 4.2 light-years to the proxima centauri system and explore the surface of proxima b.
• unique alien environment:
  • orange-red sky: experience daytime under the distinct light of the cool red dwarf star, proxima centauri, accurately affecting atmospheric scattering.
  • red-tinged landscape: terrain blocks reflect the ambient reddish light, giving the world an otherworldly feel.
  • dark flora: discover custom plant life adapted to the low-light, infrared-rich environment, appearing black or deep red to maximize light absorption.
• in-game planetary science facts: as you explore the proxima b biome, receive periodic "field tips" directly in your chat! these timed messages explain why the environment looks the way it does, covering topics like:
  • the reason for the orange-red sky color (stellar temperature).
  • why plants might be black/dark red (photosynthesis adaptation).
  • facts about the planet's potential characteristics (age, tidal locking likelihood, lack of moon - based on the profile).
  • hints about potential animal adaptations (e.g., infrared vision).
• immersive atmosphere: custom sky textures and potentially altered water colors enhance the feeling of being on an alien world.

the science behind the scenery:

this mod takes inspiration from scientific papers and climate simulations of proxima centauri b. while the real planet is likely tidally locked, we explore a hypothetical rotating version. key educational elements delivered via the in-game chat system include:

• stellar influence: understanding how a red dwarf's light spectrum dictates sky color and potential plant adaptations.
• exoplanet characteristics: introducing concepts like orbital distance, stellar wind, tidal locking, and habitability factors in an engaging way.

technical details:

• platform: minecraft java edition 1.21.4
• modding tool: mcreator 2025.1
• mod loader: neoforge
• key implementation: custom dimension, biome, blocks, sky rendering, and a procedure-driven system using player tick update and player persistent variables to manage the timed delivery of educational chat messages.

this mod aims to spark curiosity about exoplanets and the incredible diversity of worlds beyond our solar system!