Minecraft is all the rage for many kids these days. It certainly occupies a lot of our conversations. I’ve written about engaging the kids in Minecraft activities that are offline but I figured it was finally time to play the game itself. What better way to learn and communicate with the kids about it, right?
If you’ve read the recent Huffington Post article about Minecraft speak, you’re pretty up-to-date on the important terms. I already knew them, to be honest, I feel maybe I’m at a diploma level understanding of the game. Sometimes.
Playing it, and knowing about it are two very different things. I used my iphone and all of us joined in (on Wi-Fi multiple users can log into the same ‘world’). While I am extremely skilled at old Super Mario games and a master at Mario Kart, it turns out, I’m a disaster at Minecraft.
We started in survival mode, which basically means there are things (creepers, spiders, skeletons) out to get you. In daylight, we are pretty safe. So, at first, I couldn’t even find where the rest of my family was. From the other room my son called out “where are you mom?” I replied “killing a cow! I got leather and food!”. Turns out, my appreciation for my domestic farm skills were misplaced. I should have been focused on finding the group and building shelter because when it turned dark, I was alone and under attack.
The noises surrounded me and they weren’t friendly. The skeletons shot arrows at me while the zombies chased me. I tried to run, but my lack of controls in the game meant I ended up staring at the sky and falling into water.
“Who’s in the water?” I hear my husband asking. “Me!” I shouted back. “I can’t get out! Things are killing me!”. My daughter meanwhile was braving the night to come and find me to guide me back to their shelter. Instead, I lead the bad guys to their door. “MOM!” She cried “You lead the creeper right to us!”. Oops.
Meanwhile, my son was laughing. And sending me in game messages that were laughing at me. I was dying, over and over again, only to respawn, alone in the night, surrounded by more creepers and to die again.
It didn’t take long for my son to suggest we switch to Creative. In Creative mode nothing tries to kill you. You just build and live a peaceful, happy existence.
I built a house (check out my deck!) and felt the game was much better. But I can still hear the grunts of the zombies coming after me.
Do you play Minecraft? Have you tried joining in with the kids? Is it a thing in your house yet?
