Technology Themed Thursday! MINECRAFT

When one thinks of video games these days, they automatically think of the PS3’s and Xbox360’s of the world. Or maybe even the handheld devices like the DS or PSP. With those systems, thoughts of ‘state of the art graphics’ come to mind with ‘realistic’ game play and ‘seamless’ transitions. Well, I want to introduce you to a different kind of game.

Minecraft.

This little masterpiece has blown up in the computer game area of video games (both PC and Mac can run it, fully downloadable after purchase). Overall, it is considered a sandbox game where you play as a person who has to ‘survive’ day and night, mining for materials and building things from said materials. As there are no goals to the game, you can play as much or as little as you want with no obligation. However, it gets extremely addictive.

In terms of little kid cartoons, I am more of a Dora (an explorer) than a Bob (a builder). I like to look for different biomes for different plants, I like to dig deep into the earth in hopes of finding diamond, and I like to slay any mobs along the way (cows, pigs, sheep and chickens are out during the day, zombies, skeletons, spiders, and “creepers” are out at night). But the problem with collecting all these resources is then I never have any ideas to put them to use.

For example, on usual mining occasions, a player will end up with loads and loads of cobblestone blocks. What one can do with said cobblestone blocks is build structures. The limit is your imagination (and how exactly the game will allow you to place certain blocks). I have seen castles, space ships, statues, pyramids, shacks, pretty much anything you can think of. Because you don’t just have to build with cobblestone. There’s also wood, wool, sand, gravel, dirt, and other ‘craftable’ blocks.

And then, there is still so much more to this game than mining and building. Having the right combination of materials can give you better weapons, better foodstuffs (to replenish health), better tools; can create different coloured wool blocks (including red, blue, lime green and the like), paintings to be put on walls, signs to instruct fellow players (there is a single player mode and a multiplayer mode). A lot. And the game is still only in Beta, meaning the team who is creating the game is continuously updating it with bug fixes and more craftable and natural items.

I really like Minecraft. It’s great to play by myself or someone who can help build things to make the construction go faster. Some people complain about its lack of graphics, but that’s the beauty of it to begin with. It gives the game an overall old-school feel. Plus, if you really wanted the look of the game to be more detailed or beautiful, there are ‘texture packs’ that change the aesthetics of the individual blocks, animals, etc. making them all look more cartoony or more realistic or what have you, entirely based on your own tastes.

The cost of the game is around $20 American right now (it is being made in Sweden). The price will be bumped to about 25 or 30 dollars once the final product is released. But that still shouldn’t be for awhile. The website, minecraft.net, is linked through Paypal for easy checkout or you can just use a credit card. Once you pay, you can download the game and start your own adventure.

I want to thank Cristina Valdez for introducing me to such an amazing game. <3

Image of the Moment

Before reading any more of my own words, I would like for you to look at the image below and really think about what you see.

What does this mean to you?

What I see is the spread of information at its best. I see Twitter functioning as the way it was intended. Information to and from Libya and Egypt are possible because of a widely used service like Twitter, where updates come straight to your mobile phone. This is information revolution, and we all know information is power. None of the tweets we make or retweet is particularly activism, but it's a step in the right direction.

The more I see about these revolutions around the world, the more I get worried about my own country: not because I see parallels to the violent protests, but because I don't see much of any similarities in the people's ultimate action. We are at an impasse and nothing is working because nobody is willing to consider the 'other side.' The keys are education and balance, but we need to do something to get to the point where we can rationally and clear minded-ly cooperate and talk about these things.

Unfortunately with how our society works, a real revolution will never happen again on American soil (so long as we're not invaded and taken over [which I doubt, considering we spend over ten times as much on defense than we do education {source}]). Majority of the population is too lost in their fantasy worlds, either through money or through television, to be willing to go out in hopes of making a difference. We are not willing to band together because we view ourselves as too different, and it would take a great deal of discomfort in order to make it happen (and we value individuality, and comfort/luxury over all). A people's revolution would require us to destroy our schedules and do something "dangerous." Practically nobody is willing to do it, not even myself (especially if I'm the only one).

At what point will we become so desperate that our only choice is to fight back? Or at that point, will it just be learned helplessness? Are we really just going to roll over and take it?

I, for one, love all the protests that are going on in Wisconsin. Totally barring unions is unnecessary in solving economic issues. People's jobs, their only means of survival in the land of the rich, are at stake. They are taking a stand. And it's beautiful. I want this momentum to keep going. We need real change and we need it now.

There are so many other problems I want to tackle, but I have to stop now. I get much too angry and, for my mentality's sake, I cannot handle anymore. All I can hope is that others will start thinking. And after some enlightenment, they will take action.

About This Blog

I am a Mass Communication major. I get angry about American society a lot. Thus, this blog was born.

I got into Mass Communications after I started getting into filming and editing videos. I may have been "Undecided" in my college career at that time, but I was taking English and Communication courses. After realizing the potential of my videos and an education in Mass Communication, I changed my major to such after transferring to Indiana University South Bend.

The problem with getting an education in the 'fine' media that floods the United States of America is that I learn about the ugly truths behind advertising, propaganda and politics. This makes me upset. I want other people to know about the corruption and injustices in hopes of making them angry like me. The point of this anger is to then ultimately do something about the system. Maybe not a revolution... but something.

I also recognize that college usually has this profound effect on people my age, that it is normal to feel and act this way. But I don't feel that such a fact makes this any less important.

Aside from communications, I'm also big on reuse (a better alternative to recycling) and dabbling in nutrition (I get upset about our food in this country, too). I may occasionally post about the evils of sugar or about some sweet and cheap clothes I got from Salvation Army. In my brain, it is all related to one another.

So, if the Communication Arts is your thing, or you get upset about the state of the world, or if you're similar to me, I am confident that this blog is the place for you.

Oh, yeah: I like Pokemon, too.