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Gameplay
8/10
Investment risk
LOW
Long-term expectations
5/10
PROS
Hundreds of thousands of servers
You can create your own server with your own economy
Open world
CONS
Low quality graphics
It is not profit oriented
Minecraft is a video game in which players create and break apart various kinds of blocks in three-dimensional worlds. The game’s two main modes are Survival and Creative. In Survival, players must find their own building supplies and food. They also interact with blocklike mobs, or moving creatures. (Creepers and zombies are some of the dangerous ones.) In Creative, players are given supplies and do not have to eat to survive. They also can break all kinds of blocks immediately.
You can play by yourself or you can play online with others. The smartphone and tablet versions offer multi-player options through WiFi networks. Players can connect to thousands of Minecraft online games (servers), some of which involve battling other players.
There are versions for PCs, Macs and Xbox 360. There’s also a version for iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire and Android smartphones. The computer version is $26.95. The Xbox version is $20 (1,600 Microsoft points). The tablet edition is $6.99. The PC and Mac game can be downloaded at www.minecraft.net. The Xbox edition is available at Xbox Games Store (www.marketplace.xbox.com). The phone and tablet editions are sold through the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Amazon. Players age 12 and younger must have a parent create an account for them. Always ask a parent before going online.
Since its release in 2009, Minecraft has quickly become one of the most popular games in the world. As an indie game built by a very small team, Minecraft’s success isn’t down to massive resources or a carefully planned advertising strategy. So what explains its popularity with children? Minecraft has been described as a game with no rules. It doesn’t come with a set of instructions, or a stated objective – players can build and explore however they want. It’s often compared to virtual Lego. ‘Children can create their own adventures at any level of play’ This means that Minecraft fans have a lot of flexibility in terms of how they play. Users can recreate an existing fantasy world or build a new one from scratch, they can fight villains and seek adventure, and they can play alone or with friends. It can also be played at any level. In a lot of popular games, you need a certain amount of skill to move on to the next challenge. This can be frustrating for young kids who don’t always have the abilities or unrestricted time required to make real progress in a game. In Minecraft, children can create their own adventures at any level of play.
Minecraft’s focus on creatively building and exploring could help children build their problem solving, planning and organisation skills. And kids who play with their friends might find it improves their ability to work as a team. Some parents of children with autism have credited the game with improving their children’s social skills and communication abilities – there is even a Minecraft server specifically for young people with autism and ADHD. Minecraft is catching on in schools as well. Students at Stackpole VC School, for instance, used Minecraft to build an accurate scale model of their school. It’s also been used to teach kids about programming, ICT and maths. And minecraftedu.com exists to provide teachers with a version of the game for use in lessons.
Gameplay
/10
Investment Risk
/10
Long-Term expectations
/10
BACKGROUND (0/20)
AVATAR (0/59)
RANDOM
Gameplay
/10
Investment Risk
/10
Long-Term expectations
/10