Yr 7 DS and Minecraft computer game after school

Soupdragon they will not be able to access your computer, but they will be able to go on the server, which will be hosted BY your computer and your internet connection, i am unaware that they can gain access to your computer, and unless your Ds has friends of global hacking stature i highly doubt they could access your computer, hosting a server is MINIMAL risk at worst.
My above post has a youtube link in it, click on that give it a watch, explains how to setup a server.

Hi, it's Solo's Ds here Coffeeformeplease
These are some things you need to understand before creating a minecraft server.
Exerts from the MinecraftWiki:
"Warning
Before following these instructions please note that running server software on your computer without a clear understanding of what you are doing may seriously harm your system and lead to vulnerabilities. Do not open ports in your router without knowing exactly what you are doing."

"Warning
Since you're about to run your own server, you should be aware of the possible dangers. Although we can not prevent people from running their server and putting themselves at risk, we may at least appeal that you don't do it when having no idea what you actually do. Running by the instructions below should not put you at any risk, but since this is a wiki which everybody is allowed to edit, and we don't know about your system configuration, we cannot guarantee you'll be out of danger. In order to run your server and stay out of trouble, we strongly recommend you should at least know about the following:
Networking in general (IP, DHCP, ports etc.)
Your system configuration
Your network configuration
Your router configuration (if you want other people to connect over Internet)
How to use and configure your personal firewall (shutting it down is NOT an option!)"

In essence what you would need to do with regards to creating the server is download all of the necessary software, i shall link these downloads here:

minecraft.net/download

The sub-heading 'multiplayer server' is where you will be able to download the program for this.

I won't run into specifics at all the different booster software to download (even though it's free) I.E. Hamachi which helps to maintain the servers connection and keep it from being laggy (slow).

The main thing you should understand is that hosting a multiplayer is not without risk; if your Ds gives the IP to his friends and his friends give it to his friends, many people could join the server and destroy all the 'hard' work done by your Ds and his friends.

Unless you or your Ds do something that you don't quite understand you should be fine, but if you don't understand then i would leave it and not bother having the server.

However after downloading the 'multiplayer server' download from the link above, this turorial on youtube may be able to help.

The only other thing is paid hosting from companies like 'fragnet.net' but i wouldn't because £10 a month is quite a lot for such a simple game.

I would suggest not even bothering as it's a lot of hassle, but if you wish to do so that youtube tutorial is quite informative.

any more questions just ask :)

There are different levels of access with servers, the idea is that most players are just players & they can't do anything except within the game.

However, DS has learnt the hard way that letting others be an "Op" (?operator) is a recipe for trouble, they won't be responsible & they end up doing all sorts of things DS thinks of as rampant vandalism or cheating (DS is right fusspot about such things). He was in tears last night about it (poor guy). Hard lesson learned, I fear.

And this is after I strongly advised him not to OP anybody! I think he's gotten away with it, though, without too much harm done, and hopefully has learnt a solid lesson.

I asked DSs about the server thing and they looked at me blankly. Which is good because, having googled it, no way on earth are they setting one up.

It seems to involve allowing others access to your computer and, as we have no idea how to make this secure it won't be happening in this house. The tutorial warns you not to do it unless you know what you are doing - we ae clueless so no chance!

Haha. Another mum here who listens to bizarre and hilarious arguments emanating from the bedroom. 'You killed my dog!' 'It was an accident, I just fell down your mine, you should fence it off.''It took me ages to train him, I don't have any bones left!' and so on.

I can see the appeal. It is a very simple and hence playable game. I LOVE the zombie noises. They remind me of dh staggering off to the toilet in the middle of the night.

Yes please, Solo.

I could probably ask Ds to explain the server to you in the morning if you want?

This is the 'norm' I'm afraid. My Ds is 14, absolutely loves MC and is on Skype with his friends and cousin too...I think it looks the most boring game ever

What is mine craft like? Would it be suitable for a 10.6 yo Y6 who loves computer games? What equipment would he need? It sounds like he would enjoy it.

I love this thread ...sounds like your talking about my Y7 DS too!

Like others have said, it's better than some other more bloody games (I mean bloody literally here!)

