Makers Empire 3D - 3D Modeling

About Makers Empire 3D

This application allows the user to:

• Learn how to design in 3D with the basic, pro and video tutorials in the Training Lab.
• Create 3D designs using Shaper, a traditional free-form 3D modelling module, or Blocker, a voxel editor.
• Create a unique avatar to represent you in the Makers Empire universe.
• Build and play 3D mazes with your friends in Maze Mania.
• Share your designs in the Gallery, alongside 100,000+ new designs every single day, so fellow designers can like and comment on your designs.
• Test your skills by completing daily Design Challenges and entering monthly Design Thinking competitions.
• Create design challenges for others to play with Mission Maker.
• Level up as you design and unlock new design tools.

Makers Empire 3D is free to download on a trial basis with various packages available for a subscription-based service. This application and is available for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices, tablets and computers. The application is suitable for ages 7 and above and is free from in-app adverts and in-app purchases.

It is noted that the app is in American English with three other languages supported.

For this review, we have signed up for the free trial as a Teacher. Once the application has been downloaded you are encouraged to create an account and an avatar. The block avatar is created using a simple design interface, rather like Minecraft, where the user can choose hair, facial features, outfits, colours and more. Once created the user needs to create a Username. The user can sign in using 5 Google, Microsoft, Cleve, Schoology or Apple. We found this process very easy to complete.

Once the user has entered the 3D world it is suggested that we try the Training lab to familiarise yourself with the application and its capabilities. The display shows several Tabs at the top of the screen. These include World, Gallery, Create, My Designs and Account.

When entering the training Lab we are given two options: ‘Create your Hero’, which returns the user to the original Avatar design, and ‘Where’s my candy?’. Follow the instructions on the screen to navigate and orbit the pipe shape to locate the candy. This is an ideal way to get the user to feel how the objects are orbited within the application as well as displaying some of the menus systems. The user is rewarded at the end of the training.

The Training Lab enables the user to explore the following:

‘Happy Banana’ - This introduces the user to the Zoom and Pinch features.

‘Fancy Shapes’ - This introduces the user to the Pan mode using two fingers.

‘Catch the Rabbit’ – Use your previously learnt skills by seeing how many times they can photograph the Rabbit through screen zooming, pinching and panning.

‘Make a tower!’ - This focuses the user on creating a shaped tower, using the undo button and deleting the shapes.

‘Your favourite Colours’ - This demonstrates how to change the colour of chosen objects.

‘Beard Maker’ - This demonstrates how blocks and groups of blocks can be added to a shape.

‘Open a Present’ - This demonstrates how blocks and groups of blocks can be removed from a shape.

‘Spooky Painting’ - This demonstrates how blocks and groups of blocks can be coloured within a shape.

‘Fish out of water’ - This demonstrates how items can be selected and dragged inside other objects.

‘Grow your hair’- This demonstrates how items can be selected scaled within constraints as well as free scale.

‘Make a hat for your hero’ – Here the user can create a hat, sell it and create other items for your avatar.

We highly recommend that the user works through all of the tutorials. The training lab also includes further tutorials for Pro users as well as a Video room demonstrating how users have created their designs step by step.

The ‘Gallery’ tab displays designs from around the world from other users. These can be viewed, opened, copied, liked, commented on and purchased. This is a great source of inspiration for those struggling to create ideas.

The ‘Create’ tab enables the user to create a Shaper design or a Blocker design. The ‘shaper’ design tool creates a platform where shapes, text, colour, imported shapes, shapes from the shopping trolley can be used and manipulated. Other features include floating menus, deleting, colour pallets, work backgrounds and units. The user interface is intuitive and a delight to navigate.

The ‘Blocker’ design tool creates a platform where shapes, text, colour, blocks, blocked shapes from the shopping trolley can be used and manipulated. Other features include floating menus, deleting, colour pallets, work backgrounds and units. Once again, the user interface is intuitive and a delight to navigate.

The ‘My designs’ Tab saves the drawings that you have created automatically in an easy to view file gallery. These also include those files that were created in the Lab Tutorials.

The ‘User Account’ tab displays the user’s avatar along with Achievements, Level Status, profile, messages and settings. The settings option displays some further menus which include; graphics, units of measurement, sound and account details.

Returning to the ‘World’ icon our avatar can travel to many different areas. These include: Challenge Central – A teacher can set up a classroom challenge using a classroom code within this feature. This is great for whole-class challenges, motivation and competition. There is also the option to sign in with a QR code.

Maker Space – The avatar 'Pickles' encourages you to create a rocket. Once the rocket has been created it can be launched from the rocket pad.

