I’ve been hearing about Minecraft for awhile now from a few friends. Those kids I know who play it have kids playing it on iPads and Kindles but this weekend a friend of Nate’s told us that we just HAD TO get it on the computer; the PC-version is MUCH BETTER, he said.
At $24.95, the download isn’t cheap when you’re used to spending $.99 at most for an iPad app but Nate shelled out his own money and I thought we’d give it a chance.
What’s Minecraft? This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
Minecraft is a sandbox-building independent video game originally by Swedish creator Markus “Notch” Persson and now by his company, Mojang.
Minecraft is focused on creativity and building, allowing players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D world. Gameplay in its commercial release has two principal modes: Survival, which requires players to acquire resources themselves and maintain their health and hunger; and Creative, where the player has an unlimited supply of resources, the ability to fly, and no concept of health or hunger.
Okay I know you’re probably yawning if you had it this far because I thought it sounded boring from the definition too. And maybe it’s the geek in me but I’m gonna say, this game is really cool. There’s certainly nothing special about the graphics (everything’s pixelated and reminds a bit of an advanced version of the Atari games I played growing up) but I think it’s the simplicity that also makes it appealing.
Nate is working on his world now and he’s chopping down trees and using other natural resources to build himself habitats, tools and weapons. (There’s a version where bad things come out at night or a creative version where there are no bad guys but of course we have to play the bad guy version in our house)
If you have kids who love to build or are budding architects, check out Minecraft for them. It’s definitely for ages 7ish+ though.
Also neat, for those of you who can really get into geeking out, you can set up your own world on your own server and then you can have friends join and play with you. And want to get the gist of it but not commit to the $24.95? Check out the paid iPhone/iPad version for $6.99 or even download the free version just to get an idea of what it’s about. (Fyi you can’t do much in the free version.)
This is a pict of a castle someone built in Minecraft – neat, huh?
Yes, my sons AND husband are all into this game…. oh my goodness.:) I think they could be addicted.
Mine is getting there!!! I have to say, I totally get the appeal – if I had the time, I’d want to play too!
Cooper (age 7) is completely obsessed. He asked for a foam pickaxe for his birthday (yes they sell them).
So now he can play “multiplayer” with Cooper?? He has the computer version as well!
My son just asked to start playing this recently – had to look it up to see what it was. He just turned 6 a few days ago though and I told him he’d have to wait another year or so to start playing. Looked a little complex for a 6yo? Plus, he’s still mildly amused by many of the free games on pbskids.org.
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see iff it can survive
a forty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views.
I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with
someone!