QiskitBlocks

Teaches quantum computing and Qiskit in a Minetest block world.

• Here are the Quantum Computing Workshop with QiskitBlocks web-based slides.
• See a QiskitBlocks tour in the Learn how to play and build a Minetest-based game using Qiskit from IBM Q.
• Here's a brief video demo of QiskitBlocks.

Please choose one of the Installing and running options below and follow the instructions.

Installing and running (the quick and easy way using the Minetest Content Database)

• Download, install and run Minetest 5.1. Note: This site has a preferred alternative to MacOS Homebrew installation: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5585-minetest.html

• Click the Content tab shown here, then click the Browse online content button.

• When on the page shown shown here, type QiskitBlocks, click the Search button, and click the Install button beside the QiskitBlocks row. Click the Back to Main Menu button when installation has completed.

• Although Minetest typically uses your computer's default language, you must select a language in Minetest for QiskitBlocks messages to be displayed in your desired language. Currently, QiskitBlocks messages have been translated to Japanese, so please refer to the Selecting a language section below for instructions.

• Click the Start Game tab shown here, select the round QiskitBlocks game from the lower left, deselect the three checkboxes, and click the New button.

• From the new world dialog shown here, make up a world name with characters and underscores, enter 0 in the Seed field, select singlenode or flat in the Mapgen field, and click the Create button.

• Click the Play Game button, waiting a few seconds while the new world is generated and lighted.

• Jump to the Explore and learn section below.

Installing and running (clone this repo instead of using the Minetest Content Database)

• Download and install Minetest 5.0.1. Note: This site has a preferred alternative to MacOS Homebrew installation: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5585-minetest.html

• Clone this QiskitBlocks project, and copy the qiskitblocks_games folder of this QiskitBlocks project into the games folder of your Minetest installation.

• Add a worlds folder (if it doesn't already exist) to your Minetest installation at the same level as the games folder.

• Copy the quantum_circuits_world folder from from the worlds folder of this distribution into the worlds folder of your Minetest installation.

• QiskitBlocks makes requests to a service named QiskitBlocksService which accesses Qiskit quantum simulators that power the QiskitBlocks quantum circuits. By default, QiskitBlocks uses a cloud-based QiskitBlocksService, so public internet access is required at runtime. Optionally, you can checkout and run the QiskitBlocksService locally. If you choose to do that, then uncomment (remove the leading # character) the following lines in qiskitblocks_game/minetest.conf :

  #qiskit_service_host = http://localhost:5000
  

  #qiskit_service_timeout = 5 
  

• Open the Minetest application, select the round QiskitBlocks game from the lower left, and uncheck the Creative Mode, Enable Damage, and Host Server checkboxes. Then select the world quantum_circuits_world [qiskitblocks] from the menu, and click Play Game.

Selecting a language

Due to the great translation work of Kifumi Numata , you may choose for QiskitBlocks messages to be displayed in Japanese (ja). To accomplish this, take the following steps:

• From the Settings tab, click the All Settings button:

• Click Client and Server to expand it, then click language. Click the edit button, select ja from the dropdown list, and click the Save button. After clicking the < Back to Settings page button, exit Minetest and run it again so that your language selection takes effect in QiskitBlocks messages:
  

Explore and learn!

• When you're in the starting room with all of the quantum operation blocks on the wall, use the W, A, S, D keys to walk up to the sign on the right side of the door. Right-click the sign and follow the instructions. Have fun exploring and solving quantum circuit puzzles!

Please reach out to James Weaver on Qiskit Slack (located at qiskit.org) with questions or feedback.

Creating escape rooms in QiskitBlocks

If you'd like to teach a quantum computing concept in the QiskitBlocks game, here are some instructions for creating escape rooms in QiskitBlocks.