Last parent on Earth to allow Minecraft (according to my kid) HELP!

[Anonymous]

Unless they were at a friend's house pre-pandemic, my kids have never played video games online. They've played plenty of video games by themselves, and with each other, and with their cousins that they podded with through the pandemic, but nothing that's involved the internet. This wasn't a philosophical decision, we just never got around to figuring it out.

Anyway, cousins are moving away, after a year of nonstop togetherness, and so my SIL and I are thinking that we might get them Minecraft as a way for them to still see each other.

But I don't know anything. What do I need to do to get this going? What platform should they play on. Does iPad work well, or do we need something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless they were at a friend's house pre-pandemic, my kids have never played video games online. They've played plenty of video games by themselves, and with each other, and with their cousins that they podded with through the pandemic, but nothing that's involved the internet. This wasn't a philosophical decision, we just never got around to figuring it out.

Anyway, cousins are moving away, after a year of nonstop togetherness, and so my SIL and I are thinking that we might get them Minecraft as a way for them to still see each other.

But I don't know anything. What do I need to do to get this going? What platform should they play on. Does iPad work well, or do we need something else?

It's available on all platforms. Ipads, Iphones, xbox, pc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they were at a friend's house pre-pandemic, my kids have never played video games online. They've played plenty of video games by themselves, and with each other, and with their cousins that they podded with through the pandemic, but nothing that's involved the internet. This wasn't a philosophical decision, we just never got around to figuring it out.

Anyway, cousins are moving away, after a year of nonstop togetherness, and so my SIL and I are thinking that we might get them Minecraft as a way for them to still see each other.

But I don't know anything. What do I need to do to get this going? What platform should they play on. Does iPad work well, or do we need something else?

It's available on all platforms. Ipads, Iphones, xbox, pc.

Does it work equally well? Do they have to be on the same platform (e.g. if I let my kids play on iPad, and the cousins plays on an Xbox does that work?)

[Anonymous]

11 year old DS says that playing on PC with the Minecraft Java edition is the best for social gaming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11 year old DS says that playing on PC with the Minecraft Java edition is the best for social gaming.

That’s what my 12 year old says. Playing on iPad is apparently limiting and you can’t create as much. If you want a closed circuit for just them, you can host a server for like $10/month that your kid can administer—basically meaning you give them authority to decide who can be in the virtual room, invite specific people and kick out had actors. My kid repeatedly suspended privileges for her younger cousin because he kept blowing up stuff people built.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11 year old DS says that playing on PC with the Minecraft Java edition is the best for social gaming.

That’s what my 12 year old says. Playing on iPad is apparently limiting and you can’t create as much. If you want a closed circuit for just them, you can host a server for like $10/month that your kid can administer—basically meaning you give them authority to decide who can be in the virtual room, invite specific people and kick out had actors. My kid repeatedly suspended privileges for her younger cousin because he kept blowing up stuff people built.

Thank you! That is what we want. If the point is for them to play together, I think a small group will be better.

[Anonymous]

I am apparently the next to last parent to allow it and trying to figure it out now.

Why is it so effing complicated?

[Anonymous]

My kids play it on their phones some but they say that on the PC is best. And it is kind of a pain to set up - and I'm a techie. But, it's a good game...fun creativity...a little blood thirsty in survival mode...but it's probably my favorite game they play. Well other then Skylines and Unravel on xBox.

[Anonymous]

Minecraft is pure genius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am apparently the next to last parent to allow it and trying to figure it out now.

Why is it so effing complicated?

You shouldn't be figuring it out. If your children are interested, they can and should figure it out themselves. As tweens, this is well within their capacity. It does mean you will need to allow them internet access. But everything they need is online.

We have a rule in my household that I don't do tech support for my kids with games. I do it for school and required things, but games are something they have to figure out themselves. As a result, they are technically very adept. I'm not rigid about it -- they can ask my opinion of course -- but they have to drive it, not me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am apparently the next to last parent to allow it and trying to figure it out now.

Why is it so effing complicated?

You shouldn't be figuring it out. If your children are interested, they can and should figure it out themselves. As tweens, this is well within their capacity. It does mean you will need to allow them internet access. But everything they need is online.

We have a rule in my household that I don't do tech support for my kids with games. I do it for school and required things, but games are something they have to figure out themselves. As a result, they are technically very adept. I'm not rigid about it -- they can ask my opinion of course -- but they have to drive it, not me.

+1

This is how I handle it also. My 11 yr old DD has now taught herself how to write mods for it also, which has sparked an interest in coding. That definitely would not have happened if she were relying on me. It's cool to see how she's progressed from just using it as digital Legos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am apparently the next to last parent to allow it and trying to figure it out now.

Why is it so effing complicated?

You shouldn't be figuring it out. If your children are interested, they can and should figure it out themselves. As tweens, this is well within their capacity. It does mean you will need to allow them internet access. But everything they need is online.

We have a rule in my household that I don't do tech support for my kids with games. I do it for school and required things, but games are something they have to figure out themselves. As a result, they are technically very adept. I'm not rigid about it -- they can ask my opinion of course -- but they have to drive it, not me.

OP here,

I need to figure out what to buy, if I'm giving my kid Minecraft as a gift (e.g. I had assumed they could play on the iPad but apparently I need to figure out whether I make a PC available to them). And I need to figure out what kind of limits I place, etc . . . .

[Anonymous]

Ladies! Minecraft is like a social LEGOs group for your kids. Really fun and creative. And can be collaborative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies! Minecraft is like a social LEGOs group for your kids. Really fun and creative. And can be collaborative.

Wow, sexist much?

I think everyone knows that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am apparently the next to last parent to allow it and trying to figure it out now.

Why is it so effing complicated?

You shouldn't be figuring it out. If your children are interested, they can and should figure it out themselves. As tweens, this is well within their capacity. It does mean you will need to allow them internet access. But everything they need is online.

We have a rule in my household that I don't do tech support for my kids with games. I do it for school and required things, but games are something they have to figure out themselves. As a result, they are technically very adept. I'm not rigid about it -- they can ask my opinion of course -- but they have to drive it, not me.

Not OP, but I asked the question and am also purchasing something to play on as a birthday gift. So I do need to figure it out, because while my kid will happily recommend the most expensive means to play, that's not happening.