Understanding the Game of Minecraft
My sons have been playing Minecraft like little addicts lately.
At first, I thought it was a LEGO game because they kept talking about “building things”. I truly didn’t understand what it was that they were playing, but it seemed to capture their attention for hours at a time.
This past weekend, I finally sat down with my son William and had him explain the nuts and the bolts to me of Minecraft. I knew he must be serious about it when he begged me all weekend to help him find Minecraft YouTube tutorials. After watching about 5 of them with him, I quickly understood that my OWN son could easily create one of these Minecraft tutorials, too.
If your kids are into Minecraft as much as mine are, I wanted to write a post about understand the game of Minecraft and that it really is a good game for your kids to play (not to worry!).
So what is Minecraft?
(According to the website)
Minecraft is a game about breaking and placing blocks. At first, people built structures to protect against nocturnal monsters, but as the game grew, players worked together to create wonderful, imaginative things together.
The creative and building aspects of Minecraft allow players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D procedurally generated world. Other activities in the game include exploration, gathering resources, crafting and combat. Gameplay in its commercial release has two principal modes: survival, which requires players to acquire resources and maintain their health and hunger; and creative, where players have an unlimited supply of resources, the ability to fly, and no health or hunger. A third gameplay mode named hardcore is the same as survival, differing only in difficulty; it is set to hardest setting and respawning is disabled, forcing players to delete their worlds upon death.
It really is very cool.
As a mom of 4 boys that are 4, 5, 7 and 8… I don’t mind them playing Minecraft for 5 specific reasons:
1) They are using their imaginations to build whatever they want and desire. My sons have been obsessed with building mansions, the largest mansions imaginable.
2) They can cooperate and share ideas.
3) Henry (my 4 year old) can play, too. This isn’t a game just for older kids… Henry definitely gets it and understands the concept of building something he wants.
4) You can create and share worlds with your friends and brothers! I knew something was up when I heard them fighting about one of them trying to burn one of their mansion’s down.
5) It’s the kind of game they can keep coming back to, it’s not one of those you play, you lose… and that’s it.
I’m going to keep writing about our Minecraft adventures because this is something my sons are so crazy into right now.
I just wanted other moms to know my feelings on the game, and I’d love to know yours!
My boys (ages 8, 7) are also VERY into minecraft as are their friends. The obsession tapered off a bit around Christmas, but now it’s back! I like to see what they’ve been building although sometimes they make me a little nauseous the way they move so quickly through their world. I enjoy the game much more when it’s on mute 🙂
As you know, Nate’s totally obsessed with the game!! I don’t mind it either as I think he’s going to play SOMETHING and it encourages creativity.
Plus he plays with one of my best friend’s sons – their family moved to Singapore so it’s a great way for them to be able to connect.
We have a server btw if William ever wants to join in, lmk! Nate plays with about 8 kids all around their age who we know – they Skype and play, it’s super cute!
My boys (7 & 10) are obsessed with this game. So far they have really only played in creative mode and not with others. They have recently started asking about getting on a server to play but I really don’t know anything about that. I’m rather clueless.
just as I hit enter, the kid who is home “sick” today just asked to play. I’m doubting his level of sickness though.
My boys 11 and 8 and my daughters 9 and 7 play everyday. It is a huge obsession in this house and one that even their father and I have become involved in. I find I can spend hours and hours playing on “Mommy’s Oasis.” Each of the children have a house on my world and they rotate playing with me. I think it is wonderful for coordination, creativity and getting along to accomplish a goal.
LOVE this post, Audrey! Minecraft is a fixture in my home too — my tween is a Minecraft fanboy. He plays solo and he and his friends play together on their own server. I recommend running your own server because then your kids can control who they play with; i.e. on the public Minecraft servers anyone can join the game, which can lend itself to frustration (and destroyed work!). P.S. Do you mind if I promote your Minecraft review/post from my MOMmentaryOnGames blog?
My son is 11-years-old. He and his friends love minecraft. We do not have it at home, yet. However, he will have it soon because I told him I would purchase it for him for Easter. He is very excited.
Are we the only family who is not invovled with technology on a daily/weekly basis? We just entered into the world of DS for reward time in the car. My son 10 and daughter 11 so want minecraft but we watch them engage in legos, reading, drawing, games, puzzles; that we don’t encourage or use technology often.
Be aware when your kids are watching those YouTube Minecraft tutorials. Some are fine, but some contain profanity and others have some pretty graphic stuff. It’s pretty random so just know that it is out there!
Also when they are playing online. My son was on the other day and I happened to come by and was watching the comments on the side of the screen (they move pretty fast) and saw someone type “You are a p**sy”. Had to have a chat with my son abt older kids/adults playing online and such.
Just be aware.
We are a minecraft family here as well we actually have it not only for the computer but on our xbox 360 and Kindles. My son 10 and daughter 5 absolutely love the game and they get on and play with each other and use the headsets with the 360 and they can play for hours. It is a very good game for kids to be able to play as it does make them use there creativity to build there houses and then they try and build bigger and better things.