Wants an XBOX purely for Minecraft!?!

[bigpaws]

I don't see the obsession with Minecraft. My DD 10 (soon to be 11) uses the IPAD to play Minecraft and watch the irritating videos on YouTube.

With her birthday being in the summer hols, I like to buy her something which I know she will get good use of. I was all set to get her an IPAD MINI....however she says she is hoping for a bloody XBOX so she can play Minecraft.

I am so annoyed. We had an XBOX last year but only kept it for 2 months as no one understood how to operate it!

Is Minecraft really any different on the XBOX than the APP? She says she will need headphones to chat with other players. Not sure I am liking the idea of this.

Please educate me - I am very naive with technology

[WeAllHaveWings]

Ds(9) is exactly the same and wants an Xbox, minecraft, headset, some something called Xbox live and Microsoft points so he can do various things.

He's asking for Xmas already, so watching with interest!

[bigpaws]

Thank you WeAllHaveWings. Lets hope someone with XBOX/Minecraft knowledge comes along to help us out!! Please feel free to chip in with your questions too!

[Pylon]

My ds's are exactly the same. Apparently the Xbox version is better than the iPad version (no idea why), but we have an Xbox and they bought it with birthday Microsoft points (they also bought headsets which is good for them to chat to their mates when playing). ds2 keeps telling me he wants the pc version because that's better again and not happening!
Personally I don't get it at all, but all their mates are obsessed too.

[Pylon]

Just to clarify, bought minecraft with Microsoft points, not the Xbox.

[TrinityRhino]

yes it is totally different ( and better) on the xbox.

[SoupDragon]

She says she will need headphones to chat with other players

As well as headphones she will need XBox Live membership

[Areyoumadorisitme]

We have minecraft on Samsung tablet, Xbox and DS2 (9) is also asking for it on PC!!

They definitely think xbox version is way way better than tablet version.

We have xbox live and headset although they don't use the headset for minecraft just DS1 (12) uses it for other games.

DS 2 also watches millions of minecraft videos on YouTube. He really is quite obsessed, but in my view it seems fairly harmless and a lot better than other games kids are asking to play.

[SoupDragon]

DD is constantly watching Minecraft videos on You Tube too. Be aware that some of the contain swearing though.

[Julezboo]

Yes minecraft is better on xbox. She will need xbox live membership and a headset, they can only add their friends with their usernames so no random strangers.

We live a fair distance away from my DS's school friends so I find it great for interaction. Xbox's second hand in game will be cheaper than ipad mini :)

[bigpaws]

I am becoming more convinced about the Xbox idea. I will keep an eye out for any offers. The thought of setting it all up terrifies me.

[concernedchild123]

At least she doesnt want it for Call Of Duty... Oh and XBOX minecraft is better than iOS minecraft by a long shot.

[bigpaws]

I have got an Xbox sorted at last. Still got a couple of weeks before DD 11 Birthday. Can anyone suggest any other games I could get her? I have bought her the Sonic Racing one (just so she isn't constantly on Minecraft!!)

[GameHub]

If your daughter is showing an interest in gaming, a 2nd hand Xbox would be a great place to start. Minecraft is the perfect sort of game for her age group. And its great to see her wanting to make the move from ipad to Xbox, it shows she is really passionate about the game and looking for the best experience.

For young girls, I would really strongly advise putting your foot down very firmly on the headset idea-its not a good plan. I would be extremely wary of her using her own voice, its likely to cause a lot of upset and unpleasentness which may well put you both off gaming. Ask her to use the typed chat option instead, and have a solid chat about keeping her account settings private, not giving out her age or gender and so on.

If you would like help with setting up the hardware, Im sure I can find you some resources and answer your questions.

And for additional games, I would love to help you find a few other things for her to try! What kind of things does she like? What are her interests? There are a lot of games out there, Im sure we can find something that she might be interested in trying? Minecraft is about building and creating; does she like stories, or animals, or art?

Sonic Racing is a nice one, she will enjoy playing it with her friends if they come round (things get very competetive! :) )

[misskatamari]

Minecraft is amazing! Your daughter will be so pleased with the xbox version!

An awesome game is Beautiful Katamari. So much fun and so cute. You roll around a funny shapes ball (a katamari) and things stick to it and it gets bigger and bigger until you are rolling up buildings etc. Absolutely love it! Spelunky is also a really good game which you can buy online quite cheaply.

[makingparentsrealise]

Everybody I know all of you don't know this but what about PC or Mac they are the most featured ones of the lot.

[CraigsYummyMummy]

Minecraft, from what I know, is quite an inapproiate game so I certainly would not suggest it to any sane mother!

[mintchocchick]

Craig's - why is Minecraft inappropriate? I love the game for my kids!

No swearing, violence, sexual content, bad behaviour - it is creative and encourages spatial awareness. I played with my kids once and quite enjoyed it, though hated when they left me alone as it got dark quickly so I followed them around! Was a bit clingy which they found really funny.

[trixymalixy]

Minecraft is just like Lego really. Not sure why you think it's inappropriate.

[iklboo]

Minecraft is very, very tame compared to a lot of games on the market. It's basically building stuff, surviving (killing badly rendered zombies, ghasts, creepers etc, gathering food). No real violence, swearing and definitely no nudity or sex. Are you thinking of another game?

[BreakingDad77]

xbox live is a subscription service allowing you to play X-box games online against other people rather than locally on just your machine.

Other platforms such as PC and PS3 there is no charge.

XBOX has parental controls within it and there are guides on setting this up, if your worried about credit card details being on the machine, I believe you can buy a years membership from say GAME and redeem it online. You can also top your account up with vouchers like a pay as you go phone if you really want to control spending.

I have not played this game online though have played racing games and there were some very potty mouthed young (squeeky) americans on some of these games!

[Celestria]

Minecraft is best on a PC but with an xbox you also have netflix and YouTube.

Other games if she likes minecraft would be terraria. Also Mickey Mouse castle of illusion. Viva piñata.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

We play Minecraft on Xbox.
But I am mean and refuse to subscribe with XBox Live. So they just play together. Two controllers is good as there is less arguing (unless one of them destroys the other's creation).

[Pregnantberry]

As Celestria mentioned, AFAIK the PC version has the same features. I would get that instead, the whole XBox just for Minecraft seems a bit wasteful/indulgent IMO, but I am a sour faced misery-guts.

[bubblegun]

I play on a pc , that would save you getting an xbox. If her friends are all on xbox and they want to play together then she needs that though, PC can only play with PC and Xbox only with Xbox.

[Celestria]

The PC version has better features and allows the use of mini games adventure maps mods and servers. Probably better for a high school age child.