Minecraft is a very popular video game, especially among boys aged 7 and up. However, many parents have not understood what game it is actually about. Minecraft is now over 20 years old and remains one of the most popular games in the world. What was once considered just a single-player game where players could develop their creativity by building everything from farms to houses is now a competitive game that many thousands of people play online every day.
Minecraft specific servers have gained popularity over the years and Hypixel is one of the biggest. Along with the great creators on Twitch and YouTube, the Minecraft craze is still going strong in 2022. But what is this server, how do you play on it, and who are some of the great creators behind it? Read down below and find out more about Minecraft.
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a game where you dig (mine) and build (craft) with different types of 3D blocks, within a large world made up of different types of terrain and habitats to explore. In this world, the sun rises and sets, people go to work, gather materials, and build tools. Sometimes there is also the rain and the storm of lightning, animals that can be tamed, raised or used as food. Depending on the mode you are playing, you may also have to fight for survival against hunger, danger and bad guys.
It is possible to play Minecraft solo, by simply downloading the offline game environment. You can play this game on your computer, but also on your PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, … Then you have to choose a game mode and a world. You can build objects, collect food, fight monsters and much more. However, Minecraft is a very popular game for those who want to play with other people. In this case, you can create your own “kingdom” or world and invite your friends to play together. You can also choose to play in another’s realm or in a public world.
How to play Minecraft?
Choose how you want to play
There are 5 different game modes in Minecraft: Creative, Adventure, Survival, Hardcore and Spectator. In each game mode, the gameplay is a bit different. In Creative mode, for example, you don’t really have a goal and you can follow your own path: there are no monsters, winners or losers. For young children, this game mode is ideal.
Here is the list of things to do after clicking on the main menu buttons:
- Solo: Start or continue a basic game.
- Multiplayer: Join other players online.
- Languages: Change text language accordingly in Minecraft. Use the little button (to the left of the Options button), displaying a bubble containing a globe.
- Option : Manage all available game options such as graphics, mouse controls, sounds, difficulty levels and general settings.
- Leave game: Close the window, unless you are in In-Browser mode.
Is Minecraft Violent?
Some Minecraft game modes contain some form of violence. You can kill animals and fight with enemies, but due to the typical Minecraft graphics, it doesn’t look that violent. For PEGI, this is a reason to give Minecraft the “Pegi 7” label, which means that the game is only suitable for people aged 7 and over.
Minecraft is not free
For the offline game environment, you need to pay a one-time fee. If you want to create your own online kingdom, you also have to pay a monthly fee to maintain your kingdom. In addition, you can also make in-game purchases, for example to buy new worlds or outfits for your avatar.
There are also bullies
Not all players are equally good playmates. If you play Minecraft in a public world, there may be times when other people destroy items you’ve crafted or steal resources from you. If your child is struggling to deal with this, the offline game environment is a better option. There are also “child-friendly” worlds, which are moderated by parents.
You can play Minecraft endlessly
The game never really stops, so sometimes it’s hard to stop. It is best to make clear agreements with your child about this. Often, you can determine how long your child can play in the game console settings. Look for Parental Controls settings.
How to play Minecraft Pocket Edition on an Android?
To play Minecraft Pocket Edition on your Android device, you must first download the game from the Google Play Store. It’s as easy as opening the Google Play Store app on your Android phone and searching for “Minecraft Pocket Edition.” Once you find the game, simply click on the install button and wait for the game to download and install.
Once you’ve installed the game, you can open it by clicking the Minecraft Pocket Edition icon on your Android device’s home screen. The first time you open the game, you will be prompted to create a new world or join an existing world. If you’re playing with friends, it’s best to join an existing world so you can all play together.
How is Minecraft Pocket Edition different from the regular game?
The main difference between Minecraft Pocket Edition and the regular game is that the pocket edition has been adapted for mobile devices. The controls are more touch-based and the graphics have been simplified for better performance on mobile devices.
Another difference is that the pocket edition is not as feature rich as the regular game. For example, there are only a limited number of blocks and items that can be used in the game.
The most notable difference, however, is definitely the way the game is played. In the pocket edition, players can only play in creative mode or survival mode. In creative mode, players have unlimited resources and can fly, making it easy to build structures. Survival mode is more challenging, as players will need to mine resources and fight hostile mobs to survive.
10 things to know about Minecraft
It has no fixed storyline or path
Like many other Minecraft games it doesn’t have a story or a path to follow, it’s a building game in the sandbox genre . For this children could play it for hours and hours.
It’s not a new game that just came out
The development of Minecraft began around May 10, 2009. The official release date of Minecraft was November 18, 2011. On September 15, 2014, Mojang AB and all of its products (including Minecraft) were bought by Microsoft for US $2.5 billion.
The right age to start in my opinion is from 7-8 years old and up. Even if even five-year-olds get along with the tablet version – at least my youngest leads me to believe so.
Can be played on different devices
The original version can be played on the computer or with the console . Then there is the Minecraft – Pocket Edition which is a mobile version of the popular PC game. The latter has a number of limitations, such as the size of the worlds, which is smaller, or the lack of some blocks.
In essence, though, the game is the same. Finally there’s Minecraft: Story Mod , for slightly older kids. This version offers story lines, characters, and a plot for kids who prefer a narrative.
Can be played in single or multiplayer mode
The best way for children to play is in multiplayer mode together with friends or parents.
The graphics
Although the graphics are reminiscent of video games from the early 80s, really complex things can be built with Minecraft.
Two game modes: creative or survival
There are two game modes: the creative mode where they can explore and build, and the survival mode where they have to be careful to survive the attacks of zombies and monsters which are simply called MOBs.
It’s addictive
Your children will want to play for hours. Before you get alarmed, try teaching him to self-regulate. Have them set a timer themselves . If after a week you see that they can’t do it, you can always set a parental control that regulates the use of the single app.
YouTube
On YouTube – but also on Twitch.tv , an online video platform specializing in video games – there is an abundance of videos of famous YouTubers who comment as they play or tell their adventures using jargon that you don’t understand but that your children really like.
You can find numerous tutorials, almost indispensable since the game can be really complex. Since Minecraft is a game that spans many ages – and has endless possibilities – not every YouTube video will be suitable for your child.
Violent and scary
In extreme game mode (hardcore mode) the game can be really creepy . In the latter mode the difficulty is set to the highest level, the hearts of life have a different graphic and permanent death is present.
In short, to start and if your children are still small, it is better to stay in creative mode for a while. In all there are four difficulty levels: Peaceful, Easy, Normal, Hard.
Minecraft at school
The Minecraft video game is also used in teaching, to teach physics, history, chemistry, English and geometry. In fact, an Education version has been released, a project aimed at teachers who want to use Minecraft as a teaching tool in their classes, in order to make lessons more interactive.
Why is Minecraft so popular?
Minecraft is popular with kids, especially those between the ages of 6 and 13. The possibility of infinite creativity in the game makes it one of the most extraordinary games in the world. Players can create cities, roller coasters and everything in between, there are no specific rules to the game. Minecraft also offers a multiplayer mode, which allows young players to play with their friends and help each other to create new creations. The degree of freedom plays a crucial role because most viewers are under the age of 13.
Here is the list of benefits players can get from the game.
- Develop problem solving skills
- Enhance computer proficiency, players can develop and learn basic programming and software skills.
- Encourages players to enhance their creativity and can help them develop their design skills – Players can build anything they can imagine
- Improve teamwork skills and enable collaboration.
- Improve math, spatial and analytical skills.
