Evaluation Videogames - Evaluation Videogames
MineCraft (Free versions)
Screenshot of the videogame:
Name of producer:
Markus
Date of production:
2009
Name of Distributor:
Mojang
Technical Requirements:
Java Capable Web Browser
Cost of product:
monthly fee
Adventure
Online
Platform
Role playing
Simulation
Puzzle
Minecraft is a unique game (as of March 2012), in which, the player has the ability of creating or destroying blocks near him in a virtual world (that can be really huge). This way he may build houses, holes, caves, buildings, etc. alone or in collaboration with other players. The "worlds" that are produced can be very beautiful. This is the base game upon which other games are built, some of them are free some of them require payment to play. Game is almost always online. For example, there is a free minecraft variant that allow player to build buildings in which they can take shelter from a lava release that happens after some time (generally 10 minutes) Ideally players connect their houses by sealed tunnels and can visit other's players houses while the lava is out. If houses fail to block the lava (if player didn't seal it all) the lava enters the house and if the player touches it, gets killed. There is a "zombie survival" version (free as well) which is one of the most funniest and exciting online games I've ever played. I'm only reviewing the basic free game.
Fantasy
Modern
It's unique
First person
It's a pure first person game, but its graphics are very modest. Players used to modern graphics from commercial games can be fustrated by the small browser window of this game and by the 90's quality graphics.
Multiplayer online
There are several servers around the world
Presence of textual tutoring during the game
There are few keys to use, but there are some commands (ex: you may buy "lives" to continue gaming if lava kills you). Included help in the game is absolutely minimum. One need to resort to internet to get a complete explanation of commands. But the hardest part when learning is to know the strategies and uses of the game players. There is not help for this other than watching how others play, or asking them.
| Dialogue with other characters: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Driving Vehicles: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Explorability of environment: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Memory of events: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Complexity of logic succession of events: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Number of alternative game paths for solution of events: | Poor0123456Excellent |
If Other :
Even when playing "lava survival" or "zombie survival", the players can set their own goals. For example, In lava survival the player has to make a building in time for the lava release (lava rises from a point and spreads to occupy the whole open-air space). The player has to balance carefully the complexity of the intended house and the time he has to build it before the lava release. Each round the planned house may be more challenging. Sometimes players do not build their houses, but help others or interconnect others. Sometimes players build elevated houses, others they get built from digging into the ground.
Game interface is simple, annoying small, it may require to type some commands, etc. yet, after 2 minutes of play, all this annoyances dissapear from the player's mind.
Bitmap
3D
Immersive
Simulator: Game is built as an applet for Java and preferably played whithin a browser. Due to the overhead produced by java and the browser, a 1Gb machine with at least 2GHz processor is required. No advanced graphic card is necessary though
Other:
Is an internal Editor available for the videogame?
No
| Graphics: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Interaction: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Graphics: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Interaction: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| Using owner script: | Poor0123456Excellent |
| External script coding: | Poor0123456Excellent |
Type of interface:
3D
2D / 3D License:
Freeware,Commercial
>Cost of software(�):
monthly fee
Where to find it:
Which software are useful for editing the videogame:
There is some software that complements the game. There is a software to create servers.
Poor0123456Excellent
Explain how the videogame can be used in an educational context:
The game can be tailored to other goals, not in the way that they are included in the program but in the way that the players can decide what to do. So, using in educational context is open to teachers ability to set up goals for the students.
Name of Evaluator:
Ignacio Paches (Vocational School Lluis Simarro Lacabra)
Role of Evaluator:
Teacher
Country:
Spain
Date of Evaluation:
12/03/2012
teacher
In Mindcraft only the end of your imagination can stop you. Everything is possible. You can great your own world. Mindcraft is even good for geography as you can, for instance, prepare a number of countries where the students can explore them by their own. In order to successfully complete a country the student has to answer a number of questions and to complete a few tasks. The advantage of this learning method is that the student is able to select what s/he wants to learn. Benjamin S. (Austria)
teacher
In Mindcraft only the end of your imagination can stop you. Everything is possible. You can great your own world. Mindcraft is even good for geography as you can, for instance, prepare a number of countries where the students can explore them by their own. In order to successfully complete a country the student has to answer a number of questions and to complete a few tasks. The advantage of this learning method is that the student is able to select what s/he wants to learn. Benjamin S. (Austria)
teacher
IES St Vicent Ferrer IES St Vicent Ferrer
Very good game, very useful for education Javi Rosa