MINECRAFT -
Our first review is for a MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment) game called Minecraft, available on PC and game counsels. Minecraft is an “indie” game, started by one programmer and currently in development by his small company in Sweden. Minecraft had over a million purchases when it was still in its “alpha” stage. The game is particularly playable by all ages, and in this case adults don’t find it less entertaining than children do (they might even find it more entertaining).
You can use Minecraft to build things. This may sound simple, but simple might be what Minecraft is. You are a lone blocky being in an infinite world of blocks. Or, if are in the multiplayer mode you are one of several blocky beings.
Start walking in any direction and the world generates itself forever. Go up high enough to touch the invisible ceiling in the sky or go down into the depths until you touch the unbreakable rock. "One recalls the feeling of hitting the blocks, and then coming to the realization that you can craft the 'wood' blocks from those blocky trees into a crafting box," states Zach, grade 7. He conitnues, "From the crafting box you can make tools and new blocks that you don’t find in 'nature.' Put things together in the box and make new things, and now you’re ready for the night. The monsters mostly come at night - mostly.
After a few days you’ll have mastered surviving when the square sun sets and the square moon rises." It’s not rare for the experience of most new players to be something similar to Travon's, “There’s all these blocks and tools and things. I could build such a cool castle in this game, but I guess I don’t really have a reason to. Wait, what’s this green stub-legged guy? What? It explodes? Okay, how do I make a pickaxe…” Monsters begin as threats, but they grow into valuable resources for the items they drop.
As long as you have an idea for something to make, there is something to do in Minecraft. The fact that the levels create themselves as you move through them means you can make things as big as you like, though your idea is very wide rather than very tall and deep. You can make an endless pink-wool rail with a garden along it, with dynamite-block supports, taking you between the geometrically-shaped mansion of your dreams and the giant statue you made of yourself.
Minecraft is great for getting lost in building things on single-player, or getting together with other builders to make something “epic”. One group of players is currently working on a full scale model of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek. Legions of players are at work finding the perfect barriers, or more often “farms” (traps) for the monsters. An individual player is making a functional 8-bit computer in-game, using the game’s equivalent of wires. A computer in a computer game running on a computer. Maybe you will be the player to make it run Pong? (Click on the image to access the Minecraft Gallery.)
Our first review is for a MUVE (Multi-User Virtual Environment) game called Minecraft, available on PC and game counsels. Minecraft is an “indie” game, started by one programmer and currently in development by his small company in Sweden. Minecraft had over a million purchases when it was still in its “alpha” stage. The game is particularly playable by all ages, and in this case adults don’t find it less entertaining than children do (they might even find it more entertaining).
You can use Minecraft to build things. This may sound simple, but simple might be what Minecraft is. You are a lone blocky being in an infinite world of blocks. Or, if are in the multiplayer mode you are one of several blocky beings.
Start walking in any direction and the world generates itself forever. Go up high enough to touch the invisible ceiling in the sky or go down into the depths until you touch the unbreakable rock. "One recalls the feeling of hitting the blocks, and then coming to the realization that you can craft the 'wood' blocks from those blocky trees into a crafting box," states Zach, grade 7. He conitnues, "From the crafting box you can make tools and new blocks that you don’t find in 'nature.' Put things together in the box and make new things, and now you’re ready for the night. The monsters mostly come at night - mostly.
After a few days you’ll have mastered surviving when the square sun sets and the square moon rises." It’s not rare for the experience of most new players to be something similar to Travon's, “There’s all these blocks and tools and things. I could build such a cool castle in this game, but I guess I don’t really have a reason to. Wait, what’s this green stub-legged guy? What? It explodes? Okay, how do I make a pickaxe…” Monsters begin as threats, but they grow into valuable resources for the items they drop.
As long as you have an idea for something to make, there is something to do in Minecraft. The fact that the levels create themselves as you move through them means you can make things as big as you like, though your idea is very wide rather than very tall and deep. You can make an endless pink-wool rail with a garden along it, with dynamite-block supports, taking you between the geometrically-shaped mansion of your dreams and the giant statue you made of yourself.
Minecraft is great for getting lost in building things on single-player, or getting together with other builders to make something “epic”. One group of players is currently working on a full scale model of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek. Legions of players are at work finding the perfect barriers, or more often “farms” (traps) for the monsters. An individual player is making a functional 8-bit computer in-game, using the game’s equivalent of wires. A computer in a computer game running on a computer. Maybe you will be the player to make it run Pong? (Click on the image to access the Minecraft Gallery.)