Daily Challenges – This section of the application provides an exciting daily challenge for the user within a given time frame.

Competition Arena – Here the user can see entries to design challenges, currents and prize winners.

Maze Mania – This feature enables your avatar to find their way out of a maze. However, the maze is incomplete and you are challenged to finish it. There are also options to create your own maze and view and play maze designs from other users. Once all areas have been explored it now up to the user to get creative!

We spent numerous hours exploring this vast application. The features and possibilities of the app are endless and we enjoyed every minute. The developers should be congratulated on the interactive, user-friendly platform they have created. There is something for everyone!

What skills does it improve?

The application can help with many skills including visual learning, graphics, presentation techniques, computer-aided design, computer skills, mathematical modelling, 3D modelling, problem-solving and spatial awareness.

Is Makers Empire 3D app easy to use?

When dealing with the complexities of 3D modelling there is no easy way to teach this. Many applications provide 3D creation platforms and Makers Empire 3D is one of the best. Initially, the application can be daunting. We suggest that the user watches the tutorial provided and experiments with the app as much as possible. Our users soon came to terms with the software and a little practice. If users struggle initially then why not download designs that have already been created in the ‘Gallery’ and proceed from there.

How will parents benefit?

Makers Empire 3D is a great way to introduce 3D modelling and computer skills to children. Once the application has been used regularly parents can leave their children unsupported.

How will teachers benefit?

Makers Empire 3D is very engaging and offers lots of scope for differentiation. We love the fact that teachers can create class challenges. This certainly could be used in schools on a tablet or supporting desktop.

Teachers will be pleased to know that the app is supported by a Teacher's Dashboard. Here teachers can use the 'Getting Started' to familiarise themselves with the dashboard and its features. Within this dashboard, teachers learn how to set up their first class, manage their classes, undertake online professional certified 3D Maker Empire courses, explore classroom resources and over 150 curriculum aligned lesson plans, implement pupil assessment and rewards, assign design mission remotely so that they appear in the app on student devices, gain access to the 3D Maker Empire's curriculum (aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, US Common Core, National Curriculum (UK), and Australian Curriculum: Design and Technology) and learn to share creations across multiple platforms.

How will the user benefit?

It’s great fun! Our users benefitted from the tutorials and the ‘Gallery’ where they could see the potential of the app. The interface is visually stunning and the application is intuitive. A great application for those who may want to go onto the computer-aided design, computer 3D animation or advanced packages such as Adobe Flash, 3D Studio Max etc.

What we love about the Makers Empire 3D app

Makers Empire 3D is an excellent application and we enjoyed the following features:

• The tutorial Training Lab exercises were ideal for those users starting with the software. A well thought out introduction.
• We love the fact the developers have included Audio to accompany the text instructions. This is ideal for those who may struggle with reading.
• The orbiting, pinching, zooming and transitions of the screen are seamless.
• We like the fact the app logs in automatically once the user has left the application.
• The ‘My achievements’ section is great for motivation at home or in the classroom.
• We love the ‘Video room’ and the step by step video tutorials of the amazing designs other users have submitted.
• The website that supports the applications is full of useful content and resources.
• Students can download their design as an .STL file suitable for 3D Printing.
• We liked the concept of users being able to buy items from the Gallery using coins they have earned.
• The developers have taken a very difficult, complex subject and created a very easy to use application with a variety of features.

What the Makers Empire 3D app could improve on

Makers Empire 3D is an excellent application and there is a limited amount of improvements that can be made, however, we have suggested the following:

• We were unsure of the frequency of monitoring of comments made by others in the gallery. This may well cause child safeguarding issues.
• Parents may be uncomfortable with the social media aspect of the platform.
• We would like to see maybe a timer on the Maze Mania game or a variety of further games.
• We would like to see the feature that enables the user to design their avatar made more obvious to the user.

How much does Makers Empire 3D cost?

Makers Empire 3D is free to download on a trial basis with various packages available for a subscription-based service; class, school or network.

Is Makers Empire 3D safe to use?

Yes. Parental controls are not required as there are no in-app purchases and the content are child friendly. Parents may want to monitor social media comments and interactions with other users.

Overall Rating of the application

Makers Empire 3D is by far one of the best 3D computer-aided design applications we have seen. Not only does it come with a user-friendly platform and a variety of features but it also allows you to connect and share with a worldwide user network. Makers Empire 3D comes highly recommended by The EducationalAppStore.com

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You can download Makers Empire 3D - 3D Modeling on your iOS or Android devices from the app stores. Download the Makers Empire 3D - 3D Modeling app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.