Game of the Decade

Minecraft-+Published+by+Mojang+and+Xbox+Game+Studios+-Used+under+Creative+Commons

Minecraft- Published by Mojang and Xbox Game Studios -Used under Creative Commons

Jackson O'Malley

 

You know the name, you know the game. Minecraft. It came to me and so many others at such an important stage in our lives. Back in the old glory days of middle school, Minecraft greeted us prepubescent tweens with open arms and captivated us into a world that we didn’t understand, but yet was so intrigued to learn more. Minecraft came to us at the perfect time and, for what it was, is the perfect game.

Your first day in Minecraft is actually a lot like your first day of middle school: all new, frightening, overwhelming, and you feel alone. Minecraft was the perfect playground for some rowdy 12yr olds to learn, explore, and grow. It offered a previously unseen amount of control for kids who’ve never been in control of anything there lives. The world was our oysters, and we reveled in it.

To the 10 people on the planet who’ve never played Minecraft, the game itself was amazing despite its simplicity. The dreamlike soundtrack, expertly crafted by Daniel Rosenfeld (aka C418), accompanied you, fading in and out through your journey. Whenever I listen to “Sweden” or “Subwoofer Lullaby” I’m immediately taken back to my childhood, playing the game until the sun came up. The free form nature of the game lets you play it however you want. No quests or mission, no map to guide your journey, just your will.

You might be wondering, what’s changed? The game is still being updated and played to this day, why do people stop playing it? The game is still good despite some controversial changes (which I personally like). The game didn’t change; we did. We aren’t 12 anymore. We understand the game at this point, and we know that it’s just a kids game. We aren’t the target audience anymore. We’re not as naive as we once were, and thus the majesty of the whole experience is lost. This may sound bleak but there is a bright side. We can still cherish the memories we made in our many adventures and brand new 12yr olds are playing the game for the first time every day. Fully immersing themselves in a world we once called home.

Now my youtube my recommended feed is filled with videos created to milk my Minecraft nostalgia til it runs dry and I welcome these videos with open arms. Like so many other Seniors. they remind us of a simpler time. A time when we never had to worry about College or a future career. That’s why Minecraft is the game of the decade. The game wasn’t made to change our lives, but it sure as hell did.

Image result for minecraft sunset