3rd World Farmer -
Manage a farm in sub-Saharan Africa but beware of the weather, disease, war, and hunger…. and be ready to make tough ethical decisions! (Click on the image to access.)
Manage a farm in sub-Saharan Africa but beware of the weather, disease, war, and hunger…. and be ready to make tough ethical decisions! (Click on the image to access.)
Trench Mission -
You must find the commander and get him the map before the attack begins. It's not easy with a time limit, finding food for energy and avoiding rats and that bite and cause infections. Oh, and if you don’t get the map in time you end up on toilet duty!
(Click on the image to access.)
You must find the commander and get him the map before the attack begins. It's not easy with a time limit, finding food for energy and avoiding rats and that bite and cause infections. Oh, and if you don’t get the map in time you end up on toilet duty!
(Click on the image to access.)
StoryBird -
A collaborative story site where you can write, share, and read stories solo, with classmates, with other schools, or with family. Illustrate you story with amazing art from current artists around the world. (Click on the image to access.)
A collaborative story site where you can write, share, and read stories solo, with classmates, with other schools, or with family. Illustrate you story with amazing art from current artists around the world. (Click on the image to access.)
Time and Date -
Great site to kill time on (ha, ha) – time zones search, create count down calendars, stopwatch and so much more!
(Click on the image to access.)
Great site to kill time on (ha, ha) – time zones search, create count down calendars, stopwatch and so much more!
(Click on the image to access.)
Vocabulary.com -
This vocab quiz monitors your answers and develops future questions based on your success rate. The smarter you are, the harder the questions. You can do it! (Click on the image to access.)
This vocab quiz monitors your answers and develops future questions based on your success rate. The smarter you are, the harder the questions. You can do it! (Click on the image to access.)
Immigration Vocabulary –
Games to play that test your knowledge of Native American place names, Spanish and Gaelic words, instruments, or words from famous American immigrants. (Click on the image to access.)
Games to play that test your knowledge of Native American place names, Spanish and Gaelic words, instruments, or words from famous American immigrants. (Click on the image to access.)
Mapmaker -
Calling all map geeks…you know who you are! Enter this site with incredible interactive world maps that allow you to create all kinds of maps with overlays using GIS information. Hint – use the maps you create for papers and presentations. (Click on the image below to access.)
Immune Attack -
Navigate a nanobot through blood vessels and connective tissue to save a dying patient by retraining the nonfunctional immune cells. (Click on the image below to access.)
Navigate a nanobot through blood vessels and connective tissue to save a dying patient by retraining the nonfunctional immune cells. (Click on the image below to access.)
Sheppard Software -
A site with great games and practice quizzes for language arts and math. (Click on the image below to access.)
A site with great games and practice quizzes for language arts and math. (Click on the image below to access.)
Lure of the Labyrinth -
Find lost pets by solving puzzles. (Click on the image below to access.)
Find lost pets by solving puzzles. (Click on the image below to access.)
Trade Ruler Game -
Pick an island and then pick another island to trade with - how much will you produce of each product and how much will you trade and what will you get in return?? (Click on the image below to access.)
Pick an island and then pick another island to trade with - how much will you produce of each product and how much will you trade and what will you get in return?? (Click on the image below to access.)
ElectroCity – Become a city manager! Play the game and learn about energy, the environment, and the effects of energy on the environment. (Click on the image below to access.)
Investopedia - You’re rich! With $100,000 in investment money, trade against other investors, learn from other investors and learn to invest your way up to the top. (Click on the image below to access.)
The Grading Game - Practice for a future job? You must proofread quickly – it’s timed! - to “earn money” as a starving college student. Each level cleared helps you come closer to paying off your student loans. (Click on the image below to access.)
Capitalism and Conflict - Talking about my constitution - First Amendment, Civil Rights, Right to Privacy, and the Death Penalty. Quiz yourself on Supreme Court controversies and decisions. (Click on the image below to access.)
The Underground Railroad -
Journey to Freedom - a 3-D simulation game that takes you back to the 1850s as the persona of a slave escaping from a tobacco plantation. (Click on the image below to access.)
Journey to Freedom - a 3-D simulation game that takes you back to the 1850s as the persona of a slave escaping from a tobacco plantation. (Click on the image below to access.)
Red Remover - Strategy game that involves stacks of various red and green shapes - remove all the red shapes without letting any green shapes fall! Don’t be fooled – it becomes more and more difficult! (Click on the image below to access.)
Atlantis Remixed - go on a quest to virtual worlds, talk with other players, and challenge yourself with math, science and reading tasks. (Click on the image below to access.)