If there were two lessons to derive from playing “Minecraft Alpha,” it would be these: be creative and be prepared. While some computer games boast to be sandboxes of creativity the blocky world of Minecraft is almost literally that. If you have a tool for it, you can build or remove it. Whether you create a floating fortress or hollow out a mountain lair, the only limits are your imagination–and nocturnal monsters.
As the sun sets in Minecraft, your best decision is to find shelter immediately. Monsters don’t take kindly to folks like you, and fighting them can be deadly without proper armor and weaponry. It might seem like a drag to hide all night, but it’s a good opportunity to get some important tasks done. You could craft some materials into swords and pickaxes, smelt ore into iron, cook some pork, or dig caves into infinity. Me personally? I started to create a castle out of a mountain.
Days can be spent exploring the seemingly endless expanse of the world. Over every hill and mountain, fascinating geology can be found: floating islands, caves with complex structures, towering waterfalls. Though you should focus on mining and hunting, sightseeing can become an easy distraction.
The journey may be lonely, but the discovery and building elements evoke a strong sense of ownership that justifies the solitude. Minecraft is one of those games that lets you rule over every block in the game, and a quick search on Youtube shows how people practice their power.
Luckily for socialites, Minecraft has a mutliplayer mode that allows for some serious creative collaboration. Purchase the game now and join hundreds of thousands of others. You’ll receive free updates for a lifetime, including the possible inclusion of dragons and a new “Adventure” mode. Despite numerous bugs still in the game, Minecraft has already gained cult status, and it will dominate your nights until the zombies fade.