It occurs to me that Minecraft’s encouraging of creativity indicates a movement towards game design which replicates neoliberal fallacies of independent agency and self-importance. Any thoughts regarding the risks of introducing this logic to children? What ramifications does this logic have for play?
No Man's Sky is seeking to do something similar, and gamers are losing their minds about it. You create your own story, your own purpose.
I think this focus stems from very real life desires to craft your own path and decide what kind of person you want to be. – G Anderson Lake9 years ago
Much has been written regarding whether children's problem-solving abilities are hindered by scripted play activities, such as video games and other forms of entertainment that require adult supervision. When children are left to make their own games - whether they are playing dress-up or interacting with world-building programs like Minecraft - in a collaborative setting, their empathic responses are heightened, because the children must work amongst themselves to create fair rules and solve conflicts. Seen in this light, Minecraft actually has a whole lot of benefits for the children who play it. – Kristian Wilson9 years ago