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Last post: 25 Mar at 04:01
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 09:24, Edited on 12 May 12 at 21:38 by fightclubdoll |
(some features only accessible in the published version:)
http://myxboxlive.com/gaming/minecraft-impressions/
MINECRAFT:
First impressions
Though I’ve followed the stories and images about it and it’s makers for some time, the newly launched XBLA edition is my real introduction to Mojang’s Minecraft and my first opportunity to get into the game hands-on. The game has already smashed previous sales records on Xbox and was an instant hit from the first day it launched. I was among those masses eager to finally have it and see it up close for the first time. It looks like an RPG, but there is no story, there are no quests, just things to create while surviving. It is a “sandbox game” set amid ambient music in an 8-bit world, divided into the realms of the Overworld and the Nether. But just starting out, I was pretty much lost. Lesson one: LAVA = BAD (No Touch). Also dangerous: NIGHTTIME (Hide). Drowning/Falling: AVOID. Honestly, I was not really sure what the game wanted from me. Fortunately, there was also the tutorial. Without it, I might still be wandering aimlessly, punching trees.
Ah, the sages of Penny Arcade*, they speak the truth. (Yep, that was me.)
[SEE LINK ABOVE]
The sky’s the limit… Really.
“Before you can fly, you must learn to walk” or so they say. Incidentally, having a friendly mentor and going co-op can be especially helpful when starting out. I did both, and between tutorial and co-op, I got a great feel for how the game worked, where I was, and what I would need to be doing. Initially, Minecraft does appear a little coarse, after all, most games are no longer presented in blocky and bold 8-bit glory; and it’s awkward at first glance. It does not take long to adapt, though, and the music does lend a softening effect to the game’s cosmetically rough edges.
In Minecraft, perhaps more than most games, getting oriented is a prerequisite to making real progress. It seemed to help me that I noticed aspects in the game that I could relate to other games. Sure it’s part of getting your bearings, but it also helps to dispel the strangeness of the new situation and helps define it’s dynamics. Here’s a comparison I’m betting you won’t have heard, it’s got a lot in common with Rare’s Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise. There are animals and enemies, crops and ingredients with which to build and craft, and a wealth of insider know-how, most of which will confound new-comers.
Games that potentially foster a sort of mastery in players, The Elder Scrolls also offering good examples, have, to me always held special appeal. They reward players for dedication and investigation, both potentially excellent facets for gameplay. Minecraft fosters specialist players and casual players alike, but it looks like the specialists can transform the game into something quite uniquely their own. Minecraft, in the hands of an artist, can have unlimited potential.
Creature Basics: the good, the bad, the ugly (sort of)
I found myself on a strange island, empty-handed, the tiered landscape littered with a mix of cute but odd animals and many trees to punch…
[SEE LINK ABOVE]
GOOD (Pictured: Cow, Pig, Sheep, Chicken)
These are docile, innocuous farm animals mostly. They roam the landscape and can provide various useful cooking and crafting materials. Some of those materials, can only be acquired by killing these animals, (it’s not difficult to accomplish, but it could feel a bit bad). These animals are basically always present, night or day.
[SEE LINK ABOVE]
BAD (Pictured: Zombie, Pigman, Creeper, Skeleton)
This motley assortment emerge at night and come to do harm to you and do collateral damage to anything that happens to be nearby, including your buildings and the land itself. They do not all disappear at daybreak either; creepers especially seem to stalk me in my game, and explode in inconvenient places. Enemy monsters, however, can be deactivated by selecting “peaceful” mode. In lieu of that, caution and staying in a good shelter at night are probably your best bets for survival.
UGLY (…it’s not about looks)
Not every natural animal creature is passive and friendly. There are some animals with nasty dispositions that are as much a plague as any monster in the game. One word: spiders. Aggressive, toxic spiders that climb walls… (shudder) Right, moving on.
Blocks and Crafting: …Have I mentioned the Tutorial?
You start with your own two stumpy hands, that’s about it. The most fundamental things you need will be the tools for creating and acquiring other, bigger and better things. Especially if you’ve ever played any game with KEFLING in the name, this will be a familiar and logical concept. Through crafting you can: produce/upgrade building materials; produce/upgrade tools, weapons and armor; create dyes and potions; and construct contraptions or other supplies. Nearly all of the raw materials in the game (the Overworld and the Nether) come in the form of blocks, particularly when it comes to building materials. Your tools determine what kinds of materials you are able to mine.
