So my boys talked me into getting them Minecraft. Can someone tell me the point of this game, or give me some tips so I can help them? Thanks!

Never understood the point but was really happy when my kids started playing it because they were creative and entertained regardless of the really poor (obsolete) graphics. IMO, it proves you do not need the latest technology to have fun and your imagination can do wonders without tech crouches.

Also my boys here in Argentina managed to play with another SF member kids in the US, no distance or boundaries for them.

All I need to understand about it. I still have a Minecraft gun (cardboard prop) lying elsewhere in the back room. Good memories.

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There is not really a point. the game consists of either "creative" mode or "survival". In creative, they have unlimited resources, can build pretty much anything, and don't have to fight off creatures (zombies, ghasts, etc.).

In survival, they have to obtain resources, build shelter, fight creatures, etc.

There is no guide book provided with the game - most kids learn how to build things by watching youtube, where other kids post up how to videos.

All in all, it is modern lego. Kids can build houses, palaces, and there are ways to play through servers with others.

As they get more advanced, there is coding - they can build powered doors, elevators, etc, which requires logic circuits and de-bugging.

My 10-year old daughter plays pretty much as much as I'll let her. She has built amazing structures. She started in creative, and now plays almost all in survival.

Ok, the lego analogy makes sense. I'll have them stay in creative mode. And not let them attack each other. Lol
They almost had a fistfight when the younger one beat up his older brother's guy and took his stuff.

I never really understood Minecraft. It may be the ‘entry drug’ for younger players. They are mostly on to other stuff now.

My kids love it, but they're only allowed to use the non-online version.

Thought it was a updated version of The Oregon Trail (with the same graphics).

I wonder if it can be played on an Apple IIe...

My two boys used to love it. They still play it from time to time but are now all into Fortnite.

You punch a tree and make a stick. You use the stick to whack a rock and make an axe. You use the axe to mine more rock, sticks, and metal to build stuff.

That's about it. It's legos in game form.

There are enemy skeletons and zombies if you dig too deeply, like the dwarves did in Tolkienland

I was helping them on the crafting portion last night. My wife and I will be keeping an eye on them before they will be allowed online access.

We definitely do NOT allow my son online activity on it, but i broke and gave it to him for christmas after a year or three of saying no. He loves it,too. But i dont get it either.

It's a sandbox game, the way most kids play it.

You can build entire islands, houses, bases, lairs, communities, cities, countries, per se. My sons had incredibly elaborate lairs with all kinds of traps and devices.

Played in the sandbox (just keep building) mode, I didn't see anything wrong with letting them play. Teaches patience.

Much better than finding them playing GTA.

I finally relented and let me 6 & 7 YO play starting a few months ago. They played a little at first, and kind of lost interest. Then I let them watch youtoob videos of people playing Minecraft. It really helps if they can see what others are doing in Minecraft. They play 2 -3 times per week. Not online though. I think it's a decent enough game for them.

I have been told Fortnite is now the latest and greatest. (Minecraft meets Call of Duty)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Oz_Shadow,

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I finally relented and let me 6 & 7 YO play starting a few months ago. They played a little at first, and kind of lost interest. Then I let them watch youtoob videos of people playing Minecraft. It really helps if they can see what others are doing in Minecraft. They play 2 -3 times per week. Not online though. I think it's a decent enough game for them.

As mentioned above, there is no guide book. My daughter had to watch the youtubes to figure out how to build better things. I sat over her, and saw there was nothing in those to worry about.

her worlds are amazing. she built a whole stadium, part of disney world, and is working on a castle...

Make sure you get to bed before it gets dark out...

We monitor the videos they watch on YouTube, so they'll be ok there.
I had to laugh. They kept digging holes and getting stuck. They are loving it, so I'll help them where I can.

It’s legos online

quote:

Originally posted by feersum dreadnaught:

There is no guide book provided with the game - most kids learn how to build things by watching youtube, where other kids post up how to videos.

We went on vacation with some friends a few years ago. When we went back to the rental condo, their 12 or 13 year-old daughter wanted to do nothing but play minecraft and watch the online videos. I watched for a bit, not really getting the mystique, but then listened to one of the videos she was watching. The young man (or men?) that made it was extremely foul-mouthed as was the narrating player of the next two or three we tried. Her mom then put a stop to the videos!

Prescreening such videos as jjvgnslngr noted is defintely recommended for kids or younger teens.