The essence of Minecraft encourages people of all ages to hone in their creative and architectural side. It encompasses a more democratic, populist approach to making architecture - a concept asserted by renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels: “These fictional worlds empower people with the tools to transform their own environments. This is what architecture ought to be."
Architecture through Minecraft has captured the interest of many collegiate summer camps and programs. Many offer Minecraft Architecture classes. To many, Minecraft isn't just a game - it's a platform where they can express their individuality, creativity, and architectural interests.
This is how I always thought of Minecraft. Instead of using it to fight or 'kill' others or participate in online server games, I used it as a tool to build and create. This was where my interest in Architecture began. It was a tool that was accessible and easy to use at a young age, allowing me to construct worlds and cities.
https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/minecraft-architecture/
The concept that some video games can be used as tools actually applies to a lot more than one would think. Parents are often quick to limit their children's use of video games because they instantly believe that it is an unproductive use of time. However, while some video games are indeed a waste of time, certain video games are actually great learning opportunities. For example, in 8th grade, after our english class read The Giver, my teacher assigned us all to re-create the dystopian society in Minecraft using details and descriptions from the book. A significant point about these kinds of video games connects back to the sandbox idea: it appeals to people of various ages and it challenges them to use their creativity.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in my life when I was obsessed with watching Minecraft YouTube videos, particularly epic build videos creating absolutely breathtaking architecture and structures. It's amazing what people are able to build given the limitations in Minecraft. It's because people post content like this on YouTube that the community has been exposed to these ideas and allowed to flourish. In fact, people are incentivized to build enormous structures because those are the sort of things that attract more views on YouTube. In this way, it's a self perpetuating cycle.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Minecraft isn't just a game, it's a lifestyle. Disregarding his political views, Persson is perhaps one of the most intelligent innovators out there. As Mr. Stewart was saying, Persson was able to create a game in which he spends near to nothing on marketing costs. Instead, Youtubers do all the advertising for him. Additionally, the fact that in Minecraft, one is free to do almost anything, allows for the game to really never get old to a user. Certainly, for a game just made out of blocks, it is ingenious to create a platform where one can construct, and sculpt to their liking, grand, beautiful worlds for several players to enjoy at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI was obsessed with Minecraft when I was younger. My favorite thing to do was go on servers and build with friends I made online. Instead of the game being the same each time I logged on, it was always a new experience. Compared to playing games on my PS3 when I was younger, I never got bored. Like Elena, I also watched Youtube videos of others playing Minecraft. It inspired projects I did on the game and taught me some about coding. I never thought of Minecraft as an educational tool until we watched the documentary, to me it was a creative space. Even though I don't play much anymore, I see Minecraft as one of the most influential video games of the past century.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you very much, that the value of many games has not only bring entertainment to people, but also teach them a lot of knowledge. The charm of Minecraft is undoubtedly enormous, and many of my friends have built creative buildings on it, using it as a platform to showcase their creative abilities. Just as the educational significance of Minecraft makes it a teaching tool for teachers, my teacher also let us play Civilization in primary school so that we could learn about geography, history, etc.
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