Christmas. My son. Minecraft...

Christmas. My son. Minecraft...

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Discussion

Legend83

Original Poster:

9,961 posts

222 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
So there is one single thing my 6 year old son has been going on about for ages, and that is Minecraft.

I intend to get it for him in some format for Christmas but I am a bit in the dark about what the best route is.

We already have a PS3 for which I could just buy him that version, but as it resides in the lounge he will end up competing for use of the main TV with the rest of the family.

So then I thought what about a handheld console plus Minecraft...however I don't think it is available for any of the Nintendo handhelds and the Sony Vita is seemingly a busted flush?

We also have a Hudl2 tablet but it is pretty basic...

Guidance?

moustachebandit

1,268 posts

143 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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I think Minecraft is available on the Switch - but that obviously means also buying a console. The advantage however is that its portable, so you can keep him entertained on those long car journeys or the boring trips to grans and he wont have to hog the TV. For my nephews at least, portable gaming is key to keeping them entertained.

If he has friends that play Minecraft online it might be worth trying to get the same version so he can play along. I think MS was talking about cross platform play but unsure on wether thats happened yet.

Tycho

11,574 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Here is the info on cross platform:

https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/20/16340186/minecra...

I had it on my S7 Edge with the Gear VR and it is really good in VR although it can make you a bit queasy if you aren't careful.

sgtBerbatov

2,597 posts

81 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
I have the PS3 version and I like it as a casual thing. But, as far as I know, it lacks mods. And when you see what everyone gets up to with Minecraft, it's the mods that make it.

Would it be possible to get it on the PC for him? I don't think it takes a lot to get it running really.

Legend83

Original Poster:

9,961 posts

222 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
sgtBerbatov said:
I have the PS3 version and I like it as a casual thing. But, as far as I know, it lacks mods. And when you see what everyone gets up to with Minecraft, it's the mods that make it.

Would it be possible to get it on the PC for him? I don't think it takes a lot to get it running really.
We have a very dusty old desktop PC (it can run Company of Heroes as a guide to it's grunt) in the loft and a couple of mediocre laptops...


campionissimo

578 posts

124 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Tycho said:
I had it on my S7 Edge with the Gear VR and it is really good in VR although it can make you a bit queasy if you aren't careful.
You're absolutely right - first time I played it I experienced really bad motion sickness - took me by surprise!!

Tycho

11,574 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
We have a very dusty old desktop PC (it can run Company of Heroes as a guide to it's grunt) in the loft and a couple of mediocre laptops...
Here is a PC demo:

https://minecraft.net/en-us/demo/

rustyuk

4,576 posts

211 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Minecraft is like crack to kids! I have a 10 year old who is addicted.

Best version by far is the Java Version running on a PC \ Laptop. Specs aren't particularly demanding so an old PC or Laptop should work. Think the game is about £15 so won't break the bank.

Once you get online it's astounding the number or severs and worlds you can visit.

Get ready to start going to the conventions too!

pitchfork

279 posts

150 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Be aware that there are reports of grooming gangs operating through Minecraft.

Dan_1981

17,377 posts

199 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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pitchfork said:
Be aware that there are reports of grooming gangs operating through Minecraft.
This is true - the games are called HOECS

hidden On-line Entrapment Control System

On-line paedophiles can actually make your keyboard release toxic vapours that make you suggestible.

The odour actually makes your children smell of hammers.

C0ffin D0dger

3,440 posts

145 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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I'm planning to get a PS4 for Christmas partly so my 6 year old son has something to play Minecraft on, I've got a version of it on a laptop but he struggles a bit using keyboard and mouse. It will be attached to the big TV so that all of us can use it however...

Great feature of the PS4 is being able to stream games to other devices so he'll be able to play it on my laptop (not sure the one he has is beefy enough) with a controller plugged in. You can play streamed games on Android devices too, officially this is only for Sony phones and tablets but some kind soul has hacked the app so it can be installed on most Android devices. Pretty sure you can even hook the controller up via Bluetooth.

mp3manager

4,254 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Raspberry Pi 3. Great father, son project for Christmas day.

schmunk

4,399 posts

125 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Buy another PS3 for the room you want him in?

(Or, with man maths, you may as well buy a PS4 Pro for your sitting room)

Legend83

Original Poster:

9,961 posts

222 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
mp3manager said:
Raspberry Pi 3. Great father, son project for Christmas day.
I really like the idea of this, but the reality would more than likely be me pulling my hair out while it fails to work, the turkey burning and my son moaning "I want to play Minecraft".

I guess the alternative is I set it all up Christmas Eve for him to have when he wakes on Christmas morning.

Jinx

11,387 posts

260 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
mp3manager said:
Raspberry Pi 3. Great father, son project for Christmas day.
I really like the idea of this, but the reality would more than likely be me pulling my hair out while it fails to work, the turkey burning and my son moaning "I want to play Minecraft".

I guess the alternative is I set it all up Christmas Eve for him to have when he wakes on Christmas morning.
Minecraft on Pi

julian64

14,317 posts

254 months

P-Jay

10,563 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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Minecraft will run on almost anything, you can play it via a browser these days.

It's a great game, My son has been mad on it for years now.

PC version is best for playing the game, but for the love of god, give them a non-admin account and use Microsoft Family to stop them downloading metric tonnes of malware via 'skin packs' and 'mods' online. It will also help some way with online security.

Console versions of the game are easier to manage for parents though, no mods, no hacks and online security is the same as any other console game.

Duke of Kidderminster

733 posts

127 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
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It also runs just fine on the Hudl2 which is what you mentioned you already have.

Legend83

Original Poster:

9,961 posts

222 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Duke of Kidderminster said:
It also runs just fine on the Hudl2 which is what you mentioned you already have.
How do you get it on the Hudl2 or any tablet for that matter? Do you pay and download direct from the Minecraft site?

Tycho

11,574 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st November 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
Duke of Kidderminster said:
It also runs just fine on the Hudl2 which is what you mentioned you already have.
How do you get it on the Hudl2 or any tablet for that matter? Do you pay and download direct from the Minecraft site?
The Play Store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....

You can also use a bluetooth controller with it if you don't like the touchscreen controls.

Edited by Tycho on Tuesday 21st November 14:20