In addition to hand tools, the first things you will need to construct are crafting tables and furnaces. These essential work stations let you make use of raw materials you’ve gathered, letting you cook or craft new items according to specific plans you are able to view while utilizing the stations. The plans are displayed in icon form, so some deciphering will still be required, unless you opt to use a Minecraft guide or online wiki for reference*. It may be a good resource regardless, as the helpful text and tips tend to appear briefly and at random, not necessarily when they are needed or relevant. From my experience, however, I’d recommend getting some quality time in multiplayer. It’s an option worth trying if only to see your friend transformed into a zombie, moments like that just don’t happen playing solo… and in addition to whatever grand 8-bit masterpieces you build, they can be yours to treasure always.
*http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Minecraft_Wiki
More to Come…
Minecraft is engaging, charming and fun. But I’ve only scratched the surface so far in it, my Taj Mahal is far from built and I still have plenty to explore and to learn before I can claim any real adeptness or authority. Still, I’m not stuck and I’m not aimlessly punching trees, I am playing. And whenever I reflect back on my favorite games, my favorite memories of them always include times like these: first impressions, exploration, revelations and delving deeper into a new world with potential greatness that I’m just beginning to find. While gaming zen is certainly not the only worthwhile reason to play, games that make the most of it are rare. Minecraft is beginning to look like one of those games and I will be glad that I didn’t rush or fail to discover it.
On to the nuts and bolts…
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NEW: THRILLING TESTIMONIAL ;-D https://twitter.com/#!/JahKob/status/201024387980337153
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Related: http://myxboxlive.com/gaming/minecraft-profitable-hour/
Highly Recommended: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/346873/minecraft-360-re...
[SEE LINK AT TOP]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: *Penny Arcade is the property and brilliant work of Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. |
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaryKateClark |
Last post: Yesterday at 19:03
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 11:26 |
| I'm enjoying it thoroughly. The only limit is your imagination. 10 out of 10. |
What the brown? |
Last post: 12 Jan at 13:01
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 12:52 |
I had only previously dabbled in the portable version on my xperia play which lacks crafting and, therefore, much of the appeal for me. Thankfully this one scratches all of my itches and will teach me the ropes to carry over to my portable version when it gets updated.
It is great fun to work on projects with friends also and the whole thing leaves you with a sense of discovery and wonder. In my current and first world I have just discovered a massive cavern near a beech which I am mining out for material to help build my multi tiered pyramid tower hybrid.
Still haven't found any gold, lava, obsidian, diamonds of tried any of the advanced mechanics and I look forward to playing in this world for a very long time. And then starting all over again.
I am rather immune to hype and often roll my eyes at fads, and the Minecraft phenomenon certainly looked like a fad from the outside, but I am glad I downloaded this on Wednesday and honestly see it keeping me entertained for years, especially playing in co-op with some of my RPG obsessed friends. |
Last post: 25 Mar at 04:01
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 15:35 |
| DarthGoose13 said:I'm enjoying it thoroughly. The only limit is your imagination. 10 out of 10.I AGREE COMPLETELY =-) |
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaryKateClark |
Last post: 25 Mar at 04:01
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 15:40 |
thejewk said:I had only previously dabbled in the portable version on my xperia play which lacks crafting and, therefore, much of the appeal for me. Thankfully this one scratches all of my itches and will teach me the ropes to carry over to my portable version when it gets updated.
It is great fun to work on projects with friends also and the whole thing leaves you with a sense of discovery and wonder. In my current and first world I have just discovered a massive cavern near a beech which I am mining out for material to help build my multi tiered pyramid tower hybrid.
Still haven't found any gold, lava, obsidian, diamonds of tried any of the advanced mechanics and I look forward to playing in this world for a very long time. And then starting all over again.
I am rather immune to hype and often roll my eyes at fads, and the Minecraft phenomenon certainly looked like a fad from the outside, but I am glad I downloaded this on Wednesday and honestly see it keeping me entertained for years, especially playing in co-op with some of my RPG obsessed friends.It really is a game that's made to last... the potential I see really is infinite.
As for your RPG-obsessed friends... you may end up with some converts if they give it a try.
I love RPGs ...and a "Sandbox" game like Minecraft still holds some appealing similarities. =-) |
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaryKateClark |
Last post: 06 May at 20:08
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 17:15 |
Don't know where to post this, never used the forums before.
But think this is the right place.
So I can't play splitscreen at all not even two player (or I can't find how to start it), cause I'm not having an HDTV?
Please explain this to me =)
And whats wrong with the water, I pick it up and as soon as I drop it it dissapears.
How's that? |
Last post: 25 Mar at 04:01
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Posted on 12 May 12 at 21:29 |
LifeGam3r said:Don't know where to post this, never used the forums before.
