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
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