So I’ve been playing Minecraft now for a couple of weeks, and I have to say I’m hooked   So far, I haven’t done anything very serious.  Mostly have it in crafting mode all the time and just poking around at all the features.  I’ve even setup a server so that I can monkey with my Castle anytime I like, from any place I have an internet connection.  I’ve even checked out the Ender Dragon and that was pretty freakin’ cool.  Of course I was in crafting mode so it couldn’t kill me, but it’s absolutely amazing how in depth this simple looking game can get.

Even more amazing, is that when a world is generated, it automatically builds towns, sets up NPC’s, randomly builds dungeons, temples and all sorts of hidden places to explore.  The world it builds is absolutely enormous!!  I have yet to find the edges of the map.  As much as I’m an Achievement Whore, I get satisfaction in that department as well

Here’s some of the progress I’ve been making on my in game version of CastleRain (Click for Larger Images):

I know it’s a bit boxy and is lacking loads of detail.  It’s my first creation, so we’ll all just let it be what it is and perhaps the next go around, once I get more inspiration, will hopefully be 100 times better.

I need to setup a spare machine to run this dedicated at some point.  No rush on that though, got a lot of work left to do on it.  I think once it’s done, I’ll open up the server to my friends and we can put it in adventure mode and have a good time together.

The best part of this as it is though is that I don’t have to feel like I have to do anything.  If I want to get up and go do something else, I can without worry of leaving something unfinished.  It will always be unfinished, but I don’t feel like I’m letting myself or anyone else down if I get up from the PC.

I’m still new to Minecraft, so I’ll see how it goes, but so far it’s freakin’ sweet!  (Peter Griffin reference)  See for yourself by watching the video below

I’ve even heard rumors that there might be quests coming soon.  Hope that’s true.

It’s one of those days that I could just smack myself in the head and say “I could’ve had a V8!” er.. I mean “Why didn’t I think of this before!?!?”.   It’s like, have you ever found yourself trying madly to handle a situation in your life, that you spend so much time thinking on it, you miss the obvious answer that has been thrown in your face over and over and over again?  Yeah… This is one of those times for me.  In so much, I feel a bit sheepish.

In my self banishment from MMO’s in order to get away from the computer and get back into shape..  I’ve tried numerous game demos, and even bought some older cheap games hoping they’d satisfy the void of not being able to play my beloved World of Warcraft.  WoW had all the elements I craved in a game.  It’s had a lighthearted look about it, with it’s cartoonish graphics and the banter of the NPC’s that always keep it upbeat.  It’s vast landscape that in many ways is beautiful and artistic.  I could make useful items as well as supercilious things just to keep myself happy.  I could play in a group or by myself.

But every game I’ve tried up until now, has left me feeling like something was missing.

So I kept looking because I didn’t want games that were based on:

• Free to play games actually costing more than subscription games.
• Subscription games costing me my lifespan by sitting for hours trying to finish something.
• Wanting to save money by not paying anything after buying the game itself.

Yet the answer was staring me in the face.  Minecraft!

• Buy once, play forever.  No subscriptions nothing to buy to keep up with other players from some in-game store.
• I can play by myself or with others.
• I can save and quit anytime I like.
• I can craft anything!  I can make a whole world of my own.
• It’s cartoonish yet has the feel of an MMO.
• It’s a mere $27 to buy the full game.

While I will miss riding an epic dragon mount or smoke spewing rocket, I can fly in Minecraft.  Everything I could ever want to do.  If I want to build, craft, explore, fight, survive, loot and so much more!  And… I’ve always wanted to build CastleRain just the way I wanted it.  Now I can