Minecraft - anyone has anything NOT positive to say about it?

[Return2thebasic]

I've seen people overwhelmingly have tons of positive words about Minecraft - for creativity mainly. Anyone out there who has had any NOT positive thing to say about it?

Both DH and I are no-game people. We've both gone through the age when games were appealing. But at the end of the day, we at teen years both decided it's a bit of waste of time. Both of us felt better to use the time doing something else.

My cousin's daughters have played Minecraft for years. But in their case, they were left to play games whenever they want. So the two girls would be happy not going out for sports or other activities so that they could spend time to do Minecraft. This also led them to spend hours and hours on Youtube watching how other people play Minecraft.

I'm not saying their case is typical. But could it be particularly distracting or even attention/mind absorbing to certain kids that it becomes a negative element in daily life?

DS is 8 and has a record of being complete absorbed into TV or any screentime. He could have tantrums whenever the screentime got reduced/taken away as consequence for any misbehaviour - not very often, honestly! So DH and I are extra cautious about the idea of letting him exposed to games. - He currently could use 30 minutes everyday to use between some low key online game and his chosen TV shows.

@gamerchick, @Kerberos, it's about trying to understand both sides of a given thing. Only been seeing positive tones about it. Before jumping into it without a "Reverse" button, I'd rather know better than whats on the surface. What's wrong with that?

Thanks to everyone for sharing. I think I can start to persuade daddy to consider it...

The only negatives we ever had were someone burning someone else's house down when they were all in the same world.

I can't think of any negatives and I don't let DD play anything above his age (8) like fortnite. It's a tame game that promotes team work, basic survival, creativity and imagination. It saved my son over lockdown as he could connect with school friends and chat away about fishing and building houses and making beds. It's not violent and the worst thing that happens is someone ruins someone else's build/nicks their survival weapon or food.

That article could be applied to any game and it's our jobs as parent to help them regulate screen time. I'd rather DS was playing minecraft with a friend than watching YouTube.

Re the YouTube videos, I recommend Grian. Even I can stand to have it on in my earshot, and sometimes it’s really funny.

I get motion sick when watching the screen when DS is playing it. Does that count?

He’s allowed an hour of screentime a day (much less than I have) and spending it building stuff in minecraft is probably better than watching shouty people on tv. I do then have to hear all about it though.

I think its great. I have no issue with my kids playing video games in general. But its the same as anything kids of different ages need different boundaries, regarding how much you let them do it.

Ds used to need boundaries. But at 10 years old he plays he plays a bit then chooses to come off. So I don't really regulate his use.

My dbro was a big gamer. His son (9) is also really into games. However, both of them can get a bit obsessive. Dbro had his game time regulated until he was 18 as he would stay in all night and not go to college.

My husband is addicted. He mods it to hell and back. The only thing I can say about it is that it's boring as fuck. I genuinely can't see the appeal of a game with crappy graphics and nothing to do except build stuff.

My older ones started playing Minecraft at about 8.

They're 11 and 13 now and still play it, alternating between Fortnite and Minecraft.

Some of the things they've built in Minecraft, some made up and some from tutorials, blow my mind. Whole villages, castles, roller coasters, massive statues, playgrounds, farms. All from individual blocks and sticks.

If you do not want your child to play minecraft, just don't buy minecraft.

It's really really simple. You don't have to gather loads of opinions to justify your decision. Just encourage other hobbies.

I do not like football. I have never encouraged my children to like football, and therefore, they don't. I don't have to think it's a bad or negative thing, I just didn't particularly make space for it in our lives. Other people can take their children to football if they like it. It really doesn't matter.

It's about as addictive as any other game, I think you would face the same issue with DS whatever you got him!

My only issue with Minecraft is that I find it mind numbingly boring.

For very young children you need to ensure they stay in peaceful or creative mode and don't have access to playing online.

There's no point banning fortnight but allowing Minecraft bedwars - its essentially the same thing (last man standing, kill your mates).

We allow it, but it's a learning curve - lots of parents who'd never let their 7/ 8 / 9 year old play fortnight think Minecraft is automatically harmless and creative and don't realise their child is playing bedwars.

Great on the iPad.

On the switch, the controls are all reversed which is so frustrating.

Its a brilliant game with varying levels of complexity. DD (5) has just started playing creative mode and has built an amazing village complete with zoo. DS (8) likes to play survival as he likes the challenge of finding supplies and building shelter (and killing zombies).

DS has just completed a great set of kids novels about Minecraft too, its so much more than just the game.

(Both of mine still play sports and play outside btw it doesn't have to be all or nothing).

As long as you regulate it then I see no downsides at all.

We don't have fortnite or games like that but I'm happy for DC to play minecraft, both creative and survival mode. They play with a lot of friends. My youngest uses the educational version too.

@BertieBotts

If you do not want your child to play minecraft, just don't buy minecraft.

It's really really simple. You don't have to gather loads of opinions to justify your decision. Just encourage other hobbies.

I do not like football. I have never encouraged my children to like football, and therefore, they don't. I don't have to think it's a bad or negative thing, I just didn't particularly make space for it in our lives. Other people can take their children to football if they like it. It really doesn't matter.

@BertieBotts, judging too quickly! It's not trying to justify mg decision to not let him play. It's to try to make a well informed decision.

Lots of his friends are playing/talking about it. It's a matter of time . But I want to know the drawback to gauge when he could handle it or how we could handle it together.

www.taminggaming.com/game/BedWars if kids are playing online and you wouldn't let them play Fortnite its worth checking they're not playing bedwars.

Playing anything online has risks.

Playing solo offline is different.

@Whiskycav

I think its great. I have no issue with my kids playing video games in general. But its the same as anything kids of different ages need different boundaries, regarding how much you let them do it.

Ds used to need boundaries. But at 10 years old he plays he plays a bit then chooses to come off. So I don't really regulate his use.

My dbro was a big gamer. His son (9) is also really into games. However, both of them can get a bit obsessive. Dbro had his game time regulated until he was 18 as he would stay in all night and not go to college.

Like your DS @Whiskycav, that would be ideal. I do agree it's probably better to train them to learn to regulate rather than never being exposed to it. Overprotection could backfire.

His school is going to run some clubs based on Minecraft and I signed him up. Will see if it's working on and consider for Christmas present if DH allows.

The only downside in this house is that when DD wants to play with friends she takes over the main TV - the main positive for her was making good friends with children she knew but didn’t have a chance to get friendly with at school. Expanding her social circle, so to speak. She’s currently at the park with one of these friends so not restricted to gaming.

When DD was younger she only played in creative mode, she’s only just started playing online (she’s 12 now).

People who say something bad about Minecraft often never played it. It's a great game that people of all ages love. I first encountered this game in 2013, and I'm still playing it today. I'm grateful to the developers for trying to improve their project after all this time. Each update is better than the last and makes you immerse yourself more and more in this endless square world. I've already lost count of how many hours I've spent on survival servers with my friends. I don't know what game could bring back the same fond memories for me. No matter what I play, I will come back to Minecraft repeatedly.

My only negative thing I have to say about minecraft is that watching the kids play it makes me feel dizzy & sick. I can’t watch or play 1st person POV games and while you can change the camera angle it’s easier to use in 1st person.

Despite that I’ve tried it myself, made a cracking rollercoaster for DD to find and was a hero with her and her friends for a week.