Minecraft is becoming a very popular game for families, but it can be a little confusing to understand at first. I had the chance to have one family test out the new Minecraft Pocket version of the game and make a video to introduce us all to the basics:



Here are the different versions of the game you can choose between. Which will work best for you and your nieces and nephews depends on how you like to play together and what game consoles you already have:

-Minecraft for PC
-Minecraft: Pocket Edition for iOS
-Minecraft: Pocket Edition for Android
-Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (1,600 Microsoft Points)
-Minecraft: Xbox One Edition

Each of these versions of Minecraft is periodically updated to offer new items and functions in the game. The PC version has just had an update that adds Horses, Donkeys, Horse Armor, Carpets, Clay and Hay Bails. The Pocket version has also had a new Pocket Realms service added so you can play online against other players from your mobile device.

Here’s another update from our family that looks at how to play Minecraft Pocket together. This is something you can now do over the internet with the Realms service:



Watch anyone play the game and it’s soon clear that the openness of the world and children’s ability to make their own fun here is the biggest draw. Rather than being funnelled down a particular story track, your nieces and nephews can enjoy making up their own versions of what is happening in the world.

According to a game review by Common Sense Media, kids have much to learn from Minecraft:

Kids can learn creative thinking, geometry, and even a little geology as they build imaginative block structures in this refreshingly open-ended mining and construction game. Given carte blanche to sculpt virtually any creation of their choice in this 3-D space, kids can try out tons of possibilities while working toward simple objectives. An option to work with others on larger building projects can help kids develop collaboration skills. Minecraft empowers players to exercise their imagination and take pride in their digital creations as they learn basic building concepts.

Andy Robertson runs Family Gamer TV and his Family Gaming website.

Photo: Courtesy of Andy Robertson
Published: September 3, 2013