Minecraft model of Chicago - from trees to towers

CHICAGO - After spending four years building Chicago out of virtual blocks, an 18-year-old from the northern suburbs unveiled an intricate Minecraft map of downtown.

Ryan Zull, a New York University student who grew up in Deerfield, Illinois, posted the model on Reddit under his username, Koodoo25. At a 1-to-2 scale, it's among the most detailed models of the city ever made in Minecraft.

Minecraft, which was first released to the public in 2009 and bought by Microsoft in 2014, is one of the best-selling video games ever, according to Time. The game is a sandbox video game, which means it has no rules and it's up to gamers to create their own experiences. It allows users to build and explore worlds where they can compete or work alone or together.