But think this is the right place.
So I can't play splitscreen at all not even two player (or I can't find how to start it), cause I'm not having an HDTV?
Please explain this to me =)
And whats wrong with the water, I pick it up and as soon as I drop it it dissapears.
How's that?I'll try doing 2-player and see what I find... I'll ask Mojang & Xbox if need be. You may need HD for multiplayer, however. I'm pretty certain that's an issue I've read about previoiusly, but I want to confirm.
You will need a bucket to gather and carry water... also milk and lava....
I think this online wiki will be very helpful to you: http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Minecraft_Wiki |
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaryKateClark |
Last post: 06 May at 20:08
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Posted on 13 May 12 at 01:13 |
fightclubdoll said:LifeGam3r said:Don't know where to post this, never used the forums before.
But think this is the right place.
So I can't play splitscreen at all not even two player (or I can't find how to start it), cause I'm not having an HDTV?
Please explain this to me =)
And whats wrong with the water, I pick it up and as soon as I drop it it dissapears.
How's that?I'll try doing 2-player and see what I find... I'll ask Mojang & Xbox if need be. You may need HD for multiplayer, however. I'm pretty certain that's an issue I've read about previoiusly, but I want to confirm.
You will need a bucket to gather and carry water... also milk and lava....
I think this online wiki will be very helpful to you: http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Minecraft_WikiThanks for the help in forward, I'll ad this thread to my mail so I can see your update on this.
I know you need a bucket, the water goes in, but if I drop it it shows as a 1x1 block and dissapears after 1-3seconds.
Just tried to film it (the water) and now it works all the time O.o It knows I want to capture the evidence =P
Don't have problems with lava tho =) |
Last post: 24 Nov 12 at 15:24
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Posted on 13 May 12 at 02:14 |
No splitscreen without a HDTV. 4J Studios disabled it as they felt users on a SDTV would not be able to tell the difference between blocks very well. Pretty poor reasoning, but there you go.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/surprise-xbla-minecrafts-s... |
Last post: 06 May at 20:08
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Posted on 13 May 12 at 03:53, Edited on 21 May 12 at 01:03 by LifeGam3r |
Patsreds said:No splitscreen without a HDTV. 4J Studios disabled it as they felt users on a SDTV would not be able to tell the difference between blocks very well. Pretty poor reasoning, but there you go.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/surprise-xbla-minecrafts-s...Pfffffff sucks.
Calling support monday, don't realy care about a refund cause I like the game.
Still they could set the message in the description of the game and not in the game itself O.o
I kinda looked out to the splitscreen, ah well, stil have online multiplayer =)
EDIT: couldn't call the support cause I was way to busy playing minecraft =D
Maybe it's time to finally put money aside for an HDTV then.
Euhm 1080p LED is the best I guess?
All those televisions have way to much information these days, in the past you had like 2 options.
Color or no color.
Anyway, kinda getting off topic right now, sorry =) |
Last post: Today at 00:16
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Posted on 13 May 12 at 16:16 |
| The game is fun and ridiculously addictive. Its so easy to just sit down and say ok Ill just play a little bit, and before you know it, hours have passed. |
Last post: 22 May at 16:38
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Posted on 14 May 12 at 10:30 |
| Who doesn't own a HDTV now though, You can pick up a second hand one for about £50 |
Last post: 25 Mar at 04:01
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Posted on 15 May 12 at 14:22 |
MORE MINECRAFT NEWS:
MINECRAFT GOES PLATINUM
http://myxboxlive.com/gaming/minecraft-millions/
NEW MOJANG FAQ & INCOMING CONTEST DETAILS TO WIN CUSTOM MINECRAFT ED XBOX 360 |
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MaryKateClark |
Last post: 27 Feb at 16:24
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Posted on 15 May 12 at 20:15 |
| I am really enjoying the game. I have played for only about 20 hours and just finished my house. I began mining some caverns and the only rare thing I have found in iron ore. But I hope to find some gold and diamonds soon. |
Last post: Yesterday at 17:30
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Posted on 16 May 12 at 16:07 |
Patsreds said:No splitscreen without a HDTV. 4J Studios disabled it as they felt users on a SDTV would not be able to tell the difference between blocks very well. Pretty poor reasoning, but there you go.
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/surprise-xbla-minecrafts-s...I read this on the Minecraft page on Xbox.com, but regardless, I am slightly colour blind and even with HD the difference between some blocks especially in the inventory is almost invisible to me. |
Freedom is the right of all sentient beings |