Also, his knowledge of rocks is improving...although he was surprised when shown sandstone in school as it didn't look the same as in Minecraft! lol

It's social as he can play with others or creates conversation points...very handy for DS who struggles in social situations

I secretly enjoy it too, although wasn't impressed that one of his friends built a big staircase near my house, grr!! lol

Cider, I don't understand the server bit either so son is not allowed to have his own until I have looked into it.

Another MC addict here (Year 7)!
Seems to be the thing to do for year 6, 7, 8, even 9 from what I hear from friends.
My son is not allowed on the computer before school, and after school he does his homework before he can play. Not every day and only for a restricted time (1 hour usually).

Mine too! Year 7.

He is still into Playstation (FIFA 13) and computer (Football Manager) and Fantasy Football.

He wants to set up a server but neither DH nor I understand that bit so we have put him off for the moment. DH worried about security I think.

DS is good at coming home and getting straight down to homework although I know he rushes it to get it over and done with. He plays MC on the laptop while watching TV with us.

Can anyone explain the server thing to me. Very simply please?

Madmog
Xbox live minecraft they play against / with each other - DS was building something with four friends (each at their own homes) the other night.
Wittering away as he does, but we did not have to listen as his friends were wittering too.

I know Minecraft is popular with boys, but has it got worse since he started Y7? All my daughter wants to do as soon as she gets in is read a book/look at an encyclopeada which sounds great but homework wasn't getting done. She seems to have the message now that she needs to do about about an hour a night and a couple at weekends. They've had a lot of adjustment to cope with over the last month and I think it's my daughter's way of switching off. It might be worth inviting his friends around a bit more, even if they want to go on Minecraft at least they will be interacting with eachother.

Yes everything is downstairs here too, so no late night gaming.

Our xbox is in the family room.
No electronics / TVs etc in bedrooms.
On school nights I try to make sure the phones are on charge in the kitchen too.

noble
there are LOTS of links to academic results v sleep patterns : you could set some of your classes a homework project to find them and get their parents to read them.

Please please make sure his time on it is limited and he gets to bed at a reasonable hour! I'm a teacher and the number of kids who come to school completely shattered because they've been up late playing computer games is shocking. They need time to wind down after playing them before they can go to sleep too.

DS (10) is also obsessed with Minecraft and Skype. The whole thing is like an addiction. He spent our whole summer holiday jonesing for it! We are pretty strict on time spent on it, because it turns him into a surly and grumpy little shit.

Oh gosh - my 7yo (year 3!) and all his friends are obsessed with this game. DH has set up the computer to restrict him to two one hour computer sessions a week (after he once played for three hours!). He is not allowed on the internet multiplayer game - so it is just him and DH.

So now he and his friends play minecraft, without the computer (involves strutting around in a slightly robotic way and teleporting to each others' 'houses'). This is marginally better than computerless angry birds, which involves running into each other at high speed.

another one with a year 8 DS who would sit on Minecraft chatting to his friends ALL weekend (as the F1 is not live) if I gave him the chance

I don't have rules as such except:

All homework takes priority. Clubs take priority. 15 mins music practice a day. Washing up needs to be done and meals eaten at the table. No playing before school. Everything electrical goes off by 9 and 10 at weekends. Minecraft and other such games seem to fit into every spare ounce of space between that lot!

Ds1 (y8) is not allowed to play videogames before school, and he has to do his homework after school before he can turn the Xbox on. His dad lives 2.5 hours away and they chat to each other over Xbox live (his dad works odd hours at home, so he's usually available in the afternoon for video gaming), so DS is even more keen to get on there. If his dad isn't available, he talks to his friends so it's still quite social.

He's less interested in stuff like building Lego than he used to be, but he still reads loads so I'm not worried. He always reads before bed, as I think that's much more conducive to sleeping well than videogames. He still likes playing outside on the trampoline or his bike, and gets plenty of outdoor activities through scouts. He's also developed new interests through clubs at school. He's been going to drama club and chess club. He isn't a particularly talented actor, but he enjoys it, and he's gotten very good at chess to the point where he can now beat his dad and grandparents.

Because of all this, I don't worry about the videogaming too much. He also, voluntarily, turns of his videogames when his 3 year old brother comes in from nursery and chooses to play with him instead. I think he secretly enjoys getting the chance to play with playmobil without looking babyish!