Minecraft? - Page 2

stealthn · 03-22-2016, 04:36 PM

Gentlemen,

We need to lighten up a bit and look at the original question by the OP. Minecraft is a good harmless game full of prospects. Getting all quotie on excess and ADD on a car forum is pointless!

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Fwiw minecraft is about as unstructured as a video game can get. Creative mode is basically virtual Legos.

stomachmonkey · 03-22-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hads930

...Imaginary games like cowboys and indians, Army, Legos etc. are considered to be unstructured in that for the most part they have no rules, no clock, no score, and encourage creativity.....

You just described everything that Minecraft is.

It's a sandbox game.

If you are not familiar with what a sandbox game is it's exactly what it sounds like.

Sarc · 03-22-2016, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You just described everything that Minecraft is.

Not really. The real human interaction from Cowboys and Indians/Army, the benefits to the brain from physically handling real life Legos and playing in a real sandbox will always be superior to any virtual application. Just like for us grown ups, holding/reading/turning the pages in a real book is tremendously better for the brain than reading on an iPad or Kindle.

With that said, if the OP's little one wants to do mine craft, I think (like others have expressed), he should be fine. Just don't let the screentime inhibit too much of his real-life play.

impactbumper · 03-22-2016, 06:10 PM

For the record, when I am Call of Duty Live, and have my headset on, I get a lot of human interaction....

stomachmonkey · 03-22-2016, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarc

Not really. The real human interaction from Cowboys and Indians/Army, the benefits to the brain from physically handling real life Legos and playing in a real sandbox will always be superior to any virtual application. Just like for us grown ups, holding/reading/turning the pages in a real book is tremendously better for the brain than reading on an iPad or Kindle.

He did not mention any of that so my comment was accurate.

And FWIW, thinking, planning, and working 3 dimensionally in the 2d environment of a display is much more challenging than the same tasks in real life and is really not analogous to a physical book vs a kindle.

While it may not address the tactile element of real life play it does compensate in other areas.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

My 8 yr old nephew is addicted and pretty much a recluse.

Watch the cost. My nephew badgers my sister to buy him "upgrades" all the time.

devodave · devodave's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

My 8 yr old nephew is addicted and pretty much a recluse.

Watch the cost. My nephew badgers my sister to buy him "upgrades" all the time.

Our 17 year old with Aspergers plays often. Builds fusion reactors, steam plants, ships, aircraft, etc. He has been able to find many free mods. Crafting Dead is his newest foray. Not suitable for a 5 year old, but that's the beauty of the game - Build what you like and play it.

Sarc · 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

working 3 dimensionally in the 2d environment of a display is much more challenging than the same tasks in real life and is really not analogous to a physical book vs a kindle.

As someone who has made their living for the past 20 years working in 3D (both digital and analog, frequently alternating between the two on any given day), and as an employer to a new generation that have become strictly digital, I have to disagree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

While it may not address the tactile element of real life play

This is what concerns me most. For me and my wife, it's not necessarily the game but the conduit (device) and why our little ones are (for the most part) remain screen free.
I see how screens transfix adults and what they do to kids the same age as my own. The Pepsi challenge measuring sociability, creativity and imagination isn't even close from my vantage point.

But that's a topic for another day and another thread.
Sorry to the OP for hijack.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarc

This is what concerns me most. For me and my wife, it's not necessarily the game but the conduit (device) and why our little ones are (for the most part) remain screen free.
I see how screens transfix adults and what they do to kids the same age as my own. The Pepsi challenge measuring sociability, creativity and imagination isn't even close from my vantage point.

This is what I see with my sister and my nephew. She uses the tablet as an electronic pacifier. Neither she nor her husband really have time (both work) for the important things around their child's life. The tablet and TV are his friends.

stomachmonkey · 03-23-2016, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarc

As someone who has made their living for the past 20 years working in 3D (both digital and analog, frequently alternating between the two on any given day), and as an employer to a new generation that have become strictly digital, I have to disagree.

I remembered what you do.

After 20 years it should come naturally.

Sarc · 03-23-2016, 06:45 AM

I have been 3D modeling for a little over 5 years vs. hand drawing which I have been doing since I could remember. There is no question my pre-digital experience is a tremendous benefit to my digital workflow. I find working in analog much more challenging, more draining but ultimately more enriching.
But I won't lie, I love my Cintiq....

EMMV

stomachmonkey · 03-23-2016, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarc

I have been 3D modeling for a little over 5 years vs. hand drawing which I have been doing since I could remember. There is no question my pre-digital experience is a tremendous benefit to my digital workflow. I find working in analog much more challenging, more draining but ultimately more enriching.
But I won't lie, I love my Cintiq....

EMMV

I wish my Cintiq were more portable.

I've been on a quest to find or DIY a reasonable Cintiq replacement that I can actually put in my lap or take outside and sit under a tree with.

I hate having to hunch over the thing.

stomachmonkey · 03-30-2016, 05:19 PM

Good Article

http://www.cnet.com/special-reports/minecraft/

id10t · 03-30-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

He did not mention any of that so my comment was accurate.

And FWIW, thinking, planning, and working 3 dimensionally in the 2d environment of a display is much more challenging than the same tasks in real life and is really not analogous to a physical book vs a kindle.

While it may not address the tactile element of real life play it does compensate in other areas.

Yeah, back before DSL adn cable and such even network gaming became a IRL activity with LAN parties and such. Sure you aren't running around in the sunshine but working with 30+ others to set up a network in a big empty room, organize teams, and play Quake with the CTF mod ...

Holger · 03-30-2016, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Good Article

http://www.cnet.com/special-reports/minecraft/

I scrolled through it and when I saw "Minecraft in the classroom" I closed the page.
C'mon, get real.
Aint nobody gotz time for that!
It is time to open the eyes and see that the kids are totally overloaded with expecations and to-dos already, add the media and smartphones.
Those staged photos you see everywhere of kids sitting in modern, clean and well equiped classrooms, smiling and having fun-fun-fun is just making me wanna puke. Whats next? VR in the classroom? Yeah, sure!

/Rant over

stomachmonkey · 03-31-2016, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holger

I scrolled through it and when I saw "Minecraft in the classroom" I closed the page...
/Rant over

You scanned it and encountered content that challenged your preconceived notion of how education should work so you could dismiss it without taking the time to understand how and why educators may find it a beneficial teaching aid?

You need to actually digest and understand the content before you make a value judgement.

Tell me, did you have a similar reaction when kids started using mass manufactured pens instead of having to make their own pencils?

Holger · 03-31-2016, 05:42 AM

I have two kids so I actually am fully aware of theire stress and all the bull***** they have to keep up with.
And I read the entire article. So dont worry.

stealthn · 03-31-2016, 02:51 PM

The best presentation I have ever attended was one with Minecraft. The presenter went through a University's problem of when buildings were full, where people could check for courses around the campus and other challenges. He modeled the whole University in Minecraft showing ways to record how people came and went, and how you could setup screens around the campus to check realtime availability.
I thought it was a brilliant presentation on using simulations, Azure Hadoop and technologies to solve their problems.

Sooo much better than a dry PPT.

stomachmonkey · 03-31-2016, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holger

I have two kids so I actually am fully aware of theire stress and all the bull***** they have to keep up with.
And I read the entire article. So dont worry.

Soooo.....

You would not embrace a teaching aid that might create an engaging learning environment and alleviate some of that stress?