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I have two sons. Raising boys in the 80's and 90's meant lots of video games at our house. We started out with an original Nintendo console, then added the Super Nintendo, Game Boys, etc. My younger son has made a career working with computers, so there were always computer games, as well. They soon outdistanced me--I never did get the hang of Super Mario Bros. and 95% of the computer games out there were shooters, RPG's, racing games, etc. that required more hand-eye coordination and quicker reflexes than I seem to possess. Games in which you know something is going to attack you make me very uptight and nervous. So I was thrilled when my son introduced me to
http://www.minecraft.net/
Minecraft is right up my alley! It is what they call a "sandbox" game. You build things with blocks of various substances, like stone, dirt, or wood. You dig for resources such as coal, iron ore, gold, diamond, or obsidian. You use a workbench to craft items like tools or torches. You cook items in a furnace to make glass or cook food.
The best part is that you can play it in "Peaceful" mode where there are no bad guys to bother you. You still can die by falling or by drowning, or by contact with lava. But nothing is going to sneak up on you to do you harm. There are peaceful creatures--cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and squid; and the wolves can turn on you if you attack them first. But you can also tame them. You harvest pork from the pigs, hides from the cattle, feathers from the chickens, and wool from the sheep. These can all be used to make other things. You can grow sugar cane, cactus, trees, and wheat to make bread or paper.
If this is too easy, you can turn up the danger factor by playing in easy, normal, or hard modes. There you are in danger from creepers who explode, skellys who fire arrows, huge spiders that can jump, and zombies who attack you. Plus there is a "nether" world inhabited by "ghasts" and other unearthly enemies.
I enjoy playing in peaceful mode as a stress relief. I even occasionally play in easy mode and no longer fear the spiders or zombies. I only go out in the daytime, though. Most enemies are only active at night. I still panic when I see a creeper. That's as much fear as I care to face. I am a complete wuss.
Minecraft will soon be coming out with a rather significant upgrade. There are new creatures, called Endermen, which are rather like Ents or tree-people. They attack you if you look at them. It will be hard NOT to look at them because they are interesting to look at. There will be villages to explore and quests to complete. There will also be a new mode called "Creative" in which you are given infinite resources and can create to your heart's content without fear of being attacked.
In my opinion, Minecraft is a perfect family game. You can start kids out in peaceful or creative modes. They can advance at their own pace to the more difficult modes or stay in peaceful mode forever. There is no time limit, no points scored. It's just fun. You can dig mines, build fantastic structures, or go exploring. It's not an expensive game either.
There are lots of blogs and videos out there that show screenshots or actual play of the game. I highly recommend Minecraft for anyone.
Now you'll have to excuse me, I found some obsidian to mine.
The best part is that you can play it in "Peaceful" mode where there are no bad guys to bother you. You still can die by falling or by drowning, or by contact with lava. But nothing is going to sneak up on you to do you harm. There are peaceful creatures--cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and squid; and the wolves can turn on you if you attack them first. But you can also tame them. You harvest pork from the pigs, hides from the cattle, feathers from the chickens, and wool from the sheep. These can all be used to make other things. You can grow sugar cane, cactus, trees, and wheat to make bread or paper.
If this is too easy, you can turn up the danger factor by playing in easy, normal, or hard modes. There you are in danger from creepers who explode, skellys who fire arrows, huge spiders that can jump, and zombies who attack you. Plus there is a "nether" world inhabited by "ghasts" and other unearthly enemies.
I enjoy playing in peaceful mode as a stress relief. I even occasionally play in easy mode and no longer fear the spiders or zombies. I only go out in the daytime, though. Most enemies are only active at night. I still panic when I see a creeper. That's as much fear as I care to face. I am a complete wuss.
Minecraft will soon be coming out with a rather significant upgrade. There are new creatures, called Endermen, which are rather like Ents or tree-people. They attack you if you look at them. It will be hard NOT to look at them because they are interesting to look at. There will be villages to explore and quests to complete. There will also be a new mode called "Creative" in which you are given infinite resources and can create to your heart's content without fear of being attacked.
In my opinion, Minecraft is a perfect family game. You can start kids out in peaceful or creative modes. They can advance at their own pace to the more difficult modes or stay in peaceful mode forever. There is no time limit, no points scored. It's just fun. You can dig mines, build fantastic structures, or go exploring. It's not an expensive game either.
There are lots of blogs and videos out there that show screenshots or actual play of the game. I highly recommend Minecraft for anyone.
Now you'll have to excuse me, I found some obsidian to mine.
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